Dear ICA Colleagues,
The in-person ICC2021 in Florence provided an opportunity to meet with ICA members, sister societies and others strengthening the ICA. The Secretary-General and Treasurer and I met with the top leadership from Rosreestr, Russia’s Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre, and Cartography. Like many national mapping agencies, Rosreestr is responding to the technical, organizational, and data transformational adjustments required in our everchanging world. The information we shared enhanced the value in the all-day session at the ICC2021 that was organized for national mapping, geospatial and statistical agencies.
Meeting with Mr. Oleg Skufinskiy (2nd from right), Head of the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography, and his team.
There is a long-standing bond between the ICA and the International Hydrographic Organization. We met with the Director and Assistant Director of the IHO where we agreed on the importance of the close collaboration between the two international organizations. Our colleagues from the IHO expressed their sincere appreciation to the ICA and the Local Organizing Committee for encouraging the in-person opportunities made possible during the ICC. Having the successful and safe in-person event serves as an example for other international organizations. We also committed to continue the immensely important responsibility to serve on the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers. This week also included a meeting with the International Map Industry Association where we shared common interests and opportunities for future engagement.
Lysandros Tsoulos (Vice-Chair of the ICA-IHO Commission on Marin Cartography), Leonel Manteigas (Assistant Director IHO), Abri Kampfer (Director IHO), Tim Trainor (President ICA), Thomas Schulz (Secretary-General and Treasurer ICA).
Lastly, we met with representatives from the UN in planning for the next ICC in Cape Town, South Africa in August of 2023. The conference theme “Smart Cartography for Sustainable Development” aligns very well with the geospatial priorities for the UN Committee on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). There are several potential collaborative possibilities between the ICA and the UN for encouraging participation during the ICC2023 from countries in Africa. As planning develops, check back on the ICA and ICC2023 websites for more details.
Greg Scott (United Nations) and Tim Trainor (President ICA) during a keynote speech on «Cartography In An Age Of Digital Transformation».
– Tim Trainor
President of the International Cartographic Association
