FIG Bulletin

The FIG Bulletin No 71 in Spanish - Boletín del FIG - published by Mercator

No. 71, September 2000

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 (2,41 MB)  (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.

The FIG Bulletin No 71 in Spanish - Boletín del FIG - published by Mercator.  19 December 2000

Contents

Editorial
FIG Working Week 2000
FIG Working Week 2001
FIG–UN Relations
Commissions
Task Forces and Permanent Institutions
News
Short Notices

New governance model adopted
in Prague

The main result from the FIG Working Week in Prague in May was that the proposal from the Task force on the future governance and management of FIG was adopted by the General Assembly. This decision means that the new Council will consist of President and five Vice Presidents who all will be elected by the General Assembly. After a transition period the new fully democratic governance structure will be in full operation at the beginning of 2007. The decision makes FIG to a truly democratic international body whose Council will be regionally and culturally representative.

The FIG working week in Prague was successful both in professional and social respects. The conference “Quo Vadis – Surveying of the 21st Century” of the working week attracted more than 330 delegates from 47 countries. All conference papers are available on the FIG home page.

The General Assembly was attended by delegations from 46 member associations. Among the main decisions of the General Assembly were:

• The FIG Work Plan 2000–2003 was adopted;

• The UN/FIG Bathurst Declaration on Land Administration for Sustainable Development was adopted and the FIG policy on UN relations agreed;

• A new ad hoc Commission on Cultures and Languages was established;

• New member associations were adopted from Czech Republic, Colombia, Lebanon and Portugal;

• Cairo, Egypt was selected for the venue of FIG Working Week 2005.

Also in this issue…

• FIG Education Foundation transferred to Denmark. FIG has decided to establish a new foundation by transferring the FIG Education Foundation from Australia to Denmark to help the daily administration. The Foundation has also received first major donations.
• Working week 2001 in Korea. The call for papers for the next FIG working week is closing in October. It is still possible to get a paper in the technical programme.
• FIG participates in Istanbul+5. FIG signed a new memorandum of understanding with UNCHS(Habitat) including active participation in the preparations of Istanbul+5. FIG representatives have been active in UN after launching the UN/FIG Bathurst Declaration.
• Commission 7 meeting in Hamburg. The annual seminar of Commission 7 was arranged in Hamburg under the theme ’Land markets’. The other themes in commission work have been Cadastre 2014 and Women’s access to land.

International co-operation
in the focus of the new Bureau

by Jerome C. Ives, Vice President

In this opening address I will focus on the international co-operation within the framework of FIG. By virtue of our name alone every FIG activity should include a component of international co-operation. Accordingly, FIG’s leadership has identified several specific tasks it plans to complete over the next few years. I want to share with you some examples of these tasks:

• To identify and make contact with United Nations-related agencies that have common areas of interest with FIG, and with whom FIG does not currently have a formal relationship;
• To enter into a co-operative agreement with the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Africa, with the Permanent Committee for GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific, as well as other regional organizations.
• To act as a catalyst for the establishment of a formalized regional body in the Americas that deals with Spatial Data Infrastructures;
• To promote the activities of Habitat’s global campaigns, especially the global campaign on the security of tenure;
• To prepare a report for the special meeting of the UN General Assembly for Istanbul+5 that will be held in New York City in June, 2001. The report will detail the progress made by FIG during the 5 years since the Habitat II Conference;
• To evaluate the possibilities of participating in Rio+10 to be held in the year 2002;
• To prepare for distribution by the World Bank compilations of the costs and benefits of various cadastre/land registration projects, and checklists on how to successfully conduct land administration projects;
• To develop the mechanisms required to effectively work with FAO regional organizations, and
• To co-operate with the World Trade Organization in the promotion of global markets for surveying services.

With respect to our activities with the United Nations:

• FIG has a role to promote the betterment of humanity and the environment, a role similar to that of the United Nations.
• For more than a decades FIG and the UN have strengthened their links, particularly those with UNCHS(Habitat) in Nairobi, FAO in Rome, and UNDESA in New York. This good co-operation was resulted in the Bathurst Declaration and the Melbourne conference and is continued also during the FIG working week in Prague, where both UNCHS(Habitat) and FAO are represented by giving keynote papers in the technical program.

The United Nations appreciates surveyors’ critical contribution to economic development, to environmental management, and to social stability. It also recognizes surveyors’ importance to sustainable development in both developed and developing countries.

In particular, the United Nations understands that FIG can assist UN endeavors by establishing professional associations in developing countries.

Last year in Melbourne, Australia, FIG and several UN agencies co-operated in a roundtable on co-operation between the organizations. The results of this successful roundtable are published in FIG Publication No.21.
Other international activities include that FIG works closely with the International Standards Organization. It has also culminated or is working towards bilateral agreements with sister organizations such as the International Association of Geodesy IGA, the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing ISPRS, the International Cartographic Association ICA, the International Hydrographic Organization IHO and the International Society for Mine Surveying ISM.

Additionally FIG commissions offer educational opportunities to the world’s surveying community through seminars, symposia and publications.

I hope that this introduction to FIG’s involvement in international issues gives you an idea of the significant role that FIG is playing in the betterment of humanity and its environs – for now, and for generations to come.

This editorial is based in the opening address that Vice President Jerome C. Ives gave at the opening ceremony of the FIG working week in Prague in May 2000.

FIG meets in Prague

The FIG working week and XXIII General Assembly took place in Prague, Czech Republic 22–26 May 2000. 42 member associations attended the first meeting and 46 member associations the second meeting which is among the highest figures in the FIG history outside the congresses. The seminar Quo Vadis and the General Assembly were arranged at the National House of Vinohrady. The recently renovated house from the 1890s offered good facilities both for the meetings and the technical exhibition. The opening ceremony was held at the Bethlehem Chapel in the old town of Prague. Prague offered unique historical surroundings also for social programme and technical tours.

The General Assembly was the first for the US Bureau that took over the administration of FIG in November 1999. The General Assembly was chaired by Vice President Jerome C. Ives who was assisted by the other Bureau members after Robert W. Foster, President of FIG had to cancel his participation to the working week for family reasons.

The General Assembly adopted the FIG work plan for 2000–2003 including both the Bureau and some amendments to the Commission work plans which were originally adopted in Brighton. The focus of the Bureau work plan is in activating member associations, supporting commission activities, continuing co-operation with the UN agencies and expanding the membership especially in Latin and South America. One of the main tasks will also be to finalise and implement the new governance structure of FIG.

New ad hoc Commission on cultures and languages

At the General Assembly Ordre des Géomètres-Experts (OGE) from France made a proposal of the creation of an ad hoc Commission on Cultures and Languages in FIG. In the proposal the importance of encouraging cultural and linguistic diversities in FIG instead of limiting them was emphasised. The use of a unique language could lead to a unique culture and therefore it is urgent to study what can be done to change the situation. After a lively discussion the Bureau made a proposal of establishing the ad hoc Commission that was then adopted unanimously. The Bureau will approve the terms of reference, work plan and nominate the chair during the autumn 2000. After an informal meeting on this topic in Paris in August, it has been agreed that for practical reasons instead of an ad hoc Commission a Task force will be established.

As normally the General Assembly got reports from the Bureau, Commissions, Task forces and permanent institutions and this time also the report from the UK Bureau.

The General Assembly further noted the Bathurst Declaration for information and adopted its recommendations and further noted the FIG/UN Round Table report and gave the responsibility of its implementation to the Bureau and Commissions. The new Memorandum of Understanding between UNCHS (Habitat) and FIG was ratified.

In selection for the venue of the FIG Working Week 2005 Egypt won in a secret ballot over Australia. The Working Week 2005 will be held in Cairo in April or May 2005.

The already traditional President’s meeting was held on the last day of the Working Week focussing in the cultural issues and how to assist the member associations from developing countries to get better involved in the FIG activities. The proposals included ideas of organising regional events and demand to balance the fees to attend the events.

The Sociedad Colombiana de Topografos from Colombia was founded in 1963 and has 40 members from academic and 160 members from technician level out of which part are qualifying at the moment. The education is changing towards university level education. Half of the members are working in governmental and half in private sector. The main specifications are in positioning and measurement and in engineering surveys.

Education Foundation moves to Denmark

At the annual meeting of the FIG Education Foundation that was held during the FIG General Assembly in Prague the meeting decided unanimously to establish an FIG Foundation under FIG umbrella by transferring the FIG Education Foundation from Australia to Denmark. The FIG General Assembly approved this proposal and the FIG office has already started to prepare the necessary legal actions. In the new Foundation the goals and principles of the FIG Education Foundation will be kept as long as possible. The daily administration of the Foundation has already been transferred to Copenhagen. After the establishment of the permanent office it became obvious that the management of the Foundation should be linked to the FIG office.

