| 
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 The participants at the conference
 | Over a two day workshop the African Task 
					Force objectives were to understand what the barriers of 
					entry to the profession are especially relating to women and 
					young people, to add value for participants through a 
					learning experience to enable them to act as agents of 
					change and to outline and develop a range of tools that are 
					capable of being used by member associations that will make 
					a difference in their recruiting strategies. This workshop 
					brought together decision makers and practitioners from 
					several African nations. Read more ...
 |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Participants at the international symposium
 | Structural failures such as collapses of 
					bridges and buildings and geohazards caused by events such 
					as landslides, ground subsidence and earthquakes are 
					world-wide problems that often lead to significant economic 
					and life losses. The symposium provided a forum for sharing 
					latest research results, ideas and experiences in monitoring 
					deformations of both natural phenomena and man-made 
					structures. About 200 leading experts, researchers, industry 
					practitioners and students from 27 countries and regions 
					gathered for the Joint International Symposium on 
					Deformation Monitoring (JISDM 2011). FIG was represented by 
					Chair of Commission 6 Gethin Roberts. Read 
					more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Keynote session of the 3rd Cadastral Congress.
 | President CheeHai Teo joined the 3rd 
					Cadastral Congress in Warsaw, Poland. The theme was 
					‘Cadastre in sustainable spatial management’. The Congress 
					was organized by Association of Polish Surveyors in close 
					cooperation with the Head Office of Geodesy in Poland. About 
					150 participants from 19 countries joined. Issues discussed 
					were the future of Cadastre (Cadastre 2014plus), cadastral 
					reforms in local and global scale – integration of the 
					technical and legal part of cadastre, cadastre in the field 
					of disaster management and cadastre in the European Union.
					
					Read more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 At the opening of the Training Course
 | The 3rd International and Professional 
					Training Course for Young Surveyors was an excellent and 
					memorable event, organized and sponsored by the Consiglio 
					Nazionale Geomtetri CNGGeL (the National Association of the 
					Italian Surveyors) and Geoweb (the technical company which 
					belongs to Consiglio and provides all information about the 
					Italian Cadastre to the Italian surveyors), in collaboration 
					with HARSE (Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying 
					Engineers). Altogether 50 young surveyors participated  
					Read more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 The participants at the conference
 | The International NSDI Conference was 
					organized by the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre (AREC) and 
					the Faculty of Civil Engineering. FIG and EuroGeographics 
					were co-organizers. FIG was represented by Vice President 
					Chryssy Potsiou, who presented the 2011-2014 Work Plan 
					of FIG and its major targets. The conference was also 
					supported by the World Bank, the Netherlands Kadaster, 
					Swedesurvey AB, City of Skopje, GDi GIS Data, IGEA Mak, as 
					well as by Asseco SEE. Read more ...
 |  
		
		FIG General Assembly 2012 - Call for bids to host FIG 
		Working Week 2015 or 2016The FIG General Assembly will select at its meeting in 
		Rome, Italy 6-10 May 2012 the host and venue for the FIG Working Week 
		2015 and FIG Working Week 2016. The member associations have been 
		invited to consider making a bid to host the Working Week 2015 or 2016 
		together with FIG. The Council has prepared bidding guidelines for 
		making the bid. These guidelines explain in detail the information that 
		is required for a successful bid. Decision on the host of the two 
		Working Weeks will be made in Rome based on proposal from the Council 
		and evaluation report prepared by the FIG Office. deadline for making 
		the bid is 30 November 2011. Any association that is interested 
		to host the FIG Working Week in 2015 or 2016 is requested to contact FIG 
		Director, email: 
		louise.friis-hansen@fig.net.
 
