Recently, the story of an elderly scientist from Wuhan University has attracted attention in Hubei. This "photographer" of the land, who is in his 80s, has been deeply involved in the field of surveying and remote sensing for over 60 years. He has been instrumental in advancing China's digital image surveying technology, starting from scratch and moving towards international leadership. This esteemed scientist is none other than Academician Zhang Zuxun of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Academician Zhang Zuxun. Image provided by the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology
Introducing China's first fully digital automatic mapping device
After more than 60 years of research in photogrammetry and remote sensing, Academician Zhang Zuxun has been dedicated to the study of these fields. In order to break the international technological monopoly, he and his team spent 14 years exploring and finally launched China's first fully digital automatic mapping device. This achievement not only filled the gap in the domestic field of science and technology but also gained worldwide attention, earning recognition from international peers.
When talking about photogrammetry and remote sensing technology, Zhang Zuxun admitted that when he entered university in 1955, he didn't even know what "surveying" was. He became interested in photogrammetry when he saw a reflection mirror and two photos placed underneath it, which made the mountains appear elevated. He realized that there was knowledge to be gained in this field and decided to choose photogrammetry as his area of study.
In the 1970s, China's surveying and mapping industry had a difficult start. In 1976, Zhang Zuxun was sent to study at the most advanced aerial survey instrument factory in Switzerland. He described the experience as being like "Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden." It was during this time that he recognized the technological gap between China and the rest of the world. From then on, Zhang Zuxun made up his mind to give Chinese surveying and remote sensing technology a place in the international arena.
In 1978, Zhang Zuxun's teacher, Mr. Wang Zhizhuo, proposed that China should take the path of fully digital automatic mapping in photogrammetry. At that time, most people, both domestically and internationally, believed that "film is the best carrier of images," and the idea ...
Academician Zhang Zuxun is guiding students. Image provided by Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology. Donating one million CNY to reward young teachers. When it comes to transitioning from being a dreamer in scientific research to being a guide in scientific research, Zhang Zuxun attributes his achievements to "encountering a good teacher." He believes that the development of science lies in the relay of talents and the inheritance of education.
As a university teacher, Zhang Zuxun has never forgotten the mission of imparting knowledge. The theoretical innovations, original algorithms, and optimization plans after repeated trials and errors have all been condensed into the textbook "Digital Photogrammetry." This milestone textbook has benefited hundreds of thousands of people and has played a significant role in cultivating professionals.
With a career in scientific research and education spanning over 60 years, Zhang Zuxun has been surrounded by talented individuals of all ages. Now, he is passing the baton to younger teachers.
In order to encourage young teachers, in 2017, Zhang Zuxun donated one million CNY to the School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering at Wuhan University and proposed the establishment of the "Teaching and Educating Award" to encourage outstanding teachers who work hard in frontline teaching and are loved by students.
In 2021, Zhang Zuxun received a prestigious teaching award. Subsequently, he donated the entire prize of one million CNY to the School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering at Wuhan University to enrich the "Teaching and Educating Award."
"There is no better way to use the prize money from the outstanding teaching award than to reward the young and outstanding teachers in teaching," Zhang Zuxun said with a smile.
Time flies, and it has been more than a century since Zhang Zuxun devoted...
