FIG Bulletin

No. 69, June 1999

This is the www-edition of the FIG Bulletin, you can either read it in HTML format or view/ download the printed version in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format. 

View as PDF file (to download, instead, right click on icon and choose Save target as, or equivalent command).

If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it free from Adobe Web site.

Contents

Editorial comment
FIG visits Habitat and UNEP
Working week 1999
FIG-UN relations
Commissions
News
Short notices
New publications

FIG meets in Sun City

The FIG working week and XXII General Assembly took place in Sun City, South Africa from 30 May to 5 June. 37 member associations were represented at the General Assembly and in total over 350 delegates from 43 countries – among them 13 African countries - attended the Conference “Survey ‘99” with the theme "Africa: succeeding in the face of change". The technical programme consisted of 20 sessions and three workshops covering issues from all FIG nine technical commissions – from GIS to valuation and from engineering surveys to construction economics. Technical tours included a visit to Soweto on South Africa’s election day. The working week was the first FIG administrative meeting to be held in Africa for nearly 30 years and followed on from seminars arranged jointly with other organisations in Harare (in 1995) and in Durban (in 1997).

The working week and Survey’99 were successfully hosted by the South African Council for Professional and technical Surveyors and its President Ken Lester. The capable and professional conference team was led by Lance Nel.

The working week in Sun City was the last for the UK Bureau under President Prof. Peter Dale. The new US-chaired Bureau under Mr Robert W. Foster will take over at the change over meeting in Washington on 7 November 1999.

FIG visits Habitat and UNEP

The incoming FIG President Robert Foster, Prof. Ian Williamson, Director FIG-UN Liaison and Director Markku Villikka, FIG office visited UNCHS (Habitat) and UNEP in May.

At the meeting with Daniel Biau, Deputy Executive Director of UNCHS (Habitat) the memorandum of understanding between FIG and Habitat 1997–1998 was evaluated and its extension for 1999 signed. Both organisations were very pleased to the results and experiences from the first two years. It seemed to be obvious that FIG is highly respected in Habitat as a partner who can keep its promises.

In the extension agreement Habitat has agreed to participate to the UN/FIG conference in Melbourne and roundtable meeting in Bathurst. The report from conference will be presented at the session of the Habitat Commission on sustainable development scheduled for 2000. FIG will contribute to the arrangements of a regional seminar on large scale mapping in Nairobi in October. The main point in the protocol is, however, that in 1999 another two years agreement will be prepared to coincide with the Habitat work plan 2000–2001. FIG is looking forward to participate and contribute in the preparations for the Special Session of the General Assembly on Istanbul + 5 that will take place in June 2001.

Very successful additional meetings were held with Habitat experts and sector leaders on the issues, how FIG can best contribute in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and Global Plan of Action. The final agreement will be prepared in co-operation with FIG commissions so that the protocol can be signed in Melbourne. Ms. Sylvie Lacroux, Coordinator, Land and Tenure Unit was responsible for the arrangements and meetings in Nairobi and her personal capacity was for great benefit to gain the excellent results from the meetings.

At the UNEP headquarters the delegation met with Mr Shafqat Kakakhel, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP. Discussions on the FIG future cooperation with UN Environmental Programme were very positive and as a result UNEP will be represented at the UN/FIG conference in Melbourne. Further possibilities to create permanent relations with UNEP and possible protocol will be studied.

Also in this issue…

• President’s keynote address. FIG President Peter Dale’s keynote address at the opening ceremony of the FIG working week in Sun City.
• FIG-signs MoU with Habitat and ICEC. FIG signed a memorandum of understanding with the ICEC at the opening ceremony of Survey’99 and extended the MoU with Habitat by the end of 1999 while preparing a new for 2000-2001.
• FIG-UN relations. FIG high level visit to UNEP and UNCHS (Habitat); Director visits Habitat 17th Session; Benefits of UN co-operation by Ian Williamson, Director FIG-UN Liaison.
• Commission 5 meeting in Gävle. Commission 5 arranged a seminar in Sweden focussing on the heights.
• Bureau visits Zimbabwe and Kenya. Vice-President Grahame Lindsay visited Zimbabwe with Vice-President Robert Foster and other FIG representatives Kenya on their way to the General Assembly.
• New Secretary-
  General. Rear Admiral Chris Andreasen is the new FIG Secretary- General 2000-2003.

Individuals can benefit from FIG

by Professor Peter Dale, President of FIG

FIG can now truly be said to be a global organisation that reaches out to all corners of the earth. As a Federation we are more than just the sum of our parts and it is that additional element in the equation that is the reason why we exist. As the world grows smaller and more complex, we need to recognise the important role that international non-government organisations like FIG can play.

It is of course a fact that an awareness of globalisation and concern for international affairs are not reflected equally amongst all practitioners. I am frequently asked why international activities are important since 99% of all surveyors make their living from activities carried out close to home. Why worry about other people’s problems when you have enough of your own?

An easy answer is to say that FIG creates opportunities for networking at a global level and for building business partnerships. While that is undoubtedly true, it may be of little help to the small town surveyor. If anything, such partnerships pose a threat rather than an opportunity for what I like to call the (one-off) surveyor.

It is also easy, to point out that nothing can happen these days even in one’s own back yard that may not have a global effect. FIG of course is a non-political organisation but is entitled to express the consensus views of its members on issues that are matters within the fields of expertise of the surveyor per se. These matters include sustainable development, rights of access to land, and the proper management of land resources; and since we are all in one way or another in the information management business, we also have a right to express certain views on the handling of land related information which must be done with impartiality, sensitivity and integrity.

It is however not easy to build a consensus view. Between countries there are many different perspectives that have resulted from each country’s unique historical experience and culture, resulting in the need for different solutions. We must respect these differences. We certainly recognised them in our draft code of ethics and professional conduct. It is because of these differences that FIG has a key role to play in showing the bigger picture, highlighting both the distinctions and the common elements between us. Through such means we can deepen the understanding of all surveyors about their responsibilities to the environment. By admitting these responsibilities, we can enhance the reputation of the profession and help to improve the world in which we live.

In spite of the differences to which I have just referred, there is much common ground. As Jonathon Porritt pointed out in his keynote speech in Brighton, you cannot buck the laws of science. Sustainability is not an option: it is a necessity. If we fail to work towards it, all life is threatened. The visits of FIG representatives to Nairobi in May showed how well placed we in FIG are to further the objectives of the United Nations Agenda 21 and the Global Plan of Action. We must respond to the opportunities that are created by the objectives listed in these documents - and by ‘we’ I mean not only those of us responsible for the administration of FIG but also each and every professional surveyor.

