2005 Fellow

Presented to: Larry D. Hothem

Citation: For sustained contributions to the development and application of geodesy and surveying techniques and professional leadership at the national and international level.

Larry D. Hothem has 40 years of practical and developmental experience in geopositioning technologies, including over 20 years of involvement in applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS). As a senior physical scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Department of Interior (DOI), Reston, VA, he leads and advises in implementing GNSS and integrated measurement technologies that meet geopositioning needs of the USGS earth-science programs, including the science research program in Antarctica.

Mr. Hothem's current applied research interests and work activities are in the integration of GNSS and inertial measuring units for accurate positioning and orientation of airborne platforms while operating sensors that include digital cameras and laser scanning instrumentation.

Other professional activities include serving as: USGS/ DOI technical representative at senior-level meetings concerned with developing policies affecting the future for GPS; expert and advisor on teams developing and revising standards for geospatial information by the American National Standards Institute and the International Standards Organization; and USGS principal representative to the Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee of the Federal Geographic Data Committee. He recently participated as the DOI technical representative on the working group that prepared the new policy for GPS – the 2004 U.S. Space-based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Policy.

Mr. Hothem is active in many national and international professional organizations. As an active member of the ION since 1986, Mr. Hothem served on the Council as Land Technical Representative 1990-'92 and 1995-'97, Treasurer 1997-'02, Executive Vice-President 2002-'03, and President 2003-'04. He served as session chair at numerous ION meetings, as program chair for ION GPS 2000, and as general chair of ION GPS 2001. In 1996, he received the ASCE Surveying and Mapping Award. Other professional achievements include: a four-year term (1994-98) as chair, Commission 5, Positioning and Measurement, FIG; a 2-year term (1996-98) as a member of the Geomatics Engineering Advisory Committee, University of Calgary; and as a member of the editorial advisory board since the founding of the trade magazine "GPS World."

Mr. Hothem has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, University of Cincinnati; a Diploma in Electronic Engineering Technology, Capital Radio Engineering Institute; and completed graduate courses in geodetic science at George Washington University.