4.1 FIG member-organisation
Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen (DVW) e.V.
The DVW is a general association of all surveyors, whether in public service (80%) or private practice (20%) and is the affiliated member of FIG.
4.2 Other related organisations
- Bund der öffentlich bestellten Vermessungsingieure e.V (BDVI) (Association of private surveyors who are licensed for cadastral surveying).The BDVI is an organisation of private surveyors which has a block association with the DVW. About 70% of the private surveyors belong to the BDVI (1184 members).
- Deutscher Markscheider-Verein e.V. (Association of private and public mining surveyors).
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Beratender Ingenieure - Vermessung e.V (ABV). (Association of Consulting Engineers-Surveying).Common in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
4.3 Relevant factors
There are sixteen separate Länder ("states") of which two are cities (Hamburg and Bremen). West Berlin is in a special category. From south to north the other "states" are Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony, Thüringen, Brandenburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Greater Berlin.
Although the laws and conditions affecting surveying activities are generally similar throughout the "states" there are significant variations: for example, members of the BDVI can still not practise cadastral surveying in Bavaria .
Each "state": has its own cadastral and topographical surveying administration except North Rhine-Westphalia where the cadastre belongs to the authorities of the communities and municipalities. Research works in geodetic surveying are the responsibility of the Institute of Applied Geodesy at Frankfurt.
The BDVI runs a company dealing with planning, site development and advice on data processing and program development, education and training, GIS and GPS. Two hundred of its members have shares in this company named GEBIG AG.
The work of private offices dealing with cadastre is subject to government control, with spot checks officially every three years. In fact checks take place every five to ten years - the timing varies from "state" to "state".
The annual subscription (1994) of the DVW is DM 65 to 105 (students and pensioners DM 35 to 100) depending on the state of domicile. The BDVI rate is DM 2000. 
4.4 Higher Education
(See appendices A4 and B4 )
4.4.1 The Abitur
Regarding the German Abitur (final examination for grammar or comprehensive schools), every pupil has to pass final examinations after nine years of secondary education in four different subjects ( Three written and one oral test). There is some degree of choice. Subjects must include
- one foreign language or German;
- one of the social sciences (i.e. history, philosophy, educational science, social science);
- mathematics or one of the sciences (biology, physics, chemistry).
A pupil is free to choose the fourth subject.
Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg hold a "central Abitur", where each pupil sits the same test. German pupils have to attend school for 13 years before they can pass the Abitur. The only exception is in Saxony where 12 years are required.
4.4.2 Education of surveyors
The education of surveyors is depicted in diagram A4 showing all levels of education throughout the enlarged Germany.
4.4.3 Higher Education
(See B4)
Based on evidence submitted to the author, the circle diagram B4 was compiled which shows the breadth of curriculum and depth of study at the Universities in Germany.
Teaching in both Fachhochschules and Universities (three and four years respectively) is mainly by full-time teachers, although some specialists are used occasionally.
Students are usually allowed to sit examinations three times. Of the 50 intake about 35 pass the first time. A field camp of one week is held in the fourth semester.
Typically the student intake to the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt is 30 to 50 once per annum. Student projects are comparable to the MSc level in the UK. The system of examination varies from "state" to "state". In Darmstadt the main written examinations occur after the fourth semester (two years). In some specialised subjects like printing, thematic cartography and law there are examinations after each semester. The Diploma-Examination, also by written examination, can be taken after the eighth semester at the earliest.
There are no fees for education in Germany. There is a system of grants and parents are subject to a means test. If they can pay, they must. The student has a strong legal position in relation to his parents.
4.4.4 Period of professional experience
The prescribed period of practical training (Referendarzeit) for eligibility to practise cadastral work varies as shown in Table 4.1. The Dipl. Ing. examination (D) is considered by the state to be the first examination and must be passed prior to the award of the title.
During the practical period the surveyor has to learn the rules governing the cadastre and has to perform a practical task in this area lasting six weeks. There are also examinations to be passed. Once this second examination (Vermessungsassessor) (J) has been passed the surveyor then has the right to practise only in the "state" in which he has qualified: he cannot practise cadastre in more than one "state".
