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Special Stamps to commemorate the Struve Meridian Arc
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Finnish stamps on Struve Arc.
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FIG Permanent Institution on History has worked to
promote the positive image of the surveying profession
and has introduced the Struve Meridian Arc at the World
Heritage List of UNESCO. The Struve Arc has now been
introduced on special stamps in both Finland, Sweden and
Latvia. |
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The Swedish stamp is showing a portrait of W. Struve and theodolite. The Latvian stamp is also covered with a
portrait of Struve and theodolite with triangulation of
Latvia and market stone. The Finish stamp is shown
above. In Estonia, the Observatory of Tartu (central
point of the struve Meridian Arc) has been restored and
officially opened by the President of Estonia on 27
April 2011. Together with surveyors from many countries,
FIG was represented by Jan de Graeve, President of the IIHSM.
Read more about Struve Meridian Arc in
FIG
Publication no 50 15 June 2011 |
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2nd CROPOS Conference held in Zagreb, Croatia 8 April 2011
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The 2nd CROPOS Conference was held on 8 April 2011
in Croatia organized by State Geodetic Administration
and the Faculty of Geodesy of the University of Zagreb,
in cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Licensed
Geodetic Engineers and Croatian Geodetic Society. The
objective of this Conference was to familiarize the
geodetic and wider public with the implementation of the
new, official geodetic datum and plane cartographic
projections of the Republic of Croatia as well as with
the introduction and application of the T7D unique
transformation model that was launched in official use
on 31 March 2011, upon the decision by the
Director-General. There were many international invited
lecturers and interesting presentations.
Read the full report (pdf 993 kb) |
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A World Bank publication on land rights
recognition
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The World Bank has published a book on Innovations
in Land Rights Recognition, Administration, and
Governance in the World Bank Studies series. The
publication is an out come from the
FIG/World Bank
conference that was held in March 2009. The
conference is also covered in the FIG publication no.
45: Land Governance in Support of The Millennium
Development Goals - A New Agenda for Land Professionals.
http://www.fig.net/pub/figpub/pub45/figpub45.htm
Editors of the World Bank publication Innovations in
Land Rights Recognition, Administration, and Governance
are Klaus Deininger (World Bank), Clarissa Augustinus
(UN-Habitat), Stig Enemark (FIG) and Paul Munro-Faure (FAO).
The publication is based on an on-going partnership
between the World Bank, FIG, the Global Land Tool
Network and FAO which provides tools that can help to
address land governance in practice and at scale. The WB
hopes that this publication will increase awareness of
and support to the successful implementation of
innovative approaches. The papers were all presented at
the World Bank’s Annual Conference on Land Policy and
Administration in 2009 that was organised jointly by the
WB and FIG.
The book is available now in paperback e.g. from
Amazon. To read more have a look at:
http://www.amazon.com/Innovations-Recognition-Administration-Governance-Studies/dp/0821385801#_
or at the World Bank e-library at :
http://elibrary.worldbank.org/content/book/9780821385807.
ISBN: 9780821385807. 380 pages |
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Whole Brunei is now available on 3-D map
The entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam can now be seen in
3-D. The implementation of this project was revealed in December
2010 by the Ministry of Development that through the Brunei
Survey Department has successfully completed one of the National
Development Plan (2007-2012) projects that involves aerial
surveys i.e. a 3-Dimensional Digital Terrain Model (DEM). Using
the most accurate laser scanning technology known as LiDAR, the
project began in 2009. Data measured on the ground is at every
one-metre distance apart (exceeding six billion measurements for
the whole country) with 15 cm accuracy (horizontal and vertical)
in areas including forest areas, where tree heights can also be
estimated by using the information of the top of the canopy and
the ground elevation. This endeavour has made Brunei among the
best mapped countries in the world by providing highly valuable,
and positive impact on its natural resource management, flood
mitigation, climate change, forest conservation programme and
improved urban and rural development.
According to Haji Mohammed Jamil bin Haji Mohammed Ali,
the Surveyor General, the Survey Department has plans to provide
the data through the Web Geoportal. According to him, among the
challenges would be marketing the product to stakeholders and
interested local companies.
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First Annual National Conference of Ethiopian
Surveying Professionals Association (ESPA) held 18 September
2010
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The First Annual
National Conference of Ethiopian Surveying Professionals
Association (ESPA) was held at the Ethiopian Mapping
Agency 18 September 2010. The conference attracted
several hundred participants from all over the country.
