The FIG Report

Vol. I, No. 2

John D. Hohol, ACSM FIG Forum Head of Delegation

 

In the February issue of the ACSM Bulletin I provided a condensed background on FIG and ACSM’s involvement in FIG.

 

In this issue I will provide the FIG definition of a surveyor.  It should be noted that the FIG definition is much broader than how we view it.

 

FIG Definition of the Functions of a Surveyor  

 

Summary

A surveyor is a professional person with the academic qualifications and technical expertise to conduct one, or more, of the following activities;

·  to determine, measure and represent land, three-dimensional objects, point-fields and trajectories;

·  to assemble and interpret land and geographically related information,

·  to use that information for the planning and efficient administration of the land, the sea and any structures thereon; and,

·  to conduct research into the above practices and to develop them.

Detailed Functions

The surveyor’s professional tasks may involve one or more of the following activities which may occur either on, above or below the surface of the land or the sea and may be carried out in association with other professionals.

 

1. The determination of the size and shape of the earth and the measurement of all data needed to define the size, position, shape and contour of any part of the earth and monitoring any change therein.
 

2. The positioning of objects in space and time as well as the positioning and monitoring of physical features, structures and engineering works on, above or below the surface of the earth.
 

3. The development, testing and calibration of sensors, instruments and systems for the above-mentioned purposes and for other surveying purposes.
 

4. The acquisition and use of spatial information from close range, aerial and satellite imagery and the automation of these processes.
 

5. The determination of the position of the boundaries of public or private land, including national and international boundaries, and the registration of those lands with the appropriate authorities.
 

6. The design, establishment and administration of geographic information systems (GIS) and the collection, storage, analysis, management, display and dissemination of data.
 

7. The analysis, interpretation and integration of spatial objects and phenomena in GIS, including the visualization and communication of such data in maps, models and mobile digital devices.
 

8. The study of the natural and social environment, the measurement of land and marine resources and the use of such data in the planning of development in urban, rural and regional areas.
 

9. The planning, development and redevelopment of property, whether urban or rural and whether land or buildings.
 

10. The assessment of value and the management of property, whether urban or rural and whether land or buildings.
 

11. The planning, measurement and management of construction works, including the estimation of costs. In the application of the foregoing activities surveyors take into account the relevant legal, economic, environmental and social aspects affecting each project.

 

I think it would be quite interesting if the common definition of an American surveyor was equal to the all-encompassing FIG definition above.  I would very much appreciate comments and feedback. 

 

UPDATE:  As I described in the first issue federation rules called for pronouncement of the acronym not be “fig” but F.-I.-G. and that periods should be used between letters.  I discussed this in length with Markku Villikka, Director of the FIG Office.  He said that it had been decided to drop the requirement of inserting periods between letters (“F.I.G.”) and that “FIG” had become the standard acronym.  However, it should continue to be pronounced as F-I-G, not “fig”.

 

NOTE:  I encourage anyone interested in experiencing the ultimate surveying conference to consider attending the quadrennial FIG Congress this fall in Munich, Germany, October 8-13. Expected attendance will be over 20,000 professionals from over 125 countries. It will be held in conjunction with the annual German Intergeo geospatial conference which in 2005 attracted over 16,000 surveying professionals from over 80 countries and 515 exhibitors from 24 countries.  The exhibits covered approximately 25,000 square meters (269,000+ square feet).  In comparison, the extremely successful FIG Congress held in 2002 in Washington, DC had a record 5,000+ attendees from over 80 countries with 130 exhibitors (approximately 26,000 square feet of exhibits). The joint FIG/Intergeo exhibition (with almost 300,000 square feet in exhibit space) will be over 10 times the size of the 2002 FIG Congress in Washington. Detailed information can be found at: www.fig2006.de.