Dr. Yun Zhang Wins
2005 Talbert Abrams Grand Award

The Talbert Abrams Award is the highest paper award offered by the ASPRS.

Talbert "Ted" Abrams (1895-1990) was a pioneer in the field of aerial photography and mapping. He had life-long interests in aviation, centering around experimental aircraft, commercial airline service and aerial photography. He served in the United States Air Corps during and after World War I and started the ABC (Always Be Careful) Airline in 1922.

The following year, Abrams left the airline industry and founded Abrams Aerial Survey Corporation in 1923. Developing his own aerial survey cameras, he made his first aerial survey for the Michigan State Highway Department in September 1925.

In 1937 Ted Abrams formed the Abrams Aircraft Corporation. The purpose of this company was to design and build a better aircraft for aerial photography. This led to the design and construction of the Abrams Model P-1 Explorer, the first aircraft created for the sole purpose of aerial photography. The plane saw extensive use up to World War II.

Ted Abrams is noted for his long and illustrious career in developing the state-of-the-art aerial photography adopted and used around the world today.

The award winners: Vincent Tao, York University; Yun Zhang, UNB GGE; Bryan Mercer, InterMap Technologies. (Photo: Photographer unknown, 2005-March-9)