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Electronic Sand Art Presentation at the Opening Session 
					depicting the optimism and hope in this inaugural High Level 
					Forum
 | The United Nations First High Level Forum 
					on Global Geospatial Information Management was attended by 
					350 participants from 90 Member States together with 22 
					representatives from the United Nations and 37 
					representatives from international organizations and the 
					private sector. At the opening session, the Prime Minister 
					of Korea stressed that geospatial information is most 
					fundamental and essential to support joint efforts in 
					resolving global issues. 
					Read more ... President Teo also attended the UN Committee of Experts on 
					Global Geospatial Information Management during his visit in 
					Seoul. The Committee of Experts met for the first time after 
					the successful conclusion of the United Nations First High 
					Level Forum on GGIM on 27th October 2011.
					Read more ...
 |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 JBGIS meeting at the UN-GGIM Forum
 | The Joint Board of Geospatial Information 
					Societies held a meeting on the sideline of the United 
					Nations First High Level Forum on Global Geospatial 
					Information Management in Seoul. The meeting was attended by 
					eight of the ten member organizations. Chair of the Joint 
					Board, Professor William Cartwright, was included as a 
					member of the “extended” Bureau for the United Nations 
					Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information 
					Management, underlying the necessity for international 
					professional geospatial societies to work collaboratively 
					and to have a collective voice within the United Nations 
					system.  
					Read more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 | President CheeHai Teo attended the 
					44th Council Meeting of the ASEAN Federation of Land 
					Surveying and Geomatics hosted by the Survey and Mapping 
					Society, Thailand, an Institutional Member of AFLAG in 
					Bangkok. Dr. Wicha Jiwalai, from Thailand and 
					President of AFLAG, chaired the meeting. Read more ...
 |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 The CSDILA Family | The Land Administration Forum and 
					associated workshops was coordinated through the PCGIAP 
					Working Group 3 on “Spatially Enabled Government” and the 
					University of Melbourne’s Centre for SDIs and Land 
					Administration (CSDILA). President CheeHai Teo 
					attended this forum as well as the 4th Land Administration 
					Forum for Asia and the Pacific “Beyond Spatial Enablement” 
					and Tenth Anniversary Celebration of the Centre for SDIs and 
					Land Administration, University of MelbourneRead 
					more ... President Teo also visited RMIT University in Melbourne
 Read more ...
 |  
			
			
			
				
					
						| 
						 | The Sixth Meeting of the International 
						Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) 
						was held in Tokyo, Japan from 5 to 9 September 2011. The 
						ICG has been formed as a result of recommendations of 
						the UN Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space 
						(COPUOS), as ratified by the General Assembly of the UN. 
						The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) is an 
						Associate Member of the ICG.Read more ...
 |  
			The Open Geospatial 
			Consortium (OGC) undertakes a survey on the business value of open 
			standards. The last OGC survey (with less focus on this topic) was 
			in 2008, and therefore every contribution is valuable. The survey 
			takes 15-20 minutes. More information and survey link:http://www.opengeospatial.org/pressroom/pressreleases/1496
 
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Prof. 
					Karl-Friedrich Thöne, President of DVW making his 
					plenary presentation.
 | The world biggest tradeshow in surveying 
					and geomatics business gathered more than 16,000 visitors 
					from 80 countries to see 800 exhibitors. The focus at 
					INTERGEO 2011 was very much on the geodata infrastructure, 
					sensors and 3D mapping. The INTERGEO conference titled "Knowledge 
					and Action for Planet Earth" attracted 1,500 
					participants to listen to 140 presentations on 40 main 
					topics. FIG was represented at INTERGEO by Vice President 
					Rudolf Staiger that made a welcome address at the 
					opening ceremony. 
					Read more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Participants visiting the German-Austrian state boundary at 
					Zugspitze
 | FIG Commission 7 held his annual meetingin 
					the wonderful city of Innsbruck, Austria culminating with 
					the high level International Symposium Cadastre 2.0. This 
					meeting welcomed delegates from 30 countries among them FIG 
					Vice President Chryssy Potsiou, former Chairs of 
					Commission 7 Andrzej Hopfer, Ian Williamson, Paul 
					MunroFaure and András Osskó. Without any doubt, issues 
					related to land administration and cadastral perspectives 
					are still of very high interest, namely in regard of 
					citizens’ involvement, crowd sourcing and social medias. 
					Read more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Vice President Greenway with the Congress organisers
 | The Geodetic Society of Bosnia-Herzegovina 
					became a Member Association of FIG in 2010, and invited Vice 
					President Greenway to attend the Congress 2011, held 
					28-30 September 2011 to make a presentation on the work of 
					FIG to the delegates.Over 200 professionals attended the 
					congress, from Bosnia-Herzegovina and surrounding 
					countries.Those responsible for the cadastre face a number 
					of particular challenges. Some of these relate to the loss 
					of cadastral records in the recent war; others to the legacy 
					of differing cadastral systems in the country. 
					Read more ... |  
		