The income of the Foundation is based on voluntary contributions. The biggest ever contribution has been made by Herbert Matthias, Honorary President of FIG, who has donated the Foundation 10,000 Swiss francs.

At the General Assembly in Prague Prof. Ian Williamson donated the Foundation US$ 5,000 from the result of the FIG/UN Conference in Melbourne. This donation was made as an encouraging example for other FIG and its Commissions events in the future with a recommendation that such a donation should be included in the budget of all events. Prof. Holger Magel, President of the FIG Education Foundation received the cheque on behalf of the Foundation.

In addition the Foundation received in 1999 a donation (AU$ 980) from Australia that was collected during a conference in Perth.

In conjunction to registration to FIG working week it has now for two years been possible to mark off a voluntary contribution. This sum raised up to US$ 2,200 in Sun City and US$1,150 in Prague. In addition to the voluntary contributions a certain amount would be included directly in the registration fee (congress budget) at the Washington Congress 2002.

Further donations to the FIG Education Foundation can be made to the Foundation’s bank account: FIG Education Foundation, BG-Bank, Denmark, account number: 1-691-7516, Swiftcode: BIKUDKKK.

A new affiliate from Jordan and 
a correspondent from Burkina Faso

The Bureau admitted at its meeting in Prague the Department of Lands & Survey under the Ministry of Finance of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to become an affiliate member of FIG. At the same meeting Mr. Alain Bagré from Burkina Faso was admitted to become a correspondent member. Mr. Bagré is working actively to develop co-operation between surveyors in Western Africa and for establishing professional associations in those countries. FIG is planning together with UNCHS(Habitat) to organise a new regional seminar in the Francophone Africa in 2001.

Call for papers for Korea closes

The FIG Working Week 2001 will be hosted by the Korea Confederation of Surveyors in Seoul, Korea 6–11 May 2001. The theme of the Working Week is New Technology for a New Century. You can find more information about the Working Week in the preliminary programme that is available on the working week web site at http://www.fww2001.or.kr from where you can also ask for the printed programmes.

The organisers of the Working Week 2001 arranged together with FIG an open call for papers to guarantee a high profile and extensive professional programme in Seoul. The aim of the call for papers is to attract and encourage papers especially from Asia and the Pacific. In addition to the papers that are offered through the open call for papers the ten FIG Commissions will report in Korea on the results of their working groups and projects and invite some keynote speakers. The deadline for call for papers is 15 October but even after that you are able to make your bid by contacting the FIG office.

The technical sessions during the FIG Working Week 2001 will be organised from Tuesday to Thursday when there are ten slots for technical sessions. The aim is to run 2–3 sessions parallel which will allow large range of topics in the programme. All ten technical commissions have promised to provide technical sessions to the programme in addition to the annual or other meetings of the Commissions. As a new initiative national reports on actual problems are expected to expert panel that at least Commission 3 is planning to organise. Other themes include e.g. virtual academy, mobile multimedia, trends and future challenges within the field of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and Spatial Information Management (SIM) and SDI in the Asian perspective, GPS in cadastre and a special seminar on reference frame in practice. Commission 6 will focus on facility management systems and transportation and utility lines and Commission 7 on cadastral reforms and access to land. Originally separate seminar Korean Cadastral Day is now integrated in the Commission 7 programme.

The Working Week in Seoul will be the last one before the next FIG Congress to be held in Washington in April 2002.

Further information about the Working Week 2001 can be obtained from the conference web site or from the FIG web site. You are also welcome to contact the organising committee:

Organising Committee, FWW 2001
Korea Cadastral Survey Corporation
Tel. + 82 31 335 0851
Fax + 82 31 335 0853
E-mail: juhkim@kcsc.co.kr
Home page: http://www.fww2001.or.kr

Hon. Joseph Nyaga, Minister of Lands & Settlement, Kenya and Robin McLaren at the UNCHS(Habitat) workshop in Nairobi in October 1999.

FIG supports Habitat Workshop in Africa

A regional workshop on Land Survey and Large-Scale Mapping in Support of Settlement Planning, Land Development and Management was held in Nairobi at the United Nations Offices 4–8 October 1999, hosted by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlement (Habitat) and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). The workshop was aimed at enhancing and strengthening the basic tools and instruments for the effective functioning and sustained socio-economic and environmental management of cities and towns in Africa.

Over seventy-five participants from various countries of Africa attended the workshop, including Surveyors-General and Directors of Survey from several countries, and was opened by the Hon. Joseph Nyaga, Minister of Lands and Settlement, Republic of Kenya. FIG was represented by Robin McLaren, a working group chairman of Commission 3.

The workshop critically reviewed the status and scales of land survey and large scale mapping coverage of the rapidly expanding cities and towns in many countries of Africa and identified gaps and bottlenecks currently limiting effective settlement planning and land use management. Measures were then identified to improve the current situation to ensure adequate mapping coverage at appropriate scales to facilitate more effective settlement planning and land use management in Africa, especially to support the implementation of the Habitat agenda.

A summary of some of the key issues and recommendations resulting from the workshop are detailed below.

Current status of large-scale mapping coverage of African countries, cities and towns is quite poor. Where large-scale cadastral or topographic mapping exists for urban areas, the mapping is mostly out-of-date, unreliable and unsatisfactory for planning purposes. There is a need to enhance the co-ordination between National Mapping Agencies and users to incorporate user requirements into the map production process. African countries should consider adopting a new approach to resource mobilisation by aligning mapping demands to political initiatives and development projects so as to better convince politicians and decision makers to budget and release sufficient funds for implementation and on-going map maintenance. There should be better co-ordination between Central Government and Local Authorities in the provision of land survey data and planning needs. Further the private sector should continue to be encouraged to be involved in non-core surveying and mapping activities to ensure sufficient capacity is available in this economic sector.

Most African countries have survey laws to govern, regulate and set standards for land survey activities. However, in many cases these are outdated and therefore a constraint to land delivery and inhibit the adoption of new, appropriate technology. These survey laws should be reviewed and modified as soon as possible. There is a need to formulate a comprehensive land policy and to harmonise the associated different laws governing land development so as to avoid conflicts and overlaps. The need to educate the public on land legislation should be encouraged through the translation and distribution of new acts, as in Ghana and Tanzania.

Settlement planning requires the integration of data from a variety of sources at various scales. Digital technologies and adoption of standards can facilitate this complex integration process. An increasing number of modern techniques are available to support large scale map production and revision. However, a judicious choice of tools, combined with appropriate institutional structures, are required in order to develop appropriate “home grown” solutions for quicker survey data delivery. The use of technology which is sustainable from financial, technical support and human resource perspectives is to be encouraged in the region. The process of surveying and planning should be made more flexible to accommodate participatory approaches to the development of sustainable settlements. There is a need for a review on policies of public access to data, security of data and the need to protect the copyright of data.

There is a need to revise education and training curriculum for land development specialists and to incorporate relevant aspects from other disciplines. Strengthening management capacity of surveyors through the incorporation of management principles in training and education programmes should be pursued and supported. User surveys should be introduced to check the usefulness and appropriateness of services offered by land development professionals.

A key success factor of the workshop was the multi-disciplinary mix of the participants; a combination of surveyors and planners involved in settlement planning, land development and management in Africa. This formula worked very well and led to both very lively debate and effective, pragmatic recommendations.

FIG has an important role in facilitating skills transfer to professionals in Africa, ensuring that an improved level of land survey and large-scale mapping is provided to support settlement planning and land development. FIG and UN Habitat are currently planning a joint working group to develop best practice guidelines and support UN Habitat’s global campaign for secure tenure.

Robin McLaren

FIG actively involved in Istanbul +5

FIG was invited to attend the 1st Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for Istanbul+5 in Nairobi 11–16 May 2000. This meeting was the first on the way towards the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly known as Istanbul+5 to be held in June 2001. During the autumn 2000 several regional meetings will be organised to prepare the meeting. The 2nd Preparatory Committee will be held in Nairobi in conjunction to the 18th Session of the Committee on Human Settlements in February 2001. FIG is already invited to attend these meetings as one of the Habitat's professional partners. FIG expertise is especially appreciated in issues related to the security of tenure.

