FIG Commission 5 - Positioning and Measurement
![](http://cia.fig.net/organisation/comm/images/index/comm5_index.jpg)
|
Work Plan 2023-2026
PDF:
Origional work plan in .pdf format
VIDEO:
Chair of the commission
Ryan Keenan takes you
through the work plan
Terms of Reference
- The science of measurement (instrumentation, methodology and
guidelines)
- The acquisition of accurate and reliable survey data related to
the position, size and shape of natural and artificial features of the
Earth and its environment and including variation with time consistent
with internationally adopted standards and models.
Mission Statement
Positioning and Measurement is at the core of the surveyor’s profession
and underpins FIG Council’s Vision over the term 2023-2026: ‘Serving
society, benefitting people and the planet’ and so enabling us to tackle
the Global Challenges.
To support this vision, the mission of Commission 5 is to:
- Focus on modern technologies, and technical developments and
assist individual surveyors, engineers and GIS/LIS professionals
through guidelines and recommendations, to choose and utilise those
methods, technologies and instruments that are most appropriate (‘fit
for purpose’) to different applications.
- Follow technical developments and trends through collaboration
with other FIG Commissions and other international organisations;
participation in appropriate meetings; and the preparation of
appropriate publications.
- Support research and development and stimulate new ideas in the
fields of expertise represented within the Commission.
- Collaborate with manufacturers on the improvement of
instrumentation and associated software.
- Present and promote the work of the Commission and its working
groups on an on- going basis at FIG Congresses, FIG Working Weeks, FIG
Regional Conferences and other relevant technical meetings and in
appropriate FIG and other media.
General
This work plan covers the development, use and integration of
technologies for positioning and measurement and the associated
standardisation, best practice and fundamental reference frame issues.
Complementing the FIG Council theme to tackle the global challenges,
Commission 5 is well positioned and suited, along with many other
Associations, to tackle the technological challenges we all face.
There will be ongoing cooperation with United Nations Agencies to
address global problems such as sustainable development and humanitarian
needs. The disciplines covered by Commission 5 will deliver solutions for
the spatial aspects of these important global problems through its six
working groups as follows.
- WG 1 – Standards, Quality Assurance and Calibration
- WG 2 – 3D Reference Frames
- WG 3 – Vertical Reference Frames
- WG 4 – GNSS
- WG 5 – Multi-Sensor Systems
- WG 6 – Cost-Effective Positioning
Specific activities aimed at developing countries include examination
of Low Cost Surveying Technologies, assistance with implementation of
modern Geodetic and Vertical Reference Frames and associated
infrastructure and contribution to appropriate Continuing Professional
Development programs.
Specifically, to work closely with the International Association of
Geodesy (IAG) and the United Nations Global Geospatial Information
Management (UN GGIM) on the development of new models, standards and tools
for implementing a Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) that includes
aspects of the International Terrestrial reference Frame (ITRF) and the
International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). The GGRF will serve as a
global standard for all Nations to implement their respective national
datums. As such this directly impacts FIG Members who must implement these
new datums and the requirements to access them.
In addition to the specific activities above, the Commission will
support and contribute to FIG Task Forces and the Standards Network. The
Commission will also respond to the FIG Council to address new challenges
around Planet, People, Partnerships and Governance & Communications.
Working Groups
Working Group 5.1 – Standards, Quality Assurance and Calibration
Policy Issues
- Influence the development of standards affecting positioning and
measurement instruments and methods, in collaboration with the FIG
Standards Network and through participation in the relevant technical
committees (TCs) of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and
other appropriate bodies.
- Acceptance controls, quality assurance and certification and their
impact on the surveying profession.
- Testing and calibration of measuring instruments.
- Assist other Commission Working Groups to implement Standards from
TC 172/SC 6 and ISO TC211 as appropriate.
Chair
David Martin, France
david.martin[at]esrf.fr
Specific projects
- Guide for the expression of uncertainty in measurements (GUM) for
surveying
- Connection to ISO TC211 Geographic information/Geomatics and ISO
TC172/SC6 Geodetic and surveying instruments
Workshops
- Participation in FIG Working Weeks and other major Commission
events with dedicated Technical Sessions and/or Workshops as
appropriate.
