GENERAL INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

Guidelines for writing papers   PPeer review papers   Preparing your presentation   Terms and Conditions
Poster Guidelines   Speakers Ready room   Session Chair   Rapporteur

 

Before the FIG Congress

How to submit

The Call for Papers is announced both for peer reviewed papers and regular/non-peer review papers.

We invite you to submit an abstract for the FIG Congress for:

The abstract shall be between 250 and 500 words in length describing the objectives, results, conclusions and significance of your work. The abstract shall include the names and affiliations of all authors. When submitting your abstract, the number of abstracts is limited to a maximum of one per author. Further, an author can only once be a co-author in another abstract. It means an author can only be involved in two abstracts, one as first author and one as co-author. Please feel free to submit an abstract on any topic related to the specific topics of FIG Congress 2026. You can submit your abstract as “peer review” or “regular/non-peer review”.

Before you begin - To submit your abstract you will need to have the following items ready:
Submitting your abstract
Peer review paper

This review process is “double-blinded”. At least two independent anonymous experts are reviewing your anonymized paper twice. After submitting your abstract, you will receive a confirmation email. Please submit full paper to fig@fig.net by 15 September 2025, otherwise your paper will be dropped from the peer review process, and your abstract will be handled as a regular paper instead.  

In the conference programme a paper that has been accepted by the peer review process will be marked “This is a peer reviewed paper”. Papers that are not accepted by the peer review process can be offered to the conference as non-peer reviewed papers.  

Accepted peer review papers will be published in FIG Peer Review Journal (ISSN No 2412-916X). For the journal, please visit www.fig.net/resources/publications/prj/index.asp   When preparing the paper, it is important to follow the guidelines presented below.

Authors for peer review papers will be asked to submit a video presentation of a maximum of 4 minutes. The video presentation will be included in the proceedings and the peer review journal. Peer review papers and video presentations will be connected to a session.  Also note that only a selection of authors will be invited as panellist/presenter. This is a decision of the editorial board and cannot be influenced by the author. At least one author of a peer review paper must register and pay the registration fee to be included in the proceedings, journal, and technical programme.

Non-peer review Paper

A committee will make the final decision, whether an abstract will be accepted or rejected. The acceptance and inclusion in the proceedings are contingent on –

Please note, your paper will be connected to a specific session and included in the proceedings. Also note that only a selection of authors from the open call for papers will be invited as presenter / panellist directly in sessions. For those who will not be given a presentation slot there might be the option to submiot a poster.

Guidelines for writing papers

Authors of all accepted abstracts at the FIG Congress 2026 are encouraged to submit a full paper. It is important to follow the guidelines outlined below. Papers submitted with incorrect formats will be returned to authors. The full paper has a maximum length of 15 pages.

All full papers should be submitted as e-mail attachments in MS Word format to:

fig@fig.net

but no later than 15 September 2025 for peer-review papers and  15 January 2026 for non-peer-review papers.

One, or more authors of every paper must register for the conference. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of your submission. The latest date for registration by authors is 30 January 2026.

Format for papers

Please use this template when writing your paper:

