WELCOME MESSAGE

Welcome to XXVI FIG Congress 2018 by Dr. Chryssy POTSIOU,
President International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)

Welcome to XXVI FIG Congress 2018.

In a world where demographics and urbanization are rapidly driving change, technology brings more automation to business and governments, Internet and the cloud enable a massive creation and consumption of geo-data, and the extended use of affordable smart devices allows us to reach out to people even in the most remote corners of the planet with information and services at high speed. Largely unheard a few years ago, the coming together of this new powerful and affordable technology (e.g., UAVs, smart phones and mobile apps, digital cameras, IoTs, blockchain, etc) with surveying is rapidly becoming central to the long-term strategy of governments as well as mapping agencies. Responsively, surveyors are taking a long, hard look at their role as “change agents for a global sustainable development” to ensure democratization and make digitalization a peaceful transition power for the benefit of all.

The theme of XXVI FIG Congress 2018, “Embracing our smart world where the continents connect: enhancing the geospatial maturity of societies,” has a clear technical focus to motivate surveyors to improve their qualifications for the “Geospatial Transformation of the World”. Surveyors care to provide reliable, appropriate and affordable data, tools and services timely to address among other societal disparities, digital transformation and decentralized business models, volatile economy, evolving new city design models and anthropogenic environmental damage. We offer our expertise to develop the profession and to create solutions to comfort those who feel helpless and marginalized when confronted with rapid economic and technological change; those who fear the loss of jobs and of tenure security; those who feel the growing need for more transparency, more safety, more environmental quality, more fairness, more education, more gender equality, and more efficiency in governance of urban and rural areas; and those in the low and middle classes who seek for more growth, for an economic freedom and for freedom from corruption.

FIG Congress seeks to offer the surveying community a 360 experience and knowledge sharing. This involves excessive commitment from our Local Organizers, FIG Council and Office, Commissions, Task Forces, Networks, Corporate members, Sponsors and exhibitors, as well as from the FIG Foundation, our national Member Associations, Academic and Affiliate members, keynote speakers and all presenters. We wish to extend our thanks and gratitude to all those in charge. This year, we are particularly proud to be hosting highly qualified keynote speakers who will present best practices from various organizations and from many parts of the world, and will challenge participants to pay attention to the expectations of the future generations.

A great variety of technical sessions and presentations are offered this year. We will be looking at urbanization and the management of land, the sea and the built environment. We will be considering opportunities and how new technologies and tools are accelerating the shift to digitalization and decentralization: by merging perception with reality; by revolutionizing the way people move and transport; by upgrading land administration systems into 3d cadasters and spatial data infrastructures; by standardizing our products and services; by ensuring sustainable urban-rural linkages, as well as land-sea seamless management; by developing fit-for-purpose procedures for formalizing and registering property rights, for zoning and permitting procedures, for property valuation and taxation models; and by supporting the development of sustainable and transparent property markets.

I am sure you will prioritize and enjoy the specially planned FIG sessions in partnership with UN Habitat GLTN, FAO and the WB, as well as our sponsors’ sessions and our technical exhibition. And be sure not to miss the charity dance and our social events. Our Turkish organizers have done their best to organize a memorable and excellent event. We feel privileged to be hosted here and share their experience on the theme as well as to be updated on their professional achievements. Once more I want to thank them all for their continued support of FIG, and for their generous hospitality. And what is most important: our Turkish colleagues are gracious people! You will definitely love being here and working with them. 

Please take the opportunity to enjoy one of the most historic and well-known megacities of the world. Istanbul is a unique city and is always at its best in springtime.

On behalf of FIG Council and Office, for all of you and especially for our new-comers and young surveyors “a warm welcome to our FIG family”. You are a valued member of our community and I wish you a fruitful and enjoyable week in Istanbul.

Dr. Chryssy Potsiou | FIG President


Welcome by DR. ORHAN ERCAN,
FIG2018 Co-Congress Director

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadaster Engineers (HKMO) is proudly honoured to host the XXVI FIG International Congress & General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey, which will be held between 06 and 11 May 2018. We are certain that Istanbul will be the host of an event that surely will exceed all the expectations of a memorable and successful Congress. We have been working hard to ensure a seamless organization of the FIG2018 GA&Congress since Turkey was announced as the winning country to host the FIG2018. As the Organizing Committee, we are making every effort to meet your valuable expectations in Istanbul as this geographical area that stretches along the longitudes of Germany and Malaysia will hold its first FIG Congress & General Assembly.

HKMO has been an active member of the FIG since 1969. HKMO will now host the 2018 FIG Congress & General Assembly in order to provide a platform where countries and organizations can share their professional experiences, recently implemented projects, applied methods and up-to-date technologies. For raising a globe-wide awareness, disseminating information and promoting modern developments, the event will comprise organization of technical excursions as well as leisure trips for diversification purposes.

Istanbul is one of the most impressive and attractive cities at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, where unique beauties of the West and the East are intertwined. In this city, people from various religions and cultures co-exist in peace and harmony. It is an open-air museum adorned with mosques, churches and synagogues along with palaces and ancient monuments. Besides, Istanbul is an ideal business and congress centre associated with advanced tourism and gastronomy activities where infrastructure and transportation facilities effectively serve for congress, exhibition and social events. People living in Istanbul will be very happy to show you the well-known Turkish hospitality. We strongly believe that Istanbul will provide a world class venue for the delegates to undergo a cultural, technical, professional and personal experiences through various activities, which will guarantee the success of the FIG2018 Congress & General Assembly.

