Surveying and the law

There is a general perception that we are living in a more litigious society than ever before. This dissertation investigates this statement in relation to the surveying profession. There are many aspects of law and legislation that confront the surveyor in daily practice. The threat of legal action is one consideration, but there is also the potential of facing disciplinary action from the Board of Surveyors, or the possibility of having to lodge an insurance claim if a mistake is made. After an extensive literature review, it was discovered that little had been written to document litigation taken against surveyors within Australia. Details of disciplinary hearings are scarce. Nor is there a readily accessible review of insurance claims lodged by surveyors. This dissertation attempts to fill that void. After considering what it means to be a professional surveyor, and compiling law and legislation relevant to surveying, this dissertation investigates specific cases where surveyors have come into conflict with the law. Examples are provided where surveyors have faced disciplinary action from their governing body and where professional indemnity insurance claims have been lodged. A detailed questionnaire and set of interview questions was provided to a sample of professional surveyors. These questions related to qualifications, experience, knowledge of the law and moral and ethical attitudes. The results are both quantitatively and qualitatively analysed, and their impact is discussed. Further to this, consideration of the issues facing the modern surveyor is explored, and recommendations for avoiding litigation, and Board of Surveyors investigations or for lodging insurance claims is provided. The general perception within the surveying profession appears to be that we are living in a more litigious society, and this dissertation goes a long way to supporting this statement in terms of the surveying professio

Advanced Regional Spatial Data Infrastructures in Europe

This report presents the findings of the workshop on Advanced Regional Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) organised by the European Commission Joint Research Centre in May 2008. The objectives of the workshop were to review the state of progress, analyse the different organisational models established with local and national stakeholders, and assess the social and economic impacts of the regional SDIs. Eleven regional/sub-national SDIs in Europe are presented in the report: Lombardy, and Piedmont (Italy), Catalonia and Navarra (Spain), Wallonia and Flanders (Belgium), North-Rhine Westfalia and Bavaria (Germany), Northern Ireland (UK), Brittany (France), and Vysocina (Czech Republic). These experiences are set in the context of the broader European framework provided by the INSPIRE Directive, the national State of Play studies, and international experiences in the USA and Australia. A key finding of the report is that these regions are indeed leading actors in the development of SDIs in Europe, adopting state-of-the art technologies, standards, and models and often setting the pace through example for others to follow. Crucially important is their role in coordinating and organising developments at the local level through a large array of partnerships and organisational models. This organisational work is challenging because it involves a very large number of stakeholders operating at the local level, and requires long-term political, organisational, and personal commitment. However, the evidence available at the present time indicates that it is at the local level that the largest social and economic benefits of an SDI can be found, supporting operational day-to-day applications affecting millions of citizens and local businesses. To achieve these benefits there is no alternative but to engage locally, and invest in building and maintaining relationships and trust. From this perspective, the main lesson of the European experiences, supported by those in the USA and Australia, is that Spatial Data Infrastructures are foremost social networks of people and organisations, in which technology and data play a supportive role. The technology is cheap, data is expensive, but social relations are invaluable.JRC.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure

Conversion of Cadastral Survey Information into LandXML Files using Machine Learning

Although new cadastral surveys can readily be produced in the industry standard LandXML format, there is a vast amount of pre-existing information which is only stored as image files. Automating the back-capture of this information would improve a process which is labour intensive and prone to human error. This project proposes a workflow to automate this process, in relation to Victorian cadastral survey information. Specific algorithms and outcomes are examined using a simplified sample cadastral plan. The literature review reveals that similar documentation processes have been undertaken in other fields, such as music (Calvo-Zaragoza et al., 2018). In the cadastral context only true to scale cadastral maps have been digitised but not surveyors’ sketches or field records (Ignjatić et al., 2018) A simple plan was created containing a closed parcel and two instrument points for creation and testing of the workflow. An analysis of the tasks required to extract the information needed for the LandXML files was undertaken. A pipeline was designed to perform the data extraction in a machine learning environment, which has been dubbed Double Filter Capture. It consists of two main workflows that handle the graphical information and the text elements separately, by means of Computer Vision and Optical Character Recognition algorithms, respectively. An implementation of the actions in the pipeline was trialled and barriers encountered discussed. Several Machine Learning algorithms were used for the required tasks, such as line detection, corner detection, image rotation, text detection and text extraction. The project gives some idea of the possibilities and limitations that a larger scale automated back-capture would face, when dealing with records of significantly greater complexity. It also points the way to further research required to refine the extraction process outlined here, for example including elements omitted in this project, such as occupation and other auxiliary information and hand-written records. This project demonstrates automated accurate data extraction from an image file is possible, however an extensive investment would be required in the programming stage, given the complexity and inconsistencies of existing plans that require back-capture

