THE EDUCATION AND PRACTICE OF THE GEODETIC SURVEYOR IN WESTERN EUROPE
Comité de Liaison des Géomètres Européens / The European Council of Geodetic Surveyors
APPENDIX D5 - Greece

(Population 10 million)
( Refs. A5, B5.1, B5.2, C5.1, C5.2 )
Section Contents
5.1   FIG member-organisation
5.2   Other related organisations
5.3   Relevant factors
5.4   Higher Education
5.5   Professional Practice
5.6   Publications
5.7   Acknowledgements
5.8   References
5.9   Useful addresses

5.1  FIG member-organisation

Geodetic surveying is administered by the Technical Chamber of Greece (TCG), which has jurisdiction over all forms of Engineers


5.2  Other related organisations

(1)  Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers (HARSE).

(2)  Professional SRE Association for Northern Greece (PSREANG).


5.3  Relevant factors

(1)  The Technical Chamber of Greece is an organisation to which all Greek Professional Engineers (diplomas attesting to a 5-year course of studies) belong compulsorily. It is a Legal Entity under Public Law and is the Greek State's consultant on technical matters.

The organisation of the TCG comprises the central administration, thirteen regional departments and nine scientific committees related to the various branches of specialisation for Greek engineers. Participation in elections held for selecting members to the Administrative Boards (central and regional) is compulsory (by law) for all engineers in as much as the TCG constitutes the agency that represents them in respect of scientific and labour matters.



Finally, the TCG is competent under law to conduct examinations leading to the granting of professional licences to engineers.

(2)  The Scientific Committee for the SRE is the TCG's elected organ that counsels the central administration relating to matters of concern to the SRE.

(3)  The independent associations such as the HARSE are first degree organs and their objectives are:
  1. The scientific support of their respective members,
  2. The safeguarding of the membership's professional interests,
  3. The intercession in more general matters of interest to their members. The majority of the SRE are members of the respective associations.

5.4  Higher Education
(See appendices A5, B5.1 and B5.2 )

(1)  Persons possessing SRE diplomas are engineers who have graduated from the National Technical University of Athens or the University of Thessaloniki and have passed the examinations that lead to a professional engineer's licence.(H) (See A5). Graduates of foreign universities whose diplomas have been recognised by the appropriate State Agency (DIKATSA) and have passed the licence examinations are also professional SRE. In order for a diploma to be recognised as equivalent to those awarded by the Greek universities, it should attest to a total of 5 years and have evaluated as covering the entire scope of professional activities. Otherwise, it is considered equivalent, but the hold has limited professional rights within the framework of his specific specialisation.

(2)  The higher technical schools operate within the Technological Educational Institution (TEI). Graduates of such schools receive a certificate attesting to a 3 year course of studies plus 6 months of practical training.(E) (A5) There is no law establishing their professional rights :with the result that in principle they do not act as autonomous professionals in the private sector.


5.5  Professional Practice
(See C5.1 and C5.2 )

(1)  The SRE operate in the private sector (as independent professionals or employees) or as employed by the state as civil servants. A large number of SRE transfer from the private sector to civil service employment and vice-versa; this fact in effect, contributes to the unification of all the SRE in matters relating to scientific and trade union matters. It is precisely for this reason that all SRE are members of the same association.

(2)  The primary employer for SRE operating in the private sector is the State, either directly or indirectly (i.e. through the medium of arrangements concluded with other groups of consulting or construction firms). Approximately 80% to 90% of earnings under such direct or indirect arrangements are derived from projects carried out for the State and recently for the EEC.

(3)  SRE operating in the private sector offer their services as designers or constructors. A status of incompatibility exists between these two professional categories. However, at the present time (1995), the majority of SRE are designers.

(4)  All projects to be carried out are defined by provisions of law with regard to specifications, remuneration and procedures. As a result, the technical and legal procedures become significantly involved vis-a-vis the management of the project. In implementing a given project, this intricate procedure has to be resolved by professional engineers with the probability of intervention of the TCG as a supra-arbiter or in an advisory capacity whenever disputes with State services arise or even when cases are brought before the courts.

(5)  With regard to services offered by designers, the latter's fees for every specific study are fixed in compliance with provisions of the Greek law in effect at the time and no alteration whatsoever is allowed.

The contractor is chosen in accordance with a procedure stipulated by law. In the case of construction firms, various bidding systems are used for participating in contests.

(6)  SRE may act as designers for the State for two categories of studies only, from among all those to which they have access under the law, and for five different levels which are related to the contractual cost of the project.

Levels A, B, C concern individuals whereas levels D, E concern companies. (7)  Identical legislation is enforced for construction firms with the only difference that the certificates cover five levels for individuals and two levels for companies.

(8)  SRE, as civil servants operate not only as designers, or implementors, or supervisors of studies or constructions, but also in major level fields such as planning and programming of long-term projects. The collaboration of independent designers in such fields of activity is frequently indispensable.

(9)  For the consummation of a given project a technical, economic and legal inspection must be carried out by the superintending civil servant SRE.

(10)  The following are the main pursuits of SRE independent professionals (of all categories):
5.6  Publications

The Chamber publishes a journal on a weekly basis.

It also publishes monographs on special topics to update its members. One such recent publication was concerned with Valuation, another Remembrement.

HARSE publishes a journal on a bi-monthly basis.


5.7  Acknowledgements

The author wishes to place on record his indebtedness to the Greek member of the CLGE Mr M Kontaratos, for his valuable assistance in compiling the 1989 report. In addition, grateful thanks were due to the following persons:

Professor G Veis, J Badekas, Balodinos and Koutsopoulos of the Technical University of Athens; Members of the Technical Committee of the Surveyors Association and its secretary Mrs Kourtessi; and several practising surveyors, especially Mr Dallas who kindly allowed us to visit his company. Thanks are also due to the assistance given by the deputy director of the Department of Hydraulic and Transportation works of Athens City Council.

This 1995 revision has been made with the assistance of Dr Basil Psarianos and Emmanuel Ouranos.


5.8  References

(1)  Law No 1647 - The Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral Organisation A draft translation in English of the law setting up the new civilian organisation from l982 - l985. 12 pages.

(2)  Schedule of tariffs for surveying work - 16 pages in Greek.

(3)  Costing of typical civil engineering works - 5 pages in Greek.

(4)  Minister of National Economy - price indexes from l976 to l987. 1 Page.

(5)  Surveyor's practice certificate - 4 pages in Greek.

(6)  Curriculum of the Survey Engineers course at the Technical University of Athens - 1987/8. 21 pages in Greek, with partial translation into English of key elements.

(7)  Curriculum and sample examination papers of the Athens Technical College course in surveying. 11 Pages in Greek, with skeleton translation of curriculum into English.

(8)  Weekly Journal of the Technical Chamber including typical announcements applications to tender for work. 72 pages in Greek.

(9)  Personal notes made by the author during his visit to Greece 7 - 11 May l988. l9 pages.


5.9  Useful addresses 

Hellenic Association of Rural and Surveying Engineers
61 Arhovis Street
10681 Athens

Technical Chamber of Greece
4 Kazageorghi Servias
GR-10248 Athens

National Technical University
Dr Basil Psatianos
Assistant Professor
9 Hiroon Polytechniou Street
GR-15780 Athens

Hellenic Mapping and Cadastral Organisation
Emmanuel Ouzanas
General Cadastral Department
11-13 T Vassou Street
GR-11521 Athens
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