Page Size: A4 Portrait
Margins: left, right, top - 2.5 cm (1 inch)
bottom - 5 cm
Meta data: Insert your meta data under properties - title, authors and keywords
Page numbers: 15 pages maximum, including abstract, pictures, diagrams, references and appendices.
Footer/Header: Keep empty - FIG will fill in the footer
Format: Text should be typed on word processor MS WORD in single line spacing (of 12 character spaces) using Times New Roman 12, text justified. Paper size: A4 (210mm x 297 mm), with clear margins as follows: top, left and right 25mm, bottom 60mm and footer 20mm.
Title: Bold letters Times New Roman 14 (centred), leave one line empty (14) after the title:
Author and co-authors: Times New Roman 12 (centred, bold), please write your full and your surname or the name, you wish to be listed by in the programme, in capital letters (e.g. KIM Geun-pil or Juan Pereira GARCIA MARGUEZ), and country. Leave two lines empty (12) after the name.
Keywords: Four or five key words on paper theme (Times New Roman 12, ranged left), leave two lines empty (12) after keywords.
Summary: Times New Roman 12, justified. Summary shall be submitted in English and in one other language (optional) e.g. French, Spanish or your own language. The summary shall not exceed one page.
Text: Times New Roman 12, full justification, single line spacing between paragraphs.
Headings/Numering: Times New Roman 12, bold, capital letters, ranged left:
1. SUBTITLE  
Type text here …  
2. SUBTITLE
2.1 Subtitle, level 2
2.1.1 Subtitle, level 3
Type text here …
Symbols and units: Only use “long dash” ( – )
Table and Figure captions: Line drawings, Diagrams and Graphs, Tables, Formulae and Photographs should be inserted in the word document. jpg-format for photographs, formulae and figures is preferred.
Reference: Bibliographical references should be listed in alphabetical order at the end of the paper. The following sequence and punctuation should be used: Author’s last name, author’s initials, year of publication, title of reference article, name of book or journal (or other), volume number, page numbers, city and publisher. In the text, the reference is to be giving the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses.
Biographical notes: A short summary on career-to-date e.g. with details of past experience, publications, memberships of societies and associated achievements.
Contacts: At the end of the paper please give the author's contacts (institution, address and telephone, e-mail address and web site address) as indicated in the template.
Publication rights: By submitting the full paper to the conference organisers each author agrees to give FIG - International Federation of Surveyors  the right to publish his/her paper in the FIG 2026 proceedings on the FIG web site without any compensation and further to give FIG the right to include the paper in the FIG Surveyors’ Reference Library and further in the FIG Journal if selected for this purpose.

Peer review papers

Introduction

The aim of the Peer Review is to

General Procedure

In the conference programme a paper that has been accepted by the peer review process will be marked “This is a peer reviewed paper”. Papers that are not accepted by the peer review process can be offered to have the paper included as non peer reviewed.

If you want a peer review paper at the FIG Congress 2026 you shall submit your abstract and send your full paper to fig@fig.net by 15 September 2025. When preparing the paper, please follow the guidelines prepared for papers. Please feel free to submit a paper on any topic related to the specific topics of FIG Congress 2026.

Deadlines for different steps can be seen under Important dates.

Important: In addition to submitting the full paper, you shall also submit an abstract of your paper online to FIG database on the following web site: www.fig.net/fig2025/submission.htm. Please mark “This abstract is submitted for peer review”.

The number of papers for peer review is limited to a maximum of one paper per author.

Terms and conditions

When submitting a paper the author(s) agree that FIG has the right to publish the paper in the conference proceedings (at the conference and on the FIG web site); in the FIG Surveyors Reference Library including your presentation; and in the FIG online journal (if selected for this purpose) without any other agreement or compensation. The copyright of the paper remains by the author(s).

Please note – All accepted papers will be scheduled into the Conference Programme

Receipt of your paper will be acknowledged electronically according to the time schedules.

Preparing your presentation

Before the conference:

Verify Abstract:

The initial version of the detailed draft programme will be published by 6 February. Please note that the draft programme may be subject to change. If any details are incorrect, please update your abstract (via the link you received via email when submitting your abstract) or contact FIG office at: FIG@fig.net.

Presentation formats:

Presentations will be delivered using MS PowerPoint. A template with format 16:9 will be made available in due course. The template ensures uniformity across presentations during the FIG Congress. On the last slide you will have the opportunity to showcase how the presented content contributes to achievement of the SDGs.

The following are some suggestions on how authors can engage audiences and excite them about the paper itself.

Description:


  DO DON'T
Purpose of Presentation
  • Present sufficient to indicate that the paper is worth a read and tells  a worthwhile story.
  • Present summaries of all sections of the paper

Format & Timing

  • Consider starting with the conclusion and then explain why you reached it (e.g. methods/results).
  • Plan for a short presentation - it is easier to expand on points than it is to cut things out.
  • Use fonts larger than 28 pt & no more than 10 slides.
  • Focus on your results.
  • Save the punch line as a sort of surprise ending.
  • Plan for 20 minutes in case there is extra time.
  • Use small fonts or too many overheads.
  • Don't focus on theory or methods (unless that is your contribution).

