New IAG Secretariat at BEV 24.04.2024 - At the annual meeting of the European Geosciences Union on April 17, 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) and the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and the new secretariat of the IAG was announced at the BEV.

The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) is a renowned worldwide scientific organization that promotes collaboration and research in the field of geodesy on a global scale. With a significant history dating back to 1862, Austria has played an important role as a founding member from the outset. Numerous Austrian institutions and universities have since contributed significantly to the development of this field.

The Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) in Austria is one such institution that actively contributes to this cause. Particularly through the analysis of various geodetic space techniques such as GNSS and VLBI, BEV continues to make an important contribution. Since 2016, BEV has also been home to the Coordination Office of the IAG’s Global Geodetic Observation System (GGOS).

Due to the outstanding achievements of the GGOS Coordination Office in international coordination and public relations, IAG proposed the establishment of an IAG Secretariat at BEV. This proposal was enthusiastically received. In April 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between IAG and BEV to establish this Secretariat. This significant development was announced ceremoniously at a geodesy reception at BEV, attended by more than 100 international geodesists.

The BEV and the new head of the IAG Secretariat, Martin Sehnal, look forward to taking on an enhanced organizational role in international geodetic matters in the future and further highlighting the importance of geodesy in both science and society.

For more information about IAG and GGOS, visit: www.geodesy.science