ACSM Bulletin | February 2008| #231
The FIG Report vol. III, no. 1
The 6th FIG Regional Conference was organized by the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos de Costa Rica (CFIA)/ Colegio de Ingenieros Topógrafos de Costa Rica (CIT),the FIG member association in Costa Rica.
As has been the case with the previous FIG regional conferences, the conference in San José was organized in co-operation with the United Nations and its agencies, as well as with international and regional spatial information societies. The conference was open to participants from all over the world; however, its main focus was on Latin America and the Caribbean. It was held in both English and Spanish, attracting participants from all continents.
This was the first time that the FIG Regional Conference was held in Latin America. Its theme focused on such “hot” topics as capacity building, land administration, and environmental issues, especially the use and future of coastal regions in Latin America.
Based on the outcome of the conference, FIG will also prepare a FIG publication entitled “Methodologies for Pro-Poor Coastal Zone Management.”
At the opening ceremony, the keynote addresses were given by Ing. Juan Manuel Castro Alfaro, President of CFIA/CIT, Prof. Stig Enemark, FIG President, and Mr. Fernando Zumbado, Costa Rican Minister of Housing. The welcome address on behalf of CFIA was given by Ing. Freddy Bolanos, Representing the Executive Director of CFIA, Ing. Olman Vargos Zeledon
The technical programme comprised 21 technical sessions and workshops. Running three sessions in parallel, the sessions, which were of very high standard, attracted many delegates; so did the three Plenary Sessions on each of the three topics of the conference. In total, sixty papers were presented and have since been published.
The technical exhibition was compact, with booths covering surveying and geomatics technology internationally and in Costa Rica.
The social highlights of the week included, on Monday, a welcome reception at the CFIA headquarters. Delegates had an opportunity to mingle with peers and enjoy the Choir of CFIA. Tuesday’s social event was the Costa Rican Cultural Evening at the Pueblo Antiguo Park, sparkling with fireworks, graceful dancing, unforgettable Costa Rican music and carneval, and delicious national food and drinks. The Farewell Dinner on Wednesday evening was given in the Ramada Hotel Conference Center.
The Closing Ceremony took place on Wednesday, and addresses were given by Arq. Eugenia Morales, Sub Director of CFIA; Ing. Juan Manuel Castro Alfaro, President of CFIA/CIT; and Prof. Stig Enemark, FIG President. In his appreciation to the 6th FIG Regional Conference, Prof. Stig Enemark thanked the organizers for a successful Regional Conference.
After the conference, about 205 delegates took part in a technical/social tour to the Poas Volcano followed by lunch at the Colinas del Poas restaurant, and coffee break at the Coffee Britt company where the participants learned about the history of coffee growing in Costa Rica. The event drew the attention of the local media, with the most influential publishing a whole page about the tour on November 17, 2007. The conference itself and its sessions were covered by three of the main radio news stations in Costa Rica.