FIG General Assembly

25^thFIG General Assembly

25th General Assembly
21 and 26 April 2002 in Washington, DC., USA

MINUTES

of the 25^th General Assembly held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC. , USA in the Marriott Ballroom on 21^st and 26^th April 2002

Introduction

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First Session, Sunday 26 April, 9:00am - 12.00noon and 1:30pm - 4:00pm

1. OPENING PROCEEDINGS

President Robert W. Foster opened the 25^th General Assembly and welcomed the participants to this 25^th General Assembly and 22^nd Congress of the Federation and to Washington, DC. Noted that several greetings and apologies were received from Member Associations, Honorary Presidents and Honorary Members who were not able to attend the meeting.

The General Assembly honoured the past Honorary President Prof. Herbert Matthias (Switzerland) and Mr. Aviel Ron (Israel) who was killed in a terrorist attack in Haifa  with a moment of silence.

2. ROLL CALL

Vice President Christian Andreasen took the roll call.
Appendix to items 2 & 28: Roll Call.
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52 Member Associations out of 85 were present at the beginning of the session and after the membership matters totally 55 Member Associations out of 88 were present which is more than one third of the membership needed for the General Assembly to be constitutionally valid.

Motion: That the delegates and observers attending the General Assembly be entered in the records and that at the second session of the General Assembly roll call will be made only for member associations while other members and participants will be recorded only.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

3. APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS

Motion: That the General Assembly appoints two persons as tellers following the principle adopted at the 22nd General Assembly so that the tellers will represent member associations hosting the preceding (Korea Confederation of Surveyors) and the current General Assembly (American Congress on Surveying and Mapping ACSM and the Appraisal Institute).

Decision: The General Assembly resolved to appoint Mr. Won-Jun Choi (Korea Confederation of Surveyors) and Mr. Larry Hothem (American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, ACSM) as tellers for the duration of the meeting.

4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

Motion: That the agenda be adopted.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

5. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 24th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Minutes have been circulated previously.
Please bring your copy of the minutes of FIG General Assembly 2001 with you to the meeting.
Appendix to item 5: Minutes of the 24th General Assembly
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Motion: That the minutes be adopted as circulated.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6. MEMBERSHIP

6.1 Acceptance of new members

6.1.1 Association des Géomètres et Topographes du Burkina (AGT-B)

The Association des Géomètres et Topographes du Burkina (AGT-B) (Burkina Association of Surveyors) was established 2 June 2001 and it has 60 members and is the first professional association in Burkina Faso. Currently a correspondent who is Alain S. Bagré represents Burkina Faso in FIG. He is also the President of the new association. To be noted that according to the statutes after the membership has been established the current correspondent has to resign.

Appendix to item 6.1.1:Membership application from the Association des Géomètres et Topographes du Burkina (AGT-B).
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Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Association des Géomètres et Topographes du Burkina (AGT-B) as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted. In his greetings to the General Assembly Mr. Claude Tapsoba, Secretary General of AGT-B told about the establishment of AGT-B and invited the international surveying society to help the new association.

6.1.2 Asociación de Agrimensores del Uruguay (A.A.U.)

The Asociación de Agrimensores del Uruguay AAU has send FIG a formal application of becoming a member association of FIG. There are totally about 300 land surveyors in Uruguay. The association is under reconstruction and the number of members is increasing from the current 47. AAU is the only association in Uruguay representing surveyors. The Council has considered the application and believes that the association meets criteria for membership of FIG as a member association.

Appendix to item 6.1.2: Membership application from the Asociación de Agrimensores del Uruguay AAU.
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Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Asociación de Agrimensores del Uruguay AAU as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted. In his greetings to the General Assembly Ing. Agrim. Eduardo Infantozzi, President of AAU told about the association and encouraged FIG to increase its activities in South and Latin America.

6.1.3 Ordré National des Géomètres du Cameroun (OGEC)

The Ordré National des Géomètres du Cameroun (OGEC) joined FIG as a member association at the FIG Congress in Katowice, Poland in 1985. It has then been expelled because of unpaid membership fees. The association wants to re-establish its membership in FIG. Currently a correspondent who is Nchottou Issofa represents Cameroon in FIG. To be noted that according to the statutes after the membership has been established the current correspondent has to resign.

Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Ordré National des Géomètres du Cameroun (OGEC) to rejoin FIG as a member association.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.1.4 The Hong Kong Institute of Engineering Surveyors (HKIES), Hong Kong, China

The Hong Kong Institute of Engineering Surveyors (HKIES) submitted its membership application to the Council during the General Assembly in Seoul, May 2001. The Council has considered the application and according to the statutes decided to bring it to the General Assembly for its decision. When considering the application the Council has used the guidelines on reviewing membership applications endorsed by the General Assembly in Seoul 2001. The Council has further been in contact with the current member association the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors HKIS from Hong Kong, China and asked for its opinion on the application. In its reply the HKIS opposes the acceptance of the membership application of HKIES. Both associations have further disagreed to the proposal by the Council of establishing an FIG Forum for the Hong Kong representation if FIG.

Appendices to item 6.1.4 and 29:

1. Membership application from the Hong Kong Institute of Engineering Surveyors (HKIES)
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2. Letter from the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), 31 January 2002
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3. Letter from the Hong Kong Institute of Engineering Surveyors (HKIES), 7 February 2002
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The Council has invited both associations to make a short presentation at the first session of the General Assembly on their points on the membership application. Thereafter the members are invited to consider the application and vote on the membership at the second session of the General Assembly on 26 April 2002.

The Council has chosen not to make a recommendation on the proposal.

Motion: That the vote on this on this issue will take place at the second session of the General Assembly 26 April 2002.

Decision: Recorded that Vice President Tom Kennie, President Hak Chan (HKIS) and President Mannars Chan (HKIES) made presentations on this issue. The motion was adopted.

6.1.5 Association of Authorised Land Surveyors Malaysia

The Association of Authorised Land Surveyors Malaysia (Persatuan Juruukur Tanah Bertauliah Malaysia) has submitted an application to become a member association of FIG. The application is supported by the current member association Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (ISM). The Council has considered the application and believes that the association meets criteria for membership of FIG as a member association.

Appendix to item 6.1.5: Membership application from the Association of Authorised Land Surveyors Malaysia
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Motion: That the General Assembly admits the Association of Authorised Land Surveyors Malaysia as a member association of FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted. Noted that Mr. Teo Chee Hai, Vice President of the new association addressed the General Assembly on behalf of the association.

6.2 Expungements

6.2.1 Expungements

The subscriptions of the following member associations are more than three years in arrears:

• Association des Géomètres Algériens, Algeria
• Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia, Indonesia
• Union of Surveying Engineers (Serbia and Montenegro), Yugoslavia

The General Assembly has powers to expel from the Federation any member association whose fees are in arrears and shall under normal circumstances expel any member association whose fees are three years in arrears. (Article 4.3 of the Statutes).

Motion: That the General Assembly expels the

• Association des Géomètres Algériens, Algeria
• Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia, Indonesia
• Union of Surveying Engineers (Serbia and Montenegro), Yugoslavia

if their membership fees still are in arrears 31 December 2002.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.2.2 Samfundet för Fastighetsekonomi (SFF), Sweden

The Samfundet för Fastighetsekonomi (SFF) from Sweden has 11 June 2001 decided to resign from FIG. In the resignation letter it explains that it is an association focussed on real estate economics and not directly related to the FIG activities. After the letter both Swedish associations have been contacted. Most of the surveyors who are members in SFF are also members in the Sveriges Lantmätareförening (SLF) that is the other member of FIG. The associations have agreed to collect their international activities under SLF and therefore decided that SFF will resign from FIG.

Motion: That the General Assembly records that the Samfundet för Fastighetsekonomi SFF from Sweden has resigned from the Federation.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

6.3 Other membership matters

The Council wants to inform the General Assembly on the following changes in the membership of FIG:

Affiliates

The Council has admitted the following three organisations to become an affiliate member of FIG:

• Surveyor General, Survey Department, Ministry of Development, Brunei Darussalam
• Office of the Surveyor General, Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Namibia
• Ministry of Land, Human Resettlement and Environmental Protection, Republic of Rwanda

Corporate members

The Council has admitted the following five companies to become a Corporate Member of FIG:

• SECO Manufacturing Co., Inc., USA; specification: accessories for surveying, GPS, robotics, and construction; Membership category: D
• MENSI S.A., France: specification: development and marketing of 3D laser scanning technology and 3D modeling software; Membership category: D
• IGN France International, France; specification: a subsidiary of the French National Geographic Institute (Institut Géographique National), geographic engineering company; Membership category: D
• Cameroon Engineering S.A., Cameroon; specification: consulting company; Membership category: F
• Thales Navigation, Membership category: C

Academic members

The Council wants to inform the General Assembly that 11 new Academic Members have joined FIG after the General Assembly in Seoul and that the number of academic members 21 April 2002 is 48 from 30 nations. The new academic members are:

