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Obituary; Kurt Schwidefsky, honorary member of ISPRS
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Photogrammetria, 41 (1987) 200-201 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - - Printed in The Netherlands
Reports Section OBITUARY; KURT SCHWIDEFSKY, HONORARY MEMBER OF ISPRS Professor Dr. rer. techn. Dr. Ing. E.h. Kurt Schwidefsky died in August 1986. His life was devoted to photogrammetry and he has significantly influenced the scientific development in his field which brought him high recognition and esteem well beyond the boundaries of Germany. A wide circle of colleagues, friends and former students joins his family in deep grief. Prof. Schwidefsky's professional carreer started in 1925 when he enrolled in Surveying Engineering at the Technical University in Berlin. He soon became interested in photogrammetry and received a doctorate degree in 1930 from the Technical University in Braunschweig based on his dissertation entitled "Architectural Surveys with the Aid of Stere,)photogrammetry". Subsequently, he returned to Berlin to work with Prof. O. Lacmann as scientific assistant at the Institute for Photogrammetry. His first book, published in 1935, dealt with the "Theory and Development of Rectifiers" and highlighted his talent in dealing with instrumental problems, l:n the same year he joined the Carl Zeiss Company in Jena as member of Prof. von Gruber's Scientific Group. Already in 1936, Dr. Schwidefsky published "Introduction into Aerial and Terrestrial Photogrammetry". This book became famous as a textbook for students and as a hand-book for generations of photogrammetrists, primarily beause of its rich information content, presented in a clear and concise form. The fact that the book was published in 6 revised editions, thus reflecting up to date developments in photogrammetry, and also that it was translated into several languages, speaks fi)r itself. Dr. Schwidefsky further impacted on the dissemination of photogrammetric knowledge by his active participation in the "Introductory Courses in Photogrammetry", held at that time in Jena under the direction of O.v. Gruber, R. Hugershoff and E.O. Messter. After the premature death of Prof. v. Gruber in 1942, Dr. Schwidefsky became Head of the Photogrammetry Division of Carl Zeiss, Jena. He remained in this position until the end of World War II, even though he had accepted a call from the Technical University in Dresden in 1943 t.o succeed the late Prof. Hugershoff, but had been granted a temporary leave. In the summer of 1945, Prof. Schwidefsky along with other leading personnel of the Carl Zeiss Company, was brought to Oberkochen in southern Germany, where the Zeiss factory was to be reestablished. He played an important part in this, and then moved on to Wetzlar, where from 1947-1951 he was Scientific Director of M. Hensoldt and Sons, an optical company and Zeiss subsidary. In 1951 Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen was permitted to resume work in photogrammetry, and Prof, Schwidefsky returned to again assume the position as Head of its Photogrammetry Division. In cooperation with Zeiss-Aerotopograph in Munich, soon a complete array of photogrammetric equipment, ranging from cameras to plotters was being offered. Among them were several new instruments, whose design was substantially influenced by Prof. Schwidefsky's personal contribution. In the decade after World War II, Prof. Schwidefsky actively pursued the refounding of the
0031-8663/87/$03.50
© 1987 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
20t German Society for Photogrammetry and was instrumental in seeking its admission into the International Society for Photogrammetry which was granted during the 1952 Congress in Washington, D.C. He further contributed to OEEPE (Organisation Europdenne d'Etudes Photogramm~triques Exp~rimentales) which was founded in 1953. Starting in 1951 he reintroduced, together with Prof. R. Finsterwalder in Munich, the "Photogrammetric Weeks". This continuing education venture had been started in 1909 in Jena, and after moving from Munich to Karlsruhe and then on to Stuttgart, is still successfully continuing. The year 1960 represents another milestone in Prof. Schwidefsky's carreer, as he accepted a call by the Technical University in Karlsruhe to become Professor and Head of the Institute for Photogrammetry and Topography. In this newly established institute, Prof. Schwidefsky could apply his vast knowledge and experience to build up an excellent program for his students and to generate an atmosphere in which photogrammetric research and development could flourish. In the eleven years until his retirement in 1971, he managed to establish an exemplary teaching and research institution. The change in emphasis from analogue to digital methods was promoted along with developments in close-range photogrammetry, photo interpretation and remote sensing. During this time, Prof. Schwidefsky continued his strong involvement with professional associations. He was President of the German Society for Photogrammetry from 1960-1964 and of Commission II of ISP (Plotting Theory, Methods and Instruments) for the period 1964-1968. He served as editor of "Bildmessung und Luftbildwesen", the journal of the German Society for Photogrammetry, from 1962 to 1977 and was highly respected and esteemed because of his strong personal engagement and clear and fair approach. Prof. Schwidefsky received a number of well-deserved honours: The German Society for Photogrammetry honored him with an Honorary Membership in 1965 and made him Honorary President in 1971. The International Society for Photogrammetry bestowed upon him an Honorary Membership in 1972, and the Technical University in Berlin conferred to him an Honorary Doctorate (Dr. Ing. E.h.) in 1972. In 1975 the Technical University in Karlsruhe issued a Scientific Brochure in honour of his 70th birthday, and in 1985 hosted a Scientific Colloquium in honour of his 80th birthday. The latter was followed by a reception, which for many participants turned out to be the last opportunity to meet Prof. Schwidefsky. All of us who have had the privilege to know him, will remember him with gratitude and reverence. H. BELZNER (FRG) and W. FAIG (Canada)
