FIG Members

Membership Information

Members

General

Full membership of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) is open to a national association representing one or more of the disciplines of surveying (see the following FIG definition of a surveyor) and whose members

possess relevant academic qualifications (which should normally be equivalent to at least UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level 5 degrees) plus approved professional experience; and
who provide professional services in accordance with ethical standards.
Associations which include technician grades of membership are also eligible for membership of the Federation.

A group of surveyors or surveying organisation, comprised of individuals who practise the profession of surveying, which does not fulfil the criteria for membership as a member association can be admitted to join the Federation as an affiliate member. An affiliate may be admitted to membership where the discipline or disciplines it represents are not already represented within the Federation by a member association from the same country. The admission of an affiliate should normally be a step towards the development of an association which can eventually become a member association.

Each category of membership provides opportunities for establishing contact with the international surveying community and thereby assisting with the development of indigenous academic and professional training programmes, including CPD facilities, and the development of technical and professional standards.

Only member associations are entitled to vote at FIG’s annual administrative meetings. An affiliate and other members may nominate a representative to attend as an observer. All FIG members receive copies of FIG publications, monthly e-Newsletters and the Annual Review; and are entitled to nominate one delegate to each of FIG’s ten technical commissions. Participation to the Commission work is one of the most important benefits of membership of FIG. However these benefits only come about if those nominated as delegates participate in the work of the commissions and publicise the results within their own countries; and FIG has therefore published guidelines for its members and for their national commission delegates.

An association wishing to apply for full membership should complete the relevant application form and return it to the Council. Applications are assessed first by the Council, which decides whether to recommend them for approval by the General Assembly.

In the case of an application received from an association in a country which already has one or more member associations, these associations shall be informed of the application and their comments sought.

FIG DEFINITION OF SURVEYOR

A surveyor is a professional person with the academic qualifications and technical expertise to practise the science of measurement; to assemble and assess land and geographic related information; to use that information for the purpose of planning and implementing the efficient administration of the land, the sea and structures thereon; and to instigate the advancement and development of such practices.

Practice of the surveyor’s profession may involve one or more of the following activities which may occur either on, above or below the surface of the land or the sea and may be carried out in association with other professionals.

The determination of the size and shape of the earth and the measurement of all data needed to define the size, position, shape and contour of any part of the earth.
The positioning of objects in space and the positioning and monitoring of physical features, structures and engineering works on, above or below the surface of the earth.
The determination of the position of the boundaries of public or private land, including national and international boundaries, and the registration of those lands with the appropriate authorities.
The design, establishment and administration of land and geographic information systems and the collection, storage, analysis and management of data within those systems.
The study of the natural and social environment, the measurement of land and marine resources and the use of the data in the planning of development in urban, rural and regional areas.
The planning, development and redevelopment of property, whether urban or rural and whether land or buildings.
The assessment of value and the management of property, whether urban or rural and whether land or buildings.
The planning, measurement and management of construction works, including the estimation of costs.
The production of plans, maps, files, charts and reports.

In the application of the foregoing activities surveyors take into account the relevant legal, economic, environmental and social aspects affecting each project.

FIG MEMBERS AND THEIR COMMISSION DELEGATES

The purpose of these guidelines is to help ensure that the full benefits of FIG membership are passed down to all the individual members of associations or other organisations that are members of the Federation.

To ensure that these individual members are kept fully informed of and input where necessary to the work of FIG and its commissions, FIG recommends that

FIG members should support, or encourage others to support, the attendance of national commission delegates at annual FIG working weeks (including annual commission delegate meetings and technical symposia) and other symposia organised by the commissions
FIG members and their national commission delegates should consider establishing networks within their countries to communicate information and obtain feedback
National commission delegates should be actively involved in commission activities, including responding to questionnaires or correspondence and identifying topics and authors of papers for commission symposia and FIG congresses
FIG members should seek and encourage funding support to enable national commission delegates to attend FIG activities, including commission meetings

National commission delegates should write at least one annual report for publication in a local newsletter or technical journal or for dissemination by some other means to individual members of their association or organisation.