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History of the Cambridge Conference

Introduction

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The first of what we now call the Cambridge Conference was held in 1928. Titled the Empire Conference of Survey Officers, it embodied the proposal that a series of meetings would enable surveyors to mingle, exchange ideas, make acquaintance of those whose work or instruments were important to them and exchange ideas that would be all the richer as they would emanate from different conditions and climates round the world.

What is clear from the early conferences is that the 48 attendees and the subject matter were from and about the British Empire. The fundamental change by which the conference became fully international did not occur until 1995.

A further comment in the 1928 conference report introduction is that "In every case the origin of a survey department lies in the necessity for the organisation and administration of land tenure. The full text of the introduction to the conference report makes interesting reading and is still remarkably relevant."

1928 »