There are many ways in which we can respond. The forthcoming conference in Australia on land tenure is an excellent example of what can be done. This relatively small but highly focused international conference already has a high profile and will, I am sure, have a significant impact on the future. Land related issues are of great importance, both socially, economically, and environmentally. We in FIG have a unique contribution to make to the debate about how best to sustain and share the resources of this planet.

All the actions that we take at the centre of FIG are directed at what we see as the common good, reflecting the needs and commanding the active support of the member associations. There are some things that are better done from the centre, such as collaborating with other NGOs on a one-to-one basis as we have been doing with organisations such as FIABCI, CIB and the individual members of the IUSM.

Similarly we are collaborating with the United Nations, international funding agencies and the World Trade Organisation and seeking to influence international developments, for instance with regard to free trade and the opening up of foreign markets. Here it is important to recognise that FIG on its own is only one voice and that every individual member association has a role to play in influencing its government. It is governments not NGOs who make the big decisions hence all member associations should be talking to their relevant ministers, lobbying and demonstrating that they have something positive and constructive to say.

One objective of FIG is to provide educational and political – though not financial – support for the less developed countries, helping them to improve their professional services. The Bureau can give leadership but the success of any initiative is, again, dependent on the actions and support of the existing member associations. Helping the less fortunate is not just a matter of altruism for it helps the profession as a whole and hence the status of surveyors around the world. The process is also two-way since there is much to be learnt from each other, whatever the relative state of the donor or recipient.

I am anxious to encourage our member associations to be more proactive back home in promoting the profession to their politicians so that our voice is heard, to the young so that future generations will be attracted into the profession, and to the public at large so that they respect and understand all that we seek to do.

My message is therefore simple. The growth that we have undoubtedly seen in the activities of FIG should be matched by a growth in the number and variety of activities of our member associations.

This editorial is part of the keynote presentation that President Peter Dale gave at the opening ceremony of the FIG working week in Sun City, 1 June 1999. His whole paper is published on the FIG home page: http://www.ddl.org/FIGtree. The working week in Sun City was the fourth and final for the UK Bureau administration.

As the General Assembly in Sun City was the last for the UK Bureau there was more time for brainstorming and breakout sessions than normally. Perhaps the most interesting issue was the future governance models of the federation.

The task force, chaired by Dr Tom Kennie, Vice-President of FIG, launched its first discussion document at the first session. The presentation was followed by breakout sessions where e.g. suggestions for a directly elected Bureau and separating responsibility for the Bureau from that of running FIG’s quadrenniel congress were discussed. One of the reasons for reconsidering the governance issues is the establishment of the FIG office in Denmark at the beginning of this year which is giving FIG new possibilities to develop its activities.

Main results from the discussions were that there is a large support for the renewal of the current organisational framework and on elected President and Vice-Presidents and for electing Vice-Presidents on regional basis. There was further quite large support for biannual general assemblies and for regional working weeks in the years between. The next draft of the report will be prepared during the autumn so that it can be discussed first at the Bureau and ACCO meetings in Copenhagen in January and then at the General Assembly in Prague May 2000. The decisions on the future governance have to be taken in Seoul 2001 so that they are in use for the elections of the new Bureau and Congress venue for 2010. Further information and comments can be issued to Tom Kennie, e-mail: tkennie@compuserve.com.

Decisions at the General Assembly included the ratification of bilateral agreements with a number of other international organisations. These included memoranda of understanding between FIG and ICEC (The International Cost Engineering Council) which was signed at the opening ceremony and a similar agreement with CIB (the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction) which has already resulted in joints projects.

The General Assembly endorsed also the Bureau’s recommendation that FIG should terminate its membership of IUSM and instead seek to enter into bilateral agreements with each of its other members and ISPRS.

As results from commission, task force and permanent institution activities several reports were approved and special thanks recorded to their chairs and members.

The meeting is a starting point for the new US Bureau; the budget for 2000 and subscriptions for 2001 were adopted and the draft work plan for 2000–2003 was preliminary approved.

The permanent institution on the history of surveying got a new name ”International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement – A Permanent Institution of FIG”. The official address still remains at the Museum of History of Science in Oxford.

Ad hoc commission on construction economics continues

While the task force is studying the governance of FIG the General Assembly meanwhile decided that the ad hoc commission on construction economics and management should continue its work until the report from the task force is received.

The work of the commission has improved during the past year. At the Brighton congress the work plan was totally revised resulting in new activities in Sun City.

Up to 37 delegates attended the ad-hoc commission’s technical sessions and during the working week the inaugural meeting of the African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) took place. Discussions were held between the chairs of commissions to gain guidelines on standards and practice in construction economics. In addition, discussions on guidelines relating to the development of low-cost housing and its related infrastructures took place in Sun City. This is a new area of work for the ad-hoc commission but one in which there is great interest.

Five new members and academic members

The General Assembly admitted five national associations to membership of FIG which brings the total number to 76 from 67 countries. The new members are The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors from the UK, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Licensed Surveyors Association of Palestine. France is now represented in FIG by two member associations that are the Ordre des Géomètres-Experts and the Association Française de Topographie.

The new category of academic membership, introduced last year, is proving to be a big success, with at least 20 university departments about to be signed up. Even before launching the promotion leaflets in Sun City following five institutions have been approved to academic members. The 4 are The University of Melbourne, Department of Geomatics, University of Botswana, Department of Civil Engineering, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas de Bogotá, Facultad de Ingenieria, Aalborg University, School of Surveying and Planning and Sheffield Hallam University, School of Urban and Regional Studies from UK.

FIG attends the Habitat Session in Nairobi

Markku Villikka, Director of the FIG office, participated the UNCHS (Habitat) 17th Session in Nairobi in the beginning of May. It was the first time FIG was attending these bi-annual meetings as UNCHS professional partner.

The UNCHS (Habitat) 17th Session was the second after the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul 1996 and only two years prior to the UN General Assembly resolution to hold a Special Session in 2001 on Habitat II + 5.

The meeting took place at the United Nations Headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi 5–14 May 1999. The commission comprises of 58 countries each elected for a four-year term. The Session was attended by several UN agencies, partners like parliamentarians, local authorities and international NGOs. Among professional partners were FIG, IFHP, ISOCARP, FIABCI and CASLE. Totally about 600 people attended the Session.

Among the key-issues were

• Revitalisation of UNCHS (Habitat)
• Follow-up to the Habitat II Conference
• The new work programme of Habitat for the biennium 2000–2001
• Budget for 2000–2001
• Co-operation with partners

As the last meeting held in 1997 raised concerns about the management and using of Habitat funds, this meeting was very unanimous. This is a result to the fact that under Dr Klaus Toepfer, Acting Executive Director of UNCHS (Habitat) and Executive Director of UNEP, the administration of Habitat has been reorganised and the finances are now much better than two years ago. Many countries are considering, however, how the revitalisation programme will proceed.