At the 1st Meeting of the Preparatory Committee FIG was invited to participate a parallel session on the Security of Tenure in Post-Conflict Situations as one of the panellists. In the beginning of this parallel event Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Ag. Executive Director, UNCHS(Habitat) and Markku Villikka, Director, FIG office signed the new Memorandum of Understanding between Habitat and FIG. The new Memorandum commits the organisations to co-operate on the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; on land management and security of tenure. The newly signed MoU is an extension on the initial agreement signed in 1997 and will conclude in 2003.

In his speech Dr. Töpfer expressed that FIG members are today engaged by donor countries to collaborate in the execution of rebuilding cadastral information management system to Kosovo and East Timor. The MoU was signed at the same session where UNCHS signed an agreement with the Netherlands which commits the Netherlands to provide US$ 1.6 million to a project on capacity building and technical support to the municipal administration in Kosovo.

In addition to the parallel event, where parts of the draft FIG Agenda 21 were presented, the Director participated the work of the Preparatory Committee and three dialogues with the Habitat partners making a presentation on behalf of FIG and the Habitat Professionals Forum at the Dialogue on Towards Global Norms for Secure Tenure.

A selected group of international experts including Markku Villikka as the FIG representative were invited to make an extensive tour into the slums in Nairobi to discuss the problems of security of tenure during the Meeting of the Preparatory Committee. The group visited the sprawling Mtumba slums near the Wilson Airport, Kibera slums and a section of the Mathare slums.

FIG attends Urban 21 as a member of Habitat Professionals Forum

As a member of the Habitat Professionals Forum, which was established during the 17th Session of the UNCHS(Habitat) Committee in 1999, FIG was invited to attend the Global Conference on Urban Future Urban 21 in Berlin in July 2000. Urban 21 was part of the implementation process of the Habitat Agenda organised and sponsored by the governments of Germany, Singapore, Brazil and South Africa. It was the main global conference this year on urban issues.

The opening addresses was made by Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations and Gerhard Schröder, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. The programme was based on the World Report Urban Future 21 prepared by a group of international experts.

The Habitat Professionals Forum was in charge of organising one of the forums during the Urban 21. The Professionals’ Forum was attended by about 300 people and the presentations were made by the representatives of architects (UIA), town planners (IsoCaRP), surveyors (FIG) and CASSAD. The Forum was chaired by Dr. Irene Wiese-von Ofen, Chair of the Habitat Professionals Forum, and addressed by representatives of the German government and UNCHS(Habitat).

The next activity of the Habitat Professionals Forum will be attendance to the 2nd Session of the Istanbul+5. The Forum is further looking forward to organise a special seminar during the Istanbul+5 in New York in summer 2001.

Bathurst Declaration widely acknowledged

The UN/FIG Bathurst Declaration on Land Administration for Sustainable Development (FIG publication no 21) that was launched last year at the UN/FIG Conference in Melbourne has been acknowledged internationally. Already before the recommendations of the Declaration were confirmed at the FIG General Assembly in Prague in May it was presented at several international meetings.

Prof. Ian Williamson, Director FIG/UN Liaison, was invited to make a presentation on the Declaration to the 15th UN Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April 2000 which he attended together with Prof. Don Grant, co-organiser with the Bathurst workshop, and President Robert Foster.

Prof. Don Grant made a presentation on the Declaration at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development meeting (CSD-8) in New York also in April 2000. In addition to the presentation at the plenary session a special seminar on the Declaration was organised on the first day of the CSD-8 Meeting at the UN Headquarters. UN-DESA was one of the sponsors of the Bathurst Workshop.

The Bathurst Declaration was further in focus during the visits of Director, FIG office to the 1st Session of the Preparatory Committee for Istanbul+5 and to the International Conference Urban 21 in Berlin in July 2000.
The Bathurst Declaration seems to spread internationally as broadly as the previous FIG publications on cadastral issues (The FIG statement on cadastre and Cadastre 2014). There are several projects to translate the Bathurst Declaration to different languages e.g. to Spanish. The first translation was, however, provided in Finnish by Pekka Raitanen, the former Vice President of FIG. The FIG office is interested to be informed on other translations of any of the FIG publications.

Ethics in the focus of Commission 1 – How will you act?

It has often been said that one of the main elements that separates professionals from others is a focus on ethical issues. FIG recently completed revising its model code of ethics, the work being led by Commission 1 past-chairman Ken Allred. Those not familiar with the results can find them on the FIG web site or order it from the FIG office.

Commission 1 working group 2 is currently investigating the area of business practices, including how the revised code of ethics can be applied to situations that surveyors encounter in their work. To help the working group develop its thinking, it is keen to stimulate debate around ethical issues. The group has therefore prepared three ethical dilemmas on which it would like to hear your comments, whether by e-mail, fax, or other means of communication. The discussion has not by now been on as active as the chair of the working group Iain Greenway has expected, therefore, more time has been reserved for the discussion. The WG will report the responses (anonymously) on the Commission 1 web site, in an attempt to broaden the debate further, and will summarise responses in forthcoming issues of the Commission 1 newsletter, before making the final report at the FIG Congress in Washington 2002.

The dilemmas the working group is waiting for your comments are:

Dilemma 1 – the client and the environment

Whilst undertaking a site survey for a private sector client, it becomes apparent to you that the client intends to ignore potentially serious environmental impacts of the development of the site. You reflect on your obligations to your client and to the community. What do you do?

Dilemma 2 – cross-cultural issues

As a partner in a firm of surveyors, you have successfully won a tender for some work in a country where bribes are considered a normal part of doing business. In your own country, bribes are illegal (or, at the very least, not accepted practice). Will you use bribes to get the project completed successfully?

Dilemma 3 – commercial matters

You have successfully tendered for a survey. Other work means that you cannot complete by the required date, so you subcontract the work to another surveyor who only charges you a small fraction of the fee you have agreed with the client. What do you charge the client?

All reflections and views should be made to Iain Greenway, Chair of FIG WG 1.2, 13 Hazelbury Park, Clonee, Dublin 15, Ireland, e-mail: iain.greenway@btinternet.com or fax +353 1 820 4156.

Commission 2:

Virtual academy in the focus of Commission 2

Commission 2 attended the FIG Working Week in Prague by organising one technical session under the title New trends in education and training. In addition there were three commission meetings, the annual meeting and two meetings on the work of the Commission working groups – the first was an open meeting for surveying students and the other one on the forthcoming workshop on virtual academy.

The main topic in the technical program was virtual academy. The current status of the establishment of virtual academies in universities was discussed in the presentation given by Prof. Henrik Haggrén and Prof. Esben Munk Sørensen. They also invited the audience to participate in the planning of the seminar on virtual academy to be held at the HUT, Espoo, Finland 5–8 June 2001. The four other interesting papers were given by Bela Markus, Ales Cepek together with Josef Hnojil, Jud Rouch and Svatopluk Mihalcak.

Surveyors’ curricula and virtual academy seem to be the main issues in Commission 2 work. In Prague there was a lively discussion on curricula with a conclusion that the result from the WG 3 should be some kind of method of approaching surveyors’ curricula around the world. The method should be based on the knowledge what we have on curricula but the work should be concentrated more on the method and be less a description of different contents. Jud Rouch in charge for preparing a paper on this topic for Seoul and he is willing to receive any material and comments on this topic. Surveying curricula will be in the focus also in the commission seminars in Malta and in Rosario.

Commission 2 is planning to co-operate with ISPRS and ICA Commissions for education e.g. on the education databases.

General Assembly agreed to establish a new joint working group between Commissions 2 and 9 under the title Education of Valuers in Prague. Prof. Kauko Viitanen from Helsinki University of Technology has been appointed to chair this WG.

Commission 3:

National progress reports activate Commission 3 work in working weeks

Commission 3 has started to encourage its delegates to prepare short country reports for the commission meetings during the working weeks. These reports are presented orally with the purpose of stimulating the dialogue in the commission. At the first of the two Commission 3 meetings in Prague presentations from Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary and Norway were presented.

The main observation from the reports was that all countries have spatial data infrastructure NSDI somehow on their agenda for present and future development. Several countries that made their reports have made efforts to build bridges not only between different public agencies but also between the public and the private sector. There are several examples of new national umbrella organisations. The individual presentations were impressive and there is no doubt that because of sharing the experiences and knowledge is a main objective for the delegates this activity will be a permanent element on the agenda of future meetings. In addition to this concept, commission has decided to publish six country reports in the joint Commission 3 & 7 newsletter every year.

The two meetings of commission were attended by 26 and 17 participants respectively from no less than 15 countries and e.g. the young female delegate from Belarus travelled 24 hours by bus to participate in the commission meeting.