- Special Session on ISO TC211 at a FIG Working Week.
- Sessions dedicated to the Standard for Surveying by Drones
initiative.
Publications
- A dedicated publication regarding the implementation of the “Guide
for the expression of uncertainty in measurements” (GUM) for
Surveying.
- A draft of a Standard for Surveying by Drones; the exact form of
the standard (FIG document, ad how or ISO TC211) will be decided
later.
Timetable
- Draft publications will be presented at FIG Working Weeks during
the term of this plan and according to a timetable to be developed by
the Working Group Chairs.
- Working Group’s final report and outcomes will be presented at a
dedicated session at the FIG Congress 2026.
BeneficiariesFIG member associations, manufacturers and users of survey
equipment, governments, standardisation organisations, decision makers,
GIS developers and users, surveying businesses, individual surveyors.
Working Group 5.2 – 3D Reference Frames
Policy Issues
- Work to bring together all organisations involved in defining or
using reference frames to develop common approaches and avoid
duplication. Such organisations include FIG, the International
Association of Geodesy (IAG), UN-GGIM, ISO, groups of national mapping
agencies, and other influential national agencies.
- Continue the existing co-operation with IAG on the Regional
Reference Frame Projects such as AFREF, APREF, EUREF, NAREF, and
SIRGAS.
- Develop and expand upon the relationships with UN-GGIM’s
Sub-Committee on Geodesy (UN-SCOG), the UN SCOG WG’s, and the various
UN-GGIM regional bodies.
- Consider options for the development and implementation of 4
dimensional datums that incorporate the effects of plate tectonic and
regional effects such as those due to earthquakes or local effects
such as landslides.
- Provide background technical information on relevant issues
written in a way that is accessible to surveying practitioners.
- Examine how surveying practitioners can access the reference
frame, through less emphasis on networks of ground monuments and more
emphasis on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) base stations.
- Provide information on the maintenance of CORS networks to ensure
long-term stability
Chair
Nic Donnelly, New Zealand
ndonnelly[at]linz.
Co-chair
Dr. Chris Pearson (New Zealand), e-mail:
chris_pearson2 [at] trimble.com
Specific projects
- Review of current
Reference Frames in Practise Manual
- Continued development of current resources
- Support from WG 5.3 and others as required for all sections
- Connection to
ISO-TC211: Geodetic Registry Network.
Workshops
- Continuing Seminars on Reference Frames in Practise, 3D and
vertical frames
- Participation in FIG Working Weeks and other major Commission
events with dedicated Technical Sessions.
- An RFIP Workshop will be held in conjunction with the main FIG
events in this term, namely FIG WW2023 in Orlando, FIG WW2024 in
Accra, FIG WW2025 in Brisbane and FIG Congress 2026 in Cape Town.
We also hope to hold another RFIP seminar associated with an
appropriate SIRGAS and a Pacific Geomatics Surveying Council meeting
in the South Pacific Symposium depending on funding. These
seminars contribute to the People, Partnerships, Governance &
Communications focus areas. In particular the opportunity to connect
with colleagues in the Caribbean, Africa and FIG and the Pacific
Island developing states. We would also like to look for other
sources of funding to augment travel funding provided by UNOOSA so we
can offer more support to our colleagues in the developing world.
- In addition to the RFIP workshops and seminars, we would like to
be proactive in developing ties to the South Pacific by working with
Survey and Spatial NZ to implement the existing MOU with the Pacific
Geomatics and Survey Council (PGSC).
Publications
- FIG Publication on ITRF
- Publication regarding national datums (different types)
Timetable
- Draft publications will be presented at FIG Working Weeks during
the term of this plan and according to a timetable to be developed by
the Working Group Chairs.
- Working Group’s final report and outcomes will be presented at a
dedicated session, FIG Congress, 2026.