			
				
					| 
					
					 Stig Enemark and Hu Cunzhi | The FIG Office hosted a delegation from 
					China Land Surveying and Planning Institute, Ministry of 
					Land and Resources led by Chief Planner Hu Cunzhi, 
					who came to visit the FIG Office, and to explore about FIG, 
					the Danish Association of Chartered Surveyors and Aalborg 
					University. The purpose of the meeting was to deepen mutual 
					understanding and strengthen the cooperation between MLR and 
					the global surveying community. 
					Read more ... |  
			
			
			
				
					
						| 
						
						 | The Empowerment of Local Authorities: 
						Spatial Information and Spatial Planning Tools is the 
						title of this years meeting and workshop. The aim is to 
						study the impact of spatial information and spatial 
						planning tools on economic, social and environmental 
						aspects of local authorities in general, and on the 
						empowerment of local authorities in particular. The aim 
						is also to investigate the international knowledge and 
						practice on how surveyors may assist real estate 
						markets, good governance, environmental management and 
						planning initiatives by providing reliable spatial and 
						relevant infrastructures. Visit
						Web site 
						and read full
					
						Invitation. | 
			
			
				
					
						| 
						
						 Participants of the workshop in front of the Genghis 
						Khan Monument
 | The workshop on “Innovative 
						Technologies for an Efficient Geospatial Management of 
						Earth Resources” was organised by FIG Commission 5 and 6 
						together with the Mongolian Association of Geodesy, 
						Photogrammetry and Cartography (MAGPC) and the Siberian 
						State Academy of Geodesy (SSGA) in Novosibirsk. Early 
						Warning and Crisis Management – the Role of GI and 
						Spatial Data Infrastructure” was the title of a 
						Round-Table-Discussion. The workshop was the first of 
						its kind in Mongolia and was very well organised. 
						Read more... | 
			
			
				
					
						| 
						
						 FIG was well represented at the Congress
 | CheeHai Teo, President FIG, 
						Ahmad Fauzi Nordin, chair of the Organizing 
						Committee, Christiaan Lemmen, Director OICRF, 
						Michael Sutherland, chair of Commission 4 
						(Hydrography) and Robert Šinkner, Chair 
						FIG Commission 10 (Construction) participated in the 
						Congress which had an excellent programme. The Minister 
						of Natural Resources and Environment opened the 
						proceedings and urged surveyors to be ‘well prepared 
						to take on new challenges - to venture into new areas of 
						discovery and development, through shared knowledge and 
						creative innovations'. The congress covered a broad 
						range of the survey profession.  
						Read more... |  
			
			
			
				
					| 
					 
 | The United Nations ECOSOC made history on 
					27 July 2011 in Geneva by establishing a new 
					intergovernmental body, the UN Committee on Global 
					Geospatial Information Management, to bring together, 
					for the first time at the global level, government experts 
					from all member states to consult on the rapidly changing 
					field of geospatial information. FIG welcomes this 
					initiative, intends to contribute towards this global 
					mechanism that aims at extending the benefits of geospatial 
					information for the betterment of society, environment and 
					economy. 
					Read more... UN Press release
 | 
			 
			
				
					| 
					
					 | The 
					
					FIG Annual Review 2010 is now available (32 pages, 3.55 
					MB) as a .pdf-file.Hard copies have been mailed to all members together with 
					the minutes from the General Assembly in Marrakech. To 
					receive your personal copy, please contact the FIG office, 
					email: FIG@fig.net.
 |  
			
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Invitation
 | The traditional Commission 7 Annual Meeting 
					was be held in Innsbruck, Austria. As a part of the Annual 
					Meeting, a one-day international Symposium on “Cadastre 2.0” 
					was held 30 September 2011. Visit
					