We were in need of reliable, evidence-based, open and/or low-cost data which is overall described as “spatially enabled” society. However, under prevailing circumstances, we have to make a transition from “spatially enabled” society to “spatially mature” society for decision-making. And this transition requires; massive creation & consumption of data (structured/not), extended use of affordable smart devices, increasingly high downloading speeds, the Internet of Things, cognitive computing for all to improve human decision-making, provision of personalized information and the Internet of Me. It is a well-known fact that location information has changed people’s perceptions. We cannot measure or monitor sustainability and growth without the intelligent use of evidence-based geospatial data. Technology helps us “uncover” the missing information and reduce inequalities. Therefore, we have to increase our skills as land professionals. Considering all of the abovementioned issues, the theme of FIG2018 Congress indeed fits very well with the definition of “geospatial maturity” of our society as a part of “Towards Spatial Maturity”. Hence, the theme of FIG 2018 Congress “Embracing our smart world where the continents connect: enhancing the geospatial maturity of societies” finds its meaning in “Geospatial Transformation of the World”.

In order to be able to meet the expectations associated with the theme of FIG2018, plenary sessions and several relevant content-rich paper presentations covering future-positive insights will be realised. So, we are looking forward to a time of synergy and active interaction between speakers and participants.

As it is well known, Istanbul is a fascinating country with a rich history and culture and is the most populous city in Turkey. Approximately 16 million foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in the first half of 2017. Sometimes it is really hard to decide which continent it truly belongs to when you travel around in Istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait divides the two continents into what we refer to as “the Asian side” and “the European side.” In another saying, Istanbul connects the two continents in one city. Hence, the logo of FIG2018 emphasizes this fact and thus the theme and the logo are in well harmony with each other in this context.

During FIG2018 Congress; scientists, experts, researchers, public and private sector representatives active in the field of surveying will come together and share their knowledge, opinions and projects. During FIG2018; along with keynote speakers, oral presentations, Reference Frames in Practice (RFIP) pre-event/workshop by Commission 5, Building Information Modelling (BIM) by Commission 10 and a special “Young Surveyors” session will be held with the participation of FIG members. Presentations will be comprised of peer reviewed, scientific, academic, technical and practical papers and participants will be from differing cultural backgrounds and diverse surveying traditions, who possess varying professional experiences and apply multi-professional disciplines. Together with the trade fair and a combination of side events and social activities, the FIG2018 would be of interest to participants from all over the world and will be a memorable experience not to be missed.

In addition to above activities, Mid-Asian Turkish-speaking countries’ technical sessions on “Property Ownership” will be held as a part of the Congress. Also, an exhibition by the public and private sector institutions will be open to all participants throughout the Congress.

Along with the technical program, we have also prepared an exciting social activity program for you. We hope that you will find time for sightseeing so that you can closely experience Istanbul’s and Turkey’s extraordinary social and cultural heritage and values by engaging in enjoyable activities for unforgettable moments.

Once more, we thank all delegates of the FIG for their votes which gave us the opportunity to organize this important event and host esteemed delegates. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Istanbul FIG2018 GA&Congress that is jointly organized by FIG and HKMO. Related national agencies, institutions and professional bodies in Turkey are supporting FIG. Support from international agencies and bodies are also expected.

We look forward to welcoming you to Istanbul, the splendid city of Turkey, on 6-11 May 2018.

Dr. Orhan ERCAN
FIG2018 Co-Congress Director


By ERTUGRUL CANDAŞ, President of Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadaster Engineers

Mr. Ertuğrul CANDAŞ
President of TCSCE

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Turkish Chamber of Survey and Cadaster Engineers, it is our pleasure to invite you to the XXVI. International Federation of Surveyors Congress which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from the 6th May to the 11th May 2018.

FIG Congress constitutes an important forum and exciting venue for dissemination of advanced scientific knowledge and technological developments in all surveying fields such as geodesy, cadaster, land consolidation, land management, photogrammetry, cartography and professional education. Moreover, the Congress will provide an ideal platform for young scientists/surveyors and senior scientists/surveyors and colleagues to meet and discuss present and emerging problems in the field of surveying, to learn more about recent advances, likely future developments and potential research&application avenues and to exchange ideas and experiences in our field- all within an unique environment.

İstanbul, which uniquely spans the two continents of Europe and Asia, acts as a bridge between Western and Eastern Civilizations, is a city that calmly reconciles the traditional with the modern. İstanbul is one of the biggest cities in the world with its history of over 2,500 years and wonderful natural scenery. Excellent social facilities and services being in the walking distance to the Congress Venue in the heart of the city, we would like to assure you that this beautiful city, with its spiritual and modern atmosphere, is going to fulfill the expectations and represent a great time for all the Congress participants.

We look forward to welcoming you in İstanbul. We are certain that you will greatly enjoy this major scientific and social event of our profession as well as Turkish culture, cuisine and hospitality.

Sincerely,
Mr. Ertuğrul CANDAŞ
President of TCSCE
Ankara-Turkey