On Deformation Measurements and Analysis/3rd IAG Symposium on Geodesy for Geotechnical and Structural Engineering

A joint meeting of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), Commission 6, Working Group 6.1 on Deformation Measurements and Analysis and the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), Sub-Commission 4.2 took place in Baden, Austria from May 22nd to 24th 2006. Symposium attendance was 140 participants from 35 countries. Over 120 papers were presented in 23 technical sessions and a poster session. The symposium opened with two keynote presentations by Chris Rizos from University of New South Wales, Australia and Joel Van Cranenbroeck of Leica Geosystems, Belgium. Technical session topics included large construction sites, GPS/pseudolites, open pit/gas/oil, landslides/crustal motion, monitoring of structures, modelling of deformation, laser scanning, monitoring of dams, bridges and tunnels, InSAR, and optic 3D systems. Support for the symposium came from Leica Geosystems, Geodasie Austria, Trimble, 3D-Laser Mapping and Walter de Gruyter. An evening social event was held at a local wine tavern and enjoyed by all. This was the first time the FIG and IAG had held a joint symposium on the topic of deformation measurement and it was a huge success. Continued co-operation between FIG and IAG is planned to provide the most comprehensive coverage of this important topic. We also hope to encourage more participation from other related groups like ISM and local organisations that would bring new and interesting perspectives and solutions to our symposium. The proceedings of the above meeting have been posted on the FIG website at the url below.

FIG Workshop on e-Governance, Knowledge Management and e-Learning

A FIG workshop on e-Governance, Knowledge Management and e-Learning was held in Budapest from 27th to 29th April 2006. The workshop was organised in co-operation with the College of Geoinformatics, University of West Hungary, the Hungarian Society of Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing and FIG Commissions 2 (Professional Education), 3 (Spatial Information Management) and 7 (Cadastre and Land Management) and held in the picturesque Hotel Rubin. Thirty presentations were given in nine sessions. The speakers represented educational and government institutions and private foundations from all over Europe. The diversity of submitted papers can be seen from the number of countries represented by authors: sixteen in all. The goal of the workshop was to reveal the present state of e-government activities, solutions to problems arising and would be trends. There is a current high degree of knowledge acquisition, utilisation and distribution. Accordingly, there is wide-ranging opportunity to update and renew teaching methods, exploiting the advantage of information technology-provided facilities. Materials can most effectively be distributed over the internet to trainees and learning groups, helping their preparation as well as facilitating inter-student support during studies. Thus the presentations of the workshop covered e-government activities in our profession, the role of knowledge centres, their maintenance, facilities, and up-to-date educational methods, including technical background.

FIG President Visits Israel

At the invitation of FIG member Israel Association of Licensed Surveyors and Survey of Israel, the director of which, General Haim Srebro, will be congress director of FIG Working Week 2009 in Eilat, FIG President Prof. Holger Magel and his wife Ansi visited Israel from 24th to 28th May. During this four-day visit Prof. Magel met Joseph Kraus, president of the Israeli FIG member organisation, and members of the local organising committee of Working Week 2009. President Kraus and congress
director Srebro expressed their great engagement and confidence in guaranteeing a safe and unforgettable conference 2009 for the whole FIG community and for all participants from all parts of the world. At the General Assembly in Munich, October 2006, the Israeli delegation will give details of topic, progress and the whole framework of the working week, to be held at a unique location on the Red Sea. President Magel promised to report to FIG council and members on his positive impressions of his visit, which led him through many parts of the country.