It was the most historic moment and important event in
the ESPA’s activities and surveyors of Ethiopia as a
whole. Participants represented national government and
non-governmental organizations in surveying disciplines,
representatives of stake holder organizations, and
ESPA’s regional representatives. |
The meet was organized by leaders of the
association and active participation and support of members and
sponsors such as the Ethiopian Mapping Agency. The agenda
included the annual report and strategic plan. In addition that
FIG Profile was presented. ESPA is very proud of being accepted
as a member of FIG since the establishment of the association.
The meeting was chaired by the Vice President and the annual
report by the Honorary Secretary because President Dr.
Tilahun Irdino was unable to participate because of his
illness.
The presentations and discussion were instrumental and
informative. The meeting costs were raised from registration
fees, supplemented by income from sponsor organizations. Contact
espa@gmail.com
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Joint
WB/FIG/GLTN/FAO publication on Innovations in Land
Rights Recognition, Administration and Governance
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The World Bank has published a joint WB/FIG/GLTN/FAO
publication on “Innovations in Land Rights Recognition,
Administration and Governance”. This publication is
based on papers presented mainly at the joint FIG/WB
conference on “Land Governance in Support of the
Millennium Development Goals: Responding to New
Challenges” that was held in Washington DC, USA 9-10
March 2009.
Joint WB/FIG/UNHABITAT/FAO publication on
Innovations in Land Rights Recognition, Administration
and Governance. Joint Discussion Paper published by
The World Bank, GLTN, FIG and FAO. Edited by Klaus Deininger,
Stig Enemark, Clarissa Augustinus and Paul
Munro-Faure. Proceedings from the Annual Conference on
Land Policy and Administration. Joint Organizational
Discussion Paper—Issue 2. April 2010. Available on web
at
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTARD/Resources/335807-1174581646324/InnovLandRightsRecog.pdf
(8.41 MB - 251 pages) |
Kosovo has got its Business
Plan for 2009-2014 which provides concrete actions for
development of the Kosovo Cadastre Agency and the cadastre
sector in Kosovo. The preparation of the Business Plan is
financed by the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, the World
Bank and GTZ / Germany. The Business Plan will be submitted to
the Government for approval. The success of the land
administration reform will depend on donor coordination and
their timely coordinated decisions regarding funding of the
different parts of the reform. Read the
business plan.
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Comprehensive book
on Land Administration for Sustainable Development from
FIG experts published by ESRI
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Stig Enemark, Iain Williamson and Abbas
Rajabifard hand over the book to Paul Chung,
Director of the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD)
(2nd from right) at the UNRCC-AP conference in
Bangkok in October 2009. |
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Prof. Iain Williamson, Prof. Stig Enemark, Ms.
Jude Wallace and Dr. Abbas Rajabifard - all active
and well-known in FIG - have made a comprehensive book on land
administration from several aspects from today’s perspective.
Their book Land Administration for Sustainable Development
examines global land administration systems at different levels
of maturity. The book explains how countries can establish the
basic infrastructure for implementation of land-related policies
and land management strategies to ensure the vision of social
equality, economic development, social justice, environmental
protection, and good governance. Through its presentation of a
holistic view of land management for sustainable development,
this book outlines basic principles of land administration
applicable to all countries and their divergent needs. The book
is written for professionals looking for comprehensive overview
of modern land administration strategies, including politicians,
senior government officials, students, and land administrators.
ISBN: 9781589480414, ESRI Press, 2009. 512 pages, recommended
price: USD 49.95.
Note: no royalties to the authors.
Read more:
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FIG Honorary President Holger Magel, President
of the Bavarian Academy of Rural Areas celebrated the 20th
anniversary of the Academy 17 June 2008 – Bavarian Prime
Minister Dr. Günther Beckstein acknowledged the competence of
the Bayerische Akademie Ländlicher Raum)
Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Günther Beckstein, in his
speech on the occasion of the 20th anniversary celebration of
the Bavarian Academy for Rural Areas, appreciated the high
professional competence of the Academy and its members. In the
words of the Prime Minister: “The academy transmits important
messages and ideas for the attainment of equalitarian quality of
life in all regions of Bavaria”. The Bavarian State
Government and the Academy agree on the need of a durable and
reliable inclusion of all regions outside the biggest urban
agglomerations and on the importance of their lasting promotion.