Working Group 5.3 – Vertical Reference Frames
Policy Issues
- Inform FIG member agencies on current and future status of
regional and global vertical reference frames, height systems and
dynamics of the gravity field and geoid.
- Educate FIG member agencies on practical aspects about the
implementation of new geopotential datums including:
- access using geoid height models and a geometric datum;
- redefining heights on existing bench marks to serve as
secondary control;
- link between height systems, local and IHRF
- Develop and expand relationships in IAG Commission 2, UN SCOG, and
working groups focused on implementing the International Heights
Reference Frame (IHRF) and the International Terrestrial Gravity
Reference Frame (ITGRF):
- IAG develops the IHRF and ITGRF;
- UN GGIM encompasses IHRF, ITGRF and ITRF as fundamental
components of the Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF);
Chair
David Avalos-Naranjo, Mexico
david.avalos[at]inegi.org.mx
Co-chair
OPEN
Specific projects
- Promotion of the ISO-TC211: Geodetic Registry Network.
- Connection to IAG, Commission 2 to develop a guideline to
interpret and access the IHRF for local and national vertical control.
Workshops
- Special VRF sessions at FIG Working Weeks.
- Vertical space inside the Reference Frame in Practice seminars.
Publications
- FIG publication on practical aspects of using modern vertical
reference frames and height systems.
Timetable
- 2023: general design of an FIG publication on VRF and making
connections to IAG and within FIG people to make a list of authors.
Support and participation to the WW in the US.
- 2024: produce a draft version of the publication. Support
and participation to the WW in Ghana.
- 2025: submission of a definitive document for revision and
publication. Support and participation to the WW in Australia.
- 2026: an end of term report is to be presented at the FIG
Congress.
Beneficiaries
FIG member associations, government agencies, decision makers, GIS
developers and users, surveying businesses, individual surveyors.
Working Group 5.4 – GNSS
PolPolicy Issues
-
Examine the positioning services using terrestrial and space-based
augmentation techniques.
-
Research and dissemination regarding real-time networks, multi-GNSS
products and advancements.
-
Support and examine emerging positioning dissemination standards
such as 3GPP.
-
Advancements in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) PNT technologies and their
integration with GNSS.
-
Research into resilient PNT.Provide FIG input during planning and
implementation phases associated with programs of modernisation and
development of all GNSS
Chair
Dr. Eldar Rubinov, Australia
erubinov[at]frontiersi.com.au
Co-Chair
Dr. Safoora Zaminpardaz, Australia,
safoora.zaminpardaz[at]rmit.edu.au
Specific projects
- Research and Publications on “Precise Point Positioning, Network
RTK, Processing Services, Low-Cost GNSS, Multi-GNSS”.
- Research into emerging technologies such as LEO PNT, 5G and
others.
- Outreach of GNSS applications to other organisations.
- Involvement with regional GNSS training schools (e.g. UNOOSA,)
- Other more industry driven groups (e.g. Precision Agriculture,
Environment, Space, ITS etc), especially where they are related to
some of the UN SDGs, which would leverage UN-GGIM and UN-GGRF
activities.
- FIG has a seat as co-chair along with IAG and IGS on UN-ICG
leading WG-D on Reference Frames, Timing and Applications. An annual
report is generated for FIG.
Workshops
- Continuing Seminars on Reference Frames in Practise, 3D and
vertical frames
- Special Session regarding these topics on FIG Working Weeks and
Conferences.
Publications
A number of papers will be published covering:
- Multi-GNSS advances including best-practise examples;
- Cost-effective high-precision positioning for mass-markets
(together with WG5.6).
Timetable
- Draft publications will be presented at FIG Working Weeks during
the term of this plan and according to a timetable to be developed by
the Working Group chairs.
- Working Group’s final report and outcomes will be presented at a
dedicated session, FIG Congress, 2026.
Beneficiaries
FIG member associations, government agencies, decision makers, GIS
developers and users, surveying businesses, individual surveyors.