Commission 3 is organising a dedicated event every year including a seminar and commission meeting. The next meeting will be in Athens in October 2000 and the next  will be a  first-ever meeting in Africa to be held in Nairobi 4–6 October 2001. This seminar will be a joint event co-organised by the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya ISK, UNCHS(Habitat) and CASLE. From FIG at least Commissions 1, 2 and 7 should be involved in addition to Commission 3.

Commission 3 organised its session at the working week as a panel discussion on spatial information infrastructure. Professor Ian Masser, President of EUROGI opened the session with a keynote on development trends followed by three short comments from the rest of the panellists. As a facilitator Robin McLaren managed to involve the audience in lively discussions for more than 45 minutes.

The basic results from the panel were that NSDI is an asset for the nations in general. It has to be considered as part of the infrastructure elements such as roads and telecommunication network. To convince politicians the values and benefits of NSDI have to be demonstrated through large-scale projects. Establishing of a spatial information infrastructure demands co-operation and partnership across different administrative boarders and between the public and the private sector as well as between the different professionals involved.

Two years ago the name of the commission was changed to spatial information management. Today this term is largely adopted by the traditional GIS business. We are, however, still dealing with both land and geographic information systems, but now we are much more focussed on the management of information.

Jes Ryttersgaard
Chair of Commission 3

Commission 7:

Commission 7 Annual Conference’99 in Bay of Islands, New Zealand

The 1999 FIG Commission 7 Annual Conference took place alongside the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors 1999 Conference, The Coastal Cadastre – Onland, Offshore during October

The parallel conferences were held in Waitangi and included a joint NZIS/FIG symposium on Women’s Access to Land. Opening Commission 7’s programme of work-sessions David Scott, President NZIS, expressed his particular satisfaction in the fact that, while FIG in the past may have been thought of as a mainly European forum, there was now ample evidence of participation from a truly international base.

Over forty representatives from 23 countries attended the six-day conference which provided a valuable opportunity for mutual update on cadastral and land management issues. The main conference objectives were to take stock of progress achieved by the Commission’s formal work-groups, to take development work forward and to define work programmes for the coming year.

Each country delegate gave a short presentation updating conference on the current state of progress on projects and current/future issues within their own jurisdictions. These included legislative changes; establishment of cadastral databases; developments in digital graphic cadastres; electronic conveyancing; management issues; integration of cadastre and title information; changes in geodetic networks; Internet access to systems/data; and land consolidation and conservation.

The chairpersons of the Commission 7 working groups Jürg Kaufmann (WG 7.1 Reforming the Cadastre), Winfried Hawerk (WG 7.1.1 Definition of Commission 7 ISO standards), Paul van der Molen (WG 7.2 Land Ownership in the 21st Century), Agneta Ericson (WG 7.2.1 Women’s Access to Land) and Andras Ossko (WG 7.3 Land Markets) updated delegates on progress to date. A number of breakout sessions took place during the week in which work-in-progress was further developed and future work programmes agreed. Summary position papers will be written to accompany the published conference proceedings.

Sweden’s offer to host the 2001 conference in June 2001 was unanimously accepted. Commission 7 will work towards creating a “Cadastral Gateway” on commission web site which will provide links to a wide range of cadastral / land management web sites.

The official conference business was complemented by a busy schedule of technical tours which allowed delegates to share in New Zealand’s recent experience in land management issues. Tours included visits to Northland District Council in Whangarei to look at resource management issues and, in sympathy with the main NZIS Conference theme, an opportunity to see some of the latest hydrographic survey technology demonstrated on the HMNZS Resolution.

While the official business element of any conference must come first it is nevertheless true that less formal opportunities to share experience and establish relationships should not be underestimated. While there was much to choose from, the cultural and social highlight of the week for many of the delegates would have been the visit to a traditional rural Marae. Both the initial formality of the meeting and the genuine warmth of the welcome and entertainment from our Maori hosts were much appreciated and enjoyed.

Of course a summary of the conference would be incomplete without mentioning the delegates’ wholehearted appreciation of the warm hospitality and good company provided by Bill Robertson and the conference team. Their commitment to ensuring the success of the conference was impressive and the programme they devised unremitting, but immensely enjoyable.

Bob Ashwin
Secretary FIG Commission 7

Commission 7 meeting in Hamburg 2000

The Annual meeting of Commission 7 was held in Hamburg, Germany just prior to the FIG General Assembly in Prague. An enormous amount was achieved at the meeting in Hamburg. It was critical in setting the agenda for the Commission’s three Working Groups to complete their work in time for the 2002 FIG Congress in Washington DC.

The meeting was attended by 35 delegates from more than 20 countries. In addition to the Working Groups’ development and progress, particularly useful reports were received on the status and initiatives from the Commission’s two Task Forces, on Standards (Winfried Hawerk) and on Women’s Access to Land (Agneta Ericsson – Sweden). As a tradition also country reports were presented at the annual meeting and these are available on Commission 7 web site.

The Commission’s one day international symposium on the theme of Working Group 3, Land Markets, was attended by more than 60 delegates and chaired and organised by Andras Ossko, Hungarian delegate of the Commission. The high quality papers delivered at the seminar will be published as part of the output of the Working Group. They stimulated vigorous discussion. Some provoked fascinatingly contrasting views on appropriate approaches to resolving land related problems in transitional economies. Although there was a strong focus on land markets in Central and Eastern Europe, and particularly on the German experience, there was a truly international range of presentations ranging from South Africa (Apie van den Berg), through Europe (Bodil Ekner from Denmark, Peter Dent from the UK and Jan Sonnenberg from the Netherlands) to Australia (Ian Williamson).

The strong attendance and contribution of delegates from Germany for this one-day symposium reaffirmed the importance of this regular event in the Commission’s annual calendar.

The meeting in Hamburg was organised by Dr Winfried Hawerk, German delegate of the Commission, and Gabrielle Dasse, together with an enthusiastic band of helpers. The programme was not only great fun, but it worked smoothly, with exactly the right mixture in a full programme of hard working sessions, discussion and relaxation. The generous hosting of the German Associations, the welcome from the City of Hamburg and the real interest shown in the Commission’s work by our German colleagues were symptomatic of the heart-warming hospitality that we received.

The Commission 7 contribution to the proceedings of the FIG Working Week in Prague included a well-attended session on cadastre and land management. It included a number of stimulating papers from a wide range of geographical locations. The Commission’s current and future activities were reviewed, and the work of the three Working Groups on Cadastral Reform, Access to Land and Land Markets was discussed. There was an emphasis on issues from Central and Eastern Europe with excellent papers reporting on developing land markets in Central and Eastern Europe by Richard Baldwin and Peter Dale from the UK, and on the difficulties in establishing information for EU accession countries for CAP purposes (IACS), by Carsten Kragh from Denmark. The Czech Association’s delegate to the Commission, Ivan Pesl, presented a detailed review of the transition process in the Czech Republic, particularly as it has affected land and the cadastre. The session was rounded off by a fascinating account of the South Korean cadastral reforms, and of the prospects for the future by our Korean delegate, Dr Ryu.

Later in the year, Paul van der Molen is helping to organise a workshop at ITC, Enschede, the Netherlands, on Capacity Building in Land Administration, 13–15 November, 2000. The workshop will build on the Bathurst Declaration and will look at how the declaration’s recommendations can be implemented effectively. As such, it will also provide a very valuable opening to discussions within the Commission about the design of our work plan for the period 2002–2006.

The Commission’s 2001 Annual Meeting will take place in Gävle, Sweden, 11–16 June, 2001. The one-day International Symposium in Gävle will be the responsibility of Working Group 1 chaired by Jürg Kaufmann.

Paul Munro-Faure
Chair of Commission 7

Commission 7 Working Group WG 7.1 at Austrian Geodetic Congress

Commission 7 working group 7.1 Reforming the Cadastre was invited to organise a forum discussion at the Austrian Geodetic Congress held in Bregenz, Austria in May 2000. This congress of the Austrian Society for Surveying and Geoinformation is the main event of the association organised every three years and is therefore a very important professional meeting for surveyors in Austria. About 1,200 Austrian participants attended this congress. Bregentz which is located close to the German and Swiss borders succeeded to attract also a great number of guests from these countries as well as visitors from several other European countries.

The special forum on Cadastre 2014 was attended by 120 participants mainly from Austria getting an impression of the activities of FIG and its working groups and information about the importance of professional co-operation at international level.

