FIG Asia Pacific Capacity Development Network

General

The origins of the FIG Asia Pacific Regional Network emerged at the FIG Pacific Small Island Development Symposium (SIDS) held in Lami Bay Suva – Fiji, September 2013.   The network officially formed in response to the Suva Statement on “Spatially Responsible Governance”, and after the Christchurch (New Zealand) Working Week in 2016.

Overtime the network has become known as the FIG Asia Pacific Capacity Development Network (AP CDN).  The network’s remit and audience has varied and interchanged, as our attention to build capacity and capability for geospatial reference systems has also diversified into providing similar advice for surveying and geospatial information management. As a consequence, the FIG AP CDN membership has expanded and consists of participants from our Commissions, the corporate sector, professional associations, academic networks, our sister organisations, and affiliated government agencies involved with geodesy, surveying, mapping, and geospatial information management.

For this work plan, the main purpose of the FIG AP CDN is provision of specialist advice and support to develop the capabilities and capacities required to modernise geospatial survey infrastructures (GSIs) in the Asia Pacific region, and for countries to establish for fit for purpose GSIs that realise responsible land governance, administration, management in multiple environments.

To put the above into context –

  • Geospatial Survey Infrastructure – comprises of people, hardware, technology, software, work processes, standards and practices, legal and policy frameworks, and the geodetic reference frame (co-ordinate system or datum) underpinning spatial data.
  • Capacity development means - improving the foundations of a geospatial survey organisation (GSO), such as infrastructure, resources, and systems that enable the GSO to achieve the business objectives. It also includes understanding the impediments to development, establishing a GSO culture and environment that facilitates the achievement of sustainable development outcomes, and consists of relevant policies, legal frameworks, as well as financial and technical programs.
  • Capability development means enhancing the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources that enable individuals within the GSO to undertake tasks and activities to achieve business objectives, as well as personal goals.  To ensure the success of capability development, a program that identifies the challenges, capabilities, as well as strategies, plans and implementation pathways to build specific capabilities is a necessity.

The activities of FIG AP CDN also are focused on (a) addressing the technical and administrative GSI challenges, and (b) advocating how GSIs can influence the socio and economic issues being faced today.

To deliver these remits, and to support GSI workshops, seminars and meetings, FIG AP CDN will rely on the will to succeed, significant collaboration and relationship building with like-minded agencies and professional bodies, engendering local leadership and action on GSI capacity and capability, and the alignment or harmonisation of expectations, wants and needs with the broader objectives of a country’s government. .

Mission

Professionals and their organisations have the capacity and capability to modernise GSIs and to address the future geospatial and survey challenges.

 

Fiji. Damage of cyclone Winston, February 2016. Source: EMPICS.

 

Our Outcomes

  • Capacity and capabilities of professionals are developed through formal and informal alliances and relationships with relevant like-minded bodies or development partners.
  • Communities are self-reliant, have a culture of learning and innovation, and comprise of a blend of mature and young professionals, and gender.
  • Regional issues and challenges are resolved by a regional, unified, coordinated and collaborative approach.
  • FIG profile and membership in the Asia Pacific region is enhanced
  • Objectives of the regional group Pacific Geospatial Surveying Council (PGSC) Strategy 2017-2027 “Positioning the Pacific Islands Countries and Territories for the Future” are progressed
  • A strategy to regionalise capacity and capability development in the south east Asia region is developed.
  • Capacity and capability activity is recognised as an integral part of an organisation’s business
  • Geospatial and surveying professionals are contributing to the measurement and monitoring of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our Activities  

  • Identifying and evaluating the essential capacity and capabilities of geospatial and surveying community.
  • Providing technical, administrative and professional advice and support, through organising, facilitating and actively participating in -
    • Discussion forums
    • Meetings
    • Seminars / Workshops
    • Technical Sessions
  • Advocating, and sourcing material that demonstrates the importance of the GSI, and its professionals, to the broader community, stakeholders and decision makers.
  • Encouraging co-operation and collaboration between countries, like-minded agencies, donor and / or funding organisations, and related professions, through partnerships and agreements.
  • Connecting and engaging professional networks from traditional and non-traditional industry sectors.

Rural village, Timor Leste

Low laying atoll, Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean.
 Source: wordatlas.com

Fiji

Our Performance

The success of the FIG AP CDN to improve GSI capacity and capability will be measured on the effectiveness of our activities to –

  • Deliver support to the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) and PGSC with their strategic and implementation plans.
  • Engage better with countries from the south east Asia region
  • Participate in forums, meetings, seminars / workshops, and technical sessions.
  • Ensure more consistent inclusion and assistance from both the academia and corporate sector.
  • Assist with the preparation of regional, sub regional, country or organisation based strategic / implementation / operational plans.
  • Provide advice and advocate UN initiatives, such as the Global Geodetic Reference Frame, Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, and the Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence.
  • Discover existing GSI capacity and capability building material, and suitable platforms for portals to share knowledge, experiences and ideas.
  • Work with educational institutions to explore how core competencies for GSI can be provided and recognised.
  • Conceptualise a framework or mechanism that will support mutual recognition of GSI qualifications between countries in a region
  • Source communication material / fact sheets that explains the importance and value of GSIs
  • Create information that clarifies the role of FIG AP CDN and its partners.
  • Contribute and collaborate with FIG Commission 5 on the Reference Frame in Practice workshops, and the revision and updating of the FIG Publication - Reference Frame in Practice Manual.