					Web site. |  
				
					| 
					
					 Delegates to the GGIM Africa Preparatory Meeting in front of 
					the United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 | With the establishment of United Nations 
					Committee on Global Geospatial Information Management, the 
					UN has made history. The United Nations Economic Commission 
					for Africa (UN-ECA) has taken the role to lead the 
					initiative in Africa, so as to ensure that GGIM adequately 
					reflects African issues and shape its direction and 
					dimension to reflect Africa’s interest. The Commission 
					convened the GGIM Africa Preparatory Meeting to consult 
					member states in Africa with a view to develop the 
					continent’s needs, prospects and vision for an overall 
					Geoinformation Governance in Africa. 
					Read more.... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Mr. Zelalem Asemu, Vice President of the Ethiopian 
					Professional Surveyors Association
 | President CheeHai Teo discussed the 
					current state of the profession in Ethiopia with Vice 
					President Mr. Zelalem Asemu when he was in Addis 
					Ababa attending the UN-ECA GGIM Africa Preparatory Meeting. 
					The Association was admitted to FIG at the recent Working 
					Week in Marrakech and faces challenges to further develop 
					the profession in Ethiopia. Vice President Asemu has a wish 
					to see the Association and the Profession strengthened and 
					promoted through the development of appropriate standards of 
					practise. 
					Read more.... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 President CIREA, SONG ChunHua and FIG President 
					TEO CheeHai
 | The China Institute of Real Estate 
					Appraisers and Agents is one of the two FIG member 
					associations from PR China. Its national delegate, Prof. Dr.
					Liao (廖俊平) is an active member of FIG Commission 9 
					and was recently appointed as a Member of the FIG Task Force 
					on Property and Housing. Among other things CIREA expressed 
					a wish to connect and network with similar organizations 
					within FIG particularly those with responsibilities in the 
					area of property taxation, housing and real estate policies. 
					
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					 FIG President TEO CheeHai visiting CLSPI and Mr 
					WANG Shiyuan, Vice Minister of Land and Resources China
 | China Land Surveying and Planning Institute 
					is a newly appointed Affiliate Member of FIG. The Institute 
					acts as a “think tank” within the Ministry and areas of 
					activities include land use planning, land survey and 
					evaluation, cadastral management, land policy, remote 
					sensing, land pricing and land information. President Teo 
					also met with Vice Minister of Land and Resources Mr WANG 
					Shiyuan, who expressed his support towards CLSPI’s 
					membership in FIG and hoped that the membership will 
					intensify efforts towards better policies, programs and 
					practices within the area of land management and 
					administration in China. 
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 The Permantent Committee on GIS Infrasturcture for Asia and 
					the Pacific, PCGIAP
 | The Permanent Committee was established 
					pursuant to Resolution 16 of the 13th United Nations 
					Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the Pacific 
					(Beijing 1994) and operates under the purview of the United 
					Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Asia and the 
					Pacific (UNRCC-AP). The Committee submitted its report and 
					recommendations. FIG welcomes the resolutions that was 
					adopted at the conclusion of the meeting in Ulaanbaatar 
					
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 President CheeHai Teo with Mr. Gankhuu  
					and Mr. Bayarsaikhan
 | ALACGAC is an Affiliate Member of FIG and 
					the Mongolian Government implementing agency responsible for 
					determining and implementing state policies of the Ministry 
					of Road, Transportation, Construction and Urban Development. 
					Among other things Mr. Gankhuu and President Teo discussed 
					on the upcoming FIG Commission 5 and 6 Workshop on 
					“Innovative Technologies for an efficient Geospatial 
					Management of Earth” on 4– 8 September 2011 in Ulaanbaatar 
					which the Administration is supporting.  
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 President Teo and President ENKHTUVSHIN Baatar
 | President Enkhtuvshin and his fellow 
					Board Members provided President Teo with a general 
					overview of the profession, practice and industry in 
					Mongolia, the current state of affairs within the 
					Association as well as the issues and challenges. Some the 
					Profession’s challenges in Mongolia include bringing about 
					greater cohesiveness within the profession, establishing 
					appropriate standards that will raise the level of practice 
					within the industry, and the need for continuing 
					professional development 
					
