Maurizio Migliaccio
Università di Napoli “Parthenope”, Italy.

Italian Naval Academy where the IEEE GOLD Remote Sensing conference was held.

The IEEE South Italy GRS Chapter has organized at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno the fourth edition of the biannual IEEE GOLD (Graduate Of Last Decade) Remote Sensing Conference. The conference has been held on April 29 and 30, 2010 and has gathered more than 150 participants. The standard two-day format, already experienced in former editions has demonstrated to be appropriately tailored to facilitate participation of young professionals and students. The first day was opened in the morning by a welcome ceremony in which the Italian Naval Academy Admiral Pierluigi Rosati, the Conference General Chairman Maurizio Migliaccio and Enzo Dalle Mese of the Università di Pisa addressed a large audience which included several Università di Pisa staff personnel, local and national Companies representatives, and civilian and defense authorities. During the opening ceremony the five best Italian thesis certificates were given. Then an almost two hour visit of the hosting Academy was organized to visit the most relevant technical, e.g. the navigation simulator, and historical places, e.g. the marine ancient book library. After the lunch the technical sessions were started and the IEEE GRSS webcast was started. The local organizing committee also video-recordered the event to make even available later. The local conference organizing committee was composed by Roberto Della Valle and Fulvio Arreghini officers at Italian Naval Academy, Nicola Acito scientific researcher at Telecommunication School of the Italian Naval Academy, Fabrizio Lombardini and Marco Martorella at Telecommunication School of the Università di Pisa and Ferdinando Nunziata at Telecommunication School of the Università di Napoli Parthenope. Local organizers were backed by Proff. Enzo Dalle Mese, Giovanni Corsini and Giuliano Manara of Università di Pisa. The first day was closed with the interactive session at the saloon room with a wonderful sunset view. During the first day 38 papers were presented. In the second day only oral sessions were planned and a round table involving remote sensing experts was organized just after the lunch. The round table was chaired by Maurizio Migliaccio with contributions from Wolfgang Keydel (DLR), that also spoke in place of Alberto Moreira (IEEE GRS Society President), Jérôme Benveniste (ESA), Armando Buccheri (Selex Galileo) and Benito Palumbo (IEEE Region 8 Industry Relations S-C Coordinator). At the end 59 papers were all presented by first authors adhering to GOLD requisites. Special fares for lunches at Italian Naval Academy and Hotels and Bed and Breakfast in Livorno were agreed to make participation affordable even by students. The sponsorship/patronage of IEEE GRS Society, IEEE Central Italy Chapter, IEEE Italy GOLD Affinity group, DLR, Università di Pisa, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Flyby, Kayser Italia, Selex Galileo, Selex Sistemi Integrati, Telerilevamento Europa – TRE, Thales Alenia Space was also very important for the success of the event that represented for many presenters the first chance to meet the IEEE GRSS Community. The chance to webcast the Conference opens new chances and opportunity to make the IEEE GOLD Remote Sensing Conference the debut event of talented young people to the world chances provided by Geoscience and Remote Sensing. Borrowing the Steve Jobs words at Stanford, I would like to close these lines with a warm appeal to all these young talented people: Be hungry! Be foolish! (we need you).

IEEE GOLD participant group photo.