• Technische Universität Berlin, Geodäsie und Geoinformationstechnik, Germany
• International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences ITC, Division Geoinformatics Management and Infrastructure, The Netherlands
• Lund University LTH, Real Estate Science, Sweden
• Federal School of Surveying, Oyo, Nigeria
• Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, Russia
• Anglia Polytechnic University, Built Environment, United Kingdom
• Department of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary, Canada
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Ghana
• Western University College, Tarkwa, Ghana
• Pennsylvania State University, Surveying Program, USA
• National Technical University of Athens, Greece 

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions that the Council has taken with other membership matters.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

7. HONORARY MEMBERS

Mr. Jacques Tassou (France), an Honorary Member of FIG has proposed to the Council that FIG should appoint Mr. Jan de Graeve (Belgium), Director of the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement as an Honorary Member of FIG. According to the Statutes the proposal for an appointment for an Honorary Member shall be made by a member association or by the Council. The Council has considered the proposal and decided to propose to the General Assembly that it appoints Jan de Graeve as an Honorary Member of the Federation. Mr. de Graeve has served FIG as a Vice Chair (1988-90) and as a Chair (1990-94) of Commission 1, as a Secretary in Commission 1 (1982-85) and as a Chair of the ad hoc commission on the History of Surveying and thereafter as the Director of the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement.

Appendix to item 7: The nomination letter and biographical notes of Jan de Graeve.
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Motion: That the General Assembly appoints Mr. Jan de Graeve from Belgium as an Honorary Member of FIG.

Decision: The General Assembly appointed Mr. Jan de Graeve as an Honorary Member of FIG. Mr. de Grave was presented with his badge with silver oak leaves and certificate of Honorary Membership.

8. PRESIDENT'S REPORT

The report of the President of the Federation includes a review on the activities of the Federation during the past year and report of the activities taken by the Council and the FIG office.

Appendix to item 8: President's report.
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Motion: That the General Assembly receives the President's report.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

9. REPORTS FROM CHAIRS OF COMMISSIONS

The Commission chairs have submitted their written reports on the Commission activities since the General Assembly in Seoul. These reports include at the same time an overall review of the Commission activities for 1998-2002 because the term of office of the Commission chairs and officers will close by the end of the FIG Congress 2002.

Each chair has therefore been asked to make an additional oral report on his/her activities during the past four years. The General Assembly is further noted that a longer report will be presented in the FIG technical programme in the opening session of each technical Commission.

Appendices to item 9:
9.1 Commission 1
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9.2 Commission 2
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9.3 Commission 3
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9.4 Commission 4
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9.5 Commission 5
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9.6 Commission 6
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9.7 Commission 7
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9.8 Commission 8
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9.9 Commission 9
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9.10 Ad hoc Commission on Construction Economics and Management
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the reports of the Commission chairs and records its thanks to the chairs and officers of the Commissions for their past year's work and for the great achievements they have accomplished during 1998-2002.

Decision: The motion was adopted and the General Assembly thanked the chairs with an ovation. Recorded that two new FIG publications were launched during the presentations, namely:

• FIG Publication No. 31: Land Information Management for Sustainable Development of Cities. Best Practice Guidelines in Citywide Land Information Management
• FIG Commission 7 Publication: Benchmarking Cadastral Systems, FIG Commission 7 Working Group "Reforming the Cadastre"

10. REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS

Appendices to item 10:
10.1 Report from the International Office of Cadastre and Land Records (Office International du Cadastre et du Régime Foncier) OICRF
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10.2 Report from the FIG Multi-Lingual Dictionary Board
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10.3 Report from the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement, Permanent Institution of FIG
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the reports and records its thanks to the Directors for their past year's work.

Decision: The General Assembly received the reports from the Presidents of the Permanent Institutions including the launch of the reprint of "The Compleat Surveyor" by Leybourn (first published in 1653). The motion was adopted.

11. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, FIG/UN LIAISON

The Director to make a supplementary oral presentation to his written report.

Appendix to item 11: Report of the Director, FIG/UN Liaison
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the report and the Director's recommendations resulting from his subsequent report and records its thanks to the Director, FIG/UN Liaison and other FIG representatives for their past year's work.

Decision: The General Assembly received the report and recorded its thanks to the Director, FIG/UN Liaison.