The academy, presided by Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Magel
has achieved a great reputation far beyond the limits of the
Bavarian State within the 20 years of its existence.
A high appreciation for the impacts of the Bavarian Academy
for Rural Areas and its nationwide role as pioneer and mentor
was expressed by the Chairman of the Academy for Rural Areas of
the State Schleswig-Holstein Former State Secretary Rüdiger
von Plüskow in his welcome speech.
Prof. Christiane Thalgott, President of the German
Academy for City and Regional Planning (Deutsche Akademie für
Städtebau und Landesplanung) delivered her welcome speech from
the point of view of the principle of partnership between rural
and urban areas; in other words, not pointing towards the
identification of the contrasts between town and country, but to
the recognition of the respective identities and individualities
which may foster cooperation among them.
In the context of the ceremony, the scientific board of the
Bavarian academy, in presence of Prime Minister Dr. Beckstein,
awarded eight young scientists who have dealt with current
topics of the rural areas in an innovative way, with a prize for
their outstanding work.
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Dr. Günther Beckstein and Prof. Holger Magel.
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Prize Winners together with Dr. Günther Beckstein and
Prof. Holger Magel. |
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Workshop on 3D cadastre in Nepal - 3 May 2005
Cadastral Survey Branch, Survey Department, Nepal had organized a
successful one day discussion programme on the topic ‘implementing
3D cadastre in Nepal’ at Survey Department Hall, Minbhawan,
Kathmandu, Nepal on 3 May 2005. Thirty five participants from 10
related Government Organizations were participated on that programme.
The participants were mainly senior level executives and policy
makers from different organizations. Different organizations are
involving in Nepal for the data acquisition, data maintenance and
data dissemination about 3D cadastre. The intension of the programme
was to raise awareness to the different organizations for
implementing 3D cadastre to secure the ownership and facilitate the
real estate market.
The history of land recording in Nepal was started from one
dimension (i.e. keeping the record only) and now the registration of
two dimensions (i.e. measuring the length and breadth of the parcel
and calculating area) is in practice. Basically, the legal
boundaries of parcels used for the registration of the legal status
are fixed in 2D space. Due to the high population growth and growing
interest in using space under and above the surface (particularly in
the urban areas) there is a need of registration of vertical
dimension of the legal status of real estate objects. To be able to
define and manage the juridical situation satisfactory, 3D
information are becoming indispensable for land administration in
Nepal.
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France: Chartered Surveyors Mobilized around a National
Objective: The Creation of a GPS Network of the Territory by the End
of 2005
The French Order of Chartered Surveyors (Ordre des Géomètres
Experts )has set itself the objective, by the end of 2005, of
setting up a GNSS (“Global Navigation Satellite System”) network
over the national territory, integrated with satellite
geo-referencing, which will allow any user to position himself in
real time with an accuracy down to the inch, anywhere within the
territory, at any time. Already, 500 chartered surveyors, one third
of the profession, are supporting the rollout of the network—the
most substantial ever carried out in the world at a single time. The
chartered surveyors intend to share this network in order to respond
to the needs of other potential users: in local governments, in
agriculture, public works contractors, network administrators,
vehicle fleets, for housing stock, emergency preparedness,
cartography institutes, research and universities.
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The European Commission and the United States agreed on GPS/Galileo
co-operation in Brussels in February 2004
The United States and the European Commission, joined by the
European Union Member States, held a successful round of
negotiations on GPS/Galileo co-operation in Brussels on 24-25
February 2004. The delegations built upon progress made in The Hague
and in Washington and were able to reach agreement on most of the
overall principles of GPS/Galileo cooperation, including,
- Adoption of a common baseline signal structure for their
respective open services
- Confirmation of a suitable baseline signal structure for the
Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS)
- A process allowing optimization, either jointly or
individually, of the baseline signal structures in order to
further improve performances
- Confirmation of interoperable time and geodesy standards to
facilitate the joint use of GPS and Galileo
- Non-discrimination in trade in satellite navigation goods and
services
- Commitment to preserve national security capabilities
- Agreement not to restrict use of or access to respective open
services by end-users
- Agreement to jointly finalize associated documents after which
the agreement will be presented for signature
The delegations will continue to work diligently to resolve the
few remaining outstanding issues which concern primarily some legal
and procedural aspects.