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 The joint board for the Geospatial Information Societies
 | The Joint Board is becoming more important 
					with United Nations initiatives in geospatial information 
					management – the UN wants to deal with the profession 
					through one organisation. The Board members agreed to 
					continue to try to coordinate the work of member 
					organisations in building capacity in Africa, as well as in 
					raising the profile of the power of geospatial information 
					in disaster management. The members also prepared for for 
					the UN Global Geospatial Information Management event in 
					Korea in September. 
					Read more... | 
			 
			
				
					| 
					
					 Invitation brochure.
 | The third FIG Commissions 5 and 6 Workshop 
					on “Innovative Technologies for an Efficient Geospatial 
					Management of Earth Resources” will be held for the 
					first time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 4-8 September 2011.The 
					Workshop is organized by the International Federation of 
					Surveyors (FIG), Mongolian Association of Geodesy 
					Photogrammetry & Cartography (MAGP&C) and Siberian State 
					Academy of Geodesy (SSGA). See
					
					invitation brochure. |  
			
			
			
				
					| 
					 | Commission 4 workgroup 4.4 on Capacity 
					Building and the Economic Benefits of Hydrography has 
					prepared a report to bring awareness and promote the role of 
					hydrography as an essential investment in economic 
					development. This FIG publication no. 57 provides a snapshot 
					of the workgroup’s efforts from various conferences and 
					symposia to stimulate thought and exchange ideas in this 
					regard. The publication
					
					Report on the Economic Benefits of Hydrography has been 
					published in FIG report series and is available only on the 
					web. | 
			 
			
					 
						
							
								| 
								
								 General Assembly in Morocco
 | FIG General Assembly 2011 was 
								held during the Working Week in Marrakech, 
								Morocco. 50 member associations with almost 300 
								participants attended the first session. The 
								second session was attended by 48 member 
								associations and about 250 participants 
								representing all member categories as well as 
								observers. At this General Assembly, FIG 
								appointed immediate past President Prof. Stig 
								Enemark as an Honorary President. 
								
								Read more... |  
			
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 President 
					Henning Elmstroem, DdL, Honorary President
					Stig Enemark and President CheeHai Teo, FIG.
 | FIG’s 34th General Assembly saluted Prof. 
					Stig Enemark’s contributions to the Profession and 
					the Federation with an appointment as FIG Honorary 
					President. The nomination came from the Danish Association 
					of Chartered Surveyors (DdL), unanimously supported by the 
					Council and President Henning Elmstroem of DdL made 
					the recommendation before the General Assembly in Marrakech, 
					Morocco. The General Assembly and the Federation thanked 
					Prof. Enemark for an energetic and illustrious Presidency. Heartiest Congratulations to FIG Honorary President 
					Prof. Stig Enemark! 
					Read more...
 | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 The FAO organisers together with Vice President Dalal 
					Alnaggar
 | The FAO Workshop 20 specialists were 
					invited, and Vice President Dalal Alnaggar 
					represented FIG. The purpose of the Workshop was to bring 
					together land sector professionals from government, civil 
					society and the private sector to share their experiences of 
					practical approaches to improving gender-equitability in 
					governance of land tenure. The participants defined that 
					gender is a socially and politically constructed identity 
					which is broader and more differentiated than just men and 
					women and recommendations were identified.
					
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Participants of the Seminar
 | The “International Seminar on Land 
					Administration and Management” was organized by Geo-SEE 
					and its President Prof Bashkim Idrizi from FY 
					Republic of Macedonia and Kosova Cadastral Agency and its 
					Chief Executive Officer Prof Murat Meha and was 
					supported by FIG, AGISEE and Geography department of SUT. 
					The well organized Seminar for the region was attended by 94 
					participants from 34 organizations from 13 different 
					European countries. Read a summery of the resolutions of the 
					seminar and the contributions the participants agreed on.  
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Mr. Gert Steinkellner and Chair-person Helen 
					Kerfoot
 | Mr. Gert Steinkellner, the President 
					of the Austrian member organisation participated for FIG as 
					observer in The United Nations Group of Experts on 
					Geographical Names. This experts group deals with technical, 
					cultural and linguistic aspects of geographical names. It is 
					organised in geographical/ linguistic divisions and working 
					groups amongst others for on toponymy, exonyms and 
					terminology. 
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Official Opening of Geosiberia 2011.
 | Geosiberia 2011was organized from the 26th 
					to 29th of April in Novosibirsk, Russia by the Siberian 
					State Academy of Geodesy. This event which was already the 
					7th edition was organized under the lead of Prof. 
					Alexander Karpik and Prof. 
					Vladimir Seredovich. FIG was one of the co-sponsors 
					and was represented by Vice President Rudolf Staiger. 
					Read more... | 
			 
