The work of Commission 5 on Positioning and Measurement
deals with the acquisition of accurate and reliable data related
to the position, size and shape of natural and artificial
features of the earth and its environment and including
variation with time. The Commission’s work includes the science
of measurement (instrumentation, methodology and guidelines).
Positioning and Measurement answers our clients questions
involving the word, “where?” As such, the discipline of
Positioning and Measurement is at the core of the surveying
profession and legitimizes our claim as a major player in all
things spatial.
During my term as Chair, the Commission 5 Steering Committee
has built on the excellent work of my predecessor Jean-Marie
Becker by continuing core activities related to Standards,
Calibration, Geospatial Reference Frames and Integrated
Positioning and Mapping Systems. We have also given the
Commission a more strategic focus by deepening and better
organising our cooperation with sister associations and to
develop a new area of cooperation with a United Nations
organisation relevant to Commission 5.
Achievements
Commission 5 achievements during the period from 2003 to 2006
can be summarised as:
Fulfilment of the Commission Work Plan through
significant Working Group achievements outlined below;
Creation of a new MoU with the United Nations Office for
Outer Space Affairs;
Re-invigoration of the existing MoU with the
International Association of Geodesy, including the
establishment of a joint liaison committee to oversee
ongoing cooperation;
Development of a Cooperation Agreement with the US based
Institute of Navigation;
For 2005 and 2006, I was a member of FIG Council
representing the Advisory Committee of Commission Officers
(ACCO – all ten Commissions)
Throughout this period, Commission 5 consistently ranked
in the top 3 Commissions for the number of papers submitted
to Working Weeks and Regional Conferences.
Work Plan
Terms of reference
The science of measurement (instrumentation, methodology and guidelines)
The acquisition of accurate and reliable survey data related to the
position, size and shape of natural and artificial features of the earth and
its environment and including variation with time.
Mission statement
Focus on modern technologies and technical developments and assist
individual surveyors, through guidelines and recommendations, to choose and
utilise those methods, technologies and instruments that are most appropriate
to different applications.
Follow technical developments through collaboration with other FIG
commissions and other international organisations; participation in
appropriate meetings; and the preparation of appropriate publications.
Support research and development and stimulate new ideas in the fields of
expertise represented within the commission.
Collaborate with manufacturers on the improvement of instrumentation and
associated software.
Present and promote the work of the commission and its working groups on
an on-going basis at FIG working weeks and other relevant technical meetings
and in appropriate FIG and other media.
Working Group 5.1 - Standards, Quality Assurance and Calibration
Policy Issues
Influence the development of standards affecting positioning and
measurement instruments and methods, in collaboration with the FIG task force
on standards and through participation in the relevant technical committees
(TCs) of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and other appropriate
bodies.
Acceptance controls, quality assurance and certification and their impact
on the surveying profession.
Checking and calibration of measuring instruments.
Assist other Commission Working Groups to implement Standards from ISO
TC211 as appropriate.
Chair
Rudolf Staiger
Germany
e-mail:
rudolf.staiger[at]uni-essen.de
Working Group 5.2 - Reference Frame in Practice
Policy issues
Policy Issues include the following:
Work to bring together all organisations involved in defining or using
reference frames to develop common approaches and avoid duplication. Such
organisations include FIG, IAG, ISO, groups of national mapping agencies,
other influential national agencies (such as the US DoD's NIMA) and alliances
of commercial organisations (such as Open GIS Consortium and the European
Petroleum Survey Group).
Provide background technical information on relevant issues written in a
way that is accessible to the surveying practitioners.
Develop an inventory of approaches to reference frame issues in different
countries (including transformation methodologies) that is accessible to
surveying practitioners.
Examine how surveying practitioners are changing how they access the
reference frame, through less emphasis on networks of ground monuments and
more emphasis on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) base stations.
Examine the increased use of GNSS for height determination and the use of
geoid models etc for connection to local height datums.
Examine the increasing role of aerial and space based imagery in the
realisation of reference frames.
Chair
Cyril Romieu (France), e-mail:
romieu[at]ensg.ign.fr Mikael Lilje (Sweden), e-mail:
mikael.lilje[at]lm.se Lars E Engberg (Sweden)
Working Group 5.3 Integrated Positioning, Navigation and Mapping
Systems
Policy issues
Policy Issues include the following:
Issues associated with ongoing and rapid developments in Integrated
Positioning, Navigation, and Mapping systems, including performance and
applications of such systems and guidelines for their use.
Ensuring FIG input to planning associated with programs of GPS
Modernisation and GNSS Development.
Chair
Dr. Naser El-Sheimy (Canada), e-mail
naser[at]geomatics.ucalgary.ca
Working Group 5.4 - Cost
Effective Surveying Technology and Techniques for Developing Countries
(A Joint Working Group of Commissions 3, 5 and 7)
Policy Issues
To identify more cost effective ways to improve the availability and
accessibility of tools of land information. To suggest these methods to aid more
effective planning, development and management of the environment. Also to
develop innovation, adaptation and resourcefulness in simplifying these tools to
fit the local situation.
Chair
Dan Schnurr MSc MRICS (United Kingdom), e-mail:
info[at]simmonsaerofilms.com
