More than 2,500 delegates are expected to inject more than $25 million into the Victorian economy when they attend the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Congress in 2012.

Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the Congress, to be held at the new Melbourne Convention Centre, will include delegates from more than 100 countries discussing geo-spatial information, including remote sensing, mapping, mining surveying and photogrammetry.

“The ISPRS Congress was secured by the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) in partnership with Australia’s Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI),” he said. “A key focus of the congress will be on the potential for these fields to contribute to the well being of humanity and sustainability of the environment.”

Hosting the ISPRS Congress will benefit the spatial sciences community and will provide an opportunity to showcase the excellent work that is undertaken in Australia, and in particular in Victoria, in this field.

“This Congress will boost the Victorian economy, generating more than 18,000 room nights for Melbourne, and an economic impact of more than $25 million,” explained Jennings. “Business event visitors spend between five and six times more than the average visitor.”

MCVB chief executive Sandra Chipchase said winning the event underscored Melbourne’s exceptional bidding strategies.

“Melbourne’s worldwide reputation for, and expertise in, hosting major scientific Business Events is growing globally,” she said. “By working with Australia’s Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI), MCVB has secured this important Congress and will further establish Melbourne’s new Convention Centre’s reputation as a leading venue for hosting major scientific Business Events.”

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief executive, Leigh Harry, added: “The flexibility of the new centre and its outstanding design has combined with Melbourne’s expertise in science to win this international event.”

Commenting on the 2012 event, senior lecturer in Geomatics at Melbourne School of Engineering at The University of Melbourne, Cliff Ogleby, said: “The Spatial Sciences Institute is honoured to host its professional colleagues from around the world, and we are delighted that our profession’s global work in benefiting the community through areas such as environmental management will be highlighted in Melbourne.

“Australia has a long history in the innovative use of photogrammetry and remote sensing and is the home of several leading international experts in these fields.”