Working Group 5.5 – Multi-Sensor-Systems (joint with
IAG
Policy Issues
This group is a joint working group between FIG and IAG. It oversees
the development of shared resources that extend our understanding of the
theory, tools and technologies applicable to the development of multi
sensor systems. It has a major focus on:
- Performance characterization of positioning sensors and
technologies that can play a role in augmenting core GNSS capabilities
- Theoretical and practical evaluation of current algorithms for
measurement integration within multi sensor systems.
- The development of new measurement integration algorithms based
around innovative modeling techniques in other research domains such
as machine learning and genetic algorithms, spatial cognition etc.
- Establishing links between the outcomes of this WG and other IAG
and FIG WGs (across the whole period)
- Generating formal parameters that describe the performance of
current and emerging positioning technologies that can inform FIG and
IAG members.
Chair
Dr. Amir Khodabandeh (Australia),
akhodabandeh[at]unimelb.edu.au
Specific project(s)
- International field experiments and workshops on a range of multi
sensor systems and technologies.
- Evaluation of UAV capabilities and the increasing role of
multi-sensor systems in UAV navigation.
- Investigate the role of vision based measurements in improving the
navigation performance of multi-sensor systems.
- Development of shared resources to encourage rapid research and
advancements internationally.
Workshops
Special Sessions at Working Weeks and Supporting Special international
conferences and symposia including: Mobile Mapping Symposium, ION GNSS+,
IGNSS Australia, IPIN, etc.
Publications
A number of papers will be submitted to relevant conferences and
technical journals.
Timetable
- Draft publications will be presented at FIG Working Weeks during
the term of this plan and according to a timetable to be developed by
the Working Group Chairs.
- Working Group’s final report and outcomes will be presented at a
dedicated session, FIG Congress, 2026.
Beneficiaries
FIG member associations, academic and research institutions, spatial
data acquisition specialists, third party developers of LBS (location
based services) requiring mobile location information, GIS developers and
users, surveying businesses, individual surveyors.
Working Group 5.6 – Cost Effective Positioning
Policy Issues
- Educate FIG member associations and individual surveyors on when
to use which surveying instrument or evaluation software taking into
account economic reasons.
- Introduction of cost effective tools (software and hardware) to
make fit-for-purpose surveying systems more accessible in developing
countries for sustainable development
- Support decision makers for establishing cost-effective
positioning solutions.
- Review and evaluate accuracy, reliability and robustness of
cost-effective solutions.
- Evaluate optimisation of algorithms used for processing sensor
data, power consumption and calculating the sensor position.
Chair
Li Zhang, Germany
li.zhang[at]iigs.uni-stuttgart.de
Co-Chair
David Mulindwa, Uganda
mulindwaman[at]gmail.com
Specific project(s)
Developing guidelines for cost-effective use and design of survey
solutions including costs for labour and investment.
Workshops
- Special technical Sessions regarding cost-effective positioning
during the FIG Working Weeks.
- FIG Workshop with Commissions 3 and 7.
Publications
FIG Publication on Cost-effective Surveying Techniques (with support
from WG5.4).
Timetable
- Working Group final report and outcomes will be presented at a
dedicated session, FIG Congress, 2026.
Beneficiaries
FIG member associations, academic and research institutions, spatial
data acquisition specialists, GIS developers and users, surveying
businesses, individual surveyors mainly dedicated to developing countries.
Co-operation with Other Commissions,
Networks and Organisations
- Commission 2 and
YSN regarding Education, Training and Capacity Building;
- Commission 4
regarding Hydrographic Surveying on the Ellipsoid;
- Commission 6 on
Deformation Monitoring;
- Commission 7 and 3
on Cost-Effective Positioning;
- Asia-Pacific
Capability Development Network (FIG AP CDN);
- Planned Commission
5 Special Issue in The Survey Review journal.
Co-operation with United Nation
Organisations, Sister Associations and other Partners
- United Nations
Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and United Nations International
Committee on GNSS (UN-ICG). FIG Commission 5 is represented on the
UN-ICG.
- UN GGIM is another
field of cooperation between UN and FIG Commission 5, specifically the UN
Sub-Committee on Geodesy (UN SCOG) and the regional UN-GGIM groups (i.e.,
UN-GGIM-AP).