The discussion at the forum on Cadastre 2014 focussed on future developments of cadastral systems as they have been investigated by the working group 7.1 since 1994. The session was chaired by Gerda Schennach (Austria), member of WG 7.1 in which Jürg Kaufmann (Switzerland), chair of the WG 7.1 and Daniel Steudler (Switzerland), secretary of the WG 7.1 gave a very interesting paper on the background of Cadastre 2014 and its six statements. Paul van der Molen (Netherlands), Vice Chair of Commission 7 and chair of WG 7.2 on land ownership in the 21st century, focussed his presentation on the implementation of the statement on Cadastre 2014 in the Netherlands and gave some critical comments on the visions of Cadastre 2014 and some ideas for a future review.

Andras Osskó (Hungary), chair of the Commission 7 WG 7.3 on land markets, talked about the ideas and support that has been obtained from the FIG cadastral visions to a country in transition and which have helped in implementation of major changes in their cadastral system. Cadastre 2014 to high degree already a reality in Germany although the federal system is sometimes an obstacle for technical progress. Winfried Hawerk (Germany), chair of the Commission 7 task force on ISO standards, reported on cadastral issues in Germany.

The high number of participants and active discussion on this topic continuing on the following days showed that this kind of event helps to bring national and international organisations closer together and that exchanging of ideas benefit all parties.

Task Force on Under-represented Groups in Surveying works in co-operation with Habitat

The contacts between the Task force on under-represented groups in surveying and UNCHS(Habitat) were intensified at the FIG Working Week in Prague. Dr. Sylvie Lacroux from Habitat gave two very interesting and informative presentations during the week. Her first presentation The Security of Tenure in post-conflict Situations was given at the technical session Co-operation with International Bodies and Organisations. The second paper Under-represented Groups in Urban Development Issues Including in the Professional Practice prepared by Dr. Sylvie Lacroux, Diana Lee-Smith and Catalina Trujillo was presented at the first meeting of the Task force. The discussion that followed her presentation gave a deep insight into the activities of Habitat.

At both meetings of the Task force that were well attended the main topic was the ongoing discussion on the “Need for Involvement of the New Generation of Contributors to FIG” that was started by the Task force on Future Governance and Management of FIG. The Task force on Under-represented Groups in Surveying focussed in Prague on the aspects of Commission work. Together with the Chairs of Commissions 1 and 2, John Parker and Kirsi Virrantaus, the Task force generated several proposals for the new Task force – Review of Commission, Task Force and Permanent Institution Structure 2000–2002, which was established in Prague. The General Assembly nominated  Gabriele Dasse, Chair of the Task force on Under-represented groups, to one of the seven members in this new Task force so that there will be a direct link between the two task forces to facilitate the work.

The proposals the Task force made last year to facilitate the attendance of young professionals to FIG congresses were discussed with Mary Clawson, Congress Director for Washington 2002. She agreed that from the Congress 2002 FIG will get, for the first time, a survey on the participants to the congress divided by commissions, gender, age and first attendees. Further proposals including a lower registration fee for students, to enable the attendance of students by assisting the organisers and to mark the nametags of participants attending the Congress for the first time have also been approved.

Gabriele Dasse
Chair of the Task Force

Successful historical symposium in Prague

The Historical Symposium held at the National Technical Museum in Prague on 21 May during the FIG working week attracted over 50 delegates, which was in excess of the expectations of the organisers. There were four technical papers of which two were concerned with the Struve geodetic arc – Struve Arc by Seppo Härmälä (Finland) and The Toise-metre problem in the Struve Arc by Vitali Kaptüg (Russia). Härmälä outlined the background to the execution of the measurements in the first half of the 19th century and the personalities involved. Kaptüg included mention of the changing length of the earth quadrant as techniques and instrumentation improved. From the original definition of the metre as 1/10 millionth of an earth quadrant, the figure changed to 10,000,271 m by Walbeck in 1819, 10,000,857 by Bessel 1841, 10,001,869 by Clarke in 1880 and 10,002,288 with the International figure of 1924. So much for the metre as a readily reproducible unit. These presentations produced useful contacts and suggestions on how progress might be accelerated. In particular it was highlighted how each of the 10 countries through which the arc passed was required to locate surviving points, decide how a small selection of these will be preserved, provide the appropriate documentation and obtain their government’s support before any case can be submitted to UNESCO.

One of the other papers, Robert Hooke (1635–1703) The hidden Surveyor Revealed, by Professor Mike Cooper (UK) discussed his detailed research into hitherto unknown papers relating to Hooke. It appears that he may well be considered as the first professional surveyor of the modern era. The final paper Historical Surveying Instruments from Bohemia, by Pavel Hanek and Antonin Svejda. Instruments dating from the mid 16th century were illustrated and mention made of the designers and survey instrument firms that have operated in Bohemia. At one time Prague was the centre of instrument manufacture and by the end of the 19th century there were 40 such firms in the city. Interesting developments from the area were the hypsometer by Koristka, an instrument for graphical levelling by Muller and a logarithmic tacheometer by Tichy. Mining theodolites by Josef in 1884/5 had divided circles made of glass for the first time ever.

An excellent exhibition of historical instruments was mounted in the museum to coincide with the symposium.

A discussion followed for those interested in the Struve arc and a useful exchange of ideas ensued. This included interest in researching the “link” between the south end of the Struve arc at Ismail and Alexandria at the north end of the arc of the 30th meridian through Eastern Africa. The contact made here was Mr Dusatko of the Military Geographic Institute in Prague.

At the FIG General Assembly Jan de Graeve, President of the Institution, presented a copy of the reproduction issue of John Love’s book Geodaesia to Vice President of FIG. His suggestion was that it be held at the FIG Office in Copenhagen. Finally a note was made of a possible Historical Survey event in Brussels during September-October 2001.

James R. Smith

Become a correspondent in the Institution for the History for Surveying

The International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement would welcome contact from people around the world who would be interested in becoming corresponding members. If you have an interest in the history of the profession then feel free to join in an exchange of ideas and help in those areas that are being researched.

The next main target of the Institution is an exhibition and symposium at FIG 2002 in Washington although the Institution is still progressing efforts to get some of the remaining points on the Struve geodetic arc recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. Ideas for new projects, research or initiatives are always welcome.

In the first instance please contact Jim Smith on fax +44 1730 262619 or e-mail 101765.332@compuserve.com.

Three new sponsors join FIG

During this year the Bureau has approved three new companies to become sponsor members of FIG:

Josef Attenberger GmbH is a supplier of survey markers, survey monuments, utility markers, and related accessories. 
It has served the surveying community for over 45 years and is e.g. distributor for Berntsen International Inc. Josef Attenberger GmbH is a German company with its headquarters in Sankt Wolfgang. The annual turn over of Josef Attenberger is about 6 million Swiss francs. Web site: www.attenberger.de.

Blom ASA is a leading international company within geographic information and information technology. The company was founded in 1954 in Norway by Ole H. Blom. It has developed from being a privately owned surveying company to a large information group with more than 550 employees and with offices on several continents. Blom serves the value chain of information including data acquisition, data storage and integration, value added services and is providing end-user solutions and volume based sales of business information. The areas of activity of Blom are: information technology, business information, maritime services, map production, register/database systems, land surveying, aerial photography and industrial surveying. The annual turn over of the Blom Group is over 60 million Swiss francs. Web site: www.blom.no.

Terra Map Server GmbH is the first German internet portal for geoinformation. Terramapserver offers covering geoinformation in an e-commerce concept. Terramapserver is also the European link to global TerraServer-network. TerraServer is an online source for overhead imagery that has online atlas of high-resolution satellite imagery and aerial photography. TerraServer gives everyone with Internet access the ability to search, browse and buy overhead images of the world around them. Web site: www.terramapserver.com.

In addition to the former benefits for the FIG sponsors the US Bureau is offering new options for the FIG sponsors. These include e.g. 10 per cent discount on booth fees for the FIG Congress 2002, free listing of sponsor name and logo in each issue of the FIG congress daily newsletter and the opportunity to organise a special sessions to identify new developments and trends in equipment and services and further first opportunity to sponsor events/premiums for the FIG Congress. In addition sponsors – and only FIG sponsors – have the opportunity to advertise in the FIG Bulletin.

Education Database now in function

The Surveying Education Database (SEDB) that was established by FIG Commission 2 on Professional Education has been developed to a real database and is now in full operation on the FIG home page.

The SEDB contains information on over 180 institutes and over 350 surveying courses from almost 50 countries. The database is open to any academic department offering graduate and post-graduate courses in any surveying discipline. The institute can place a standard entry on the SEDB directly online on the web site. After registering for the first time the institute will receive its own user-ID and password. With this access code it is easy to add course information and change current information on the database. The database covers the full spectrum of surveying education and is divided into nine categories. The information on the database is quite detailed including level of degree, course information, information on staff and students and links to department web sites and contact persons. User-IDs and passwords for the institutes that are already in the database can be requested from the FIG office.