				
					
						| FIG Working Week and General Assembly 
						2011 was held in Marrakech, Morocco 18-22 May 2011. 
						Technical programme included more than 500 presentations 
						in 90 sessions and forums.  |  
			
			FIG General Assembly 2011 - Marrakech, Morocco, 18 and 22 May 
			2011 – 
			Minutes are now available
				
					| 
					 Palais des Congres, Marrakech
 | The FIG General Assembly was held 18 and 22 May in 
					Marrakech in conjunction to the FIG Working Week 2012. The 
					main issues on the agenda were adoption of the Council and 
					Commission work plans. These will be the roadmap over the 
					next four years. As result from the break-out session 
					focusing particularly on voting rights the General Assembly 
					decided to establish a Working Party on this topic. Several 
					new members were approved including member associations from 
					Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.
					Report from the General 
					Assembly is now available. Minutes without appendices will be sent to all members of 
					FIG in June. |  
			
				
					| The Local Organising Committee of FIG Working Week 2011 
					visited Marrakech 3-4 May 2011 to discuss the security and 
					other last minute issues with national and local 
					authorities. After the visit of LOC to Marrakech 3-4 FIG President 
					CheeHai Teo has given the following statement 6 May 
					2011: "FIG welcomes the efforts of ONIGT, the local 
					co-organizer, to engage various authorities including the 
					Ministry of the Interior and the Governor of the Marrakech 
					Region to implement appropriate arrangements and measures 
					aimed at assuring the security and safety of all 
					participants at the upcoming FIG Working Week. FIG thanked 
					the Moroccan authorities for their continuing support and 
					assurances, as well as all the additional measures taken. We 
					look towards a successful Working Week."
 Read more in 
					the full report. |  
			
				
					| 
					
					 World Bank Land Conference in April.
 | The 2011 edition of the World Bank’s Land 
					Conference continues to bring together policy makers, 
					practitioners, professionals and participants from academia 
					and civil societies. This year’s event included country 
					specific focus on improving land governance at country level 
					from Brazil, PR China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India and Rwanda. 
					President CheeHai Teo attended the Conference and 
					chaired the session on "Making Land Administration 
					Accessible" on the morning of 20th April. 
					Read more... |  
			
				
					| 
					
					 ED Joan Clos, UN-HABITAT and President CheeHai Teo.
 | President CheeHai Teo attended the 23rd Governing 
					Council of UN-HABITAT in Nairobi 11-15 April 2011 and met 
					with the Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos during his 
					visit. President Teo made a courtesy call on Dr. Clos during 
					the Governing Council; the meeting was also attended by Mr.
					Mohamed El-Sioufi (Head, Shelter Branch, Global 
					Division), Ms. Clarissa Augustinus (Chief, Land, 
					Tenure and Property Administration Section, Shelter Branch) 
					and Mr. Danilo Antonio (Global Land Tools Network 
					Secretariat, Land, Tenure and Property Administration 
					Section). It was a most cordial meeting, the first between 
					the newly appointed Executive Director of UN-Habitat and 
					FIG. The resolution on “Sustainable urbanization through 
					equitable access to land, housing, basic services and 
					infrastructure” was adopted at the 23rd Governing 
					Council of UN-HABITAT, Nairobi, Kenya, 15th April 2011. 
					Read full report ...
 |  
			
			e-Consultation on the Zero Draft of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines 
			on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land and Other Natural 
			Resources
				
