354
June 2020
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
On March 24, 2020, David C.
Smith (81) passed away peaceful-
ly at his home in Portland, Ore-
gon, surrounded by his family.
Dave was a Certified Photogram-
metrist and Professional Land
Surveyor and the founder of
David C. Smith and Associates,
Inc., a photogrammetric mapping
company located in Portland,
Oregon. Dave was a long-time
member of ASPRS, one of the
original members of MAPPS
when it was formed in 1982
and served one term as MAPPS
president. Dave remained active
in both organizations for many
years; he was also an active
member of ACSM, Professional
Land Surveyors of Oregon and
the Professional Land Surveyors
of Washington.
Dave became interested in surveying and photogramme-
try at Oregon State College (now Oregon State Univer-
sity) during course work taken in working towards his
Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry, which he earned
in 1960. While in college Dave worked summers fighting
forest fires for the State of Oregon and was enrolled in the
Army ROTC program. Upon earning his degree, Dave
was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army.
In 1962, following his service in the army, Dave worked
briefly as a timber cruiser for Weyerhauser before moving
to Portland to pursue a career in photogrammetry and
surveying. He initially worked for KB Wood & Associates,
Inc. before purchasing the mapping business from Mr.
Wood and forming his own photogrammetry company,
David C. Smith and Associates, in 1965.
Dave was a pioneer in the
photogrammetry industry and
embraced new technologies. He
was an early adopter of ortho-
photography, digital mapping,
analytical aero-triangulation
and other emerging photo-
grammetry technologies in the
1970’s and 1980’s. He was very
successful in business, choosing
to keep the company as a small
family business in order to bal-
ance his passion for his business
with his love of family, church
and the outdoors. He spent his
free time hunting, fishing, bik-
ing, skiing, golfing, vacationing
with his children and grand-
children and traveling with his
wife Marilyn. Currently, David
C. Smith and Associates, Inc. is
run by Dave’s two sons, Scott
and Doug Smith.
Dave is survived by his wife, Marilyn Smith, his three
children and his four grandchildren.
In Memoriam
David C. Smith
November 30, 1938 to March 24, 2020
