June 5, 2026. The Principal Research Scientist at the Laboratory of Geodynamics of the Geophysical Center RAS, D.Sc. Vladimir Kaftan is celebrating his 75th birthday.

Today we celebrate the anniversary of D.Sc. Vladimir Kaftan – a renowned scientist whose research interests include the mathematical processing and interpretation of geodetic observations of contemporary crustal movements, as well as GNSS-based geodynamic monitoring of deformations.

Among the numerous results of Vladimir Kaftan's scientific activity is the development of an algorithm for the mathematical processing and interpretation of geodetic observations of crustal movements. The scientist obtained results determining the movements and deformations of the Earth's crust in the USSR and geodynamic active regions. He developed the method of sequential analysis of the dominant harmonics for the analysis of hidden periodicities in time series of geophysical processes. Vladimir Kaftan created polyperiodic approximation models of geophysical processes. He proposed a number of algorithms: a re-equalization algorithm for irregular precision leveling to determine the heights and vertical movements of the Earth's surface; an algorithm for geodynamic monitoring of deformations by GNSS; an equalization algorithm for combining the results of comparisons of absolute gravimeters.

Vladimir Kaftan was born on June 5, 1951, in Moscow. In 1971, he graduated from the Moscow College of Geodesy and Cartography, and in 1977 from the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography (MIIGAiK) with a degree in applied geodesy. His diploma thesis on "Construction of Light-Distance Polygonal Networks in Urban Areas" was awarded a medal from the USSR Ministry of Education "For the Best Student Scientific Work".

In 1988, Vladimir Kaftan defended his candidate dissertation at the Central Research Institute of Geodesy, Aerial Photography and Mapping named after F. N. Krasovsky (PhD in engineering science, specialty “Geodesy’) on the topic "Mathematical-Statistical Analysis of Geodetic Observations of Earth's Surface Movements", and in 2003, his doctoral dissertation at the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering (Doctor of Engineering Science, specialty "Geoinformatics") on the topic "Temporal Analysis of Geospatial Data: Kinematic Models".

Vladimir Kaftan's career began in 1971 at the Moscow Aerogeodetic Enterprise, where he carried out field and office work on the construction and development of state and urban geodetic networks. In 1990, Vladimir Kaftan moved to the Central Research Institute of Geodesy, Aerial Survey, and Cartography as a senior researcher in the laboratory of satellite geodesy and geodynamics. From 1995 to 1997, he worked as a leading specialist in the natural emergencies department at the central office of the Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Disaster Relief (EMERCOM of Russia), then as head of the laboratory of satellite geodesy and geodynamics at the Central Research Institute of Geodesy, Aerial Survey, and Cartography.

Currently, Vladimir Kaftan is a principal research scientist at the Laboratory of Geodynamics of the Geophysical Center RAS.

Since 2009, Vladimir Kaftan has been Deputy Chairman of Geodesy Section of the National Geophysical Committee RAS, and since 2017, a member of the Committee for Awarding the F. N. Krasovsky Prize.

Vladimir Kaftan has combined his scientific work with pedagogical activity. He has been a professor at the Agrarian and Technological Institute of the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. He has delivered lectures and workshops at the Moscow College of Geodesy and Cartography, Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, Russian University of Transport, and the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Under Vladimir Kaftan's scientific supervision, four candidate dissertations have been defended. Additionally, the scientist has engaged in international activities, participating in working groups of the North Geodetic Commission, the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), and the Belmont Forum. Vladimir Kaftan is involved in publishing, serving on the editorial boards of the journals Real Estate Cadastre, Earth Sciences, and the Russian Journal of Earth Sciences.

Vladimir Kaftan is a co-author of the monographs "Gravimetry and Geodesy", "GLONASS and Geodesy", the scientific-technical collection "Astronomy, Geodesy and Geophysics", several textbooks and a bibliographic collection, as well as the author of 250 scientific articles. He is among the Top 100 most cited Russian scientists in the "Geodesy and Cartography" category.

The scientist's achievements have been recognized with the awards "Excellent Worker of Geodesy and Cartography" (1999), "Honorary Geodesist" (2001), and "Honorary Worker of Science and High Technologies of the Russian Federation" (2024). For his significant personal contribution to the establishment and development of the geodesy and cartography industry, and for his active work in promoting and implementing scientific and technical achievements, he was awarded a commemorative medal "100 Years of the Establishment of the Higher Geodetic Administration" (2019) by the Russian Society of Geodesy, Cartography, and Land Management.

The staff of the Geophysical Center RAS warmly congratulates Vladimir Kaftan on his anniversary. We wish him longevity, good health, and continued success in science!