DR. ROBERT MOSES, WHO WAS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PCI GEOMATICS, PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY OF A HEART ATTACK ON MAY 3, 2010. HIS UNTIMELY DEATH WAS TRAGIC AND PAINFUL FOR THOSE OF US WHO KNEW HIM AS A FRIEND, AND A VERY UNFORTUNATE LOSS FOR THE GEOSPATIAL COMMUNITY WHERE HE HAS BEEN WIDELY KNOWN FOR INNOVATION AND GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT.
A real humanitarian and a “citizen of the world” in the truest sense, Bob Moses will be missed.
Dr. Moses believed that “geomatics” plays a vital role in helping make the world a better, healthier place. His career was a testament to this belief. He was an exceptional leader, a visionary, and a businessman who never forgot his fundamental values. We remember him in these pages for his qualities as a man and applaud Sanjay Kumar and the sponsors of Geospatial World Forum for memorialising him for his qualities as technologist and statesman by instituting the Geospatial World Forum’s annual Dr. Robert Moses Memorial keynote address. Dr. Moses’ career in the information technology industry began after several years of practicing emergency medicine in Toronto, when he developed an interest in artificial intelligence and expert systems. His work with geospatial imaging began when that small company’s parallel-processor supercomputer won Industrial Research Assistance Program award. He then began his relationship with PCI, a company already proficient in image analysis technology, with the objective of merging its advanced development with supercomputer processing. Dr. Moses became President of the expanded PCI in 1990 and throughout the following decade led PCI away from proprietary, hardware-based systems to non-proprietary, open systems software development. Under Dr. Moses’ leadership, PCI Geomatics grew from a single office, single product company into one of the world’s most successful geomatics solution providers.
I first met Bob in the late 1980s when he became interested in a project I led for a major technology manufacturer involving creation of a document management system to support GIS and remote sensing workflow applications. With his help, our team demonstrated its first elementary steps toward interoperability in the coordination of multiple geospatial and data management products in a single GIS workflow application. During the following years, his encouragement and material support accelerated the formation of the “open source” Open GIS Foundation, predecessor to OGC. His generous support during the first “evangelising” period of OGC’s existence made it possible for our small band of enthusiasts, working out of PCI offices in Washington DC, to organise support for the creation of the consortium. Bob thoroughly enjoyed the “modest” distinction of being OGC’s first commercial sponsor and PCI being one of OGC’s true founding members. He provided help where help was needed through his many industry contacts, his staff resources, his constant encouragement and the enduring example of his commitment, over the years actively serving as a member of the OGC Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Bob was a remarkably high-minded businessman, always motivated to do something worthwhile, and never failing himself or those who depended on him. He spent much of his time on non-business activities. He was proudest of the part he played, together with his public sector colleagues, to create Geo- Connections, one of Natural Resources Canada’s most successful, internationally recognised programmes. The work he did, together with NRCAN Assistant Deputy Minister Irwin Itzkovitch, and then NRCAN Minister Herb Dahliwal, serves as a model of disinterested commitment and an enduring lesson in constructive governance.
Bob developed PCI’s international approach and turned PCI into one of the most effective privately owned technology companies in Canada. There were many suitors over the years who would acquire PCI and exploit the richnness of its offerings, but he had a different vision, a vision of transformation for good – for the good of the industry and the good that the industry could do.
PCI, OGC and GeoConnections are all manifestations of Bob’s lifelong interest in global harmony and in the development of creative and productive relationships that spanned geography and domains of interest. Bob was active and generous in his relationships with universities and research organisations. At the same time he understood the importance of building the imaging market as a real business. Bob proved instrumental in shaping the imaging market’s core business model over the years, quietly building far-sighted strategic relationships with friends and competitors working toward a public good.
| I had the privilege to work with Dr. Moses for more than a decade, first as an advisor to me as Minister of Natural Resources for the Canadian Government and then as a board member for PCI. Dr. Moses was a wonderful human being, always occupied with the global issues of the day and always searching for solutions to make the world a better place by empowering individuals. I was lucky to get to know Dr. Moses better during our many trips to India. He was a person of great compassion for the human condition and how information technology could improve the lives of the less fortunate and empower all citizens of the world.