Introduction

  • Focus on what is interesting and new about what you have learned.
  • Try to start off with a real-world analogy/story. 
  • Focus on why you decided to do the study.
  • Be too conceptual.

Audience Interaction

  • Look people in the eye and talk to them (not at them).
  • Identify places for audience input. Ask rhetorical questions at key points and wait for responses.
    For an empirical paper, ask the audience to vote for alternative explanations of the results.
  • Give a monologue describing your research.

Theory

  • State the problem, why it is interesting, and what you will add.
  • Explain what is new opposed to past contributions.
  • Present a literature review of the area (cites, etc.).
  • Explain every arrow in a complex figure.

Methods

  • Provide an overview of why the measures are linked to the theoretical construct. Establish face validity and assure that more rigorous methods were applied.
  • Describe the sample measures, and validation of instruments.

Results

  • Present what was significant. Explain what the data tell you. People will read the paper to get details if the paper seems relevantt.
  • Present any tables with numbers

Conclusion

  • Answer broadly what has been learned and what needs to be done now.
  • Review each result and summarize what was significant.

Final Slide

  • Identify which SDGs are most relevant to the presented content.

Presentation Timing:

Stick to the following timing guidelines:

Presentation times/sessions:

Allocation of presentation times/sessions will be provided by the conference organisers and once allocated cannot be altered. We cannot accept individual requests for specific timing due to scheduling complexities.

Saving your files:

All files, especially embedded files linked through your presentation, should be saved on a USB device in the same folder to avoid broken links.

Final slide:

Our profession, and therefore FIG, has a key role to tackle global challenges. For each session the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been defined. Additionally, we ask each presenter to showcase how their work contributes to the achievement of these SDGs. The final slide in the presentation template allows you to select which SDGs are most relevant to the presented content.

For more information and inspiration see the identified SDGs per commission and sessions as indicated in the technical programme of FIG Congress 2026.

Post-Conference:

All presentations will be deleted from the conference computers after the event.
The presentations will be collected by FIG and will be available in the online proceedings on the FIG website. If you do not want your presentation to be uploaded, please email FIG@FIG.net.

At the FIG Congress 2026

Speakers Preparation Room

Location: Meeting Suite 1.53 Cape Town International Convention Centre
Opening hour: to be confirmed nearer the conference

Information for speakers

Presentations will be delivered using MS PowerPoint. A template with format 16:9 will be made available in due course. The template ensures uniformity across presentations during the FIG Congress. On the last slide you will have the opportunity to showcase how the presented content contributes to achievement of the SDGs.

You are requested to have your presentation on an USB Memory Stick, which needs to be given to the technicians in the Speakers’ Preparation Room in advance. The technician will download your presentation to the central system and feed it into the venue you are presenting in.

Please note your presentation is required in the Speakers’ Preparation Room on the day before or at least two sessions prior your session. It cannot be displayed directly from the session room, and there will be no opportunity to upload presentations directly in the session rooms. If you do not have any visual aids or special requirements, it would be advisable to still check in at the Speakers’ Preparation Room to inform the technicians thereof and that you are present.

Personal laptops will not be used to present your presentation. Your presentation must be streamed into the session room from the Speakers’ Preparation Room.  Presenters who wish to use their own laptop due to special software requirements are requested to check this possibility well in advance by contacting the local organisers prior to the conference.

If you are playing embedded media in your presentation, check that this functions properly with the technicians in the Speakers’ Preparation Room in good time.

Naming of your presentation

Please name your presentation in the following way so that it can be showed in the session:
sessionID_abstractID.pptx

OR

session room_time_abstractID.pptx

The presentation must be named with the session ID (e.g. TS01A) and abstractID. You find your abstract ID number in your abstract confirmation email and in all communications from FIG regarding your abstract and paper.

During your session:

Poster Presentations

As the conference organisers, we aim to ensure that all posters are professionally presented and effectively communicate the research they represent. Please adhere to the following guidelines when preparing your poster.