Issues discussed were the proposal of developing Habitat to the City Agency of UN. Focussing all activities for megacities can turn to problems in middle size urban settlements even though urban-rural linkages have a high priority on the action list.

The programme of the 17th Session was a combination of plenary sessions and Committees I and II meetings that were responsible for preparations of the final statements. Three plenary sessions were arranged as dialogues with local authorities and other partners. The issues for these dialogues were Government and Local Authorities; The Divided City; and Shelter and Secure Tenure for the Urban Poor.

In addition eight Habitat Roundtables were arranged. They covered issues like World Bank Cities Initiative; Water for African Cities; Habitat’s support to Urban Governance; Housing Rights and Security of Tenure; State of the World’s Cities; Urban-Rural Synergies; Cities and Peace; and Strategies for Urban Poverty Eradication.

FIG was invited to attend the Habitat Roundtable on Housing rights and security of tenure. Over 100 delegates attended this session.

Further parallel events were arranged. These included the Roundtable on the Habitat Professionals Forum, which FIG was invited to attend as one of the panellists.

Visits to Nakuru and Mathare Valley in Nairobi were organised during the Session.

From FIG point of view the most important issue on the agenda of the Habitat Session was the work programme of Habitat for 2000–2001. The purpose is to develop Habitat to the UN City Agency and focus its work on certain themes. With an explicit focus on the urban poor, the work programme concentrates on those issues that will be most catalytic in achieving the goals of the Habitat Agenda. As outlined by the term plan 1998–2001 the strategies to achieve these goals include enablement and participation, capacity-building and institutional development.

During 2000–2001 Habitat will launch only two significant global campaigns, which have been chosen as strategic entry points into two Habitat Agenda themes of adequate shelter and sustainable urban settlements. The first one will be the global campaign for secure tenure and the second on urban governance. The work programme shall be implemented through two subprograms; Adequate shelter for all; and Sustainable urban development. All Habitat activities for 2000–2001 are considered in connection to these campaigns and subprograms. Especially the campaign on secure tenure will offer FIG good opportunities for co-operation with Habitat. Preliminary discussions on the new plan of action between Habitat and UN started already later in May during the FIG high level visit to Nairobi and were discussed with the FIG commissions in Sun City.

Markku Villikka met also privately with Dr Klaus Toepfer and has the opportunity to discuss FIG/UN co-operation. Dr. Toepfer considered very positively to the results of FIG/UN MoU for 1997–1998. It was agreed to sign its extension for 1999 during the FIG visit to Nairobi. Furthermore he was expecting FIG initiatives for the new agreement 2000–2001 and proposals how to proceed with the global campaigns. He was also very positive for the Habitat Professionals Forum. Dr Toepfer supported also the attendance of both UNCHS and UNEP representatives to the Melbourne Conference and Bathurst Roundtable.

FIG and the United Nations

Surveying is a discipline that is increasingly recognised by the United Nations agencies as being critically important to economic development, social stability and environmental management, or in short sustainable development. The professional skills of surveyors in land administration, land management, planning, valuation, environmental management, cadastral systems, land information systems and construction economics are essential to sustainable development of both developing and developed countries. In particular UN agencies are focussing on issues of access to land, security of tenure and the development of land markets as critical areas where surveyors can make a very important contribution. As a result UN agencies have increasingly looked towards non-government organisations such as FIG to develop partnerships to address these issues.

Due to this increasing interaction between the FIG and UN agencies, the FIG appointed a Director, FIG–UN Liaison at the Brighton Congress in 1998 for the remainder of the UK Bureau and for the period of the USA Bureau 2000–2003. The primary functions of the Director are:

• To promote the profile of FIG in the UN
• To liaise between FIG and appropriate UN agencies
• To expand and implement FIG’s strategy for liaison between FIG and appropriate UN agencies
• To advise the FIG Bureau on possible opportunities and initiatives which will further FIG’s links with UN agencies

The strengthening relationship between the FIG and the United Nations over the last decade was described by FIG President Peter Dale at the General Assembly in South Africa in his paper titled ”FIG and the United Nations” (Website: http://www.ddl.org/figtree/Agenda/Presanne.html). Also at the General Assembly Vice President Bob Foster (President-elect of FIG), Director FIG–UN Liaison, Ian Williamson and Director of the Permanent Office, Markku Villikka, addressed delegates on FIG–UN liaison. They brought the General Assembly up to date on a recent successful visit by these FIG officers to the United Nations (UNCHS and UNEP) in Nairobi just prior to the Working Week in Sun City.

Ian Williamson also updated the General Assembly on the plans for the UN-FIG International Conference on Land Tenure and Cadastral Infrastructures for Sustainable Development in Australia (24–27 October 1999 Website: http://www.sli.unimelb.edu.au/UNConf99).

These events will be followed by a FIG–UN Roundtable of FIG officers and UN representatives (27th October 1999) having the following objectives:

• To provide an opportunity for FIG to obtain a better understanding of the role of UN agencies and for these agencies to have a better understanding of the role of FIG.
• To assist FIG in reviewing current Joint Work Plans with UN agencies.
• To identify key areas in which FIG and UN agencies can collaborate in the future.
• To prepare draft plans for future co-operative ventures (for next four years).

As noted by President Peter Dale in his address to the General Assembly, previous FIG Bureaux have been committed to developing a strong relationship with UN agencies. This started with the Finnish Bureau where FIG gained NGO status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC). The Australian and UK Bureaux furthered and strengthened the relationship with UN agencies and particularly with UNCHS (Habitat), FAO and UNDESA (formerly DDSMS). The focus with UNCHS (Habitat) has been on urban issues while FAO has been on rural issues. The relationship with UNDESA has been focussed on the UN Regional Cartographic Conferences and a number of global events such as the development of the Bathurst Declaration on Cadastral Reform (see Commission 7 WWW page at www.ddl.org/FIGtree).

The relationship between the FIG and UN agencies is now maturing. This has resulted in the US Bureau including a commitment to strengthen the relationship with UN agencies in its Work Plan for 2000–2003. It recognises the role FIG has to promote the betterment of humanity and its environs in a similar manner to the UN. The Work Plan recognises that this must be done collaboratively between the FIG Bureau, the commissions and the member associations.

