MINUTES OF THE IAG - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING AT THE XXII IAG/IUGG GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BIRMINGHAM, JULY, 1999.

Three meeting were held during the IUGG GA in Birmingham. For each meeting the agenda items treated as well as participants is listed below.

1. Meeting. Monday, July 19, 1999, 11.00-12.45.

Agenda Items treated: 2,3,4,5,6,8

Present were: K.P. Schwarz, (President), F.Sanso (1. Vice President), J.O.Dickey (2. Vice President), C.C.Tscherning (Secretary General), F.Brunner (President Section 1), R.Forsberg (President Section 3), P. Holota (President Section 4), M.Feissel (President Section 5), C.Boucher (President Commission X), P.Willis (Secretary Section 2), G.Beutler (President Commission XII), M.Sideris (secretary Section 3), B.Heck (Secretary section 4), C.Wilson (Secretary section 5), T.Tanaka (President Commission VII), W.Torge (Past president), I.I.Mueller (Honorary President), H.Moritz (Honorary President).

Note: Titles refer to old EC.

2. Meeting. Saturday, July 24, 9.00 - 16.00.

Agenda Items treated: 1,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19

Present were: G. Beutler, C. Boucher, F.-K. Brunner, M. Feissel, R. Forsberg, B. Heck, C. Jekeli, R. Rummel, F. Sansò, K.-P. Schwarz, M. Sideris, H. Sünkel, T. Tanaka, W. Torge, C.C. Tscherning, P. Willis.

3. Meeting. Monday, July 26, 1999, 19.00 - 20.30

Agenda Items treated: 20,21,22,23

Present were: Y.Yuanxi (Secretary sec 4), C. Boucher, M. Feissel, W. Torge, T. Tanaka, B. Heck, P. Holota, P. Willis, R. Rummel, M. Sideris (President Sec 3), G. Beutler (First vice president), M. Vermeer (President of Commision), F. Brunner, C. C. Tscherning, K.-P. Schwarz, J. O. Dickey, F. Sanso (President), O. Andersen.

The new Executive Committee members (elected at the previous Council meeting) were invited to participate in this meeting. Note: Titles of new members of the  EC.

Minutes.

1. Adoption of the minutes of the EC meeting in Paris.

The minutes were adopted without change.

2. Birmingham Organisation.

The organisation and program of the General Assembly were presented by the Secretary General.

3. Proposals for new nominations.

The list of nominations, prepared by the Nomination Committee, was presented by the president of the Nomination Committee, W.Torge. The CVs of the nominated persons were made available for inspection at the IAG office. Further nominations may be submitted according to the by-laws.

4. Proposal for members of the audit committee.

The Bureau proposed the following persons: G.Harsson (Norway), J.Adam, (Hungary) and R.Wonnacott (South Africa).

5. Nomination of the members of the resolution committee.

The following persons were nominated for the Resolution Committee: F.Sanso', J.Dickey, A.Dodson and C.Merry.

6. New fellows.

The procedure for appointing fellows was discussed. Officers who end their term during the General Assembly are eligible. It was discussed whether presidents of sub-commissions should be elected fellows. G.Beutler also pointed out that members of Scientific Bodies of some services also were eligible. It was decided to ask the section presidents to give recommendations that would be discussed at the next session. Here the following Fellows were elected:

O. Balt. Andersen, (Denmark), D.Arabelos (Greece), L.Ballani (Germany), B.Benciolini (Italy), M.Bevis (USA), G.Blewitt (UK), J.Bosworth (USA), A.Cazenave (France), T.Clark (USA), J.Degnan (USA), V.Dehant (Belgium), H.Drewes (Germany), B.Ducarme (Belgium), W.Featherstone (Australia), W.Freeden (Germany), T.Herring (USA),K.-H. Ilk (Germany), P. de Jonge (The Netherlands), J.Johanssen (Sweden), P.Knudsen (Denmark), Z-X Li (PRC), J.Manning (Australia), N.Pavlis (USA), C.Rizos (Australia), C.Rocken (USA), I.Tziavos (Greece), M.Vermeer (Finland), M.Wei (Canada), D.Wolf (Germany), S.Zerbini (Italy).

7. Venue of IAG Scientific Assembly 2001.

Applications had been received from Budapest (Hungary), Copenhagen (Denmark), Sopron (Hungary), Warsaw (Poland). After presentation of each venue by the country representatives and a comparison of the different venues, Budapest was selected.

The contact between the Executive Committee and the Local Organizing Committee to be finally decided Monday 26th.

8. IAG representatives to external bodies

BGI Directing Board: Dr. M.Vermeer (Finland), President of the Gravity /Geoid Commission.

IAPSO Commission on Mean Sea Level and Tides: M.Bevis to be contacted.

IAU Working Group on Astronomical Standards (WGAS): E. Groten (Germany), continuing.