					|  | An e-consultation on the zero draft of the FAO Voluntary 
					Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land and 
					other Natural Resources will take place from 18 April to 
					16 May 2011. The e-consultation website and the zero 
					draft will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, 
					Russian and Spanish. Comments may be submitted in any of 
					those languages and will be hosted on the Voluntary 
					Guidelines website (http://www.fao.org/nr/tenure/voluntary-guidelines/e-consultation/en/). 
					The aim of the consultation is to gather comments on the 
					zero draft of the Voluntary Guidelines and to allow 
					interested parties who were not able to attend the regional 
					consultations held over the year to contribute in the 
					drafting of the Voluntary Guidelines. Comments from this 
					e-consultation will be considered in the first draft of the 
					Voluntary Guidelines which will be submitted in June to the 
					open-ended working group of the Committee on World Food 
					Security (CFS) for review. The work will peak in the CFS led 
					plenary negotiations from 25-28 July 2011. Final text of the 
					Voluntary Guidelines will be submitted for the consideration 
					of the 37th session of the CFS in October 2011. As part 
					of FIG/FAO co-operation agreement FIG is circulating this 
					information to FIG members to allow them to comment this key 
					document of FAO.
 | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 President 
					Teo together with ISK President Kuwuor 
					and ISK board members.
 | In connection to the 23rd Governing Council 
					of the UN-HABITAT President CheeHai Teo visit the 
					Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) as well as gave a 
					lecture to surveying undergraduates on the 13th April 2011 
					in Nairobi. The event was facilitated by the Department of 
					Geospatial and Space Technology, University of Nairobi and 
					the audience comprised members of ISK and students from both 
					the geospatial and land economy programs at the University. 
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					 FIG, FAO and CNGGL representatives at the balcony of CNGGL 
					in Rome.
 | FIG Working Week 2012 will be held at the Rome Cavalieri 
					Hotel in Rome 6-11 May 2012. The conference is hosted 
					jointly by FIG and the Consiglio Nazionale Geometri e 
					Geometri Laureati, CNGGL. The main themes of the conference 
					will be "Knowing to: ● Manage 
					the territory ● Protect the 
					environment ● Evaluate the 
					cultural heritage. These themes that will guide the 
					three days of the technical conference were endorsed during 
					the visit of the FIG delegation to Rome on April 8 and 9, 
					2011. The visit was at the same time the first official 
					visit of President CheeHai Teo to a FIG member 
					association. President Teo accompanied by Vice President 
					Chryssy Potsiou
					and FIG Director met with President Fausto Savoldi, 
					CNGGL and his board members. The visit included discussions 
					also with representatives of UN FAO and it was confirmed 
					that FAO will be partnering FIG at the 2012 Working Week in 
					Rome. 
					Read more... | 
			 
			
				
					|  | The Third Preparatory Meeting of the Proposed United 
					Nations Committee on Global Geospatial Information 
					Management was held at the UN Headquarters in New York in 
					April 2011. FIG was represented by President CheeHai Teo. 
					The meeting was attended by 22 UN member states, primarily 
					from geospatial or national mapping authorities, five UN 
					entities that includes the convenor, UNSD and apart from 
					FIG, GSDI, ISCGM, ICA, ISPRS, EUROGI, JB-GIS and IHO. 
					Read more... |  
			
			
			
				
					|  | The European Group of Surveyors (EGoS) held its General 
					Assembly and one day seminar in Thessaloniki 11-12 April 
					2011. FIG was represented by Vice President Chryssy 
					Potsiou who made a keynote presentation at the seminar. 
					In her presentation she spoke about the work of FIG 
					representing surveyors throughout the world on an 
					International basis. Many of the EGoS member organizations 
					are also members of FIG. She promoted especially the 
					activities that FIG has started to attract young surveyors 
					and professionals. She also welcomed future co-operation 
					between FIG and EGoS. 
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 FIG President 
					CheeHai Teo visiting Hong Kong
 | President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Mr 
					WONG Bay 
					together with a representation from the association, 
					warmly welcomed FIG President CheeHai Teo in Hong Kong. 
					Apart from being shown around HKIS impressive premises and 
					in-house facilities on Hong Kong Island, President CheeHai 
					TEO thanked President WONG Bay for HKIS’s continued 
					contribution and engagement with FIG and welcomed HKIS’s 
					interest to play a more active role within FIG’s 
					Commissions, Networks and Task Forces 
					Read more... | 
			