Dr. Moses was truly a global citizen, always engaged on how to make the world a better place for all its citizens. He will be dearly missed by all of us. The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal |
| Bob Moses was a truly exceptional individual and community builder. Whether in business or in personal pursuits, Bob strived to expand networks and bring people together. There were no “outsiders,” only new people to meet and opportunities to become partners and friends. Those who witnessed his passion and dedication knew that his true calling was to make a difference. For this, we can be forever grateful for the communities he built, those he nurtured and for the people he brought together. Jeff Labonte Director General, Petroleum Resources Branch, Energy Sector, Natural Resources Canada |
| I first went to work for Bob as a direct result of a vision he had in the early 1990s. The vision, which included the acquisition of multiple remote sensing, photogrammetric, GIS and cartographic companies, was one of integrating what were then four distinctly separate technology streams into a series of open but connected geospatial technologies bound together by imagery at the centre. Bob firmly believed that this approach would bring international commercial success while delivering the much needed information in a faster and more cost effective way to support effective environmental stewardship practices. Over the ensuing years, Bob built a lean, efficient, nimble and forward looking image centric organisation while the industry went through (and continues to gob through) dramatic and potentially disruptive transformations. He is missed, but Bob’s strategic vision continues to be a pillar for the future of not only PCI but the industry in general. I look forward to contributing to strive to meet his ultimate goal of making the world a better place while building a profitable organisation with a truly global impact. Trevor Taylor Director of Business Development, PCI Geomatics |
| I met Bob, or Dr. Bob as he liked to be called, in the mid 1990s when I was working with Noranda and we both were appointed to advisory committees to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada and the Science Minister for Canada. We quickly became friends. We loved to argue about science and technology policy issues and in later years, about business issues as well as life in general. When I joined the public service and moved to Ottawa, Canada, our friendship grew and so did my appreciation of him, not only as a dedicated businessman and visionary but more importantly as a sensitive, caring and loving human being. Recounting the story of why he left emergency medicine, Bob would say that he couldn’t stand watching people die while he tried his utmost to give them life. The medical profession lost a great man but because of his sensitivity to human suffering he pursued his first love, geomatics. The world is in many ways better off for his decision. He gave himself freely with no expectation or desire for personal or business gain in return. He served his country and province with great insight, vision and wisdom, serving on many advisory boards and was my counsel on many occasions. He was there for me during a very difficult change process that we were instituting in the Government of Canada. He was a very personal man. He suffered his own trials and tribulations without burdening others with them. On the other hand, he was the first to offer his help when others were having difficulties in their personal life or otherwise. I am thankful for the short time we had together. My wife, children and I considered him part of our extended family. He celebrated many holidays at our house and attended weddings of two of my daughters. We enjoyed comparing our grandchildren. I am proud to have known Bob, if ever so briefly. I and my entire family miss him terribly and trust that he is resting in peace. Dr. Irwin Itzkovitch Retired Assistant Deputy Minister Earth Sciences Sector, Natural Resources Canada |
| Bob Moses was a man with great vision and dedication to serve and contribute towards a better world. His passion and charming personality and an ability to communicate his viewpoints were fascinating and demonstrated his clarity of thought, goodwill and intent. I had the privilege to meet him personally on many occasions during conferences in India, Malaysia, and China. But I cannot forget an exclusive meeting with Bob over dinner in Toronto in November 2008. I was quite excited and full of hope for a great learning opportunity. I had a few specific ideas to discuss. I am not sure what motivated and convinced me to share these ideas with him, and today I think it was his charismatic personality and positive vibes. Bob had no clue about what I had in mind, but very interestingly, he began discussions on somewhat related topics, which means he could anticipate my thoughts. As expected, he responded in a very positive and constructive manner, suggesting ways and means to further pursue and implement my ideas. He not only encouraged me to continue with my idea, but also assured me that he would take a few initial steps towards realising and testing those thoughts. And when I got a message about the Global Advisory Council of OGC, I could very well relate that some parts of our discussions have been realised already. I felt very privileged when he asked me to join the GAC. Credit goes to Bob for inspiring and motivating me to serve its noble cause. Sanjay Kumar CEO, GIS Development Pvt. Ltd. |
Most recently, Bob played a lead role in starting the OGC Global Advisory Council, an extended committee of the OGC board of directors. It was his idea, he was its Chair and he gave it the impetus to grow and find its influential role. He felt the need to create a global process to promote the values and concepts that animated the work of OGC and to promote the universal benefit derived from bringing greater clarity of thought through vision and an actual understanding of the physical world.
Bob served in advisory positions of a number of associations and government bodies. Until he passed away, he also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), as Vice Chair of the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), member of the Conference Board of Canada – Leaders’ Panel on Innovation-Based Commerce and of the York University Advisory Board (Engineering). Over the years, among the many public service responsibilities he assumed, he chaired or served as member of the government of Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Science and Technology, Council of Science and Technology Advisors and the National Advisory Board on Earth Sciences.
In a decade when much attention is given to electronic social networks, a look at the life of Bob Moses elevates the discussion, showing what one individual can do by personally working creatively and diligently with others in many different communities. The geospatial industry’s human network nodes and personal hotspots that are his legacy live on. It is my great privilege and pleasure to have known Dr. Bob Moses and to have worked with him in the OGC. Many who read these words will share with me not only the grief of his passing but also gratitude for an inheritance that continues to affect our lives.
David Schell
Chairman, Open Geospatial Consortium