12. CHANGES TO THE FIG INTERNAL RULES - ELECTION OF COMMISSION OFFICERS

The Task force -Review of Commission, Task Force and Permanent Institution Structure 2000-2002 made its report at the General Assembly in Seoul 2001. The report included also principles on the proposed new election procedure of the Commission officers. This model includes that the election of the chairs takes place at the General Assembly during the FIG Congress but that the election of the next chair (Chair elect) takes first place two years before he/she will take over as a Commission chair. In addition the Working Group chairs in each Commission (appointed by the Commission chair and endorsed by the General Assembly) will be called Commission Vice Chairs. At the election for the Chair elect the candidates can be either working group chairs (Vice chairs) or candidates nominated by the member associations. A Commission chair or vice chair has to be a member of a member association. The Advisory Committee of Commission Officers (ACCO) has accepted the proposal from the Task force at its meeting in October 2001. The proposal includes that the Commission chairs will be elected in Washington for the term of office 2002-2006 but that the election of the Chair elect will take place first at the General Assembly in 2004. The chairs of the Commission working groups (to be endorsed by the General Assembly 26 April 2002) will be nominated as Commission vice chairs.

Appendix to item 12: Changes to the FIG Internal Rules.
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the changes to the FIG Internal Rules as proposed in appendix to item 12 and that decides that the new election procedure will be used for the first time at the elections during the General Assembly 2002.

Decision: The changes to the Internal Rules were adopted unanimously by a vote.

13. ELECTION OF THE FIG VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2003-2006

The General Assembly established the Nomination Review Group (NRG) to prepare the election of the first elected Vice President at its meeting in Seoul 2001. The NRG has been chaired by Prof. Peter Dale, Past President of FIG (UK) and other members being Jan De Graeve, Director of the International Institution for the History of Surveying and Measurement (Belgium), Grahame Lindsay, Honorary Member of FIG (Australia), Hans Josef Platen, former President of DVW (Germany) and Dr. Dato' Abdul Majid Mohamad, Representative of Institution of Surveyors of Malaysia in FIG and Chair of Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific.

The NRG received two nominations for the post of FIG Vice President 2003-2006. Afterwards one nomination was withdrawn. The Nomination Review Group has made its proposal to the General Assembly proposing that Mr. Wong Thien-Nyen (T N Wong) from Hong Kong, China to be appointed as the first elected Vice President of the Federation for 2003-2006.

Appendices to item 13: 

1. Proposal from the Nomination Review Group: Appointment of the FIG Vice President for 2003-2006
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2. Biographical notes - T. N. Wong
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Motion: The General Assembly is invited to appoint Mr. T. N. Wong from Hong Kong, China to become the first elected Vice President of the Federation for the term of office 2003-2006.

Decision: After the introduction of Prof. Peter Dale the General Assembly appointed Mr. T. N. Wong unanimously in a vote as a Vice President of FIG for 2003-2006.

14. ELECTION OF THE COMMISSION CHAIRS FOR 2002 - 2006

Member associations were requested to submit their nominations to Commission chairs for 2002-2006 by 15 October 2001. The member associations of the current Commission vice chairs have submitted their nomination letters in which they support the current vice chairs to become chairs of their respective Commission and promising their support to the candidate. Thus all current vice chairs of commissions 1-9 have been nominated by their respective member association. To Commission 10 (Construction Economics and Management) the RICS has nominated Mr. Philip Shearer as a candidate. He is the only candidate for this post. The ad hoc Commission on Construction Economics and management is at the same time proposed to become a permanent commission according to the results at the General Assembly in Seoul by keeping the current Commission structure.

Motion: That the General Assembly appoints following persons as Commission chairs for the term of office 2002-2006:

• Commission 1: Klaus Rürup, Germany
• Commission 2: Prof. Pedro Cavero, Spain
• Commission 3: Gerhard Muggenhuber, Austria
• Commission 4: Adam Greenland, United Kingdom
• Commission 5: Matthew Higgins, Australia
• Commission 6: Svend Kold Johansen, Denmark
• Commission 7: Paul van der Molen, The Netherlands
• Commission 8: Paul Lohmann, The Netherlands
• Commission 9: Stephen Yip, Hong Kong, China
• Commission 10: Philip Shearer, United Kingdom (Appendix to item 14: Philip Shearer's CV)

That the General Assembly further endorses to change the ad hoc Commission on Construction Economics and Management as Commission 10 until the Commission structure will be reviewed in the future.

Decision: The General Assembly appointed unanimously by a vote the new chairs of the ten Commissions accordingly to the motion and further decided to change the ad hoc Commission on Construction Economics and Management to Commission 10.

15. TASK FORCE ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND FIG PUBLICATION ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Task Force on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications has produced its final report, which has been adopted by the Council and published in the FIG Publication series as publication no. 27. The Council adopted the statement of the Task Force at its meeting in Seoul 2001.