Photogrammetria, 41 (1987) 200-201 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - - Printed in The Netherlands
Reports Section OBITUARY; KURT SCHWIDEFSKY, HONORARY MEMBER OF ISPRS Professor Dr. rer. techn. Dr. Ing. E.h. Kurt Schwidefsky died in August 1986. His life was devoted to photogrammetry and he has significantly influenced the scientific development in his field which brought him high recognition and esteem well beyond the boundaries of Germany. A wide circle of colleagues, friends and former students joins his family in deep grief. Prof. Schwidefsky's professional carreer started in 1925 when he enrolled in Surveying Engineering at the Technical University in Berlin. He soon became interested in photogrammetry and received a doctorate degree in 1930 from the Technical University in Braunschweig based on his dissertation entitled "Architectural Surveys with the Aid of Stere,)photogrammetry". Subsequently, he returned to Berlin to work with Prof. O. Lacmann as scientific assistant at the Institute for Photogrammetry. His first book, published in 1935, dealt with the "Theory and Development of Rectifiers" and highlighted his talent in dealing with instrumental problems, l:n the same year he joined the Carl Zeiss Company in Jena as member of Prof. von Gruber's Scientific Group. Already in 1936, Dr. Schwidefsky published "Introduction into Aerial and Terrestrial Photogrammetry". This book became famous as a textbook for students and as a hand-book for generations of photogrammetrists, primarily beause of its rich information content, presented in a clear and concise form. The fact that the book was published in 6 revised editions, thus reflecting up to date developments in photogrammetry, and also that it was translated into several languages, speaks fi)r itself. Dr. Schwidefsky further impacted on the dissemination of photogrammetric knowledge by his active participation in the "Introductory Courses in Photogrammetry", held at that time in Jena under the direction of O.v. Gruber, R. Hugershoff and E.O. Messter. After the premature death of Prof. v. Gruber in 1942, Dr. Schwidefsky became Head of the Photogrammetry Division of Carl Zeiss, Jena. He remained in this position until the end of World War II, even though he had accepted a call from the Technical University in Dresden in 1943 t.o succeed the late Prof. Hugershoff, but had been granted a temporary leave. In the summer of 1945, Prof. Schwidefsky along with other leading personnel of the Carl Zeiss Company, was brought to Oberkochen in southern Germany, where the Zeiss factory was to be reestablished. He played an important part in this, and then moved on to Wetzlar, where from 1947-1951 he was Scientific Director of M. Hensoldt and Sons, an optical company and Zeiss subsidary. In 1951 Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen was permitted to resume work in photogrammetry, and Prof, Schwidefsky returned to again assume the position as Head of its Photogrammetry Division. In cooperation with Zeiss-Aerotopograph in Munich, soon a complete array of photogrammetric equipment, ranging from cameras to plotters was being offered. Among them were several new instruments, whose design was substantially influenced by Prof. Schwidefsky's personal contribution. In the decade after World War II, Prof. Schwidefsky actively pursued the refounding of the
0031-8663/87/$03.50
© 1987 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
20t German Society for Photogrammetry and was instrumental in seeking its admission into the International Society for Photogrammetry which was granted during the 1952 Congress in Washington, D.C. He further contributed to OEEPE (Organisation Europdenne d'Etudes Photogramm~triques Exp~rimentales) which was founded in 1953. Starting in 1951 he reintroduced, together with Prof. R. Finsterwalder in Munich, the "Photogrammetric Weeks". This continuing education venture had been started in 1909 in Jena, and after moving from Munich to Karlsruhe and then on to Stuttgart, is still successfully continuing. The year 1960 represents another milestone in Prof. Schwidefsky's carreer, as he accepted a call by the Technical University in Karlsruhe to become Professor and Head of the Institute for Photogrammetry and Topography. In this newly established institute, Prof. Schwidefsky could apply his vast knowledge and experience to build up an excellent program for his students and to generate an atmosphere in which photogrammetric research and development could flourish. In the eleven years until his retirement in 1971, he managed to establish an exemplary teaching and research institution. The change in emphasis from analogue to digital methods was promoted along with developments in close-range photogrammetry, photo interpretation and remote sensing. During this time, Prof. Schwidefsky continued his strong involvement with professional associations. He was President of the German Society for Photogrammetry from 1960-1964 and of Commission II of ISP (Plotting Theory, Methods and Instruments) for the period 1964-1968. He served as editor of "Bildmessung und Luftbildwesen", the journal of the German Society for Photogrammetry, from 1962 to 1977 and was highly respected and esteemed because of his strong personal engagement and clear and fair approach. Prof. Schwidefsky received a number of well-deserved honours: The German Society for Photogrammetry honored him with an Honorary Membership in 1965 and made him Honorary President in 1971. The International Society for Photogrammetry bestowed upon him an Honorary Membership in 1972, and the Technical University in Berlin conferred to him an Honorary Doctorate (Dr. Ing. E.h.) in 1972. In 1975 the Technical University in Karlsruhe issued a Scientific Brochure in honour of his 70th birthday, and in 1985 hosted a Scientific Colloquium in honour of his 80th birthday. The latter was followed by a reception, which for many participants turned out to be the last opportunity to meet Prof. Schwidefsky. All of us who have had the privilege to know him, will remember him with gratitude and reverence. H. BELZNER (FRG) and W. FAIG (Canada)