German Society for Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation e.V. (DGPF) is a German professional association and learned society for surveyors, geodesists, photogrammetrists, geoinformation scientists and remote sensing specialists. It is registered as a voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) with its seat in Munich. Its origins trace back to 1909, when participants in a vacation course on stereophotogrammetry in Jena resolved to found a society for photogrammetry; the society began work in 1911 as the German section of the International Society for Photogrammetry. After the Second World War it was re-founded in Munich on 15 September 1949 as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie. The name was extended to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung e.V. on 1 November 1983, and on 25 September 2002 the term Geoinformation was added, giving the society its current name. The DGPF serves as a scientific and technical network for the German-speaking photogrammetry, remote sensing and geoinformation community. According to its statutes it aims to cultivate photogrammetry, remote sensing and geoinformation, to promote their perfection, dissemination and recognition, to contribute to their application in the various branches of science, art and technology, and to exchange experience. It organizes an annual scientific-technical conference (Jahrestagung) at which researchers present new findings and the members' assembly is held. It publishes the journal Photogrammetrie – Fernerkundung – Geoinformation as its official organ, and the Hansa Luftbild-Preis is awarded annually by Hansa Luftbild AG for particularly valuable contributions in the journal. The society maintains working groups and a young professionals network (Nachwuchs-Netzwerk) that engages students and early-career researchers. Its website highlights current topics such as UAS applications and innovative 3D reconstruction, a new guideline 'UAS und GIS', data-based and resilient water management, a new board team from 2026, and the first awarding of the Konecny Award. In 2011 the DGPF established the Stiftung PFGeo (Stiftung Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation) with its seat in Münster, which among other things finances the DGPF's share of the Karl-Kraus-Nachwuchsförderungspreis for young talent. The society is a member of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) tradition, having begun as its German section.

The history of the DGPF begins in 1909, when participants in a vacation course on stereophotogrammetry in Jena resolved to found a society for photogrammetry. The society took up its work in 1911 as the German section (Sektion Deutschland) of the International Society for Photogrammetry. In 1926 the 2nd International Congress for Photogrammetry was held in Berlin, and on that occasion the society first published the journal Bildmessung und Luftbildwesen (BuL), which is described as the world's oldest journal for photogrammetry. In 1927 the German section of the International Society for Photogrammetry was constituted as a registered association with its seat in Berlin and adopted the name Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie. After the Second World War, during which the society had to cease its activities, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie e.V. (DGP) resumed work and was entered as an association in Munich on 15 September 1949. In the German Democratic Republic, a Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie in der DDR (GfPh DDR) was founded in Dresden on 31 May 1960; it was admitted to the International Society for Photogrammetry at the General Assembly during the ISP IX Congress in London. It had up to 266 members. Through the merger of the Verband für Vermessungs- und Kartenwesen (VfVK), the GfPh DDR was absorbed into the Wissenschaftlich-Technische Gesellschaft für Geodäsie, Photogrammetrie und Kartographie (WTG GPK) under the umbrella of the Kammer der Technik. Its first chairman was Fritz Deumlich. Its activities ceased on 31 December 1990, and members were recommended to join the DGPF individually. In 1976 the association's name was extended to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung e.V. (DGPF). In 1980 the 14th International Congress for Photogrammetry took place in Hamburg. On 1 November 1983 the society was renamed Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung e.V. On 25 September 2002, with the addition of the term Geoinformation, it received its current name: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation e.V. On 22 December 2011 the DGPF founded the Stiftung Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation (Stiftung PFGeo) with its seat in Münster. The foundation is intended, among other things, to finance the DGPF's share of the Karl-Kraus-Nachwuchsförderungspreis. The society continues to hold annual scientific-technical conferences; its website reports a new board team since 2026, the first awarding of the Konecny Award, and current technical topics such as UAS applications, innovative 3D reconstruction, a new guideline 'UAS und GIS', and data-based resilient water management.

• 2011

  On 22 December the DGPF founds the Stiftung Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation (Stiftung PFGeo) with its seat in Münster.

• 2002

  On 25 September the addition of the term Geoinformation gives the society its current name.

• 1990

  The GfPh DDR ceases activities on 31 December; members are recommended to join the DGPF individually.

• 1983

  On 1 November the society is renamed Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung e.V.

• 1980

  The 14th International Congress for Photogrammetry takes place in Hamburg.

• 1976

  The association's name is extended to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung e.V. (DGPF).

• 1960

  The Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie in der DDR (GfPh DDR) is founded in Dresden on 31 May.

• 1949

  The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie e.V. (DGP) resumes work and is entered as an association in Munich on 15 September.

• 1927

  The German section is constituted as a registered association in Berlin and adopts the name Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie.

• 1926

  The 2nd International Congress for Photogrammetry is held in Berlin; the society first publishes the journal Bildmessung und Luftbildwesen (BuL).

• 1911

  The society begins work as the German section of the International Society for Photogrammetry.

• 1909

  In Jena, participants in a vacation course on stereophotogrammetry resolve to found a society for photogrammetry.

German learned society and professional network for photogrammetry, remote sensing and geoinformation, promoting science, application and young talent.

• Journal Photogrammetrie – Fernerkundung – Geoinformation

  The official organ of the DGPF; the Hansa Luftbild-Preis is awarded annually by Hansa Luftbild AG for particularly valuable contributions in the journal.

• Annual scientific-technical conference (Jahrestagung)

  Held once a year, where scientists present new research results and the members' assembly is conducted.

• Stiftung PFGeo

  Foundation established by the DGPF on 22 December 2011 with its seat in Münster; it finances, among other things, the DGPF's share of the Karl-Kraus-Nachwuchsförderungspreis.

1. 1DGPF official website homedgpf.de
2. 2Geschichte der DGPFdgpf.de
3. 3Über unsdgpf.de
4. 4Wikidata: DGPFwikidata.org
5. 5Wikipedia (de): Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformationde.wikipedia.org