The work of the Task Force is concluded when the report has been delivered to the General Assembly. The Council has jointly with the incoming Commission chairs considered that the recommendations and the FIG statement on the mutual recognition needs to be implemented and has therefore suggested to establish a joint Commission 1 and 2 working group under Commission 2 for 2002-2006. This working group will be chaired by Dr. Frances Plimmer, United Kingdom.

Appendix to item 15: FIG Publication no 27: Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications.
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Motion: That the General Assembly records the report on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications and adopts the FIG statement on Mutual Recognition and further records its thanks to the authors of the report Prof. Stig Enemark and Dr. Frances Plimmer and to the Task Force members and authors of the case studies for the excellent work they have done.

Decision: Without exception the report was noted and the motion passed.

16. TASK FORCE ON STANDARDS AND FIG GUIDE ON STANDARDISATION

Task Force on Standards has produced its final report "FIG Guide on Standardisation", which has been adopted by the Council and published in the FIG Publication series as publication no. 28. The draft has been introduced to the General Assembly in 2001 and has been available on the web for comments.

Iain Greenway, Chair of the Task Force has further submitted his report on the recent activities of the Task Force and about the future arrangements of standardisation work within the Federation. The Council has decided to disband the Task Force at the end of the Washington Congress. The work on standards in FIG will be continued by a Standardisation Network which will formally be located under Commission 1 as a joint Commission working group to be led by Iain Greenway.

Appendices to item 16: 
FIG Publication no 28: FIG Guide on Standardisation
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FIG Task Force on Standards, Report to the 25th General Assembly
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Motion: That the General Assembly records the FIG publication "FIG Guide on Standardisation" and the final report of the Task Force and endorses recommendations for the future activities on standards issues in FIG. That the General Assembly further records its thanks to the Task Force chair and members for the excellent work they have done.

Decision: Without exception the report was noted and the motion passed.

17. OTHER TASK FORCE REPORTS AND DISSEMINATION OF THE TASK FORCES

In addition to Task Forces on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Task Force on Standards FIG has had five Task Forces in 1998-2002. The Council has decided to close all current Task Forces at this Congress leaving the new Council an opportunity to establish Task Forces as needed.

Task Force on Under-represented groups in surveying

Gabriele Dasse, Chair of the Task Force on Under-represented Groups in Surveying has submitted her final report on the activities of this Task Force. In the report it is suggested to continue the work with under-represented groups in surveying by an informal network and in addition to establish a joint Commission working group under the lead of Commission 1.

Appendix to item 17.1: Task Force on Under-represented Groups in Surveying, Final Report to the 25th General Assembly
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Task Force on Sustainable Development

This Task Force was closed in Seoul after the endorsement of the FIG Agenda21.

Task Force on Cultures and Languages in FIG

Appendix to item 17.2: Interim report of the Task Force on Cultures and Languages in FIG.
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The Task Force will have its meeting during the Congress in Washington, DC.
The Council has decided to close all Task Forces at the end of Congress 2002. The General Assembly is requested to notice that in the German Council work plan 2003-2006 including Commissions' work plans the main initiatives promoting multicultural approach in the next years have been highlighted. The German Council will make its decision on the future of this Task Force.

Task Force on the Future Governance of FIG and the Task Force - Commission and Task Force and Permanent Institution Structure

These Task Forces have completed their work when the new statutes and internal rules have been adopted by the 2001 and 2002 General Assembly.

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions taken by the Council and decides to leave to the new Council to establish new Task Forces as needed.

Decision: The motion was adopted. Recorded that the General Assembly will be informed about the findings of the meetings during the week at its second session 26 April, 2002.

18. FIG PUBLICATION ON BUSINESS MATTERS FOR PROFESSIONALS

FIG Commission 1 Working Group 2 on Business Practices has produced an FIG publication on Business Matters for Professionals - A Guide to support professionals in the task of business management. The Council has adopted the report and its guidelines and decided to bring the report to the General Assembly for its information and endorsement.

Appendix to item 18: FIG Publication no 29: Business Matters for Professionals - A Guide to support professionals in the task of business management
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Motion: That the General Assembly records the report and its recommendations to the FIG members and surveyors and records its thanks to the Working Group chair and members for their contribution to the Federation.

Decision: Without exception the report was noted and the motion passed.

19. THE NAIROBI STATEMENT ON SPATIAL INFORMATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

FIG organised together with the UN-HABITAT and the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya a very successful International Conference on Spatial Information for Sustainable Development in Nairobi, Kenya, 2-5 October 2001. The Conference was co-sponsored by several other UN agencies (UNEP, UN ECA, FAO) and other organisations and sponsors. The Conference was attended by almost 500 delegates from 40 countries. The results from the Conference led by FIG Commission 3 have been combined as a joint FIG / UN publication "The Nairobi Statement on Spatial Information for Sustainable Development" which has been published in the FIG publication series. The Council has adopted the statement and decided to forward it to the General Assembly for its information and endorsement.

