Land surveyors from across Africa and beyond are convening in Kigali from November 27 to 29 for a conference aimed at advancing the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to foster fair land management and Inclusive Urban Planning. The event, organized by the Federation of French Speaking Surveyors (FGF) in collaboration with INES-Ruhengeri and the Association of Surveyors of Rwanda (ROLS), brings together experts, researchers, and academics under the theme: Technology at the Service of Fair Land Management and Inclusive Urban Planning. Professional growth The Federation of French Speaking Surveyors (FGF), founded in 2005, comprises 26 member countries, primarily from Africa. INES-Ruhengeri, a private university in Musanze District established in 2003, offers a robust program in land surveying. Land surveyors play a crucial role in mapping property boundaries and providing guidance to geologists, developers, city planners, architects, and engineers. INES-Ruhengeri Vice-Chancellor, Fr. Dr. Jean-Bosco Baribeshya, described the conference as a platform for sharing national experiences and technological advancements in land surveying. He emphasized the need for qualified professionals to tackle urban and spatial planning challenges using innovative tools. “We need to produce qualified professionals to contribute to the growth of inclusive cities using new technologies. So far, INES-Ruhengeri has trained 1,116 Land surveyors,” Baribeshya said. Placide Nkerabigwi, the Conference Coordinator and Lecturer in the Department of Land Survey at INES-Ruhengeri, highlighted the institution’s collaboration with FGF to ensure quality academic programs and the integration of modern technologies. Promoting women surveyors FGF President Marc Vanderschueren underscored the importance of increasing women's participation in the land surveying profession. As part of the conference, women surveyors and young professionals convened to discuss strategies for enhancing gender diversity in the field. Newly elected FGF Vice-President, Conchita Mevo Guezo Kedowide from Benin, pledged to work on increasing the number of women in land surveying. “The number of women surveyors is still small. However, with evolving technology, the profession can become more appealing to women,” Kedowide said. Rihannatou Medessi, a land surveying expert from Togo, echoed these sentiments, encouraging women engineers to act as role models. “Currently, between 25 and 35 percent of land surveying graduates at INES-Ruhengeri are women. While this number is low, partnerships can help improve female representation in the profession,” she noted. Fair land management and inclusive planning Jean Pierre Habiyaremye, Head of Surveying and Geomatics Sciences at Université Privée Africaine Franco-Arabe (UPAFA) in Mali, explained the importance of fair compensation for landowners during development projects to prevent conflicts. “Land division for infrastructure development often reduces plot sizes, leading to potential disputes. Compensation must be negotiated fairly to avoid such conflicts,” he said. Experts highlighted land surveyors' pivotal role in resolving property disputes, particularly in civil engineering projects where boundaries are contested. Technological innovations Rwanda's advancements in land management technology featured prominently during the discussions. Jack Ngarambe, Director of Urbanisation, Housing, and Human Settlement at the Ministry of Infrastructure, outlined key initiatives. “Rwanda has implemented a digitized land administration system and land titles. Technology optimizes land use, protects the environment, and helps detect changes in land use, such as encroachment on agricultural land,” he said. The conference also explored the integration of artificial intelligence into land planning and management, signaling a progressive shift in the profession's technological capabilities. “Land surveyors remain central to land registration and effective land management,” Ngarambe added. This gathering of professionals underscores the critical role of technology in achieving equitable land use and urban development, fostering a future of sustainable growth and inclusive cities.