Verify Abstract:

The initial version of the detailed draft programme will be published by 6 February 2026. Please note that the draft programme may be subject to change. If any details are incorrect, please update your abstract (via the link you received via email when submitting your abstract) or contact FIG office at: FIG@fig.net.

Poster Specifications

Size and Dimensions: The standard poster size for this conference is A0 (841 x 1189 mm) or 36 x 48 inches. Posters must be in portrait orientation

Poster Content

Title: The title should be concise and informative, accurately reflecting the content of your research. Avoid overly technical language. Include the title at the top of the poster in a large, easily readable font (minimum 85 pt).

Author Information: Include the names of all authors, along with their affiliations. The presenting author’s name should be underlined. Provide contact information for the corresponding author, typically an email address.

Design and Layout:
Font and Text Size: Use clear, legible fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri. Avoid decorative fonts. Ensure the following minimum font sizes are used:

Colour Scheme: Use a consistent and professional colour scheme. Ensure there is sufficient contrast between the background and text to enhance readability. Limit the use of colours to avoid overwhelming the viewer. Stick to 2-3 colours.

Images and Graphics: All images, graphs, and charts should be of high quality (300 dpi) and relevant to the content. Ensure that all visuals are clearly labelled with titles, legends, and axis labels where applicable. Use visuals to complement the text, not to replace it.

Blank Space: Maintain adequate blank space around text and images to prevent the poster from looking cluttered. This also helps direct the viewer’s attention to key areas.

Poster Printing

Professional Printing: We strongly recommend using a professional printing service to ensure the highest quality. Choose a matte finish to reduce glare under conference lighting. Posters must be printed and brought to the conference by the presenter.

Alternatively, you can contact Wilfred Schrieff - wilfredjschrieff05@gmail.com to order a poster printed. Presenters must arrange payment directly with the supplier. Kindly note the conference will not take responsibility for delivery of posters to the conference venue - you will need to make your own arrangements.

Transport: Use a poster tube to protect your poster during travel. Some poster tubes have carrying straps for convenience.

Additional Copies: You may wish to print additional smaller copies (A4 or letter size) of your poster to distribute as handouts to interested attendees.

On-Site Setup

Poster Placement: Posters should be posted in the designated poster area in Audi 1 Foyer, on the 1ST Floor of the Cape Town International Conventions Centre.

Materials: The registration desk will provide materials for you to mount your poster.

Setup and Removal Times: A poster will be given at least one full day of exposure in the exhibition area, and if possible, more than one day. Date as well as setup and dismantling time will be informed by FIG Office.

During the Poster Session

On each of the conference days 25-28 May 2026 there will be a poster session. This session will take place in the session slot at 14:00-15:15.

Presenter Presence: At least one author should be present to answer questions and engage with attendees during your allocated poster session.

You are encouraged to be around your poster in the tea/coffee breaks and during lunch on your designated day.

Engagement: Prepare a summary of your research to discuss with attendees. Be prepared to answer questions and discuss your work in more detail.

By adhering to these guidelines, you will contribute to a professional and informative poster session. We look forward to your participation and the opportunity to showcase your research at the conference

Session Management

In the technical session there will be a chair and a rapporteur.

Session chair

The Chair will introduce you to the audience based on the information that you have included in your paper. The Chair will be responsible to ensure that all speakers in the session will get their presentation time. He/she will also reserve some time for questions/discussion either after each presentation or at the end of the session. Please note that not all sessions are planned as presentation sessions. The session chair decides on the format of the session, which can be a panel, discussion session or other format. The session chair will inform in advance of the type of session. The number of papers per session varies, so please follow the instructions of the Chair in your session. There may be some last-minute changes (e.g. dropouts) that may impact the time schedule. The programme will not be changed - if a speaker does not arrive that time may be used for discussion/questions.

Rapporteur

The role of the rapporteur is to evaluate the session. The rapporteur will observe the session and fill in a questionnaire, which will be used to evaluate the technical programme.

More information 

 

 

 


PRESENTER

Invitation
Call for Papers
Abstract Submission
Prize
Guide for Presenters
Important dates