			 
			
				
					|  | The Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) has been 
					published as a Draft International Standard by the 
					International Organization for Standardization (ISO), as ISO 
					19152. P-Members of ISO/TC 211, Geographic 
					Information/Geomatics, can comment on the draft and are in 
					the position to vote on continuation of the development. 
					Liaisons to ISO/TC 211, such as FIG, can also comment on the 
					draft. The deadline for voting and comments is 20 June 2011. 
					The development of this standard is an initiative from FIG. 
					It is a comprehensive, extensive, formal process with a 
					continuous review and a continuous, creative approach to 
					find common denominators in land administration systems and 
					included data sets. 
					Read more... |  
			
		 
			
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Dipl. Ing.
					Bledi Stefa, President of AAG, and Prof. Chryssy A 
					Potsiou, FIG Vice President.
 | The Albanian Association of Geodesy celebrated its 20th 
					anniversary since its establishment and organized a one-day 
					Conference in Tirana on the 22nd of January 2011. The 
					conference was a historic event as it was at the same time 
					the 1st conference of AAG. During these past 20 years 
					Albania and its Association of Geodesy (AAG) have both 
					walked in the path of progress. AAG became a member 
					association of FIG at the congress in Sydney. More than 400 
					participants attended the conference, most of them surveyors 
					from Albania and the neighboring countries in the Balkan 
					region. FIG Vice President, Prof Chryssy A Potsiou 
					represented the Council at the conference. 
					Read more... | 
			
			
				
					| 
					
					 Dato’ Prof Dr.
					Abdul Kadir Taib, Director General of Survey and 
					Mapping Malaysia and Mr. CheeHai Teo, FIG President.
 | On 3rd January 2011, Prof. Dr. Abdul Kadir Taib, 
					Director General of Survey and Mapping Malaysia cordially 
					received Mr. CheeHai Teo, FIG President at his office 
					in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Director General also chairs 
					the Land Surveyors Board, the regulatory authority for the 
					land surveying profession in Malaysia. FIG President thanked 
					the Director General for his continuing support for FIG and 
					his attendance at the recent FIG Handover Ceremony. During the visit, various matters were discussed including 
					the standing and advancement of the profession in Malaysia, 
					the active participation of the Department’s officers at FIG 
					events, as well as the support of the Department in 
					particular, the Government of Malaysia in general for the 
					XXV FIG Congress in 2014.  
					Read more ...
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					| 
					
					 Local organising committee members at the conference venue.
 | FIG representatives visited Rabat and 
					Marrakech 11-14 January 2011 to discuss and agree on final 
					arrangements of the Working Week with the Ordre National des 
					Ingénieurs Géomètres Topographes (ONIGT) and the local 
					organising committee on practical arrangements. The team led 
					by Dr. Dalal S. Alnaggar, FIG Vice President are 
					convinced that the organising committee and local surveyors 
					had made their utmost to guarantee a big, professionally 
					interesting and socially unbeatable conference. 
					Read more ... |  
				Global Land Tool Network, Partners’ Meeting 15 -16 November 
				2011 Nairobi, Kenya organised by UNHABITAT and GLTNThe Partners of the Global Land Tool Network met in Nairobi 
				during November 2011 to fulfil a commitment 
				to convene a Partner’s Meeting every two years. The meeting 
				aimed to further strengthen partnerships 
				towards sustaining the paradigm shift in the development and 
				implementation of pro-poor land tools and 
				approaches, and the adoption of alternative land tenure and land 
				management systems to improve tenure 
				security within the land governance framework. This was the 
				fourth such meeting. 
				Special Stamps to commemorate the Struve Meridian Arc
					
						| 
						 Finnish stamps on Struve Arc.
 | 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. |  
						| 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 |  
				2nd CROPOS Conference held in Zagreb, Croatia 8 April 2011
					
						|  | 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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