There is also possibility to make queries from the database. You can search courses specific to country or a field of specification or search people in education institutions. There are also statistic services available. The Surveying Education Database further includes discussion groups for academics. These can be used for advertising for research partners, virtual course partners etc.

The FIG Surveying Education Database is the main benefit for the academic members of FIG. However to provide information to the SEDB you don’t have to be an academic member. Academic members, however, get additional benefits on the SEDB. They have additional place on the database to promote their course profile, CPD activities and exchange programmes.

The promotion leaflet of the FIG Surveying Education Database and Academic Membership of FIG can be asked for the FIG office.

New academic members

Seven new academic members from 5 countries have joined FIG in 2000 by the end of August 2000 which raises the number of academic members to 22. In 2000 the following institutions have joined FIG: Department of Geomatics from the College of Surveying and Land Management from the University of West Hungary; Department of Surveying from the University of Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Land Use and Landscape Planning and Department of Mapping Sciences from the Agricultural University of Norway; School of Surveying of the Faculty of Design from the Kingston University, UK and two departments from USA: Surveying Department of the School of Technology, Michigan Technological University and Surveying Engineering from the New Mexico State University.

Standing status for the former MOLA

The Meeting of Officials on Land Administration known as MOLA was given a standing status by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) in late 1999. The new name is the Working Party on Land Administration WPLA. MOLA was initially set up as an ad hoc group under the UN ECE Committee on Human Settlements in 1996. The establishment followed the preparation of the ECE Land Administration Guidelines presented to the UN HABITAT II Conference in Istanbul in 1996.

WPLA is to be a meeting place for officials from public institutions in the ECE member states dealing with land administration. This includes e.g. policies, legislation, financing and technical issues related to, inter alia, land titling, restitution of land rights, land information systems, cadastres and land registration. Its activities have a strong focus on issues which are of interest to countries in transition. WPLA organises seminars in ECE countries and makes publications. It has published the well-known Land Administration Inventory in Europe and North America (second edition 1998), the Documentation on Land Administration Projects in Europe, the Statement on Social and Economic Benefits of Good Land Administration (1998). Under preparation are the Study on Key Aspects of Land registration and Cadastral registration, a Survey on restrictions on ownership, leasing, transfer, and financing of Land and Real Properties, and the UN ECE Guidelines on condominiums.

The current chairperson of WPLA is Bozena Lipej (Slovenia) while Jens Wolters (Denmark) is a vice chair. Many FIG delegates are actively involved in the work of WPLA and FIG is one of the partners of WPLA.

Australia – closer relations in the region

Over the past 5 years, the Institution of Surveyors, Australia has been carrying out a dialogue with its counterparts in the South East Asian region to establish whether reciprocal membership agreements could be put into place. This has come about through the Institution wishing to recognise where possible, the equivalent professional standing of the members of our kindred associations. Some funding was made available through the Australian Commonwealth Government, via the National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition – NOOSR.

The ASEAN Project as it came to be known involved research into a number of the professional associations in the region, the structure of those associations and their educational requirements. Many of the initial contacts for this research were obtained through the FIG. The progress of the project was assisted in 1996, when the surveying associations in the region formed the ASEAN FLAG (Federation of Land Surveying & Geomatics). The Institution was able to discuss the project with representatives from the respective associations in the region, at the one meeting. The first such meeting occurring during the 1997 FIG Working Week in Singapore. In addition to the members of the ASEAN FLAG, the Institution has also been holding discussions with the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, HKIS. The most recent meeting between the ISA and the HKIS being at the 6th SE Asian Survey Congress in Fremantle, Australia.

In 1999, following fruitful discussions with the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers – SISV, a document was considered by the Councils of the ISA and the SISV. This document was adopted by both Councils as the basis of a new reciprocity agreement between the ISA and the SISV. The President of ISA, Mr Keith Hayes and Mr Tang Tuck Kim from the SISV cemented the agreement with an exchange of certificates at the opening ceremony of the 6th SE Asian Surveyors Congress held in Fremantle Western Australia in October 1999.

The ISA now has in place reciprocal membership agreements with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UK) and the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers. It also follows on from the formal affiliation agreements the Institution has with other associations such as the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping – ACSM. For the full details of these agreements contact the ISA’s National Office or visit the web page at www.isaust.org.au.

Seminar on Cadastral Systems in Bogotá

Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas organised the 1st International seminar on cadastral systems, land administration and sustainable development in Bogotá, Colombia in May 2000. This high-profile seminar was attended by more than 300 participants from five South American countries. The programme was a combination of international papers and regional topics. Most of the international speakers were also invited to the Bathurst Workshop and were involved in drafting the Bathurst Declaration. The seminar in Bogotá was, therefore, a kind of a regional modification of implementing the Bathurst Declaration. Most of the speakers outside South America were experts who are also in other ways active in FIG. The list of speakers included e.g. Don Grant, Helge Onsrud, Jürg Kaufmann, Tommy Österberg and Bela Markus. Other programme included presentations e.g. from Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. UNCHS(Habitat) was represented by Don Okpala.

FIG was represented by the Director, FIG office who also welcomed the University Distrital to FIG as an academic member. The seminar was organised by Prof. Orlando Rodriques Pabon, Prof. Pedro Omar Castaneda and Prof. Carlos German Ramirez Ramos with support from Prof. Luis Carlos Molina Marino, Rector of the University and the capable organising committee.

The very successful seminar in Bogotá offers an excellent example for other regions to organise seminars on the cadastral systems and their relationship to land management and sustainable development.

Reprint of Love’s Geodaesia from 1688 now available

John Love’s Geodaesia: or The Art of Surveying and Measuring of Land, Made Easie, Shewing by Plain and Practical Rules, How to Survey, Protract, Cast up, Reduce or Divide any Piece of Land whatsoever; with New Tables for the ease of the Surveyor in Reducing the Measures of Land. Moreover, A more Facile and Sure Way of Surveying by the Chain, than has hitherto been Taught. As also, How to Lay-out New Lands in America, or elsewhere; And how to make a Perfect Map of a River’s Mouth or Harbour; with several other Things never yet Publish’d in our Language. By John Love, Philomath London: Printed for John Taylor, at the Ship in St Paul’s Church-Yard – MDCLXXXVIII is now again available for the big audience as a reprint based on the initiative of the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement.

The first textbook on surveying to be used in the Americas was an original English text by John Love. Prior to publishing his book John Love had worked as a surveyor in North Carolina and Jamaica before returning to England. This first reprint of the first edition of 1688 has been organised by Walter Robillard, Attorney at Law of Atlanta, from an original of Jan De Graeve’s collection of early surveying books. The first edition is known to be very rare. Wing writing a few years after publication stated “there are only 3 copies known and none in the USA.” One copy was sold for 2,800 US$ in the 1970s, another came on the market in 1980, and the same copy was sold again in 1998 for 3,200 Pounds (UK). The copy used for the reprint was purchased in 1980 from Harriett Wynther of London.

“The Geodaesia of Love is significant in that it is a clear exposition of the description of instruments and methods of surveying. Furthermore Love is the first English writer to consider the surveying of land in America where the conditions under which the fieldwork was conducted differed from those in England.” A W Richeson – English Land Measuring to 1800. 1966 pp 126–129.

The second edition was printed in London in 1715 and several others until the 11th edition. The 12th edition of 1793 was the first to be printed in the USA, and was published by Samuel Campbell, 37 Hanover Square, New York. The content was similar to the first edition but now had an 8 page appendix “showing further how to survey by the chain only, with a useful table to that purpose”.

This reprint has been produced in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in a limited edition of 1,000 copies on near original paper and in an early Flemish letter-type with attractive hard cover in simulated leather.

The book costs 50 US$ including postage within the USA. Any funds accruing from sales will go towards the costs of studying the Struve Archive located in St Petersburg, Russia and getting the Struve Meridian Arc project classified (the first of a scientific nature) on the list of UN World Heritage Monuments.

Copies of Love’s book can be ordered from Walter Robillard at either on web site www.worldboundaries.com or by e-mail robw@mindspring.com or fax +1 404 248 1464.

CLGE – FIG seminar on education

The Council of European Geodetic Surveyors CLGE and FIG host a joint seminar on Enhancing professional competence of geodetic surveyors in Europe in Delft in November 2000.