- UN SCOG has a number of
working groups that have closely aligned interests such as the WG for
Education, Training and Capacity Building (ETCB).
- The regional groups
usually have a WG aligned to implementing regional Geodetic Reference
Frames (EUREF, SIRGAS, APREF) that directly impact the work of FIG Member
institutions.
- The UN-GGIM Academic
Network also provides a link to academic organizations aligned to ETCB,
and the UN-GGIM Private Sector Network focusses on small and medium
enterprises from private industry.
- The new UN-GGIM Global
Geodetic Centre of Excellence (GGCE) has been established to, and
Commission 5 has been invited to contribute through its inaugural
International Advisory Committee (ISC).
- Commission 5 members are
active in all of the above groups.
- Strong Cooperation
with International Association of Geodesy (IAG), with which FIG has a
Memorandum of Understanding; Working Group 5.5 is jointly organized with
IAG.
- Strong Cooperation
with International GNSS Service (IGS), with Commission 5 invited as FIG
Representative to IGS Governing Board.
- Good cooperation
with International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS),
the Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure Asia Pacific (PCGIAP) and
the US based Institute of Navigation (ION).
- Contribution to
International Standard Organizations, especially ISO TC 211/AWG12 and TC
172/SC6.
Commission Officers
Commission Chair
Dr. Ryan Keenan
Positioning Insights
PO Box 53
Carlton North VIC 3054
AUSTRALIA
Tel. + 61 476 688 117
E-mail:
ryan[at]positioninginsights.com.au OR
figcommission5[at]fig.net
Vice Chair of Administration
Dr. Kevin Ahlgren
NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey
Observation and Analysis Division
1315 East-West Highway
SSMC3, #8546, N/NGS3
Silver Spring MD 20910
U.S.A.
Tel. + 1 240 533 9894
E-mail: kevin.ahlgren[at]noaa.gov
Chair of Working Group 5.1
Dr. David Martin
Head of the Alignment and Geodesy Group
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
6 rue Jules Horowitz BP220
38043 Grenoble Cedex FRANCE
Tel. + 33 4 76 88 22 45
E-mail: david.martin[at]esrf.fr
Chair of Working Group 5.2
Dr. Nic Donnelly
National Geodetic Office
Land Information New Zealand
PO Box 5501
Wellington 6145
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 460 0191
Email: ndonnelly[at]linz.govt.nz
Co-Chair of Working Group 5.2
Mr. Chris Pearson
Trimble NZ
11-15 Birmingham Drive
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 34554673
Email:
chris_pearson2[at]trimble.com
Chair of Working Group 5.3
Mr. David Avalos-Naranjo
Research Lead for Geoid Modeling
INEGI
Aguascalientes 20276
MEXICO
Tel: +449 113 5517
Email:
david.avalos[at]inegi.org.mx
Chair of Working Group 5.4
Dr. Eldar Rubinov
FrontierSI
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
AUSTRALIA
Tel.: +61 402 607 290
Email:
erubinov[at] frontiersi.com.au
Co-Chair of Working Group 5.4
Dr. Safoora Zaminpardaz
School of Science
RMIT University
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
AUSTRALIA
Tel.: +61 3 9925 2307
Email:
safoora.zaminpardaz[at]rmit.edu.au
Chair of Working Group 5.5
Dr. Amir Khodabandeh
Department of Infrastructure Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and IT
The University of Melbourne
Melbourne
Victoria 3010
AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 834 45411
Email:
akhodabandeh[at]unimelb.edu.au
Chair of Working Group 5.6
Dr. Li Zhang
University Stuttgart
Institute of Engineering Geodesy Geschwister-Scholl-Strasse 24D D-70174
Stuttgart
GERMANY
Tel. + 49 711 685 84049
E-mail:
li.zhang[at]iigs.uni-stuttgart.de
|
Commission Chair
Dr. Ryan Keenan
Tel. + 61 476 688 117
figcommission5[at]fig.net
|
|
|