FIG President and Vice President TN Wong attend the 8th SEASC in Brunei Darussalam

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, November 21-25, 2005

About 220 geomaticians and surveyors from more than 30 countries followed the invitation of B.I.G. and Bruneian Survey Department to participate the 8th South East Asia Survey Congress (SEASC), which was held the first time in the famous sultanate Brunei Darussalam, which is also called ‘abode of peace’.

FIG President Prof. Magel was invited to give the keynote address (see “article of the month”), in which he underlined again the need for more ‘generalists’ than only specialists. A wonderful confirmation of Magel's even in the newspaper and by the Minister of Development (and Survey) quoted request was the presentation of an Indonesian cadastre expert in one of the very attractive plenary sessions: to better manage the rebuilding and reestablishment of the cadastre system and destroyed borders in the tsunami hit region Aceh he called for more soft skills and competence and for the move from purely technically to a technical-socially driven approach of surveyors.

At the already traditional FIG session, chaired by FIG commission 5 chair Matt Higgins, President Magel and Vice President TN Wong explained some policies of FIG.

In his closing remarks President Magel expressed his great satisfaction on 8th SEASC and activities of the ASEAN FLAG, especially on the fact, that this vital community of Asian surveyors accepts and regards FIG as its umbrella and ‘mother of all surveyors and surveying’ organisations".

Finally President Magel gave special thanks and compliments to the Chair of the organising committee, the outgoing Surveyor General of Brunei and President of B.I.G. Pg. Hj. Matusin Matusan. Without him Brunei would not have become member of FIG twice: firstly as an affiliate member (Survey Department) and secondly since Working Week 2005 as a full member association ((B.I.G.). As special appreciation Pg. Matusan was awarded by the FIG President's globe!

The 9th SEASC will be held in Christchurch/New Zealand in November 2007. FIG has been already invited to be a co-sponsor again and to deliver a keynote by the future President of FIG. For more information about the 8th SEASC in Brunei visit the website of B.I.G. (www.big.org.bn) or the congress web site (www.seasc2005.org.bn).

• About Surveyors’ Commitment, Role and Education for Society and Sustainable Development. Keynote Address of Prof., Dr.-Ing. Holger Magel, President of FIG, at the Opening Ceremony of the 8th SEASC 2005 on 22 November 2005 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Handouts of the powerpoint presentation as a .pdf-file
• Closing Remarks at Closing Ceremony of the 8th SEASC 2005 in Brunei. FIG President Professor Dr.-Ing. Holger Magel, 25 November 2005.
• Article of the 8th SEASC in the Borneo Bulletin, 23 November 2005

Rainforest in the National Park Temburong in Negra Brunei Darussalam	FIG President making the courtesy call to the Minister of Development Pehin Dato Abdullah
FIG functionaries Matt Higgins and Teo Chee Hai in talk with IAG representative Chris Rizos (left).	Opening ceremony of SEASC 2005 with the Minister and Congress President Pg. Matusin (left).
Opening of the exhibition with Congress Director Jamil Ali (right)	Opening of the exhibition with Mrs. Ansi Magel, President Magel, Minister and Pg. Matusin).
FIG session at SEASC 2005: Matt Higgins, TN Wong, Holger Magel	The Minister arrives at the Dinner Evening in traditional clothing.
FIG President and Vice President TN Wong meet Mr. Hiromichi Maruyama, Secretary General of GSDI at the BIG booth.	FIG President gets a memory of the SEASC.
FIG President awards Pg. Matusin with the FIG globe.	FIG President with the two key persons of the congress.
FIG President making his closing remarks.
Group picture of the participants of the 8th SEASC.