The seminar aims to develop a mutual recognition concept based on the principles of transparency, justification and proportionality that is suitable for the surveying profession in Europe. The seminar focuses on three issues: threshold standards for professional competence – how to compare and assess professional competence in different areas of surveying?; the idea of a Core Syllabus – input versus output approach?; and models for curricula content – how to compare and assess curricula content between different countries?

These three issues are currently being considered within FIG and CLGE. FIG established a Task force on Mutual recognition in 1998, and CLGE established a Working Party on a Core Syllabus for Geodetic Surveying in 1998 and provided two research grants in 2000. These studies should provide: evidence and arguments to stimulate improvement of curricula in order to assist the convergence of standards across Europe; and information to assist the determination of equivalence of qualifications to facilitate the mobility of professionals between countries. Stig Enemark, chair of the FIG Task force on Mutual recognition is in charge for the seminar.

The seminar is focussed in the European context but the conclusions could, hopefully, be used also in other regions. The seminar is open – by invitation only – to the representatives of the European member associations of FIG and CLGE.

Prof. Peter Dale becomes a new honorary member of FIG

FIG General Assembly appointed Prof. Peter Dale OBE, President of FIG 1995–1999 as an Honorary President for recognition of his enormous contribution to FIG and to the surveying profession internationally during the UK Bureau administration. Peter Dale has served FIG for eight years, first as a Vice President in the Australian Bureau and then for four years as a President in the UK Bureau. After Prof. Dale’s appointment FIG now has eight Honorary Presidents.

In the nomination letter from The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) it is stated that “Peter Dale’s vision and his skills in making things happen have had a profound impact on FIG. Building on the work of the Finnish Bureau, Peter on his retirement as President leaves FIG a very different organisation than it was 10 years ago. FIG now has a much clearer sense of purpose; is recognised and respected as a professional partner by UN agencies and the World Bank; and has a much stronger leadership team through his work in building ACCO. In latter years, Peter has built on the success of ACCO to start the process of empowering the member associations of FIG, working with Presidents of Member Associations and having contact with very many individual members during his travels.”

“Peter Dale led the Task Force on the desirability of establishing a permanent secretariat for FIG, whose recommendations were accepted by the PC meeting in Berlin in 1995 and which led, at the beginning of 1999, to the opening of the FIG Office in Copenhagen – a tremendous development for the future of FIG as a truly international professional organisation. He also developed FIG’s links with allied professional organisations, again building the international standing and recognition of FIG. The strapline of the UK Bureau was ’developing the profession in a developing world’. This was far more than words for Peter – his concern for the less fortunate motivated all that he did and does. Under his leadership, FIG achieved much in supporting surveyors and economies in less developed countries and those in transition.”

As mentioned in the RICS’ nomination letter "Peter Dale would be the first to point out that he could have achieved little by himself. But his passion, his vision, his oratory and his personality inspired many, many people to work for the development of FIG and the surveying profession. He was – and remains – an exemplary ambassador for the profession.” All members of FIG share these thoughts.

Prof. Dale was presented with his badge with golden oak leaves and certificate of Honorary Presidentship at the General Assembly in Prague.

Three new honorary members appointed in Prague

At the first General Assembly during the US Bureau the Federation got three new honorary members.

Grahame Lindsay from Australia has served FIG for eight years first as the Secretary General in the Australian Bureau and then as one of the three Vice Presidents in the UK Bureau. During his term of office FIG has developed to the real international professional organisation that it is today. Grahame Lindsay’s role was very central in the Australian Bureau and then also during the UK Bureau. The new activities during his term of office include the membership expansion especially in the developing countries and in southern hemisphere, closer relationship to the UN and its agencies, improved information delivery system and increase in the commission activities.

Prof. Ian Williamson from Australia served FIG first as a Vice Chair and Chair of Commission 7 (cadastre and land management) 1991–1998 at a time when the Commission became the leading body on cadastral issues that it is today and then as Director FIG/UN Liaison from 1998. Prof. Williamson was also the co-organiser of the joint UN/FIG workshop and international conference on land tenure and cadastral infrastructures for sustainable development which resulted in the UN-FIG Bathurst Declaration. Prof. Williamson is a professor at the University of Melbourne.

Prof. Andrzej Hopfer from Poland has been the chairperson of Commission 7 in 1983–1986 and Polish delegate in the Commission since 1975 and has made his contribution to several FIG publications like the FIG statement on cadastre and the Bathurst Declaration. Prof. Hopfer is a professor at the Olsztyn University.

Prof. Williamson and Mr. Lindsay were present in Prague, where they were presented with their certificates of honorary membership.

German Bureau announces its members

Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen (DVW), the German member association of FIG has announced the German members of the FIG Bureau for 2003–2006. The President of the German Bureau will be the current Vice President Prof. Holger Magel from the Technical University of Munich where he is the Chair of Land Readjustment and Rural Development.

The German Vice Presidents are Dr. Andreas Drees, who runs his private surveying company in Münster, Helmut Brackmann, the current chair of Commission 8, from Bottrop and Prof. Ralf Schroth from Hansa Luftbild GmbH in Münster. The German Bureau members have been nominated accordingly to the new governance structure of FIG. This means that in the beginning of 2001 the Treasurer and Secretary General are replaced with two Vice Presidents. The German Congress Director is Marcus Wandinger from Munich, where the next FIG Congress after Washington will be held in October 2006.

The remaining two Vice Presidents will be elected by the FIG General Assembly when the new statutes have been adopted by the General Assembly in Seoul in 2001.

Prof. Paul van der Molen becomes an Honorary Member of the Dutch Society for Geodesy

At the General Meeting of the Dutch Society for Geodesy NVG Prof. Paul van der Molen was appointed by common consent as an Honorary Member of the association in May. The reason for this is that Paul van der Molen has dedicated himself to the geodetic community in Holland and abroad with a lot of vision and elan for already more than 25 years.

Already from the beginning of the seventies Paul van der Molen has been a member of the editorial staff of the Dutch Geodetic Magazine, one of the predecessors of Geodesia. He has been the chairperson of the Society for land register and land surveying from 1980 to 1983, chair of the Dutch Society for Geodesy from 1987 to 1995 and after that from 1995 to 2000 chair of the Foundation Geodesia. He has also been active in the international surveying society for a long time. He has been a member of the Comité de Liaison des Geomètres Européens CLGE as a Vice President in 1993. Since 1996 he has been President of the Office International du Cadastre en du Régime Foncier OICRF a permanent institution of FIG. Since 1998 he has been Vice Chair of the FIG Commission 7. The NVG owes him a large debt of gratitude for his keen insight in the developments of our discipline and his unbridled enthusiasm.

Clifford Dann awarded in Brighton

Clifford Dann, Honorary Member of FIG, has been presented the honorary degree of Doctor of Science of the University of Brighton.

From the career of Clifford Dann can be mentioned that he founded his company Clifford Dann and Partners in 1956. He has hold several posts in the RICS being the National President in 1983 and 1984 and continuing to chair advisory committees for some years thereafter. In FIG he chaired the Town Planning Commission in 1974–1975 and thereafter became a member of the Management Board of CASLE and chair of the Editorial Board of Survey Review. Clifford has also devoted considerable energy to the University of Brighton, where he has been a member of the Board of Governors from 1989 to 1998, being chair of the Property Committee for six years and Deputy Chair of the Board for four years. During this period the university has evolved to a university with responsibility for its own extensive estate.

Clifford Dann has also devoted much time to charitable work not least to Chailey Heritage, a centre for physically disabled children.

Two honorary members in Czech Republic

The Czech Union of Surveyors and Cartographers appointed two new honorary members at the opening ceremony of the FIG Working Week in Prague. The new members are Robert W. Foster, President of FIG and Markku Villikka, Director, FIG office for their support and assistance in organising the working week.

In memoriam 

Herbert H. Ahrens

On the 1st of May died Mr. Herbert H. Ahrens, Dipl.-Ing., the Secretary of Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen (DVW) and the editor of DVW News for many years, at the age of 91. Mr. Ahrens dedicated his knowledge and power to serve the surveying community and so it became soon evident that he would be recognised with many awards. In 1978, he was awarded with the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande. FIG honoured him in 1983 by appointing him as an Honorary Member of FIG and finally he received the greatest merit that DVW can award, the Helmert Medal of Honour. There is virtually nobody to whom the name Herbert H. Ahrens is unknown. On the occasion of his 70th and 80th birthday, his entire lifework was acknowledged in full detail.

I can now only add that Herbert H. Ahrens continued to dedicate himself, even after handing over his honorary offices, to DVW by offering his enormous knowledge on our community. In this conjunction his work for DVW in the period between 1945/50 and 1990 cannot be acknowledged highly enough.

