ESF Exploratory Workshop

Laser Scanning Spatial Data Infrastructure (LaSDI)

General Information

European Science Foundation (ESF) Exploratory Workshops (EWs) are aimed at opening up new directions in research to explore new fields with a potential impact on developments in science. The workshops have a wide participation from across Europe and involve mature scientists as well as young, independent researchers and scholars with leadership potential. The relatively small scale (in terms of people involved) provides an ideal platform for focus on the topic and for all participants to contribute to discussions and plan follow-up collaborative work (see ESF EWs).

Workshop Objectives

This workshop aims at bringing together high-level, experienced and young researchers in the scientific fields of Geographical Information Science (GIScience) and Remote Sensing & Laser Scanning technology in order to explore new concepts of integrating laser scanning data in spatial data infrastructures. The Laser Scanning Spatial Data Infrastructure (LaSDI) demands for novel interdisciplinary strategies, incorporating the rapid technological and scientific development of the two research communities. This meeting will identify the core themes and research areas and initialize the roadmap to a European collaborative research agenda.

The major objectives covered by the workshop are:

• Identify the core themes and research areas required for integrating laser scanning point cloud data in a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI)
• Define strategies for collaborative research of the two scientific communities including potential cooperation with external organizations (e.g. OGC and EuroSDR) and data providers (e.g. public authorities)
• Initialize the roadmap to an European test bed including hardware and software requirements (e.g. Open Source Project) in order to bring together fragmented knowledge into a collaborative scientific development

The ESF workshop is convened and organized by Bernhard Höfle (Univ. Heidelberg, DE), Norbert Pfeifer (Vienna Univ. of Tech., AT) and Alexander Zipf (Univ. Heidelberg, DE). The EW was approved by the Standing Committees for Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LESC) and Physical and Engineering Sciences (PESC).

Workshop Program

The workshop should have an explorative and innovative character. Therefore, ample time for discussion will be allocated in the final workshop program, which will be specified after the response of the invited participants. Keynote presentations by the respective scientific fields followed by intensive discussion in small groups will provide an effective interdisciplinary workshop setting for fruitful scientific exchange.

The workshop was held from Friday to Saturday, September 9-10, 2011. The program was composed of two full workshop days (9-18h).

The final program can be downloaded here.

Scientific Report

The final scientific report can be downloaded here

Presentations and Pictures

• Presentations/Posters (participants only)
• Photos

Workshop dinner

The participants were cordially invited to a dinner at the restaurant Weisser Bock at 7.30pm on Friday, 9th. Find route to the restaurant.

Restaurant Weisser Bock
Große Mantelgasse 14
D-69117 Heidelberg
Website

Participants

The List of Participants can be downloaded here

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided by the IWH directly as well as by hotels nearby and will be organized by the conveners. All participants will be accommodated in the following hotels. Traveling should be organized by the participants themselves. If you have any queries concerning the arrangements made for you, please contact the local organiser.

Travel - Getting to Heidelberg

One of the largest airports of Europe, Frankfurt Airport, is within one hour train/car drive from Heidelberg. For further detailed information on traveling to Heidelberg and the IWH please refer to the "How to find us" section of the IWH website or contact the conveners directly.

You can use our OpenRouteService for getting a quick overview of the workshop location: Find route to the IWH using the OpenRouteService.