The benefits of a close working relationship between the FIG and the UN are summarised below:

Benefits to FIG

1. FIG is recognised as an influential and well-organised NGO that has something to offer the UN. This gives the FIG access to UN agencies, personnel and processes
2. Raises the profile of surveying on the world stage by showing that the profession is more than making maps but is about land and property management. The liaison promotes the skills of the profession.
3. Allows the FIG to better achieve its mission, which includes making a contribution to the betterment of society in general. The profession is enhanced by members furthering the aims of the UN.
4. Allows the FIG to leverage off the UN by running joint meetings, workshop and conferences, and undertaking joint projects, to the benefit of both organisations. This is of particular benefit to the activities of commissions and member associations.
5. Provides a framework for FIG to access UN resources and funds
6. Ensures that FIG projects, policies and statements take account of international trends, protocols and developments
7. Facilitates the FIG posting its activities on UN WWW pages (and vice versa)

Benefits to member associations

1. Many FIG member associations subscribe to the belief that what is good for the FIG is good for member associations! Undoubtedly a strengthening of the relationship with the UN is good for the FIG.
2. The UN liaison has brought a sense of achievement to member associations
3. UN liaison allows member associations to recognise and promote that they are part of the international community.
4. Provides a mechanism for member associations to have access to the UN through the FIG to promote or support a specific issue
5. Joint initiatives with the UN raise the profile of the member associations in their respective countries, particularly with governments
6. Ensures that FIG member associations are not operating in isolation to world trends and influences outside the profession of surveying

Benefits to individual member surveyors

1. Again many people subscribe to the belief that what is good for FIG member associations is good for individual member surveyors!
2. The relationship with the UN allows practising surveyors to see that their work is fundamental to economic development, social stability and environmental management and that the profession is the backbone of any society. The work of surveyors in supporting these objectives is very clearly highlighted in developing countries but often forgotten or devalued in well-established systems in developed countries. This in turn promotes a pride in the profession.
3. Facilitates members visiting and having contacts within the UN
4. Allows individual surveyors to have access to UN information and contacts and to spend periods of study leave in UN agencies. This ensures appropriate surveying research is relevant.
5. Links surveyors into a wider network to open up possible work and contract opportunities (UN member state aid bureaux, UN projects, World Bank etc).

Ian Williamson
Director, FIG-UN Liaison

FIG participates in Habitat Professionals Forum

FIG works very closely with UN agencies and especially with Habitat. A new joint activity will be the Habitat Professionals Forum. This forum was launched during the Habitat Session in Nairobi by the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) and ISOCARP. This initiative is strongly support by Habitat and its Executive Director, Dr. Klaus Toepfer.

The basic idea is to form a meeting place for all professionals to implement and promote the Habitat Agenda and the Global Plan of Action. During the Habitat II and in its follow-up sessions it has been generally notified that the success for implementation of the the Habitat Agenda needs more involvement from professionals, local authorities and private sector.

The aim of the forum is to arrange at least one session per year. The conferences will take place in megacities in developing countries while funding is collected from external sources (hosting country, participation fees, and support from international agencies). Administration structure is meant to be very low consisting of a steering committee of 8–10 people. These should represent professionals and experts like planners, surveyors, architects – and Habitat.

The proposal was largely supported at the roundtable meeting and after the session the first steering committee was elected to prepare the guidelines and first activities. FIG has agreed to join in the preparations and appointed Markku Villikka, Director, FIG office, to its representative in the steering committee.

Commission 5 seminar on
Geodesy and Surveying in Gävle
– Focus on the importance of heights

FIG Commission 5 organised in Gävle, Sweden, 15–17 March 1999 an international seminar Geodesy & Surveying in the Future with special focus on the subject The Importance of Heights. The seminar was made in collaboration with the Height Determination Working Group from the Nordic Commission of Geodesy (NKG) and the Geodetic Division from the National Land Survey of Sweden (NLS).

The event was arranged as a Jubilee Seminar to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the introduction of the Motorised Levelling (ML) technique in Sweden. Commission chair Jean-Marie Becker, secretary Mikael Lilje and P.O. Eriksson from National Land Survey, Sweden were principal organisers of the seminar together with Michel Kasser, chair of WG 5.2 (Height Determination Techniques).

About 120 participants from more than 20 countries contributed with 50 presentations during the three-day seminar. In addition to the technical sessions an exhibition on height determination techniques and instrumentation from the past 50 years was organised as well as a practical demonstration on motorised levelling.

This seminar was the first on heights organised in the Nordic countries and probably the only one in the world during the last decade. The objective was to give a complete overview and the state of the art concerning height determination questions. The different technical sessions covered the whole spectrum of techniques, instruments, and applications from purely scientific to practical end-users applications. However many good papers have to be rejected, which indicates that the subject is at the moment again in the focus of in geodesy and surveying.

The seminar gave an excellent platform for scientists, developers, manufacturers and practitioners to change experiences and also for FIG and IAG (International Association of Geodesy) to co-operate. The seminar was the first attempt for commission 5 to clarify its role as a link between the scientific community (IAG) and the practitioners and end-users.

Some of the key-issues that were treated were

• How to perform optimal levelling for national networks or local project needs?
• What methodology the surveyor should prefer in a given situation?
• What problems should be taken in consideration when starting a levelling operation?
• Which instrument can perform demanded accuracy?
• Which problems can be expected using a specific instrument type? Specific methods?
• How to operate in an optimal way: quality, quantity, costs?
• What can the end-users expect from GPS for highting?
• How the user can check in the field the achievable precision/accuracy of his equipment?
• Which factors affect the results?
• How to perform the field operations to minimise the effects of all these errors sources?

It is clear that the answers to such questions have to take into account the latest results of research work such as:

• the capabilities of the instruments available on the market, through complete analysis performed independently of the manufacturers,
• the refraction effects in the first metres, as the refraction which is correctly documented is generally produced by much higher atmospheric layers while (except for GPS applications) the surveyor has to deal exclusively with what happens in the very first meters above the ground,
• the computation of high precision geoids, as GPS heighting requires such geoids to allow access to the vertical accuracy generally required in heighting operations (e.g. a few cm),
• the effects of earth tides and oceanic tidal loading on continental margins, susceptible to interfere with heighting methodologies at an unacceptable precision level,
• how to mitigate multipath errors in GPS, as multipath effects are one of the main instrumental limitation of GPS used for high precision vertical determinations,
• the computations of levelling data taking care of geophysical movements, for example the post-glacial rebound of Scandinavia.

Many of these subjects are part of the research work done by IAG and normally presented in its symposia. Prof. Klaus- Peter Schwartz, President of IAG, and many members of IAG participated actively to the seminar. The role of FIG Commission 5 is to be a link between the scientific community (IAG) and the practitioners (surveyors), to make possible the transfer of knowledge and of new developments.

Commission 5 aspects were covered in sessions such as: Advance in techniques and instrumentation for terrestrial height determination; Applications of modern terrestrial height determination techniques; Heighting using satellites or other techniques; Heighting using satellites or other techniques; Quality Control, and Standards.

25 years ago motorised levelling was introduced in the NLS in order to perform all levelling measurements to complete the new national height network of Sweden. Several papers were presented concerning the specific interesting features of this extremely efficient and precise methodology in various countries.