Together with his mourning wife who truly cared for him, we are saddened by the passing of this beloved and esteemed man who gave so much to DVW and the surveying community with his enormous dedication.

Dr.-Ing. Hans Josef Platen
President of DVW

New address for OICRF

The International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office International du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF, a permanent institution of FIG has a new address and contact information. The new address is OICRF, Hofstraat 110, NL-7311 KZ Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, tel. +31 55 528 5253, fax +31 55 528 5005 and e-mail: bidas.kadaster@wxs.nl. The home page for OICRF is www.oicrf.org. Prof. Paul van der Molen is continuously the Director of OICRF.

The responsibilities of OICRF are to collect and systematically file and index all documentary material relating to existing cadastral and land registration systems in all countries; to make comparative studies of that material followed by publication of the results; to give information and advice on all cadastral and land registration systems to all interested institutions or persons, whether for the purpose of study or to help countries wishing either to introduce a cadastre or a land registration system or to improve their existing system; to maintain the documentary material on a day to day basis; and to endeavour to have a correspondent in each country, whether or not that country is a member of the Federation.

Terra Cognita – A. E. Nordenskiöld’s Map Collection on display in Helsinki

The unique A. E. Nordenskiöld’s collection of historical maps is on display at an exhibition Terra Cognita – Discovering the World in Helsinki until 3 December 2000. This exhibition is part of the programme of Helsinki, City of the European Culture 2000.

Nordenskjöld was a famous Finnish explorer that sailed the North-East Passage and collected a library that consists of 4,000 volumes including 500 atlases and totally 24,000 maps. This unique collection is also included in the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The current exhibition is composed to explain how the unknown world – terra incognito – was discovered. In conjunction to the exhibition also a book on Nordenskjöld’s maps has been published. Part of the collection can also be visited on the web site, address www.lib.helsinki.fi/hyk/nyt/terra.html.

Surveying instruments for universities

At the FIG sponsors meeting in Prague in May the question, how to best help the surveying departments at the universities in developing countries to improve their education, was raised. It is commonly known that many universities in the developing countries cannot afford to invest on modern technology and surveying instruments. FIG is willing to act as intermediary between the sponsors and universities. The sponsors that were present in Prague took this proposal very positively.

It has already been agreed to test if there is a real demand and interest for such kind of co-operation. To start with the sponsors have promised to give 5–10 surveying instruments to surveying departments in developing countries. To get an instrument the university should be an academic member of FIG and in addition provide information about their needs to the FIG office. The office will then make a priority list and deliver it with the sponsors. Member associations are encouraged to inform universities in their respective countries about this option. Further contacts should be made to the FIG office.

Everest – the man behind the mountain

Mount Everest is known to everyone – but what about the person after whom it was named? Everest – The Man and the Mountain, by James R. Smith traces the life and profession of that person, George Everest. In particular, it covers his life dedicated to surveying in India during the first half of the 19th century.

George Everest left England and went to India at the tender age of 16 but within a few years was leading survey parties into the remotest areas of the subcontinent. His particular passion was geodesy that was the core of his activities when he soon became Superintendent of the Great Trigonometrical Survey. Everest was a surveyor, linguist, engineer, astronomer and religious philosopher and considered so indefatigable that his contemporaries were accustomed to speak of him as Neverrest. Jim Smith’s book provides an insight into the life of a remarkable man and shows amply why the earth’s highest peak now bears his name.

The book can be ordered from Scottish Book Source, fax +44 131 229 9070 or e-mail scotbook@globalnet.co.uk.

Nordic Congress in Stockholm

The XIX Nordic Surveying Congress was arranged in Stockholm, Sweden in June 2000. In the middle of the holiday season the conference attracted over 200 surveyors from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. This congress has a tradition that dates back to 1928 and has ever since been arranged every 4th year. It is held in the three Scandinavian languages and was this time hosted by the Sveriges Lantmätareförening SLF. The conference consists of technical seminars and technical excursions in a good balance with social programme including home visits.  A Round table between the representatives of the Nordic surveying associations and the national surveying and mapping authorities preceded the conference. The conference was opened by Kjell Larsson, Swedish Environment Minister and Tommy Österberg, President of SLF.

“The Art of Surveying“ now available on CD-ROM

Would you like to be able to have the exhibition “The Art of Surveying”? At the FIG Congress in Brighton in 1998 the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement set up an interesting and amusing exhibit consisting of 154 illustrations on 43 panels. These illustrations and accompanying text depict the history of surveying and its influence in shaping the world.

With the kind assistance of the Ordnance Survey this exhibition has been copied onto CD-ROM to enable it to be reproduced in monochrome according to the original exhibition shown in Brighton.
If you would be interested to reproduce this exhibition for showing at your national events it is available for sale at £250 which represents only 10% of the cost of the original panels.

Further information from David A Wallis in the UK by e-mail Wallisconsult@compuserve.com.

Journals from member associations

• Vermessung & Geoinformation (Austria), 1–3.2000.
• Geomatica (Canada), 1, 2, 3, 4/2000.
• Geodetski list (Croatia), 1, 2/2000.
• Landinspektøren (Denmark), 1/2000.
• Maankäyttö (Finland), 1, 2, 3/2000.
• Géomètre (OGE, France), January–August/September 2000.
• XYZ (Association Française de Topographie, 1, 2/2000.
• Zeitschrift für Vermessungswesen (Germany), January–July 2000.
• The Hong Kong Surveyor (Hong Kong), January–June 2000.
• Surveying News (Hong Kong), January – September 2000.
• Geodesia (Netherlands), 1 – 7/8.2000.
• Survey Quarterly, December 1999.
• The Quantity Surveyor (Nigeria), July/September, October/December 1999.
• Kart og Plan (Norway), 1/2000
• Geodetski Vestnik (Slovenia), 1–2/2000.
• South African Journal of Surveying and Geoinformation (South Africa), 2/1999.
• Topografía y Cartografía (Spain), January–July/August 2000.
• VPK/MPG (Switzerland), 1–9/2000.
• Civil Engineering Surveyor (UK), December/January–September 2000.
• Surveying World (RICS), January/February–September/October 2000.
• Professional Surveyor (ACSM, USA), January–September 2000.

Other journals and publications

• Science International (ICSU newsletter), December 1999
• ISPRS Highlights, March, June 2000.
• FIABCI Press, February–August 2000.
• CIB Information, 1–3/2000.
• UN/Development Update, June/July 2000.
• UNESCO Sources, January–May 2000.
• UN Habitat Debate, 1/2000.
• Choices, The Human Development Magazine, UNDP, December 1999.
• United Nations Cronicle 3/1999.
• ISO Bulletin, January–September 2000.
• GIM, January – September 2000.
• Hydro International, January/February–September 2000.
• GeoInformatics, Januray/February–September 2000.
• Land and Liberty, Spring, Summer, Autumn 2000.
• Georama (Belgium) 2 and 3/2000.
• Directory and Annual Report 1998/1999. The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.
• Surveyor in the New Millennium “Challenges and Opportunities”, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.
• 2000 and dárpentage – LE géomètre fil du temps, OGE, France
• Ejendomsændringer I det 20. Århundrede. A book published by DdL Denmark to celebrate its 125th Anniversary.
• Annual Report 1999, International Council for Science.
• Building Standards – Annual Report 1999, ISO.
• UN Directory of Non-governmental organizations associated with the Department of Public Affairs 1999–2000.
• Education and Population Dynamics: Mobilizing minds for a sustainable future, UNESCO.
• Seven complex lessons in education for future, UNESCO.
• Report of the Regional Workshop on Land Survey and Large-Scale Mapping in Support of Settlements Planning, Land Development and Management.
• Modern Information and GPS Technologies – Aspects and implications on their application, Proceedings of the International Symposium held in Sofia, Bulgaria 11–12 November 1999.
• World Report on the Urban Future 21.

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

The FIG Bulletin

Compiled and edited by the FIG Office, e-mail: FIG@fig.net and fax +45 38 86 02 52.
ISSN Number 1081-6522
Material from this bulletin may be reproduced freely.

Bulletin deadlines

The next deadline for the FIG Bulletin will be 15 November 2000. Please send your copy to the FIG Office, Lindevangs Alle 4, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark, fax +45 38 86 02 52 or e-mail FIG@fig.net.

The FIG Bulletin will be issued quarterly in March, June, September and December. The next issue will be issued in December 2000 both as a hard copy and on web.

This page is maintained by the FIG Office. Last revised on 06-09-18.