Auckland has won the bid to host the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) in 2028.
The event will be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) and aims to attract at least 2,000 delegates, including leading geoscience and remote sensing experts. It is also expected to generate A$4.9 million (US$3.19 million) in economic impact for the region.
Remote sensing is an area of exponential growth worldwide, with hundreds of new airborne, satellite and ground-based sensors deployed each year to capture new data. IGARSS provides a platform for sharing knowledge on these advancements and their applications for societal benefit, particularly in the context of Earth observation, disaster monitoring and risk assessment.
Bid support was provided by the Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) which is a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Tourism New Zealand Business Events, and the NZICC.
Head of ACB Ken Pereira commented: “Hosting IGARSS will provide an invaluable opportunity to showcase research opportunities, foster global collaborations and contribute to the advancement of Auckland and New Zealand’s geophysical sciences, aerospace and engineering sectors. We’re looking forward to welcoming delegates to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland for a rewarding conference and to enjoy the world-class hospitality and unique experiences we have on offer.”
“IGARSS will bring together the full range of the GRSS communities, from sensor and mission design through to analytics and applications, alongside networking, research and funding opportunities to strengthen these collaborations,” added Delwyn Moller, adjunct professor at the University of Auckland and founder of Earth observation technology centre Restore Lab.
“Increasing our domestic capability in payload development and mission design fits in well with our aerospace sector. This is an aspect which would complement New Zealand’s aerospace sector greatly. Let’s put our technology on the satellites, not just host others’ technology.”