At the exhibition pictures and illustrations on height determination techniques and especially on the utilisation of motorised techniques both for direct and indirect levelling around the world were presented.

At the roundtable discussion after introduction by Prof. K.P. Schwartz the discussion dealt mainly with the use of GPS for high precision levelling. The specifications for national levelling networks are slightly different from one country to another. Nevertheless it appears that in many countries it is more difficult to get institutional support for the realisation and maintenance of a unique altimetric reference. Thus a general reflection on national height networks is welcome, as the situation that predominated since the middle of last century has completely changed in many aspects, the last one being the availability of GPS and good geoidal models. Another important idea concerning this need for a new global outlook comes from the fact that half a century after the last world war, most countries have generally the disposition of a good height network for since at least tens of years:

As a conclusion from the presentations it seems that in rural areas GPS will certainly be the optimal solution to satisfy most of the needs. On the other hand, in peri-urban areas and cities, GPS use will be limited due to at least three reasons: limited availability of satellites due to the presence of buildings; no direct access to benchmarks (e.g. located on walls); and insufficient accuracy (hardly better than 2 cm in most cases).

In connection with the seminar commission 5 had also its first steering committee meeting. All commission WGs were represented either by their chair and or vice chair. WG 5.2 and 5.5 arranged their own meetings during the seminar in Gävle. More detailed report on the meeting and seminar in Gävle can be found on commission 5 newsletter.

Mobile Mapping Technology Workshop in Bangkok

The 2nd International Workshop on Mobile Mapping Technology was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand, April 21–23, 1999. It was co-organised by ISPRS, FIG, and IAG.

It was almost four years ago, in 1995, when the Ohio State University, ASPRS and FIG organised the first meeting on Mobile Mapping Technology, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. There, geodesists, photogrammetrists, GIS and computer scientists met together to discuss the future of mobile mapping systems.

Since then, substantial progress has been made in the integration of many different sensor technologies for a variety of applications that have not been anticipated in that meeting. The practical results of this progress are remarkable: Real-time mapping for emergency applications, GPS/INS integration supporting aerial triangulation, airborne digital mapping, bridging of GPS and INS by photogrammetric techniques, highway and railway mobile mapping systems, and softcopy photogrammetric workstations that integrate land and airborne digital images.

This was the main initiative for the organising the 2nd International Workshop on Mobile Mapping Technology, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The professional societies ISPRS, FIG and IAG jointly organised the workshop. The symposium attracted 60 papers, 7 working groups from the ISPRS/FIG/IAG, three international associations and 190 participants from 19 countries.

FIG Commission 5 participated actively in the symposium by having two members in the organising committee – Dr. Naser El-Sheimy and Prof. Jean-Marie Becker. Four different sessions were chaired by commission 5 members – Dr. Naser El-Sheimy, Prof. Jean-Marie Becker, Prof. Michael Chapman and Dr. Vincent Tao. During the panel discussion, FIG Commission 5 received support to organise the 3rd Mobile Mapping Technology Conference in Luxor, Egypt on 4–6 January 2001. The technical and social programme for that conference is currently under developing.

Considerable efforts will be expended in order to attract a number of working groups from different international organisations. For further information please contact Dr. Naser El-Sheimy, Department of Geomatics Engineering, The University of Calgary, tel. + 1 403 220 7587; fax. + 1 403 284 1980; e-mail: naser@ensu.ucalgary.ca.

Commission 4:
The XXII Meeting of the FIG/IHO International Advisory Board

The XXII Meeting of the FIG/IHO International Advisory Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors was held in New Delhi on 7–13 April 1999. This Board has two primary responsibilities: the development and updating of the Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and the recognition of courses given by educational institutions that meet these Standards. The Board also produces a publication of the standards, which is currently in its 8th edition.

At the meeting in New Delhi, among other matters, the standards pertaining to the Levels of knowledge and essential matters relating to nautical science were reviewed and changes resulting from this review will be incorporated in the 9th edition of the standards.

The following courses received Category A recognition: the Long Course in Hydrography of the U.K. Royal Navy Hydrographic School and the Advanced Course in Hydrography of the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency. Category B recognition was awarded to the Free Course in Hydrography of the National Hydrographic School in Goa, India and the International Hydrographic Management and Engineering Program of the Naval Oceanographic Office (USA). Lastly, the course in Hydrography of the St. Petersburg Naval Academy (former Frunze Naval Academy) was given Category A recognition against the 7th edition of the standards provided that some minor corrections are considered. This Institution was encouraged to make the necessary changes to meet the requirements of the 8th edition.

The next meeting of the Board will be held in Valparaiso, Chile on 12–18 April 2000.

Task force on Standards presents 
results of the Questionnaire

The FIG Task Force on Standards sent out a questionnaire developed by Iain Greenway (Chairperson, UK), Winfried Hawerk and Hans Knoop (Germany) to all member associations of FIG. The aim of this questionnaire is to collect as much information as possible world-wide about standards and activities in different countries in this field. A side effect of this questionnaire shall be to collect addresses of interested people inside the FIG family. So there should be a chance to establish an information network of interested members of FIG.

Until 13 May 1999 we received 40 replies from 23 countries which is a great success. Those member associations which did not reply in time are requested to send their answers as soon as possible to the following email address: winfried.hawerk@gv.hamburg.de.

Major international standardisation activities are found in the sector of Geographic Information. Main topics are the description of metadata, GI co-ordination conceptional scheme languages as well as spatial referencing by co-ordinates. Most ISO standards which are recently in practical use are ISO 9000 for quality management These ISO standards are momentous in most countries.

The majority of answers to this questionnaire require an information network inside FIG in order to collect more details about current activities. A significant number of answers require a more important role to be played by FIG in standardisation work. Another problem for most people is to get understandable publications about standardisation work in ISO.

The Task Force will continue their work respecting these requirements.

Joint projects with CIB

Resulting from the memorandum of understanding between FIG and CIB that was signed in January representatives of both organisations met in London in April. That meeting resulted in several joint projects. The most interesting new project is a joint project on performance indicators to monitor the sustainability of developments in the built environment. The aim of this joint project is to define and promote, for the benefit of the international community, performance indicators to monitor the sustainability of developments in the built environment.

Although various organisations and experts around the world have been developing performance indicators for sustainable development, partly in response to the challenges posed by the United Nations Agenda 21 and Global Plan of Action. FIG and CIB wish to apply the particular expertise of their members to this work. FIG has, in particular, skills in land tenure, land administration and geographic information systems while CIB has complementary skills in housing and construction. Both organisations recognise the need to clarify what is meant by sustainable development and the importance of ensuring that projects in which their members are involved meet the needs of the communities that they serve.

