FIG Members 
	   
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	    Membership Information
		
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.