WELCOME

It is our great pleasure to invite you to attend the FIG Commission 1 Workshop, to be held from the 16^th September to the 18^th September in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, China. This Workshop is organized by FIG Commission 1 jointly with the People's Government of Deqing County, China.

The theme of the Workshop is Professional Standards and Practice of Surveying and Mapping in the countries along the Belt and Road Routes. There will be world-renowned speakers to deliver their expert views on contemporary surveying standards and practices and how to lucratively apply them the development of countries along these Routes alongside the Belt and Road Initiative. The Workshop will also be a valuable forum for delegates coming from all over the world to exchange and share their experience and knowledge on standards and practices for various survey and mapping activities with particular emphasis on countries along the Belt and Road Routes.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a significant development strategy launched by the Chinese government with the intention of promoting economic co-operation. It is intended to enhance the orderly free-flow of economic factors and the efficient allocation of resources, as well as to further market integration and create a regional economic co-operation framework of benefit to all.

Within the scope of this Initiative there are five routes spanning over 60 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, with over 60% of the whole world population living therein. To cater for the survey and mapping needs of this mega endeavour, surveyors,are facing enormous challenges to provide quality surveying and mapping services in exploiting the state-of- the-art technology and to develop innovative ideas to further advance survey and mapping services.

FIG sees that it is opportune time to have a critical look at the standards and practice in surveying and mapping as adopted by various surveying organizations with a view to modernizing and enhancing these standards and practices to better meet the changing environment and needs, particularly as we are entering into the age of geospatial data.

The objectives of the workshop include:

-Build the capacity of professionals to adapt to the changing circumstances;
-Share knowledge about professional standards and practice, challenges and responses by surveying professions and challenges associated with cross border surveying and mapping;
-Link the regional and world structures for surveying professionals that focus on issues around professional standards and practice;
-Support professional surveyors by providing tools and approaches to deal with common practice issues;
-Develop individuals as professional surveyors and provide opportunities for them to continue to develop as part of the surveying community;
-Promote the current and future role of ethics in surveying; and
-Needs for Regional Capacity Network for the surveying and mapping profession along The Belt and Road countries.

Deqing County is located in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, with a fast prospering and resourceful geospatial industry park which is well equipped and facilitated for research and development in geospatial science and related technology The county has hosted the inaugural United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress in November 2018. During the workshop, you will definitely be impressed by its achievements, sceneries and hospitality.

We look forward to seeing you at the Workshop.

Kind regards,