The project is one possibility also for the new plan of action between FIG and Habitat for 2000–2001. An interim report will be prepared by April 2000 and final recommendations for further action will be made by mid 2001. Both parties will monitor the project and, depending on the outcome of the interim report, seek additional expert input, channels for dissemination, and financial support from outside bodies such as the UN, the World Bank and the European Commission. The project is in accordance with the aims of the new Habitat work plan and can therefore be one of the joint activities with Habitat as well.

Further it was agreed that CIB will contribute in the work of the FIG task force on sustainable development and FIG will give its input to the of CIB TG38 on urban sustainability.

FIG signs protocol with the ICEC

The International Cost Engineering Council ICEC and FIG signed a memorandum of agreement at the opening ceremony of the FIG working week in Sun City. This is the third protocol which FIG has agreed with international organisations working in the field of land and property. The first one was signed in 1997 with FIABCI and the second one in January with CIB.

ICEC is a world-wide confederation of national and international associations serving the cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management professions. In first place the agreement means that regular contacts between the two organisations will be established, this will include e.g. participation to each other’s appropriate working groups and seminars.

ICEC is planning to arrange its Region III meeting in connection to the FIG working week next year in Prague. ICEC was already actively involved in the technical sessions in Sun City together with ad hoc commission on construction economics. Both Roger M Batten, Past Chair of ICEC, who signed the protocol on behalf of ICEC and Secretary-Treasurer Kenneth K. Humphreys attended the working week. Roger Batten is also vice-chair in FIG ad hoc commission on construction economics.

FIG visits Kenya

The FIG high-level visit to Habitat and UNEP offered to FIG representatives a good opportunity to meet with the Kenyan surveyors in Nairobi. The two-day visit was hosted by the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya. The first day was spent in UN headquarters that offered also for the local surveyors possibilities to make contacts to UN agencies. Especially Habitat is interested to work in closer co-operation with local partners which could offer opportunities also for Kenyan surveyors. By now there has not been much co-operation with the local experts and UN.

In the morning of the following day the first visit was made to Survey of Kenya, where land and cadastral issues were discussed with Alexandrino K. Njuki, Director of Surveys. A technical tour in the offices showed how cadastral work is done in formal and informal areas in Kenya.

The afternoon was spent at the University of Nairobi where delegation first met with Vice-Chancellor F. J. Gichaga and then with the professors and staff from the Department of Surveying in the College of Architecture and Engineering. The highlight of the visit was a meeting with about 100 surveying students, to whom the visitors gave lectures on FIG and international cadastral trends.

The meetings were concluded at a reception and meetings with the members of ISK, where after presentations a possibility for discussions on actual issues was given. Mr Samuel M. Githioni, Chair of ISK together with his board members had arranged real interesting and full programme for the visitors.

Vice President Lindsay visits Zimbabwe

Immediately prior to the FIG Working Week in South Africa in June, FIG Vice President Grahame Lindsay spent two days with FIG’s member associations in Zimbabwe in a round of meetings hosted by the Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe and the Survey Institute of Zimbabwe. In addition he met with the Surveyor General, Roderick Chigumete, visited the University of Zimbabwe and addressed a seminar, discussed the review of the surveying degree course and addressed the students. Many other activities filled the days and evenings in a busy and helpful itinerary arranged by Mr Sam Zhou, President of the Survey Institute of Zimbabwe, who said that the visit had been the catalyst for the two member associations to come together and participate for the first time in joint activities. Several people from both Institutes expressed real interest in becoming delegates to FIG’s commissions.

Mr Fred Chunga, the former Surveyor General of Zimbabwe, is now working in the Office of the President of Zimbabwe, heading up the land reform and land redistribution program with the next phase to involve 1 million hectares and 41,000 families. Daily articles in the Zimbabwe press from such diverse commentators as the chairman of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, the Planning Commissioner of Zimbabwe and others emphasised the importance of secure land tenure and the contribution it makes to agriculture and the economic growth of the country. The Chief Secretary to the President of Zimbabwe included equitable land distribution amongst Zimbabwe’s greatest concerns.

Following the meetings in Zimbabwe, Messrs Chigumete, Zhou and Lindsay travelled to Sun City in South Africa for the 1999 FIG Working Week.

Working week 2000 in Prague

Director of the FIG visited Prague in April to discuss the programme and arrangements of the FIG working week 2000 in Prague. The preparations for next year’s working week are almost finished; the technical tours and social programme have already been decided and the details of the technical sessions were discussed with commissions in Sun City and will be finalised during the summer.

The working week will take place in the National House of Vinohrady that is a palace built in 1890s and is just restored. The opening ceremony will be at the Betlehem Chapel, the Ceremonial Hall of the Czech Technical University.

The programme for Prague will be extensive and interesting. In the conference Quo Vadis Surveying of the 21st Century there will be 10 technical sessions where all FIG commissions are involved. In connection to the working week Czech-Slovak-Polish surveying days will take place at the same time in Prague at the new the new building of Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre.

The technical tours in Prague will include six half-day tours and four full-day excursions. There will be four exhibitions – to the commercial exhibition already about 50 companies have reserved the booths. In addition there will be a non-commercial exhibition for associations and one on historical surveying instruments – that belongs to the programme of Festival”Prague – the European City of Culture of year 2000".

The working week in Prague tries to attract also students and that is why there will be a reduced fee for students and also cheaper accommodation available. The dates for the working week are 22–26 May 2000. Further information: www.prague2000.cz.

Chris Andreasen becomes new Secretary General

The FIG General Assembly confirmed Chris Andreasen’s, Rear Admiral, NOAA retired, nomination to the next Secretary-General of the Federation in Sun City. He will be the Secretary-General in the new US Bureau 2000-2003.

Chris Andreasen, a civil engineer (surveying option), is currently the Chief Hydrographer at the National Imagery and mapping Agency (NIMA, formerly the Defense Mapping Agency).

Prior to his retirement from NOAA, Chris spent nearly 30-years as a NOAA commissioned officer serving in a variety of assignments including Chief of mobile geodetic field parties (gravity and astronomy), Chief, planning and Methodology for NOAA’s geodetic operations, sea duty (commanding four of NOAA’s survey ships), Chief NOAA Commissioned Personnel Division, lead negotiator for NOAA negotiations with maritime unions, Chief of NOAA’s Exclusive Economic Zone- Bathymetric Mapping Program (multibeam surveys), Chief of Mapping and Charting Branch, Chief of Nautical Charting Division (included branches for Hydrographic Surveys, Mapping and Charting, Photogrammetry and Nautical Charting R&D Laboratory), and Deputy Director for NOAA’s fleet of oceanographic and survey ships (21 ships) and aircraft (14 aircraft).

Upon retirement from NOAA, Chris was elected President of the Directing Committee of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), an intergovernmental organization – 66 nations – headquartered in the Principality of Monaco where he served for the period 1992–1997. Upon returning to the US in late 1997, he returned to government service with NIMA.