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The Netherlands Society of Geodesy merged into the new society
Geo-Information Netherlands, GIN
The Geo-Information Netherlands, GIN was established late last
year and has started under the new structure in January 2004. The
new association is the result of a fusion of in total eight former
societies of landsurveyors, catographers, remote sensing and
photogrammetrists and others.
On October 23, 2003 the landscape of geo-related societies in the
Netherlands changed considerable. Eight societies, among which the
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Geodesie (the Netherlands Society of
Geodesy), merged into the new society Geo-Informatie Nederland
(Geo-Information Netherlands, GIN). The total amount of members is
about 4,000 including 150 institutional members and about 800
academic members. The association is split up into five sections:
- Landsurveying and Geodesy
- Earth Observation
- Cartography and Geo-visualisation
- Real Estate and Landinformation
- Geo-ICT
Every section has a president and is member of the general board.
The new society Geo-Information Netherlands inherited all rights
and obligations of the merged societies including the membership of
FIG. Members of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Geodesie (the
Netherlands Society of Geodesy) are automatical members of GIN. The
President of GIN is Leen Murre, Secretary is Wilbert
Wouters (ir. W.J.C. Wouters) and the new treasurer is Maarten
Bomers (ir. M.P.H. Bomers). The total number of general board
members is 11 persons.
Contact information:
Geo-Information Netherlands
P.O. Box 57,
NL-5753 CW Deurne,
The Netherlands
Tel. + 31 493 328 628
Fax + 31 493 328 601
E-mail: leen.murre@gbkn.nl
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UNHCR and UN-Habitat sign a Memorandum of Understanding -
Closing the gap between relief, reconstruction and development
efforts in post-conflict and post-disaster area
The High Commissioner, Mr. Ruud Lubbers, and the Executive
Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme
(UN-HABITAT), Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under Secretary-General,
signed in the Geneva Headquarters of the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees December 17, 2003 an operational Memorandum
of Understanding opening the opportunity for operational linkages
between the mandates of both organisations.
The significance of this agreement lies in the collaboration
between an agency mandated to address the emergency and humanitarian
obligations of the High Commission, and the developmental and longer
term mandate of the Human Settlements Programme, with a view to
ensuring "...systematic, predictable cooperation between the two
organisations while building on the recognized expertise... of each
organisation." Specific areas of collaboration will include among
others: shelter solutions for refugees and returnees; settlement
planning and management; land and property rights, restitution, and
administration; infrastructure planning and development; and
capacity building of local and national authorities.
The objective of this collaboration however, is to ensure that
one end of the bridge spanning the gap between relief and
development rests within the emergency humanitarian activities of
UNHCR, and the other well into the longer term sustainable human
settlements development activities typically undertaken by
UN-HABITAT.
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The longest map of the world ?
In 2004 the Netherlands Committee for Geodesy will celebrate its 125th
birthday. To draw some publicity to this occasion the Netherlands Kadaster
decided to produce a cadastral map 1:2000 of a 332 km. cross section of
the seemless cadastral database of the Netherlands, thus resulting in a
166 m. long map. It is the longest map of the Netherlands and maybe of the
world. A photograph of the map was selected news-photograph of the day by
the largest press agency of the Netherlands. Pictures of the map ("langste
kaart" in Dutch) and a flash-animation can be seen on the website of
Kadaster, www.kadaster.nl.
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"This is better than learning math" - Made to Measure
Alberta Land Surveyors and the Science Alberta Foundation have launched an
educational math program that has kids saying, "this is better than
learning math" and "this is fun!" Made to Measure is one of the
newest crates offered as part of Science Alberta's Science in a
Crate program. The crates are a treasure trove of scientific
activities designed to engage minds through hands-on learning. In
the Made to Measure crate, grade eight students get to try their
hand at seven activities commonly performed by Alberta Land
Surveyors. In the "world survey" activity, students draw and
interpret scale diagrams while in the "that was then, this is now"
activity, students estimate areas using
photos and maps of property boundaries. During the student testing
of the crate, students were heard to say that doing the activities
in the crate were better than doing math. They didn't realize they
were learning about shapes and volumes. The Made to Measure crate
is based on the grade eight math curriculum and because the only
cost to schools or libraries or community groups is a small handling
charge, it is a great opportunity for those with limited budgets and
resources. The Made to Measure crate can be ordered by calling
Science Alberta at + 1 403 220 0077 or visiting their website
www.sciencealberta.org.
Thanks to Science Alberta's supporters, users pay just $25 for a
three-week booking, including shipping.
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