The Role and Work of the FIG Standards Task Force

1. Background

1.1 The development of standards is a long process and currently involves few surveyors. This often results in impractical or outdated standards. FIG believes that it can assist in the creation of workable standards covering survey activities by being involved in the work of standardisation bodies (including but not limited to ISO); as an international NGO, FIG is one of the few bodies through which surveyors can formally be represented in international standardisation activity. FIG can also assist in publicising and explaining the implications of standards for surveyors. Until more permanent arrangements are put in place, the Standards Task Force will co-ordinate this activity on behalf of FIG.

2. External Relationships

2.1 The Task Force will need to create working relationships with standardisation bodies, starting with ISO. In this regard, the Task Force can play an important part in the promotion and marketing of FIG to a wider community. There are two primary roles:

1. Assisting in the production of workable and timely standards by proposing material which can be transformed into international standards (rather than relying on work developed by others) and by participating in the process of developing standards; and
2. Disseminating information and creating explanatory material ands guidance notes to ensure that all members of FIG are aware of the most recent standardisation activities, standards and regulations, and their implications for surveyors.

2.2 A questionnaire distributed in early 1999 indicated that the appropriate relationships with standards bodies are at the global level for FIG, and at the national level for Member Associations.

2.3 Another key group of relationships is with other NGOs representing surveyors (for instance, IAG, CLGE, ICEC and ISPRS); the particular relationship on standards will need to be built.

3. Internal Relationships

3.1 The Task Force will be directed by the Council and the General Assembly.

3.2 The key relationships for the Task Force during its work will be with the Commissions, Permanent Institutions and Member Associations. In essence, the Task Force will provide the external face of FIG to the standardisation bodies, translating the requirements of each to the other and providing appropriate contacts as necessary. The Task Force will also be responsible for prioritising the proposed standards work of FIG and ensuring that the appropriate commissions take these priorities and turn them into action. The Commissions will work within their fields of specialisation, always conscious of the possible use and implications of standards in that work, and consulting with the Task Force as to how best this can be accomplished.

4. Work

4.1 The work plan for the Task Force has been shaped by the responses to the 1999 questionnaire to Member Associations. This showed a particular requirement to collect and disseminate information about the activity of ISO, and a need for FIG to take part as an active member of standardisation bodies to gain more influence in decision making.

4.2 The work of the Task Force will include:

1. The creation of a working relationship with the ISO Central Secretariat to acquaint them with the benefits that a relationship with FIG can bring them, and agree the most appropriate ways in which to realise the benefits;
2. Reviewing the current standardisation activity which impact on surveyors and determining (with the Commissions) how these can best be interpreted for surveyors - the ISO work highlighted in the questionnaire results is that of TC59, TC172, TC204 and TC211;
3. A review, with the Commissions, Permanent Institutions and Member Associations, of items of their work (past, present and future) which relate to or impact on standards;
4. Discussing and agreeing with other international organisations representing surveyors how we can work most effectively together in the field of standards;
5. Discussing with instrument manufacturers and others how they have become involved in standardisation activities, to see what lessons we can learn from their experiences;
6. Creating a guide for the Council and Commissions as to how they can best integrate FIG material with standards, and for member associations as to how they can best influence national and international standardisation activity;
7. Creating and maintaining, with the Commissions, an appropriate list of FIG experts to relevant standardisation activities;
8. In light of progress with ISO, determining the most appropriate standardisation bodies to build further relationships (for instance, the International Valuation Standards Committee - IVSC) and how this may be best accomplished; and
9. Maintaining a flow of information on the activity of the Task Force to members of FIG, for instance through articles in the FIG Bulletin and on the FIGTree.

4.3 During 2000, the Task Force has worked in a number of areas, including:

• Maintaining an area of the FIG web site;
• Playing an active part in the work of ISO TC211 (Geographic Information/ Geomatics), not least in the proposed work item on the qualification and certification of personnel;
• Making the necessary formal links with other ISO technical committees;
• Continuing to build a relationship with the ISO Central Secretariat;
• Building a relationship with IVSC; and
• Drafting the FIG Guide on Standardisation.

4.4 A future work plan is attached at Annex A.

5. Membership of the Task Force

5.1 The core membership of the Task Force is:

• Iain Greenway (Chair) (IG) - will also maintain contact with MLD
• Jean-Marie Becker (Commission 5) (JMB)
• Yola Georgiadou (YG)
• Winfried Hawerk (Commission 7) (WH) - will also maintain contact with OICRF
• Larry Hothem (LH)
• Martin Scheu (Commission 3) (MS)
• Vaclav Slaboch (Commission 5) (VS)
• Brian Waldy (Commission 9) (BW)

5.2 Those who will be kept fully informed of activity are:

• John Collinge (Ad hoc Commission on Construction Economics)
• Stig Enemark (Commission 2, and Chair of the FIG Task Force on Mutual Recognition)
• Mary Feindt (Commission 8)
• Rob Hare (Commission 4) (RH)
• Matt Higgins
• Tom Kennie (Bureau) (TK)
• Hans Knoop
• Mikael Lilje
• Craig Macauley
• Otto Heunecke (Commission 6)
• John Parker (Commission 1)
• Jes Ryttersgaard (Commission 3)
• Sverre Steen
• Emmanuel Tembo

6. Time Scale

The Task Force will continue to work until the 2002 General Assembly, with reports to the intermediate General Assemblies. Future arrangements for standards issues in FIG will be proposed by the Task Force on Commission Structure.

Iain Greenway

27 December 2000

ANNEX A

WORK PLAN – UPDATED DECEMBER 2000