Sydney has won the bid to host the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Congress in 2029.

The decision to hold ISPRS 2029 in Sydney — the first time the city will have hosted the event — was announced at the recent ISPRS General Assembly in Toronto.

The winning bid was put together by the Locus Alliance, the University of NSW and Curtin University in partnership with Business Events Sydney (BESydney), Placemaking NSW, and Destination NSW, and supported by Tourism Australia’s Bid Fund Program.

The congress will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney and is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates, generating an estimated $13.8 million in direct revenue for the NSW economy.

Rachel Greenwood, CEO of the Locus Alliance, said hosting ISPRS in Sydney will “be a significant milestone for the global spatial sciences community”.

“Sydney offers not only world-class infrastructure, but also a strong network of industry, research and government partners actively advancing geospatial innovation,” she added.

Opportunity to connect the global community

The ISPRS 2029 congress will meet under the theme of ‘Caring for Earth and People: Past Wisdom, Future Vision,’ and will bring together leading experts to explore advancements shaping the future of geospatial science and technology.

The week of plenary sessions, symposia and exhibitions, will showcase the latest research and help forge new collaborations that will influence how imagery and spatial data are used for mapping, environmental monitoring and tackling complex global challenges.

ISPRS 2029 Congress Director, Associate Professor Petra Helmholz of Curtin University, and Deputy-Director, Professor Sisi Zlatanova of UNSW, both key advocates throughout the bidding process, said the Congress would connect the global community with one of the world’s most innovative research environments.

“Bringing ISPRS to Sydney in 2029 will be an extraordinary opportunity to connect the global photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences community with one of the world’s most innovative and collaborative research environments,” said Helmholz.

“Australia is uniquely positioned to showcase how science, technology and industry can work together to address complex global challenges,” added Zlatanova.

“We are committed to delivering a congress that not only advances knowledge but also creates lasting partnerships and inspires the next generation of spatial scientists.”

A proud moment

BESydney’s CEO, Amanda Lampe, said the ISPRS 2029 win reflected the strength of Sydney’s research ecosystem and BESydney’s role in securing globally significant events for the city.

“Sydney brought together an exceptional coalition of researchers, universities, government and industry partners to secure this globally significant congress,” said Lampe.

“Our team attended this year’s congress in Toronto, which reinforced the scale of innovation and knowledge exchange shaping the sector.

“Being there for the official announcement of Sydney as the 2029 host city was a proud moment and a clear signal of the confidence the global community has in what Sydney can deliver.”