Shining a Light on the Surveying Profession
Article

Shining a Light on the Surveying Profession

Looking Back on the FIG Congress 2022

Besides its excellent technical content, the recent FIG Congress in Poland was a place for enthusiastic reunions and for forming new friendships. Wim van Wegen looks back on the event, together with two young participants for a refreshing perspective from the new generation of surveyors.

The 27th edition of the FIG Congress took place in the Polish capital of Warsaw from 11-15 September 2022. As always, this gathering of the land surveying community featured a large number of highly relevant keynotes, seminars and sessions. But after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions, it also turned out to be an event full of enthusiastic reunions between acquaintances as well as a place for forming new friendships. This article starts by giving an impression of the congress in a nutshell, followed by contributions from two young participants. Between them, they paint a picture of the event from the refreshing perspective of the new generation of surveyors.

The focus of this edition of the FIG Congress was on the changing face of the surveying profession. The job of a land surveyor has changed radically over the years. Nowadays, geospatial data is applied across a wide range of disciplines in a much broader context. It is being recognized as a vital part of the solution for the well-being and betterment of society as a whole. This is being further accelerated by the rapidly advancing technological developments of the past decade, such as increased computational power and the miniaturization of sensors. The geospatial experts of today are continuously exploring new ways of tapping into the potential of these and other technological advancements.

Getting Together to Share Expertise

The backbone of the FIG Congress was formed by the keynote sessions and a broad range of technical sessions. The abundance of presentations covered almost every conceivable topic under the ‘geospatial data umbrella’. The content of the keynotes varied from land governance in support of the 2030 Global Agenda – zooming in on the concept of responsible land governance and the importance of including all land, people and land rights at a countrywide scale – to mapping plastic pollution in the Earth’s oceans by employing multispectral imagery in conjunction with artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms.

With support from the local organizers from the Association of Polish Surveyors (SGP), this year’s FIG Congress was an important hub for intensive learning and a valuable platform for the FIG community to exchange knowledge and experiences during the workshops, seminars and sessions. One of the keynotes, given by outgoing FIG president (and incoming DVW president) Rudolf Staiger, took the audience on a journey through the history of surveying. Staiger visibly entertained the audience with his dynamic insights into how the 3rd and 4th industrial revolutions have had huge impact on the surveying profession. He explained that the profession is now based on connectivity and computing power, and the ‘Surveyor 4.0’ is “using his or her equipment like a big office software package – just push the button.” Staiger ended his keynote by emphasizing the need for events such as the FIG Congress and other gatherings where the geospatial community can get together to exchange knowledge. And after the inspiring days in Warsaw, most participants will probably agree that meeting up in person is indeed a very enjoyable and effective way of keeping pace with the changing face of the surveying profession!

The upcoming issues of GIM International will feature various articles written by land surveying professionals and geospatial experts who spoke during the FIG Congress in Warsaw. In the meantime, for an overview of all the keynote sessions, see the FIG website.

The top-class panel discussion with Paula Dijkstra, Stig Enemark and Kwabena Obeng Asiama on land governance in support of the 2030 Global Agenda was one of the highlights of the FIG Congress 2022.

A Sense of Community

By Angelina Ageenko

After a COVID-19 break, the FIG Congress finally opened its doors again to participants in 2022. It was attended by professionals from all over the world across numerous surveying disciplines including geoinformatics, geodesy and land management, to name but a few. Warsaw, the beautiful and charming capital of Poland, with its castles, palaces, universities and parks, served as the backdrop to this year’s congress. As a first-timer at a FIG conference, I had a perfect and long-awaited opportunity to attend the event in person, get exposed to new ideas, build professional relationships and become a part of the international surveying community.

The congress was preceded by a number of events, of which I attended the FIG Young Surveyors Network. The programme, tightly packed with activities, was not only dedicated to the professional development of young surveyors through technical lectures. A special place in the Young Surveyors Network was given to building a strong sense of the international surveying community though social activities such as field games, geo-puzzles, competitions related to the use of the newest surveying equipment and a museum visit that introduced us to the hospitable Polish culture.

This sense of community is indispensable and precious in the world, where cooperation and volunteering for a professional organization such as FIG are an urgent need. This was so precisely captured and reflected by the overall theme of the congress: ‘Volunteering for the Future – Geospatial excellence for better living’. It was a great inspiration to listen to peers from North America and Africa who keep networks active in their countries, or who find ways of contributing to their society by leveraging the power of geospatial information to combat COVID-19.

After two days in the company of fellow young surveyors, I was overwhelmed by the main part of the congress and the abundance of the technical sessions, workshops and events it offered. Even though the scale and the size of the congress was quite different from what we are used to at home in Denmark, I always felt welcomed and guided by both the FIG team and the local organizing team during my stay in Warsaw.

The sessions brought into sharp focus the solutions and the challenges that our multifaceted profession currently experiences and will face in the future. They might vary in different countries, but one thing seemed certain – surveyors will remain the link between the technological advancements and the Sustainable Development Goals. I was lucky enough to get the chance to present my work on landslide susceptibility mapping using artificial intelligence at the congress and feel happy that I could make a small contribution to this wonderful event.

Angelina Ageenko pictured during the session (third from the right).

The FIG Congress Seen from a Young Surveyor’s Perspective

By Claire Buxton

It is difficult to tell if it was a lack of in-person connection over the previous years or a true feeling of progress, but the buzz at this year’s FIG Congress and Young Surveyors Conference was palpable. It was the best one I’ve been to so far (best out of three). Obviously, it is hard to compare with the first one I attended because that is where I got a taste for the nerdy joy that comes from FIG Working Weeks. But this one in Warsaw, Poland, brought out all FIG’s best for us young surveyors who were lucky enough to be there.

