The Task Force on Standards met twice at the Brighton Congress. Some members have met on subsequent occasions but most communication has been conducted by email.

In summary, the following activity has taken place since the 1998 General Assembly:

• Developing the terms of reference and membership of the Task Force (although some Commissions have still not nominated active members);
• Attending the Beijing and Vienna Plenary meetings of ISO TC211 (Geographic Information/ Geomatics);
• Updating the expert list for TC211 and submitting comments on some work items;
• Discussing with the International Cartographic Association how to react to the TC211 new work item proposal on the certification and qualification of personnel;
• Distributing a questionnaire to member associations and others, to determine what international, regional and national standards activity they are involved in and what de facto standards are used by surveyors;
• Attending a conference on standards in service industries in November 1998, and the subsequent submission of comments to the Secretary-General of ISO (report published in the FIG Bulletin);
• Meeting with the ISO Central Secretariat to determine how ISO and FIG can work together to best effect;
• Submitting FIG Publication No 9 (Recommended Procedures for Routine Checks of Elektro-Optical Distance Meters (EDM) and Publication No 11 (The FIG Statement on the Cadastre) to the ISO Central Secretariat to determine how they could fit with ISO activity (we are currently awaiting a response);
• Discussing with Stig Enemark (chair of the Task Force on Mutual Recognition) how best to coordinate the activities of the two Task Forces.

Progress has not been made as rapidly as hoped on

• determining which elements of the Commissions’ work plans impact on the work of the Task Force
• compiling a prioritised list of ISO Technical Committees in which FIG could usefully be involved
• preparing a list of possible experts and their terms of reference; and
• building relationships with other organisations involved in standards activity to learn from their experiences.

In all cases, this has been due to a lack of resource within the Task Force, as all members have busy jobs (this is, I know, a problem with all ‘voluntary’ activity).

The Task Force will meet again on more than one occasion during the 1999 Working Week, will review the responses to the questionnaire, and will determine a realistic and prioritised plan of work for 1999/2000. Some offers of help have recently been received, but it is vital that all members of the Task Force, whether nominated by Commissions or individually, are able to provide time to be involved in one or more activities of the Task Force. Currently, there are too many sleeping members, meaning that the small number of active members are not able to complete the work plan to timetable. It will be necessary to address this situation during the 1999 Working Week.

The work of the Task Force is an important part of the promoting and marketing of FIG to a wider community. We can assist the standards community in creating workable standards covering survey activities; and can publicise and explain the implications of standards to surveyors. As an international NGO, FIG is one of the few bodies representing surveyors that can formally participate in international standards activity. The Task Force recognises the heavy burden placed on it in this regard.

I would like particularly to recognise the work of Winfried Hawerk and Hans Knoop on the questionnaire sent to member associations; and the always excellent and friendly support provided by Jane Woolley and now by the Permanent Office.

An update of this report will be presented verbally to the 1999 General Assembly.

Iain Greenway
Chair

Contacts:

Iain Greenway
Ordnance Survey
Romsey Road
Southampton SO16 4GU
UK

Tel + 44 1703 792934
Fax + 44 1703 792835
Email iain.greenway@btinternet.com

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This page is maintained by the FIG Office. Last revised 22 Mar 2015