Appendix to item 19: FIG publication no. 30: The Nairobi Statement on Spatial Information for Sustainable Development
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Motion: That the General Assembly records the Nairobi Statement on Spatial Information for Sustainable Development and endorses its recommendations for FIG and its further activities.

Decision: Without exception the report was noted and the motion passed.

20. MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN FIG AND FAO ON LAND TENURE RELATED ISSUES AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN FIG AND UN-HABITAT

A memorandum of cooperation between FIG and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been prepared on land tenure related issues.

Appendix to item 20.1: Memorandum of Cooperation between FIG and FAO on Land Tenure Related Issues.
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A memorandum of understanding has been prepared between FIG and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT.

Appendix to item 20.2: Memorandum of Understanding between FIG and UN-HABITAT.
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the memorandum of cooperation prepared between FIG and FAO on land tenure issues and the memorandum of understanding between FIG and UN-HABITAT for 2002-2006.

Decision: The motion was unanimously adopted by a vote.

21. LIAISON WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

After the International Union for Surveys and Mapping (IUSM) was disbanded in 1999 the co-operation with the so-called sister organisations have been based on bilateral agreements. Memoranda of understanding have previously been made with the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and the International Society for Mine Surveying (ISM). In September 2001 a MoU was signed with the International Cartographic Association (ICA) and an agreement is under preparation with the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS). The sister organisations on the surveying field called the "Joint Board of Space Information Societies" will have their next meeting during the FIG 2002 Congress.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared with the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) which is also one of the members in the Habitat Professionals Forum.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared with the International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing ISPRS.

Appendices to item 21:
21.1 Memorandum of Understanding between ICA and FIG.
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21.2 Memorandum of Understanding between IFHP and FIG.
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21.3 Memorandum of Understanding between ISPRS and FIG. 
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the FIG/ICA, FIG/IFHP and FIG/ISPRS Memoranda of Understanding and records its thanks to all who have contributed to the development of FIG liaison activities during the past year.

Decision: The motion was adopted unanimously by a vote.

22. FIG ACCOUNTS FOR 2001 AND AUDITOR'S REPORT

Appendices to item 22:
22.1 Auditor's Report, Income and Expenses Account for 2001 and Balance Sheet at 31 December 2001
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22.2 Arrears 1998-2001
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the audited accounts for 2001.

Decision: The motion was adopted unanimously by a vote.

23. BUDGET 2002 AND 2003

Appendices to item 23:
23.1 Up-dated FIG Budget for 2002.
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23.2 FIG Budget for 2003.
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Motion: That the General Assembly notes the up-dated budget for 2002 and adopts the budget for 2003.

Decision: The motion was adopted unanimously by a vote.

24. SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR 2004

The General Assembly is required to set levels of fees for member associations two years in advance of the year in which they become payable. Fees are payable in respect of each individual member up to a maximum of 4,000 members; member associations with more than 4,000 members pay fees in accordance with a sliding scale. Fees for 2002 and 2003 are

The German Council will be in charge for the FIG administration starting 1 January 2003. Therefore the proposal for subscriptions for 2004 has been prepared jointly between the US and German Bureaux. The Bureaux have considered the FIG financial situation in the perspective of five years to guarantee the continuity of the permanent office and the change to the new governance structure. According to this study the financial situation seems to develop positively but there is still need to collect reserves for the transition period. Following the discussions under the recent years how FIG could support the member associations from the developing countries the proposal for subscriptions for 2003 includes a new element. It is proposed that member associations from poorest countries should get a reduction to their membership fees. The proposed reduction is 50 per cent from per capita fee. It is proposed to be given to member associations coming from countries listed by the World Bank as low-income economies and low-middle-income economies. This concept will be kept for 2004. The proposal includes about 5 per cent increase in the per capita fees for 2004 to assure the continuity of the permanent office on the first year after the first five years starting period of the FIG office and to implement the goal of the German Council to collect a reserve of equal to one year’s expenditure within the next years.

Motion: That the General Assembly adopts following membership fees payable by member associations in 2004:

Decision: The motion was adopted unanimously by a vote.