He has been President of the Hydrographic Society of America, Chair of the Hydrographic Society’s worldwide Education Fund Management Committee and is currently the Vice-President of the International Union for Surveys and Mapping, IUSM.

Chris is a member of ACSM and certified by ACSM as both Inshore and Offshore Hydrographer, and holds the Silver and Bronze medals of the Department of Commerce and the IHO Commodore Cooper medal.

Chris is married and has a daughter and a son.

The University of Melbourne 
honours Professor Peter Dale

The University of Melbourne honoured Professor Peter Dale, President of the International Federation of Surveyors, by the award of Doctor of Surveying honoris causa at a graduation ceremony on Saturday 17 April 1999. 

The honour was proposed by the Department of Geomatics at the University of Melbourne in recognition of the leadership Professor Dale has given in surveying in the international community, his contribution to the development of cadastral and land administration systems world-wide and his long- standing relationship and support for the Department of Geomatics. 

The University also awarded the Doctor of Surveying honoris causa, to the former Director General of the Department of Survey and Land Information in New Zealand, Dr Bill Robertson. 

The awards are part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Department of Geomatics. The University has previously awarded a Doctor of Surveying honoris causa only once before and that was to Dr. Ray Holmes, a former Surveyor-General of the State of Victoria, Australia, and the Director of the FIG Congress held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1994.

The citation accompanying the award to Professor Dale reads as follows:

Peter Dale is currently President of the International Federation of Surveyors and Professor in Land Information Management at University College London. Born in England in 1936 he graduated from Cambridge University in Mathematics and Geography before beginning his professional career as a land surveyor working for the Government of Uganda. Seven years later he returned to Cambridge to lecture in surveying, photogrammetry and cartography. In 1972 he left Cambridge to undertake research into cadastral surveying throughout the Commonwealth in a project sponsored by the British Overseas Development Administration. The book resulting from this research is still a standard text world-wide. 

During his research he paid the first of what became many visits to Australia and especially to the University of Melbourne where he has spent several periods undertaking research and interacting with staff and students. Having obtained a Doctor of Philosophy as a result of his studies, he became a lecturer in the Department of Surveying at what is now known as the University of East London from where he retired as Professor and Head of Department in 1993. 

Professor Dale has been an advisor on matters relating to cadastre, land registration and the development of land information systems and worked in many countries and for many national and international agencies including the World Bank and the United Nations. He has played an important role in setting the reform agenda for land administration in the European Union, the World Bank and numerous United Nations agencies. 

He has therefore been able to match theory with practice, studying at first hand the problems of the emerging national land information infrastructures. He has published widely, seeking to promote the importance of land information to society and the need to husband it as a valuable resource. 

As President of the International Federation of Surveyors he has been able to build on the innovative work of the Australian Bureau that administered the Federation from 1992–1995. In recognition of his contribution to surveying he was recently awarded the Order of the British Empire.

Three new honorary members

General Assembly appointed three new honorary members in Sun City.

Prof. Stig Enemark, Denmark, who has been very active person in commission 2 – e.g. in establishing the Surveying Education Database and preparing CPD publications. He was also actively involved in the establishment of the permanent office.

Prof. Georgi Milev, Bulgaria who was the chair of commission 6 in 1988–1991 and actively involved in the arrangements of the FIG XVII Congress in Sofia.

Jane Woolley, Director of a current UK Bureau, who has been key-person in the FIG administration during the past years and was also the Director of FIG Archives. She finished her career in the surveying business at the end of the FIG working week.

Finland award to top surveyor

Earlier this year the Finnish Association of Geodetic and Land Surveyors (MIL) awarded its silver plague to Markku Villikka for his outstanding work both as a member of the Board and as President of the association during the 1990s. The silver plaque is the association’s highest prize and is very seldom awarded.

Markku’s contribution to the surveying profession has also been recognised by the other professional organisation in Finland, the Association of Surveyors (MAKLI) representing BSc-level surveyors, which voted him its ”surveyor of the year" in recognition of his work to promote national and international co-operation.

In Memoriam

Gerhard Eichhorn

Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Eichhorn, for many years the chairman of the Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen (DVW), died on 26th March 1999 at the age of 74 after a long illness. At his request he was buried quietly at Reinhardshagen where he spent the last years of his life.

Dr. Eichhorn studied surveying sciences at the Technische Universität München, from which graduated (Dr.-Ing) in 1952. After working for a short period in the Bayerisches Landesvermessungsamt, he became a Scientific Assistant, and subsequently Senior Custodian, in Prof. M. Kneissl’s Institute. In 1964 he was appointed Private Lecturer and as such he was awarded the venia legendi in the field of surveying. Two years later, he was appointed full Professor and Director of the Geodetic Institute of the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (THD). There he dedicated himself, as he had previously done in Munich, to the practical aspects of surveying, to education for surveyors and construction engineers, and to engineering surveying and land surveying. In his early years at THD he was particularly concerned with the development of surveying curricula that finally led to the establishment of a faculty for surveying sciences.

In addition to the modern procedures of engineer surveying, his particular interest was the development of land surveying systems. He was the first geodesist who recognised the importance of this science for our profession and who kept raising a finger in admonition lest others might let this great opportunity for geodetics pass them by. He was not only a harbinger but also an active contributor to the development of public land surveying systems; as is so ably demonstrated by his and his working teams’ numerous publications.

Dr. Eichhorn was chairman of the DVW from 1969 to 1978. He subsequently became vice-chair and chair (from 1982 to 1987) of FIG’s commission for land information systems. Both as the chairman of the DVW and as an FIG commission chair his dedication led to the establishment of a comprehensive land information system in which surveying engineers, utilising administrative surveying data, played a leading role. He thereby greatly enhanced the standing of our profession.

In recognition of his dedication and successful work for the DVW Dr. Eichhorn was granted Honorary Membership of the association. In 1990, at the FIG Congress in Helsinki, he was appointed an Honorary Member of FIG.

One of Dr. Eichhorn’s prime objectives was to attract young professionals into membership of the DVW. This was recognised by the introduction, in 1981, of the DVW Gerhard Eichhorn prize that is awarded biannually to young surveyors.

In 1972 The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors appointed Dr. Eichhorn an Honorary Member. In 1976 he became an Honorary Member of the Union Belge des Géomètres-Experts Immobiliers and in 1978 he received the Medaille de l’Ordre des Géomètres-Experts from France. In 1982 the Federal German President awarded him the Order of Merits 1st Class of the Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

The DVW and the Surveying Faculty of the TU Darmstadt will ensure that the work which Dr. Eichhorn did for surveying science in Germany and for our profession internationally continues to be honoured and remembered with gratitude. We all say farewell to him with great sadness and offer our sincere condolences to his wife and family.

