About FIG
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History of FIG
FIG was founded in 1878 in Paris and was known as the Fédération
Internationale des Géomètres. This has become anglicized to the
International Federation of Surveyors. It is a UN-recognized
non-government organization (NGO), representing more than 120
countries throughout the world, and its aim is to ensure that the
disciplines of surveying and all who practise them meet the needs of
the markets and communities that they serve.
A history of FIG from 1878-1987 has been written by Herbert
Ahrens, Germany
Stories from FIG members
"FIG and Me" - FIG publication 75
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FIG Honorary President Earl James, Australia has written his
story on his "Twenty Five Years in the International Surveying
Arena". This publication gives a unique insight in his work as
surveyor and for the surveying profession with an international
perspective.
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My FIG Journey
FIG Honorary Member Dr. Arthur L Allan has
written this FIG story in 2020 at the age of 90 on his experiences
in FIG.
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FIG Honorary President Juha Talvitie wrote his FIG story in 2006
in Finnish. The FIG part is in the pages 220-317. Some photos are
included in the text:
The book is available here
If you have a good story to tell, please send this to FIG
office.
Presentations on FIG History
FIG Honorary President Juha Talvitie (President
1991-1994) has at
several occasions given presentations on his term of office and the
development and results:
FIG Honorary President Robert W. Foster (1999-2002):
Articles
FIG Meetings
Apart from a few years, each year FIG has convened a meeting
which has included a General Assembly. The first meetings were
Congresses. After the inaguration in 1878, the following Congresses
were held 1910 in Brussels, Belgium, and in 1926 in Paris, France.
From 1927 and onwards in the years between the congresses Permanent
Commiittee Meeetings were held. This started in 1927 in Paris,
France, 1928 in Brussels, Belgium, 1929 in Zurich Switzerland.
As FIG grew in numbers the Permanent Committee Meetings and
Congresses were held in different places, uninterrupted, apart from
the years 1939-45. Again in 1946 a Permanent Committee Meeting was
held and has been held each year since then.
In 1999 The Permanent Committee Meetings were renamed to FIG
Working Week. "FIG Working Week" became a well-known term among
surveyors meaning the week-long event including Council meeting,
ACCO meeting (Advisory Committee to Council and is the meeting of
commission and network chairs), General Assembly and a conference
part which apart from technical sessions also include member Fora,
task force meetings, roundtable sessions and discussions etc on FIG
matters and the development of the profession; as well as the
traditional Presidents meeting.
FIG continues to represent the entire surveying
profession around the world as the leading international
non-governmental organization on geospatial information and the
management of “land”, the “sea” and the “built” environment. It is
within the surveyors’ task to determine the size and shape of the
earth, to map its surface and to manage it in a sustainable way.
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