25. WORKING WEEK 2003

The General Assembly voted in 1998 to accept the invitation of the Association of Licensed Surveyors in Israel to host the FIG Working Week of 2003 in Eilat, Israel. In recent months there have been expressions of concern from FIG members regarding the safety of travel to Israel considering the unsettled political situation there. There is a concern on the part of the Council that members will choose not to attend the meeting in Eilat if conditions continue as they are. Recognising the potential cost to the local association in lost revenue due to cancellations, and considering the risk to FIG if we are unable to assemble a quorum for the General Assembly in 2003, the Council have chosen to bring the matter back to this General Assembly to either reaffirm or cancel the decision to hold the Working Week 2003 in Eilat, Israel.

The Council has met with the representatives of the Israeli association in Washington, D.C. and after the discussions the Association of Licensed Surveyors in Israel agrees to postpone hosting the Working Week from 2003 to 2009. The Council commends the ALSI for this agreement.

Motion: That the General Assembly accepts the postponement and gives the Council the responsibility and authority to organise the Working Week 2003. The General Assembly is further invited to note that this decision has financial impacts to the budget 2003 without a negative impact in the net result of 2003.

Decision: The motion was adopted unanimously by a vote.

26. FIG WORKING WEEK 2007

A bid to host the FIG Working Week 2007 has been received from the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS). The Council has considered the bid and recommends to the General Assembly that the FIG Working Week 2007 will be held in Hong Kong, China. The Council has, however, decided that the role of FIG and the permanent office will increase in organising the future FIG Working Weeks. This means that part of the organising work will be taken care by the FIG Office which also needs to get compensation for its work. The services provided by the permanent office will include coordinating the technical programme, collecting and publishing the proceedings on the FIG web site, assisting/hosting the web site etc. The details on the role of FIG in organising the Working Week 2007 have to be agreed before the final commitment on hosting the Working Week 2007 will be made. A donation to the FIG Foundation will also be required from any host of a future FIG Working Week. This condition is fulfilled in the Hong Kong bid.

The delegation of the Hong Kong Institution of Surveyors (HKIS) will make their presentation at the first session of the General Assembly.

Appendix to item 26: The bid of the Hong Kong Institution of Surveyors (HKIS) to host the FIG Working Week 2007 (main points).
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Motion: To be noted that the Council has met with the representatives of HKIS and that the Council is happy with the explanations given by the HKIS and that the remaining details can be solved in negotiations between the Council and HKIS. That the General Assembly decides to hold the FIG Working Week 2007 in Hong Kong, China under conditions agreed between the HKIS and FIG.

Decision: The motion was adopted unanimously by a vote.

27. PRESIDENT'S MEETING

41 Presidents and leaders of the delegations attended the President's Meeting where different aspects of FIG and its activities, co-operation between FIG and the Member Associations and the problems of the Member Associations were discussed. Separate notes from this meeting are circulated to the Presidents of Member Associations and to the participants of this meeting.

Second Session, Friday 26 April, 10:30am - 1:30pm.

28. ROLL CALL

Vice President Christian Andreasen took the roll call.

Appendix to items 2 & 28: Roll Call.
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Motion: That present members be recorded in the minutes.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

29. MEMBERSHIP

29.1 Other membership matters

Affiliates

The Council has admitted the following two organisations to become an affiliate member of FIG:

• HMG Survey Department, Nepal
• National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics INEGI

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the actions that the Council has taken with other membership matters.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

29.2 Member Associations

The Hong Kong Institute of Engineering Surveyors (HKIES), Hong Kong, China

Since the General Assembly meeting on Monday the Council have had a number of helpful meetings with representatives from both the HKIS and the HKIES. In addition the Council has conducted an extensive review of the application from the HKIES.

Motion: That the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Council, agrees to:

• Postpone the vote on the application from the HKIES until the FIG General Assembly meeting in 2003, and in the intervening period
• Establish an FIG Forum in the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region). The terms of reference of the FIG Forum is as set out on the attached paper.
  Appendix to item 29.2: FIG Forum - HKSAR
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Decision: The motion was adopted in a secret ballot by 47 votes in favour and 3 votes against the motion and with one abstention.

30. REPORT FROM ACCO

The Advisory Committee of Commission Officers (ACCO) will meet on 20 April and possibly at other times during the Congress.

ACCO will also make its proposal of the nomination of the ACCO representative to the Council for calendar years 2003-2004.

Appendix to item 30: Report from the ACCO Meetings.
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Motion: That the General Assembly confirms the nomination of the ACCO representative to the Council for calendar years 2003-2004 and further that the General Assembly adopts the report and its recommendations and records its thanks to ACCO for its past year's work.

Decision: The General Assembly received the report from ACCO and confirmed Gerhard Muggenhuber (Austria) as the ACCO representative in the Council for 2003-2004 and Matt Higgins as the substitute.