Mutual recognition schemes

Australia’s and New Zealand’s mutual recognition schemes are unique in the world by their extensive scope and coverage. They make it easier to do business across borders and give consumers a wider and more competitive range of goods and services. This report was released on 25 September 2015 and assesses the coverage, efficiency and effectiveness of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA). It also recommends ways to further improve interjurisdictional movement of goods and skilled workers, and reduce red tape, including examining the scope for establishing automatic mutual recognition for registered occupations. It addresses matters identified by the Cross-Jurisdictional Review Forum (CJRF), including requirements for the use of goods and business registration (the CJRF is an interjurisdictional committee of officials that oversees the MRA and TTMRA). Key points The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) are generally working well. However, the benefit of the schemes risks slowly being eroded due to regulators not always implementing mutual recognition as required, weak oversight, and an increase in the number of goods and related laws permanently kept outside the scope of the schemes. There are specific concerns with the operation of mutual recognition of occupations, such as \u27shopping and hopping\u27 and background checks. These issues have the potential to weaken the community\u27s and regulators\u27 trust in the schemes and undermine their legitimacy. This review has therefore focused on improving governance arrangements, potentially expanding coverage, and addressing irritants to the smooth operation of the schemes. The Commission proposes to reform the governance arrangements by: strengthening the cross-jurisdictional group of officials that oversees the schemes, including by giving it more specific outputs, timeframes and reporting requirements improving the accountability of regulators in individual jurisdictions and their coordination with policy makers responsible for mutual recognition. The Commission proposes the following to improve the operation of the schemes. Where there are legitimate concerns about shopping and hopping, governments should make better use of existing mechanisms to address them, such as referring a jurisdiction\u27s registration requirements to a COAG Ministerial Council for consideration. Governments should reduce ambiguity about the schemes, including by clearly stating that continuing professional development can be required for all persons renewing their occupational registration, including those originally registered under mutual recognition. For occupations where background checks are necessary and are routinely required of local applicants, registration bodies should be able to conduct their own checks on people seeking registration under mutual recognition. Governments should update all Ministerial Declarations which prescribe the equivalence of occupations across Australia, and consider extending them to New Zealand. The Commission proposes to maintain the coverage of the schemes - including the exemption of laws on the use of goods, manner of carrying on an occupation, and business registration - except in two instances. The Australian Government should accelerate work on the harmonisation of Australian Design Rules with international (UN) vehicle standards and then remove the TTMRA exemption for road vehicles no later than the end of 2018. Governments should strengthen their collaborative efforts to streamline regulation of hazardous substances, industrial chemicals and dangerous goods. The TTMRA permanent exemption should then be removed by the end of 2018, in line with the timing of foreshadowed regulatory reforms. Automatic mutual recognition (AMR) is more cost effective than the mutual recognition schemes for professionals providing services across borders on a temporary basis. The WA, ACT and NT Governments should fulfil their commitment to adopt AMR for veterinarians. All Australian jurisdictions should adopt a proposed AMR scheme for architects. The period between formal reviews of the schemes should be increased to ten years. &nbsp

Construction management abstracts : cumulative abstracts and indexes of journals in construction management, 1983-2000

The purpose of this document is to provide a single source of reference for every paper published in the journals directly related to research in Construction Management. It is indexed by author and keyword and contains the titles, authors, abstracts and keywords of every article from the following journals: • Building Research and Information (BRI) • Construction Management and Economics (CME) • Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (ECAM) • Journal of Construction Procurement (JCP) • Journal of Construction Research (JCR) • Journal of Financial Management in Property and Construction (JFM) • RICS Research Papers (RICS) The index entries give short forms of the bibliographical citations, rather than page numbers, to enable annual updates to the abstracts. Each annual update will carry cumulative indexes, so that only one index needs to be consulted

A cross-functional value chain approach to geospatial information: a guide to practice for the minerals industry

A research dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, of the University of the Witwatersrand, in the fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Swellendam, 2018Reproducing a mining project life-cycle in the form of a value chain, from exploration to mine closure, provides a graphical representation of the interdependencies between functions or activities, both upstream and downstream of a particular process. This can be used to develop the concept of geospatial context, i.e. high-level situational awareness. By understanding and responding to geospatial context, geospatial information can be enhanced in direct support of investment decisions and/or operational control. The risk of deficient geospatial information requires effective mitigation and management throughout the full life-cycle of a project, starting with exploration where the geospatial foundation is laid for all work which follows. Therefore, geospatial information is a primary, not secondary consideration at the commencement of a project. The role of mine surveying in protecting the surface and workings of a mine, through the provision of accurate maps, plans and associated geospatial records, protects people and the asset, spanning mine and public safety. Additionally, measuring, monitoring, reconciling and reporting key performance indicators which drive value, enables value creation through improved foresight, efficiency and effectiveness. This dissertation discusses the critical role of geospatial information in risk mitigation and business performance monitoring, with specific reference to the interdependencies between functions such as exploration, mining, processing, environmental protection and mine closure. The value potential is significant.MT 201

Emerging Informatics

The book on emerging informatics brings together the new concepts and applications that will help define and outline problem solving methods and features in designing business and human systems. It covers international aspects of information systems design in which many relevant technologies are introduced for the welfare of human and business systems. This initiative can be viewed as an emergent area of informatics that helps better conceptualise and design new world-class solutions. The book provides four flexible sections that accommodate total of fourteen chapters. The section specifies learning contexts in emerging fields. Each chapter presents a clear basis through the problem conception and its applicable technological solutions. I hope this will help further exploration of knowledge in the informatics discipline

Catchment Care - Developing an Auction Process for Biodiversity and Water Quality Gains. Volume 1 - Report

This report describes the design, development and trial of catchment care. Catchment Care is an auction-based system which aims to increase the cost effectiveness of funds for private on-ground natural resource management actions.Water;Australia;Natural Resource Management;Catchment Care; auction.