BY EVAMARIA UNGER, CASPER FIBÆK AND INÊS VILAS BOAS, FIG YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK REPORT
Kengo Okada from Ripro on survey markers.
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS The next sessions focused on initiatives by various stakeholders to address poverty and tenure security. Entrepreneur Jochgem Gunneman explained the concept and potential of ‘Maptionnaire’, an application that enables anyone to create a map through questionnaires. Another presentation was on Engineers Without Borders and Missing Maps, introducing their roles as agents of change and details of how to participate in their activities. The Engineers Without Borders initiative aims to serve the needs of disadvantaged communities and people through engineering projects. Examples include the development of a solar grid in remote villages, and teaching children and communities in developing countries how technology can benefit and improve their lives. The Missing Maps initiatives aims to help by mapping areas where humanitarian organisations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people. Since most of these places are missing on current maps, first responders lack valuable information to support decisions regarding relief efforts.
INSPIRATION AND ENGAGEMENT Ripro, one of the silver sponsors, presented details of its survey markers and the effects of natural disasters on the profession and a national geodetic grid. The presentation was followed by a discussion on the future of survey markers and how smart markers
could benefit – and be used within – the communities. The session was concluded with a talk about the ‘Virtual Guidance Line’ app that assists blind people based on surveying technologies. The core of any Young Surveyors Meeting, however, is always the group workshops where everybody is encouraged to present and communicate their own ideas to the audience. This not only leads to interesting discussions, but it also helps young professionals to improve their soft communication skills.
The participants exploring GeoFort.
CAPTURING THE FORT After two inspiring days the group headed to GeoFort, a former Dutch military fortress which has been redesigned as an education and science centre for all things ‘geo’. GeoFort promotes the concepts of geomatics, earth sciences cartography and navigation to a large audience through activities and exhibitions that are both fun and informative. At GeoFort, the group was divided into smaller teams and set about the task of exploring the fortress. Participants learned about different cartographic projections, travelled to the centre of the Earth and tested their internal sense of direction by getting lost in an underground ‘disorientation’ tunnel.
Young Surveyors Network, as she is now set to pursue new challenges in the surveying profession. Paula has been one of the cornerstones of the network and has contributed immensely in getting the network to where it is today. The 5th FIG Young Surveyors European Meeting will take place prior to the FIG Working Week 2017 in Helsinki, Finland. All young surveyors attending the Working Week will be able to participate in this meeting and play an active part in the worldwide network.
AUTHORS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN The 4th European Young Surveyors Meeting was the last major event for Paula Dijkstra, vice chair of administration of the FIG
Eva-Maria Unger, chair FIG Young Surveyors Network Casper Fibæk, FIG European YS Organising Committee Inês Vilas Boas, FIG European YS Organising Committee
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