31. REPORTS FROM THE COMMISSION CHAIRS

The Commission chairs 1998-2002 are requested to make brief oral presentations on the Commissions activities and meetings during the working week if needed.

Motion: That the General Assembly receives the reports.

Decision: The General Assembly received the reports from the Commission Chairs 1998-2002 and from Bernard Bour, Chair of the Task Force on Cultures and Languages in FIG. The Commissions chairs were presented a token for appreciation of their outstanding work.

32. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, 2003 - 2006

The members of the FIG Council 2003-2006 will be introduced to the General Assembly.

The Council will consist of following representatives appointed by the DVW, Germany:

• Univ. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Magel, President, Appendix to item 32: Holger Magel's CV
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• Dr.-Ing. Andreas Drees, Vice President
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Schroth, Vice President; and
• Mr. Marcus Wandinger, Congress Director (ex-officio member)

In addition the first elected Vice President Mr. T.N. Wong will be a full member of the Council as well as the ACCO representative Mr. Gerhard Muggenhuber (appointed for 2003-2004) an ex-officio member (non voting member) of the Council. The remaining Vice President will be appointed by DVW at the handover meeting at the latest.

Motion: That the General Assembly approves the members of the Council and offers its congratulations and best wishes to the new Council members and further appoints Marcus Wandinger, Congress Director, the ACCO representative and the Director, FIG office as ex-officio (non-voting) members of the Council.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

33. THE FIG WORK PLAN 2003-2006

The German Shadow Council has prepared its Work Plan proposal for 2003-2006 based on the results from the breakout session in Seoul and feedback received from the ACCO and the incoming Commission chairs. The Council Work Plan will be combined with the Commission final work plans to an FIG Work Plan 2002-2006.

Appendix to item 33: Proposal for the FIG Work Plan 2003-2006.
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the proposed Council Work Plan for 2003-2006.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

34. COMMISSION WORK PLANS 2002-2006

The incoming Commission Chairs have prepared their draft work plans in close co-operation with the incoming Council and with other Commissions during the ACCO meeting in Copenhagen in October 2001 and afterwards. The draft work plans are coordinated with the goal of having an FIG Work Plan for 2002-2006 at the end of the Congress. The Commission meetings during the Congress will influence the proposed work plans but the main topics and joint goals are already included in the proposals.

Appendices to item 34:
34.1 Commission 1
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34.2 Commission 2
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34.3 Commission 3
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34.4 Commission 4
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34.5 Commission 5
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34.6 Commission 6
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34.7 Commission 7
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34.8 Commission 8
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34.9 Commission 9
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34.10 Commission 10
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Motion: That the General Assembly adopts the Commission Work Plans 2002-2006 including the proposals for Commission Vice Chairs.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

35. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIG FOUNDATION

The FIG Foundation will organise its first fundraising dinner in Washington on Monday 22 April at 7:00pm. The member associations are strongly encouraged to attend this dinner. The Board of Directors of the Foundation has further decided that those founding members of the Foundation that have donated the Foundation at least USD 100 will be recognised at the opening of the FIG 2002 Congress and recognised also in the FIG Bulletin and Annual Review.

Appendix to item 35.1: Report of the FIG Foundation 
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Appendix to item 35.2: Additional Report of the FIG Foundation, results from the Congress 2002
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Motion: That the General Assembly receives the report of the President of the FIG Foundation and adopts the recommendations.

Decision: The motion was adopted.

36. REPORTS OF THE WORKING WEEKS 2004-2005 AND CONGRESS 2006

The hosts of the FIG Working Weeks 2004 (Greece), 2005 (Egypt) and Congress 2006 (Germany) have been asked to make brief reports on the preparations for their respective events.

Motion: That the General Assembly notes the reports.

Decision: The General Assembly received the reports from Working Weeks 2004 and 2005 and the Congress 2006.

37. CLOSING PROCEEDINGS

The President informed the General Assembly that the Council will decide and inform the members of the venue and dates of the FIG Working Week 2003 by the end of June 2002.

The President formally closed the 25th General Assembly and the 22nd Congress of FIG.

At the closing ceremony the FIG banner was handed over by Mrs. Mary Clawson, Congress Director FIG 2002 to Mr. Marcus Wandinger, Congress Director FIG 2006.

Data supplied by the FIG Office. 

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that this data is accurate errors might exist. Requests for updates and corrections should be emailed to the FIG Office.

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International Federation of Surveyors, FIG, is a United Nations and World Bank recognized non-governmental organization of national member associations and covers the whole range of professional fields within the global surveying community. It provides an international forum for discussion and development aiming to promote professional practice and standards.

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