Hans Josef Platen, President of DVW, and Harald Schlemmer, TU Darmstadt.

M. Neil Franklin

M Neil Franklin, who humbly served his family, community and profession, died January 6, 1999, at his home in Buda, Texas. He was born in Washington County, Iowa, on September 19, 1929. He was raised in southern Illinois and graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Neil was a registered Civil Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor in the states of Indiana and Texas, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping, the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors and the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

He served in FIG as chairman of Commission 1 – Professional Practice, Organization and Legal Systems – during the Canadian Bureau 1985–1987.

He was a founder of MSE Corporation (now AHI, Inc.) of Indianapolis, Indiana. After retiring from MSE in 1977, he moved to Buda, Texas, and continued surveying and engineering as an independent consultant. He was a past mayor pro-tem of the City of Buda and served as a member of the Buda Library Board of Trustees. Neil also was an original member of the Buda Philharmonic Orchestra. Neil is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lois and two sons and a daughter.

Working week 2004 in Athens

There was a good competition for the venue of FIG working week 2004. Among three excellent European candidates - they were Athens, Rotterdam and Stockholm - Athens was the lucky one to get the task on the first round of the selection. The FIG working week in 2004 will be held just prior to the Olympic Games in August 2004.

Cadastre 2014 – a new bestseller

Commission 7 working group 1 (Reforming the Cadastre) publication ”Cadastre 2014" seems to become one of the best-sellers among FIG publications. As the earlier commission 7 publication Statement on cadastre has already been translated to almost 20 languages Cadastre 2014 is already translated into six languages and three translations are under preparation.

Jürg Kaufmann, Chairman of the WG7.1, gave a paper at the FIG Working Week in Sun City ”Cadastre 2014 – A tool to make land administration more effective" in which he also presented ideas on the future work of the WG. This paper is published in working group home page and will as all papers from the working week technical programme be published on FIG home page as well.

The report can be found through FIG home page www.ddl.org/FIGtree under publications or directly at http://www.swisstopo.ch/fig-wg71/Docs/Cad2014index.htm. Printed copies can be ordered from Daniel Steudler, fax +41 31 963 2297 and e-mail: Daniel.Steudler@lt.admin.ch. The price for printed copies is Sw.frs 10,- or US$ 7,- per copy.

200th Anniversary of Metre

The Slovak Association of Surveyors and Cartographers VUGK has asked the Bureau to support their proposal to declare 10 December 1999 to an International Day of Surveyors. The reason for this proposal is that in 1791 the National Assembly of France approved the proposal of Talleyrand, an astronomer and surveyor, by which the metre would be the new measurement unit, defined as one-tenth millionth part of one quadrant of the earth. Years of hard work on making defining the correct value resulted from that decision: work that took place during the difficult natural and social conditions of that time. It was surveyors that on the 10th December 1799 submitted the results of their work and the new measurement unit was adopted by the Parliament of France.

The Bureau is supportive for the idea of the International Surveyors Day, however it is considered that the time to arrange anything internationally is too limited. Therefore the Bureau decided to encourage the member associations to arrange something locally on 10 December 1999 to remind the public that surveyors were key-players in promoting the new unit, metre.

The Bureau will study other events and historical surveyors with the purpose to launch the International Surveyors Day in the future.

www.FIG.net

FIG’s own domain will be launched during the summer. The new address for the home page will be: http://www.fig.net/ and e-mail address to the FIG office: FIG@FIG.net. The current addresses (FIG@ddl.org and www.ddl.org/FIGtree) will be in use at least to the end of 1999.

Newsletter for Task Force on 
Under-represented Groups in Surveying

Now the third newsletter, 2/99, is available as a web document or please contact the task force chair Gabriele Dasse by e-mail gabriele.dasse@gv.hamburg.de, fax: + 49 40 428.26-5250 or tel.: + 49 40 428.26-5965.

The topical contents: Women in Science and Engineering Activities in Canada by Dr. Elizabeth Cannon; Personalities: Agneta Ericsson; Note: 10 Years German Working Group”Women in Surveying" (AG FiV); The Everyday Occupational Life in Natural Sciences and Engineering; A gender-related study on inner conflicts and how men and women try to solve them by Dr. Renate Kosuch

Journals from member associations

• Vermessung & Geoinformation (Austria), 4/1999.
• Geodézia és Kartográfia (Hungary), 1999/4.
• Geomatica (Canada), 1/1999.
• Landinspektøren (Denmark), 1/, 2/1999.
• Maankäyttö (Finland), 1/, 2/1999.
• Géomètre (OGE, France), March, April, May 1999.
• XYZ (Association Française de Topographie, France), 2/1999.
• Zeitschrift für Vermessungswesen (Germany), March 1999.
• DVW Journal (Germany), 1/1999.
• The Hong Kong Surveyor (Hong Kong, China), 15th Anniversary Issue, 1/1999.
• Surveying Newsletter (Hong Kong, China), February, March, April, 1999.
• Geodesia (Netherlands), 2, 3, 4, 5/1999.
• The Quantity Surveyor (Nigeria), November/December 1998, January/ March 1999.
• Kart og Plan (Norway), 1/1999.
• Topografía y Cartografía (Spain), January/February, March/April 1999.
• VPK/MPG (Switzerland), 3, 4, 5, 6/1999.
• Civil Engineering Surveyor (UK), April, May, June 1999.
• Chartered Surveyor Monthly (RICS), March 1999.
• Surveying World (RICS), March/April, May/June 1999.
• Professional Surveyor (ACSM, USA), June 1999.

Other journals and publications

• ISPRS Highlights, June 1999.
• FIABCI Press, March/April 1999.
• List of Representatives of NGOs in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council Accredited at the UN, April 1999.
• ISO Bulletin, March, May 1999.
• ISO Annual Report 1998.
• ISO Memento 1999.
• GIM, March, April, May 1999.
• Hydro International, April, May/June 1999.
• GeoInformatics, March, April/May, June 1999.
• Proceedings of the 34th Congress of Ordre des Géomètres-Experts, Toulouse 1998.

For copies of these and other titles received by the bureau, contact the FIG Office in Copenhagen, e-mail FIG@ddl.org or fax: +45 3886 0252.

The FIG Bulletin

Compiled and edited by the FIG Office, 
fax +45 38 86 02 52 and e-mail: FIG@ddl.org

Printed by Atelier Skt. Annae
ISSN Number 1081-6522

Material from this bulletin may be reproduced freely

Bulletin deadlines

The next deadline for the FIG Bulletin will be Friday 20 August. Please send your copy to the FIG Office, Lindevangs Allé 4, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark, fax: +45 38 86 02 52, e-mail FIG@ddl.org.

The FIG Bulletin will be issued this year in September and December.

This page is maintained by the FIG Office. Last revised on 06-02-27.