Table 4.1
Eligibility to practise cadastral surveying in Germany 1995
"State" Legal Qualifications Practical Notes
Authority Experience
(years)
Baden- Public Assessor 2 *
Württemberg Office Inspector 6 *
Bavaria _______ _______ _____
Berlin Independent Assessor 0
Dipl. Ing. 4 +
Ing. (grad.) 8 +
Bremen Independent Assessor 0.5
Hamburg Independent Assessor 0.5
Hessen Independent Assessor 1.5
Inspector 5
Lower Saxony Public Assessor 1
Office Inspector 6
North Rhine- Independent Assessor 1
Westphalia Inspector 6
Rhineland- Independent Assessor 1.5
Palatinate Inspector 6
Saarland Independent Assessor 1.5
Inspector 6
Schleswig- Independent Assessor 1.5 *
Holstein Inspector 8 *
Saxonia Public Assessor 0.5 *
Office Dipl.Ing. TU 1 *
Dipl.Ing. FH 3 *
Thüringen Independent Assessor 1
Sachsen-Anhalt Independent Assessor 1
Dipl. Ing. 6
Brandenburg Independent Assessor 1
Dipl. Ing. 6
Mecklenburg- Public Assessor 0.5
Vorpommern Office Inspector 6
---------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: * - Valid only for cadastral surveying
+ - Additional examination required
4.5 Professional Practice
(See C4.1 and C4.2 )
Figs. C4.1 and C4.2 depicts the scope of the profession practised by geodetic surveyors in Germany. As has been discussed elsewhere, in the main text and below, no one young newly qualified person can practice all categories at the start of his or her professional career. A selection of not more than three is likely. In professional activity there will be more or less specialisation in several groups: whether it is possible to identify special groups which practise in well-defined areas, as in the UK, remains to be seen.
Using similar criteria it is possible to depict the various levels and content of activity and of the Dipl. Ing.(TU), Dipl. Ing.(FH),.and the Vermessungstechniker (surveying technician), the Kartographen (cartographer) and the surveying content of the Ing.(grad.) Landkartentechnik's (map technician's) activities. For the sake of brevity and conformity across all seventeen countries of this report, these various levels are all combined in figure C4.1. Figure C4.2 represents the levels and content of the Fachhochschule Engineer.
The personnel structure of offices of members of the BDVI is approximately as follows:
QUALIFICATION PERCENT
Dipl. Ing. (University) 10
Dipl. Ing. (Technical College) 30
Survey technicians 35
Labourers 5
Apprentices 15
Admin. clerks 5
The areas of work of offices of members of the BDVI can be classified as follows:
AREA PERCENT
Cadastral surveys of which, 55
Cadastral and boundary surveying 50
New surveying and traverse work 5
Engineering surveys 20
Cartographic work (GIS) 10
Consultations and surveys 5
Site and development plans 10
4.6. Acknowledgements
In addition to the various persons who assisted with the first and second editions of the report (1980 and 1989), the author is greatly indebted to Dipl. Ing. Klaus Rürup and his helpers from the BDVI, especially once again Dipl. Ing. Richard Mehlhorn, for their assistance with this edition.
4.7. References
(1) The curricula of the 'Technische Hochschule Darmstadt' and the 'Fachhochschule Mainz'.
(2) Forum' 4/1987, the journal of the BDVI, Bund der öffentlich bestellten Vermessungsingenieure.
(3) Kostenordnung für Leistungen der öffentlich bestelltenVermessungsingenieure (State of Hessen).
(4) Ernst Simon : Bericht über die wirtschaftliche Situation der öffentlich bestellten Vermessungsingenieure aufgrund einer betriebswirtschaftlichen Auswertung für das Jahr 1977 (Forum 3/1980).
(5) Wulf Schröder :Zur Personalsituation in Vermessungswesen (Zeitschrift für Vermessungswesen 9/1985).
(6) Correspondence with Dipl. Ing. Richard Mehlhorn 1988 and Dipl. Ing. KLaus Rürup 1995
4.8 Useful addresses
BDVI
Bund der öffentlich bestellten Vermessungsingieure e.V
Lindenstrasse 14
D-50674 Köln
Dipl. Ing. KLaus Rürup
Droste-Hülshoff Strasse 8
D-46236 Bottrop
Dipl. Ing. Richard Mehlhorn
Bund der Öffentlich bestellten Vermessüngsingenieure
Holzhausenstrasse 52
D 60322 Frankfurt M