IAU ICRS Working Group: T. Herring (USA), continuing.

ICET Directing Board: Dr. S.Takemoto, (Japan), President Earth Tide Commission.

ICL: S.Zerbini, (Italy)..

IERS Directing Board: C. Reigber (Germany), continuing, or his nominee.

IGS Governing Board: G. Beutler (CH), (ex-officio), T. Herring (USA), IAG Representative. ISO TC 211: J.Ihde (Germany), continuing.

IUGG Inter-Association Committee for Mathematical Geophysics: M. Vermeer (Finland), continuing.

IUSM Executive Board: I.I. Mueller (USA) K.-P. Schwarz (Canada), continuing to next meeting. New representatives will be nominated if there is a need after the next meeting.

PAIGH (PanAmerican Institute for Geography and History): W. Torge (Germany), continuing.

SIRGAS: H. Drewes (Germany), continuing.

WMO/IUGG Working Group on data exchange for forecast of natural disasters. S.Zerbini.

SCAR WG-GGI.: R.Dietrich (Germany).

The procedure for further elections were discussed, and it was proposed that in several cases the sections could make the appointment. It was decided to ask the representatives for bi-annual reports. The Bureau will review the reports. The Bureau may prepare a few questions to be answered in the report.

9. Adoption of new SSG.

It was decided that all special study group and special commissions should deliver complete description and member-list to the section presidents by the end of September. Section presidents should then compile and forward the complete list to the Central Bureau for inclusion on the IAG web page.

EC members will be asked to comment on the descriptions before the end of October. Adoption of the descriptions of the SSG's (and SC) would then be carried out via e-mail vote. Subsequently discussion can be held at the EC meeting in November. The President stressed that the special study groups should be international in membership and focussed in their research. If possible the research objectives should be agreed upon by the SSG membership.

The following SSG were then established and the president appointed:

Section I: Positioning

SSG 1.179: Wide area modelling for precise satellite positioning - S. Han (Australia)

SSG 1.180: GPS as an atmospheric remotesensing tool - H. Van der Marel (The Netherlands),

SSG 1.181: Regional permanent arrays - R.Weber (Austria),

SSG 1.182: Multipath mitigation - M.Steward (Australia)

Section II: Advanced Space Technology

SSG2.162: Precise orbits using multiple space techniques - R. Scharroo (USA) to continue until decision is made at first EC meeting.

SSG 2.183: Spaceborne INSAR technology - R.Hanson (The Netherlands).

Section III: Determination of the gravity field

SSG 3.167: Regional land and marine gravity field modelling. - I.Tziavos (Greece) Continuing.

SSG 3.177: Synthetic Modelling of the Earths gravity field - W. Featherstone (Australia), continuing.

SSG 3.178: Arctic Gravity Project ­ R. Forsberg, was to become a working group within the new IGGC.

SSG 3.184: Use of remote sensing techniques for validating heights and depths - P. Berry (UK)

SSG 3.185: Merging data from dedicated satellite missions with other gravimetric data- N. Sneeuw (Germany).

SSG 3.186: Altimetry data processing for gravity, geoid and sea surface topography determination - C. Hwang (Taiwan).

Section IV: General theory and methodology

SSG 4.187: Wavelets in Geodesy and geodynamics- W. Keller (Germany)

SSG 4.188: Mass density from integrated inverse gravity modelling - G. Strykowski (Denmark)

SSG 4.189: Dynamic theories of deformation and gravity field - D. Wolf (Germany)

SSG 4.190: Non-probabilistic assessment in geodetic data analysis - H. Kutterer (Germany)

SSG 4.191: Theory of Fundamental Height Systems - C.Jekeli (USA).

Section V: Geodynamics

IAG/IAPSO working group: Geodetic effects of non-tidal oceanic processes - R. Gross (USA)

SC8 should establish contacts with an IAPSO commission on Geodetic fixing of tide gauges. Mike Bevis will be contacted on this.

K.P.Schwarz and J.Dickey expressed concerns about the overwhelming number of SSG Chairpersons from Europe.

10. New IAG Structure - program / procedure of work.

The resolution on the restructuring process was adopted with one modification.

The following members were proposed for the steering committee:

G. Balmino (France), G. Beutler (Switzerland), F.K. Brunner (Austria), J.O. Dickey (USA), M. Feissel (France), R. Forsberg (Denmark), R. Rummel (Germany), K.-P. Schwarz (Canada), and ex-officio, F.Sanso'. G.Beutler was proposed as chairperson of the Steering Committee.

The steering committee is responsible for contacting a large group of experts and users and to develop a proposal by the end of 2000.

The proposal must be adopted at an extraordinary council meeting at the Scientific Assembly in 2001 and implemented at the General Assembly in 2003.

