The commissions prepare and conduct the programme for FIG's international congresses, held every four years, and annual working weeks, held in the intervening years. The last congress was held in Sydney (Australia) in 2010; and the next congress will be held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on 16-21 June 2014. Congresses attract several thousand participants from all over the world and are the most important events in the FIG calendar. The technical programme, which marks the culmination of each commission's four-year programme of work, is complemented by a major international exhibition. |
Working Weeks combine meetings of FIG's administrative bodies with technical conferences organized by the commissions and the host member association and as such provide the opportunity for commissions to implement and develop their work programmes and for FIG to network at a more regional level. Working Weeks are held in Abuja, Nigeria (6-10 May 2013), Sofia, Bulgaria (17-21 May 2015) and Christchurch, New Zealand (2016). |
To increase regional activities FIG also organizes regional conferences, the most recent of which was held in Uruguay in November 2012. In addition to their involvement with FIG congresses and working weeks, commissions and their working groups organize or co-sponsor a wide range of seminars and workshops, usually in collaboration with member associations or other international professional bodies. |
A key element to the success of a commissions work is the appointment of national delegates, providing a unique opportunity for professional development. Member associations, affiliates, corporate members and academic members are all entitled to appoint delegates to the commissions; and commission chairs often co-opt additional experts to assist with particular aspects of their work programmes. |
By its General Assembly which meets annually during the FIG working week or the FIG congress. The General Assembly comprises of delegates of the member associations and, as non-voting members, the Council, commission chairs and representatives of affiliates, corporate members and academic members. The General Assembly debates and approves policies. Policies are implemented by the Council, which meets several times a year. |
The Council is elected by the General Assembly. The Council consists of the President (elected for four year term of office) and four Vice Presidents (term of office is four years) with two of the Vice Presidents being elected every second year, and coming from different countries throughout the world. In addition commission chairs appoint their representative to the Council. |
The work of the General Assembly and the Council is assisted by an Advisory Committee of Commission Officers (ACCO); ad hoc task forces appointed from time to time to review existing work plans; two networks; and two permanent institutions. |
The FIG Office is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. |
FIG is financed through Members' annual membership fees that largely finance operating costs. Rates of membership fees payable by member associations are approved annually by the General Assembly. The Council sets rates of membership fees payable by affiliates, corporate members and academic members. |
Other activities, including congresses, technical seminars and administrative meetings, are mostly self-financing. In the case of meetings, income is raised from registration fees, which may be supplemented by income from an accompanying technical exhibition, by subventions from the host government or association, or by grants from aid agencies. |
FIG international co-operations include: |
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- UN agencies, notably the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA) and the World Bank, as well as United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the UN sponsored Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific (PCGIAP) and Permanent Committee on SDI for the Americas (PC IDEA, and United Nations Regional Cartographic Conferences (UNRCC). Joint workshops and other collaborative projects help to identify and develop practical solutions to problems associated with the ownership and management of land. FIG is officially recognised by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
- International professional organizations in surveying disciplines through the Joint Board of Spatial Information Societies that includes organizations such as the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the International Cartographic Association (ICA), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI). Furthermore, FIG has formal co-operation with the International Society for Mine Surveying (ISM), Pan-American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) and the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS). FIG is also an international scientific associate of the International Council for Science (ICSU).
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