Meeting representatives of the ‘big players’ (such as World Bank, Esri, Trimble and United Nations organizations) not only adds context and a friendly face to the projects, models and technology available in our industry, but it also provides exposure to role models for a young surveyor to see what opportunities can exist for them beyond their day-to-day work. They can visualize a future in our industry beyond that millimetre, bolt, boundary or calculation. It allows a young surveyor to picture themselves in our industry and see how they can carve out their place within a bigger picture.

Inspiration for a young surveyor to continue furthering their knowledge stems from the technical sessions. It is always tricky to choose which sessions to attend, with simultaneous sessions being a necessity for the programme organizers to fit it all into one week. I was able to learn about the wide body of research around land administration using fit-for-purpose techniques, clever tools designed to empower young surveyors while mapping deforestation trends, and participate in meetings and workshops to discuss the future direction of FIG. It is humbling as a person who has gained privilege from living within countries with strong land tenure systems and stable governments to be invigorated by other young surveyors and experts who dedicate their lives to the improvement of land systems in their own contexts and communities.

Attending an international conference can be daunting, especially if you haven’t been to one before. A young surveyor learns quickly that FIG is as supportive as a well-braced control network. When you arrive, you will learn that the way you dress does not define you, for example. In fact, if your luggage is held up at customs, you can likely find a friendly person to lend you an outfit while you’re waiting for it to arrive. I loved seeing people wearing their favourites, from customary clothing through to a Wonder Woman t-shirt. When presenting, the speaker receives questions that will challenge them but will not accuse. There is a genuine interest from attendees to learn from the perspective of a young surveyor. Finally, meeting other young surveyors and seasoned surveyors with a similar energy for their careers is a huge bonus. Connections like these are worth continuing to build on and lean on for support. Your network grows fast within FIG.

Young surveyors can see first-hand which geospatial tools are out there. Robotics, automation and other front-end technology that some parts of the industry are perhaps not even ready for in their own country were displayed at the FIG congress. This can give young surveyors an understanding of what exists before it may even reach their context. Better yet, they could bring it to their own country and offer a new service to generate income for their organizations and improve delivery for their clients.

Closing ceremony featuring Louise Friis-Hansen, Rudolf Staiger and Diane Dumashie.

Of course, we didn’t just get spoiled with technical content and demonstrations of the latest technologies; we also got to experience the local flavours and customs of Warsaw. With the charity dance (which is always well attended and supported), pure Polish vodka tastings and traditional dancing and food on offer during the week, we were treated to a teaser of Polish culture to cherish.

Despite all of this, I recognize we have still got improvements to make. I say ‘we’ because, as a volunteer-run organization, FIG rests on the shoulders of all its volunteers. It is up to us as members of both FIG and the wider surveying industry to continue striving for improvement. Whether by supporting the Stand for her Land campaign and the Volunteer Community Surveyor Program, creating a place for diverse people to come together and feel at home as themselves, being an ally to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, or bringing together the academic/private practice gap, we each have a role to play.

A big word of thanks to the organizers for bringing this event together. From where I am sitting, the stress and hectic hours were all worth it. Knowing that our industry is broad and connected provides motivation for young surveyors to stay on this career path, but also to seek out collaboration and growth opportunities for their individual selves and for the industry. It is easy to gain inspiration from meeting with an international community of surveyors. The trick is now for the commission chairs and FIG leadership to convert that inspiration into sustained energy for next year and the years to come. As the incoming FIG president, Dr Diane Dumashie, said to me during the welcoming ceremony, “many hands make light work”. Let us roll up our sleeves, support each other, learn from each other and keep shining a light on our wonderful profession.

Claire Buxton is working as a consultant at Underhill Geomatics, Canada, and is an active member of the FIG Young Surveyors Network, most recently as the leader of the Volunteer Community Surveyor Program (VCSP). Before moving to Canada, she volunteered for the Survey and Spatial New Zealand Young Professionals and Pacific Advisory Group from 2015 onwards. She spends much of her spare time as a volunteer supporting young surveyors internationally in growing the VCSP.

52nd Parallel North

As the symbolic finale of the FIG Congress in Poland and a material memento of this ‘festival of world geodesy’ in the heart of Europe, an unusual geodesic monument was unveiled on Theatre Square in the centre of Warsaw: a survey pillar dating from 1872. The pillar was originally erected as a geodetic and magnetic surveying station for the 52nd parallel north geodetic arc survey project in the second half of the 19th century. It formed part of a triangulation chain spanning the whole of Europe, from Ireland to the Ural Mountains. Created with the cooperation of Struve, Baeyer and many other famous surveyors and astronomers such as Airy, Helmert and Żyliński, the chain lasted for 40 years. The pillar survived the destruction of Warsaw during the Second World War and, on 14 September 2022 – exactly 150 years after it was erected – this unusual relic from the history of geodesy was unveiled in memory of the FIG Congress in Warsaw as the European Geodesy Monument. This is an important step towards the 52nd parallel north geodetic arc being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as the first truly international Earth surveying project on a continental scale. The coordinates of this monument to the scientific collaboration of European surveyors are (BLHh, GRS80-ETRF89): 52°14’38.30338" N, 21°00’33.03398" E, 142.307m, 111.303m amsl.

Glory to the science of surveying: geodesy!

Mariusz Meus (also known as ‘Mr Meridian’), head of the ‘Honorary Krakow Meridian’ geodesic educational initiative.

The unveiling of the geodesic monument on Theatre Square in the centre of Warsaw: a survey pillar dating from 1872.
 
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