11. Sponsorship of Symposia.

Sponsorship of the following meetings were given:

XIII International Course on Engineering Surveying - Munich (Germany) - March 13-17, 2000.

International Workshop on "Perspectives of Geodesy in South-East Europe" - Dubrovnik (Croatia) - May 2-6, 2000.

International Congress on Geodesy and Cartography - Caracas (Venezuela) - December 2000.

12. JofG Editorial Board proposal.

The proposal from the Editor-in-Chief was adopted:

Editor-in-Chief: P.J. G. Teunissen (The Netherlands), Assistant Editor-in-Chief: F.H.Schroeder (The Netherlands), IAG Information Editor: O.B.Andersen (Denmark), Book-review editor: C.C.J.M.Tiberius (The Netherlands).

Editors: R.Barzaghi (Italy), C.Brunini (Argentine), F.K.Brunner (Austria), A.Dodson (UK), W.E.Featherstone (Australia), W.Fredeen (Germany), T.A.Herring (USA), P.Holota (Czech rep.), H.T.Hsu (PRC), K.H.Ilk (Germany), A.Kleusberg (Germany), R.B.Langley (Canada), S.Okubo (Japan), B.Schaffrin (USA), I.N.Tziavos (Greece), M.Vermeer (Finland), P.Willis (France), P.Xu (Japan).

13. IAG Budget.

K.-P.Schwarz proposed that not more than the equivalent of half of the quadrennial IUGG contribution is kept as a bank reserve. As a consequence of this the following budget was approved: (Amounts in USD).

14. IAG Fund.

The fund will be included in the IAG accounts following the advice of the Audit Committee.

The new Assistant Secretary General (K.Keller (Denmark)), will make a special effort to raise more money, contacting fellows, associates, institutions and private companies.

15. Proposal for Joint IUGG/BIPM Commmittee on a CTRS.

C. Boucher presented the proposal received via IUGG from BIPM.

C. Boucher, G. Beutler (rep IAG), and a IUGG representative to IERS (C. Reigber or his successor) were appointed as members of a committee to propose procedures for the adoption of an ITRF within IAG/IUGG and its dissemination to other agencies. The name of the committee should be decided by the committee themselves.

16.  Journal Artificial Satellites.

CSTG recommended that the Polish Journal Artificial Satellites is not made the official journal of an IAG body. The EC agreed with the arguments given in their letter.

K.-P. Schwarz and C.C. Tscherning will send a letter to the Polish Space Research Centre explaining the IAG position.

17. Rules for IAG Young Author Award.

The rules proposed by the President were adopted. The revised rules are available from the IAG home page

18. Proposals for new IAG Services: ILRS, IVS, DORIS, EOSS.

The proposal for ILRS and IVS were adopted. CSTG was thanked for their work with these proposals.

A more developed proposal will be expected from DORIS. The EOSS proposal was not acceptable since it was a regional and not an international service proposed. The group is invited to work inside IAG (Comm. X and SC 8).

19. Rules for Bomford Prize.

The proposal by K.P.Schwarz was accepted. The revised rules are available from the IAG home page

20. Status of Handbook and Travaux.

O.Andersen reported on the preparations of the Travaux and the Handbook. 80% of the material has been received or promised before mid August for the Travaux. The remaining 20% will not come. 50% of the representatives of IAG to other bodies have responded.

Publication is foreseen on a CD in late September. The Travaux will also be available on the web. With the CD an order list for the Travaux as a book will be distributed.

The Handbook has a final deadline after the next EC meeting (finalising SSG descriptions). This will result in a publication in February of 2000. Parts of the Handbook will be available on the web as soon as the material is ready.

21. Audit Committee report.

CCT presented the report that had been distributed. The outgoing president will write to the three members to thank them for their work.

The Central Bureau got a mandate to merge the IAG general account with the account for the IAG fund to limit costs and facilitate administration.

22. Resolution Committee Report.

FS presented the resolutions. The resolutions were adopted after revision for presentation at the Council.

23. Miscellaneous.

 A. Birmingham proceedings.

At present there are nearly 90 pre-orders in hand. Springer has required a minimum of 150 pre-orders in order to publish the proceedings. It was decided to publish proceeding with the number of pre-orders we are getting even though this might result in a 3000$ expense for IAG. It was mentioned that we might be saving a corresponding amount on the Travaux. The President proposed that e-mails are written to all IAG participants at the IUGG shortly after the meeting to ask once more for pre-orders.

 B. Earth Science Focus on Urban Issues.

During the last four years the IUGG has drawn attention to what earth sciences can do to urban regions in the future. Its was discussed in which manner IAG can contribute to solving urban problems. The issued was postponed to the next EC meeting.

C. Advertising IAG

W. Torge strongly recommended that the next EC take up the issue of advertising the IAG in the next 4-year period.

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