Information retrieval in the photogrammetry and remote sensing literature

Information retrieval requires a database and a host computer. Most scientific fields nowadays have their own database. However, in the field of photogrammetry and remote sensing we do not as yet have a comprehensive database. Information on the literature in our field is scattered over many databases, making retrieval cumbersome and expensive.

This paper analyzes the present state of affairs and summarizes details for establishing ISPRS-IRS, the Information Retrieval System of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, which is tailored to cover surveying and mapping, including remote sensing. ISPRS-IRS should be available online and should be free-of-charge, using the postcard approach. In order to decide whether there is at present really a need to implement ISPRS-IRS, the next phase should be to collect data to judge the capabilities, efficiency, reliability and costs of the bibliographic and factual information which is available at present.