The International Federation of Surveyors grants

FIG in brief

FIG is the premier international organization representing the interests of surveyors worldwide. It is a federation of the national member associations and covers the whole range of professional fields within the global surveying, geomatics, geodesy and geo-information community. It provides an international forum for discussion and development aiming to promote professional practice and standards.

FIG was founded on July 18 1878 in Paris by delegates from seven national associations - Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Switzerland - 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.

The FIG vision

A modern and sustainable surveying profession in support of society, environment and economy by providing innovative, reliable and best practice solutions to our rapidly changing and complex world, acting with integrity and confidence about the usefulness of surveying, and translating these words into action.

The FIG Foundation

The ways FIG Foundation will build a sustainable future:

• To give grants and scholarships to projects, for instance to develop curricula for surveying education, training and capacity building, especially in developing countries;
• To encourage research into all disciplines of surveying and to disseminate the results of that research;
• To promote high standards of education and training for surveyors and to facilitate continuing professional development;
• To educate people in the disciplines of surveying, particularly in developing countries and countries in transition;
• To promote the use of distance learning, networking , eLearning and knowledge management if surveying education and continuing professional development;
To promote the exchange of surveying personnel for greater understanding of all facets of the profession of surveying;
• To support by seed funding conferences, meetings of young surveyors and similar events in co-operation with international agencies such as the United Nations.