The Dublin Declaration deals with aspects of the endangered ‘global geodesy supply chain’, in particular strengthening land and geodetic survey education, and awareness throughout Europe, and also highlights how geodesy is the foundation for a resilient Europe. It underscores our commitment to Professional Development and the need for greater advocacy, collaboration, community and continuous development.

The Dublin Declaration is an important and genuine step forward in the right direction. There remains much work to do address the issues raised in the Declaration and we can only achieve that by working together right across the profession and around the globe.

Let’s aspire to the release of the Declaration being a turning point, where the vital role of our profession is not only recognised, but actively supported in shaping Europe’s path ahead.

Adopted at the X Council of European Geodetic Surveyors Conference (CLGE1), Dublin, 18 October 2025

Land surveying and geodesy form the unseen infrastructure of Europe’s future. Without them, neither digital innovation nor sustainable progress can endure. The European Geodetic Surveyors, gathered at the X CLGE Conference of the European Surveyor in Dublin, on the theme ‘Professional Development and Development of the Professional: Geodesy Matters’, and during the CLGE General Assembly, to reaffirm their commitment to advancing the land and geodetic surveying profession across Europe. Building on the legacy of previous CLGE Conferences and Assemblies, they adopt the following declaration:

1) Strengthening Land and Geodetic Survey Education, and awareness throughout Europe European Surveyors express serious concern over the trend of various universities across Europe closing their educational programmes related to land surveying, and geodesy. This development threatens not only the sustainability of the profession, but also society’s ability to meet critical needs in areas such as, but not limited to;

• Land administration and Land management

• Infrastructure development

• National security and resilience

• Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT)

• Geospatial data capture, and management

• Climate resilience

• Digital transformation

Surveyors urgently call upon European governments, academic institutions, and professional organisations to protect, strengthen, and modernise land surveying and geodesy. Future professionals must have access to high-quality, innovative education, and training that are grounded in both technical and ethical standards, in service of the public interest.

2) Geodesy is the Foundation for a Resilient Europe Geodesy is more than a scientific discipline. It is the foundation upon which accurate measurement, mapping, and spatial understanding are rooted. Its contributions are vital to;

• Securing land and property rights

• Delivery of critical infrastructure

• National defence

• Resilient Position, Navigation and Timing

• Developing digital twins and smart cities

• Capturing and supplying robust spatial information

• Supporting disaster management

• Enabling environmental monitoring 

The Conference theme underscores that while technologies evolve rapidly, the human expertise of land and geodetic surveyors is irreplaceable. Ensuring access to bachelors (undergraduate), masters and doctorate (postgraduate) and lifelong learning opportunities together with cultivating a respected and recognised professional identity, is essential to meet existing and future challenges.

3) Commitment to Professional Development Through CLGE, European Land and Geodetic Surveyors, solemnly commit to:

• Advocate for the recognition and preservation of land and geodetic surveying programs at national and European levels.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to raise the visibility of land and geodetic surveying as strategic disciplines for Europe’s future.

• Foster a respected and recognised professional community for land and geodetic surveyors dedicated to innovation, ethical practice, and serving the public interest.

• Support continuous professional development, to keep land and geodetic surveyors at the forefront of technological and societal change.

Signed in Dublin, 18th October 2025

Endnotes: 
CLGE Comité de Liaison des Géomètres Européens – Council of European Geodetic Surveyors.

Surveying is understood to include surveying engineers.