News

FIG AP-CDN at the FIG Working Week 2020

May 2020

FIG AP-CDN had planned two sessions during the Working Week.

During the conference days a range of articles highlighting the hot-topics, the ground breaking research, and the hidden gems in the proceedings was published. Read the FIG AP-CDN article

Report to the General Assembly

May 2023

FIG Asia Pacific Capacity Development Network has prepared a written report to the General assembly.

 

 

SEASC 2019 Darwin Declaration

August 2019

Collaboration, Communication and Capacity Building.

Applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems Workshop

June 2019

FIG Asia Pacific Capacity Development Network (AP CDN) and Commission 5 members, along with representatives from sister organisations actively participated in the “Workshop on the Applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems”. FIG AP CDN convened two sessions, focusing on the why, how and what of organisational planning for the development of GNSS CORS infrastructure capability and geodetic datum modernisation.

 

More News from FIG AP CDN

 
 

Publications

Background

   

Proceedings

Key Documents

 

Meet the officers

 Chair

Mr. Rob Sarib
Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute, Australia
Contact: rob.sarib[at]gmail.com

Our Committee

  • Ms. Allison Craddock - UN SCoG - ETCD, IGS
  • Mr. Nicholas Brown - Geoscience Australia
  • Dr. John Dawson – Geoscience Australia
  • Dr.  Nic Donnelly - FIG Commission 5, LINZ
  • Mr. Viliami Folau - PGSC, Tonga Gov.
  • Ms. Sharafat Gadimova - UNOOSA ICG
  • Ms. Meizyanne Hicks - PGSC Vice Chair
  • Mr. Matt Higgins – GNSS Expert
  • Mr. Ady Ruchiatan – President ASEAN Flag
  • Mr. Gerry Ong - ASEAN Flag
  • Mr. Asakaia Tabua - PGSC, Fiji Gov.
  • Ms. Molly Powers - National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
  • Dr. Dan Roman – UN SCoG, NOAA - NGS
  • Ms. Kate Fairlie – FIG, Land Equity International
  • Mr. Lee Hellen - Geospatial Council of Australia
  • Mr. Rob Sarib - FIG AP CDN, Geospatial Council of Australia
  • Mr Noor Raziq – Lecia Geosystems
  • Dr. Chris Rizos – GNSS Expert

For further information and how to be active in FIG AP CDN please contact

Ms. Allison Craddock: craddock[at]igs.org
Mr. Andrick Lal: andricklat]spc.int
Mr. Basara Miyahara: miyahara-b96ip[at]mlit.go.jp
Mr. Dan Roman:dan.roman[at]noaa.com
Ms. Kate Fairlie: KFairlie[at]landequity.com.au
Mr. Rob Sarib: rob.sarib[at]gmail.com
Dr. Ryan Keenan: ryan.keenan[at]me.com

 


From the left: Ms. Allison Craddock, Mr. Rob Sarib and Mr. Basara Miyahara

 


Our Partners

FIG Commission 5
Positioning and Measurement


 

 

 

The activities of the FIG AP CDN will occur through cooperation and collaboration with individuals or working groups affiliated with our sister organisations, such as –

  • International Association of Geodesy (IAG);
  • nternational GNSS Service (IGS);
  • UN Office of Outer Space Affairs - International Committee on GNSS (OOSA ICG);
  • UN Global Geospatial Information Management Asia Pacific (GGIM AP);
  • UN Sub-Committee on Geodesy – Education Training Capability Development (SCoG - ETCD);
  • UN Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (GGCE); and
  • Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

FIG AP CDN will also cooperate and collaborate with professional associations and government-based agencies, namely –

  • Pacific Geospatial Surveying Council (PGSC);
  • Pacific Community (SPC) - Geoscience Energy Maritime Division (GEM);
  • Geoscience Australia;
  • Bureau of Meteorology (Australia);
  • Land Information New Zealand (LINZ);
  • Geospatial Information Authority of Japan;
  • JUPEM - Department of Survey and Mapping, Malaysia;
  • Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources – Tonga;
  • Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources – Fiji;
  • ASEAN Flag country members;
  • Geospatial Council of Australia;
  • Surveying and Spatial New Zealand;
  • Fiji Institute of Surveyors;
  • Japan Federation of Surveyors; and
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – includes National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and Office of Coast Survey (OCS) 

International Association of Geodesy (IAG)

International GNSS Service
(IGS)

UN Office of Outer Space Affairs - International Committee on GNSS
(OOSA ICG)

UN Global Geospatial Information Management Asia Pacific
(GGIM AP)

UN Sub-Committee on Geodesy - Education Training & Capacity Building
(SCoG - ETCB)

 

FIG AP CDN will also collaborate with professional associations and government based agencies, namely -

Pacific Geospatial Surveying Council
(PGSC)

Pacific Community - Geoscience Division

Geoscience Australia

Bureau of Meteorology
(Australia)

Land Information New Zealand
(LINZ)

Geospatial Information Authority of Japan

JUPEM - Department of Survey and Mapping, Malaysia

Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources - Tonga

Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources
- Fiji

ASEAN Flag country members

Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (Australia)

Surveying and Spatial
New Zealand

Fiji Institute of Surveyors

Japan Association of Surveyors


©2024 FIG