3rd FIG Regional Conference
Jakarta, Indonesia, October 3-7, 2004
Regional Conferences have found their role - "Surveying the
Future" a big success
The 3rd FIG Regional Conference this time arranged for the
first time in the Asia and the Pacific region gathered more than 350
delegates from 33 countries to Jakarta, Indonesia, October 3-7, 2004. The
number of delegates exceeded the expectations of the organisers who we
worried that the bomb blast in Jakarta only two weeks prior the conference
could scare some delegates. However more than 120 international participants
attended the conference in spite of the long flights, several concurring
events and travel warning from some countries like Australia, USA and the
UK. The conference took place at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, which
offered most outstanding facilities to the conference and excellent service
in all aspects. In Jakarta there were no signs of security problems or
concerns - except the sometimes chaotic traffic.
The focus of the 3rd FIG Regional Conference was on economic,
environmental and social development combining these three main factors to
promote sustainable development. The selected theme was “Surveying the
Future – Contributions to Economic, Environmental and Social Development”,
which was highlighted in the opening speech of Prof. Holger Magel,
President of FIG. Three other topics can be selected from the conference
programme that were very important to the Asia and Pacific region.
First is the close co-operation between surveying, geodesy
and geoinformatics. FIG was very happy that several international sister
organisations co-sponsored this event. These include the International
Association of Geodesy (President Gerhard Beutler), the International
Association of Cartography (Secretary General Ferjan Ormeling) and
the International Society of Mine Surveying (President Yu Changxing).
A special workshop was also organised on the theme how international and
regional associations can better co-operate in the Asia and Pacific region.
The second key topic was the professional standards and
qualifications in Asia and in the ASEAN region in particular. This was also
a topic for a plenary session followed by an expert panel discussion. The
third important topic and a new approach in an FIG conference was a plenary
session organised together with the World Bank on land administration
projects in the Asia. Keith Bell from the World Bank made a keynote in this
session. He also offered FIG possibilities for closer co-operation with the
bank in the future.
The conference was organised by the International Federation
of Surveyors (FIG), the Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia (ISI) and the Indonesian
National Coordinating Agency for Surveys and Mapping (BAKOSURTANAL). As with
the previous FIG regional conferences the event in Jakarta was co-sponsored
by the United Nations and its agencies FAO, UNEP and UN-Habitat. The other
partners included the Asean Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics (The
ASEAN FLAG), the Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia & the
Pacific (PCGIAP). The local co-sponsors included the Ministry of Research
and Technology (RISTEK), The Governor of Jakarta City Government (DKI) and
Kepala Badan Pertanahan (BPN) (National Land Agency).
The technical programme of the conference included the
opening ceremony with keynote presentations from Prof. Dr. Dorodjatum
Kuntjoro-Jakti, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Mr.
Rudolf Matindas, Head of BAKOSURTANAL and Prof. Holger Magel,
President of FIG. There were totally five plenary sessions and 24 technical
sessions. The technical sessions included more than 100 papers.
The technical exhibition was very professionally organised
and introduced new technology and instruments. The size of the exhibition
was limited to the foyer of the JW Marriott hotel, but the quality was
outstanding. Thanks to the exhibitors, sponsors and FIG corporate members
the organisers were able to give support to the local participants to attend
the conference in big numbers.
Traditionally to an FIG Regional Conference the last day of
the conference was reserved to a joint technical tour. This time the tour
was made to Bogor, where the participants were able to visit the
headquarters of BAKOSURTANAL and also to enjoy the famous botanical gardens
in Bogor and see the tea plantations in Puncak Highlands.
In the social programme there were two highlights: the
welcome reception hosted by HE Mr, Sutiyoso, the Governor of Jakarta
at the Jakarta City Hall with traditional Indonesian dances and with
delicate Indonesian meal; and the Indonesian evening at the Oasis restaurant
with the traditional Rijsttafel dinner.
At the closing ceremony President Holger Magel summarised the
outcome of the conference to recommendations and to the Jakarta Statement.
The Jakarta Statement states that "It is all about Sustainable
Development . . .
"The Asia and the Pacific Region faces many exciting
challenges in the fields of political, economic, environmental and social
development. On the occasion of the 3rd FIG Regional Conference for Asia and
the Pacific “Surveying the Future – Contributions to Economic, Environmental
and Social Development” (Jakarta, October 3-7, 2004) the International
Federation of Surveyors and its international and national partners believe
that a well-balanced sustainable development in urban and rural areas is the
key factor for a prosperous future and for just human living conditions for
all people in these countries and societies.
Surveyors can in a manifold way contribute to a more
sustainable development from establishing a basic geodetic framework to
monitoring measurements in risk areas, starting from cadastre, titling,
valuation, spatial data infrastructure and planning to comprehensive land
management in urban, rural, coastal and marine zones.
Surveyors request policy makers and society to better
recognise the indispensable role of surveyors as part and partner of a
emerging civil society and nation building. Surveyors demand policy makers
to provide appropriate educational and professional frameworks and
recognition.
FIG as the leading global umbrella organisation of
surveyors feels deeply committed to the Asian and the Pacific region and is
committed to further strengthen the profession in this important part of our
common world."
The conference was a great success thanks to the Local
Organising Committee chaired by Dr. Irawan Sumarto, Mr. Rudolf
Matindas, Head of Bakosurtanal, Dr. Sobar Sutisna, President of the
Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia and Diah Kirana, Secretary General of the
conference. Many thanks to them and their whole team.
Links to other sites of this conference:
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