Allow us to introduce our professional organization - the Chamber of Surveyors and Cartographers (Slovak abbr. KGK - Komora geodetov a kartografov).

Around the year 1948, similarly as in other branches of our society, the branch of land surveyors and cartography was based on private business principles. The surveyors employed in a free occupation were associated in the Engineering Chamber, which however associated engineers from all technical directions (engineers graduated at civil engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical, electro technical, land surveyors and other universities). The land (geodetic) surveyors had a section within that Chamber.

After the year 1948 that chamber, as well as many others, were abolished and any private business was not allowed any longer. The land surveyors’ activity since 1948 - 1989 was ruled by the state. The professional organizations did not exist. After the change in political and social situation in 1989, the private business was again restored in our country also in the field of land surveying and cartography. Many physical and legal subjects dealing in the branch of surveying and cartography then have come into being gradually.

From the initiative of surveyors themselves also several volunteer organizations have been founded as: Slovak Union of Surveyors (SZG - Slovensky zvaz geodetov), Slovak Society of Surveyors and Cartographers (SSGK - Slovenska spolocnost geodetov a kartografov), Occupational Union of Land Surveying and Cartography (ZZGK - Zamestnavatelsky zvaz geodezie a kartografie), which exist until now.

Since 1993, the SZG and ZZGK, which mostly associated private surveyors or private employers, together with an efficient support of the of state administration body in the field of surveying and cartography (Office of land surveyors, cartography and Cadastre of the Slovak Republic - Slovak abbr. UGKK SR - Úrad geodézie, kartografie a katastra SR) tried for re-establishment of an independent professional surveyors’ chamber that would be also officially recognized by the state administration, i. e. that would be fully enacted also in the valid legislation.

Their joint effort finally resulted in a successful solution in 1995. In the link to the law No. 215/1995 on Geodesy and Cartography with validity since January the 1-th, 1996, the Chamber of Surveyors and Cartographers (KGK) was established by the law of National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 216/1995. The KGK has appointed its democratically elected bodies on its first general assembly on 22. March 1996.

KGK unites all authorized surveyors and cartographers, regardless whether they work independently as free lancers, or are employed with private or state companies or in the state administration.

An authorized surveyor and cartographer (according to the law No. 215/1995) verify authentically the selected surveyor’s and cartographic activities, which are for example the operations in the cadastre of real estates, horizontal and vertical control, measurement, digitalization and projection of objects in great scales, surveyor’s activities during construction and updating the information systems about the area, setting out and survey measurement of constructional objects, deformation measurement, leveling and projection of realization of constructional objects and industrial equipment etc. An authorized surveyor and cartographer is carrying his legal personal responsibility that all surveyor’s work that he has approved by his stamp and signature were performed in corresponding quality and in agreement with appropriate regulations and standards.

An authorized surveyor and cartographer must meet the following professional preconditions:

• receive university education in the field of surveying and cartography and 5 year experience after completing the university studies,
• pass the qualification examination conducted by the KGK Board of Examiners.

The Chamber bodies are:

1. General Assembly of chamber members,
2. Directive Board (9 members),
3. Examination Board (7 members)
4. Disciplinary Commission (7 members)
5. Supervisory Board (5 members).

The General Assembly meets minimum once in a year. It consists of all members of the Chamber. All Chamber bodies are elected from its members in a democratic secret election once in 2 years.

The Directive Board of the Chamber is a managing and executive body of the Chamber and it assures the Chamber activity in the meantime between the meetings of General Assembly. It appoints the ad hoc commissions from its members for solution of some specific problems.

All functions in the Chamber bodies are honorary. The Chamber is self-financing; it lives only from the contributions and fees of its members.

1. it represents, defends and enforces the professional, social and economical interests of its members,
2. it awards and withdraws the certificates for performing the activities of an authorized surveyor and cartographer,
3. it keeps the list of authorized surveyors and cartographers,
4. it supervises over the quality and professional standard of its members,
5. it organizes and conducts the qualification examinations,
6. it conducts disciplinary proceeding against its members,
7. it issues its own internal regulations (chamber statutes, organizational, examination, electoral and disciplinary orders),
8. it sets (after an approval of the General Assembly) the level of fees (membership fees, fees for examination, fee for issuing the authorization certificate),
9. it cooperates in development of the branch of surveying and cartography with universities and secondary schools, with scientific and research establishments and state administration bodies and it creates the conditions for improving the professional level and qualification of its members,
10. it assures the exchange of professional experience with professional chambers and other organizations home and abroad and it performs enlightenment, propagation, popularizing and advisory services,
11. It cooperates with the Central bodies of state administration of surveying and cartography and cadastre during creation of generally binding regulations in the field of surveying and cartography.

Beside the common tasks, the Chamber during its 6 year performance has prepared and agreed at the Annual Assembly the Ethic Codex of an Surveyor and in cooperation with SZG and ZZGK it issues every two years and updates the Price list of recommended prices of the surveyor’s and cartographic works. Since the prices of surveyor’s works are free in Slovakia (contractual prices), that price list is used as an orientation for surveyors and customers in order to keep appropriate economic prices at maintained quality of performed work.

Regarding some important Chamber activities oriented abroad, the joining of the Chamber into international cooperation via FIG can be mentioned. In 1998 together with SSGK as a present FIG member, we founded the Slovak National Committee for FIG which consists of national delegates for the technical commissions of FIG. The Chamber has delegated 6 national delegates for 1., 2., 4., 6., 8. and 9. FIG Commissions. SSGK is also the guarantee for activities of the other three FIG Commissions.

Chamber took the first contact with CLGE (Comité de Liaison des Geométres Européen) in spring 1999. Now the Chamber is the associated member of CLGE.

The Chamber of Surveyors and Cartographers is the biggest professional organization of surveyors in Slovakia.

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