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 consistent
with internationally adopted standards and models.
Mission Statement
The mission of Commission 5 is to:
Focus on modern technologies, and technical developments and
assist individual surveyors, engineers and GIS/LIS professionals
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 ongoing basis at FIG Congresses, FIG Working Weeks, FIG
Regional Conferences and other relevant technical meetings and in
appropriate FIG and other media.
General
This work plan covers the development, use and integration of
technologies for positioning and measurement and the associated
standardisation, best practice and fundamental reference frame issues.
Many of the issues are global in nature and Commission 5 along with many
other Associations is well suited to tackle the technological challenges
we face. There will be an ongoing cooperation with United Nations Agencies
to address global problems such as sustainable development and
humanitarian needs. The disciplines covered by Commission 5 will deliver
solutions for the spatial aspects of these important global problems.
Specific activities aimed at developing countries include examination of
Low Cost Surveying Technologies, assistance with implementation of modern
Geodetic and Vertical Reference Frames and associated infrastructure and
contribution to appropriate Continuing Professional Development programs.
Specifically, to work closely with the International Association of
Geodesy (IAG) and the United Nations Global Geospatial Information
Management (UN GGIM) on the development of new models, standards and tools
for implementing a Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) that includes
aspects of the International Terrestrial reference Frame (ITRF) and the
International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). The GGRF will serve as a
global standard for all Nations to implement their respective national
datums. As such. This directly impacts FIG Members who must implement
these new datums and the requirements to access them.
In addition to the specific activities above, the Commission will
support and contribute to FIG Task Forces and the Standards Network. The
Commission will also respond to the FIG Council to address new issues as
they emerge.
Working Groups
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
Standards Network 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.
Testing and calibration of measuring instruments.
Assist other Commission Working Groups to implement Standards from
TC 172/SC 6 and ISO TC211 as appropriate.
Work to bring together all organisations involved in defining or
using reference frames to develop common approaches and avoid
duplication. Such organisations include FIG, the International
Association of Geodesy (IAG), UN-GGIM, ISO, groups of national mapping
agencies, and other influential national agencies.
Continue the existing co-operation with IAG on the Regional
Reference Frame Projects such as AFREF, APREF, EUREF, NAREF, and
SIRGAS.
Develop and expand upon the relationships with UN-GGIM’s
Sub-Committee on Geodesy (UN-SCOG), the UN SCOG WG’s, and the various
UN-GGIM regional bodies.
Consider options for the development and implementation of 4
dimensional datums that incorporate the effects of plate tectonic and
regional effects such as those due to earthquakes or local effects
such as landslides.
Provide background technical information on relevant issues
written in a way that is accessible to surveying practitioners.
Examine how surveying practitioners can access the reference
frame, through less emphasis on networks of ground monuments and more
emphasis on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) base stations.
Provide information on the maintenance of CORS networks to ensure
long-term stability
This group is a joint working group between FIG and IAG. It focuses on
the development of shared resources that extend our understanding of the
theory, tools and technologies applicable to the development of multi
sensor systems. It has a major focus on:
Performance characterization of positioning sensors and
technologies that can play a role in augmenting core GNSS capabilities
Theoretical and practical evaluation of current algorithms for
measurement integration within multi sensor systems.
The development of new measurement integration algorithms based
around innovative modeling techniques in other research domains such
as machine learning and genetic algorithms, spatial cognition etc.
Establishing links between the outcomes of this WG and other IAG
and FIG WGs (across the whole period)
Generating formal parameters that describe the performance of
current and emerging positioning technologies that can inform FIG and
IAG members.
Chair
Allison Kealy, Australia
allison.kealy[at]rmit.edu.au
Guenther Retscher, Austria
Guenther.Retscher[at]geo.tuwien.ac.at
Educate FIG member associations and individual surveyors on when
to use which surveying instrument or evaluation software taking into
account economic reasons
Design fit-for-purpose surveying systems that are cost-effective
Support decision makers for establishing cost-effective
positioning solutions
Chair
Leonid A. Lipatnikov, Russia
l.lipatnikov[at]ssga.ru
Li Zhang, Germany
li.zhang[at]iigs.uni-stuttgart.de
