Opening Speech by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong SC at the Land Surveyors Board 50th Anniversary Dinner

a.         Cadastral surveys could previously only be conducted by the Chief Surveyor. The introduction of LSB and the Land Surveyors Act allowed cadastral surveys to be conducted by registered surveyors in private practices as well, with LSB coming in to oversee the profession to ensure the quality and high standard of surveying.

b.         Under the stewardship of LSB, the number of registered surveyors has grown to meet the demand, and we can now count on nearly a hundred registered surveyors that are qualified to provide high quality land surveying services.

c.       Beyond building up a significant number of qualified professionals in the private sector, LSB has also made very important contributions over the years to help the growth of individual surveyors and also with promoting the profession over these many years. This includes introducing directives and guidelines to keep the profession up to date on standards, running courses in collaboration with tertiary institutions to help upgrade the capability of its surveyors, just to name a few examples. 

a.         Work may have often been given up, suspended or in many cases delayed, due to the manpower crunches and shortages, and gatherings in person to facilitate learning to exchange ideas and interactions were also difficult to do during this period.

a.         For example, LSB allowed the renewal of the practising certificates of registered surveyors for the years 2021 and 2022 by waiving or halving the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. That is really a practical step.

b.         LSB also encouraged several online events for registered surveyors to participate in, to create more opportunities to get to see each other, to interact, to create learning opportunities and so on.

a.         The work of registered surveyors is one of the reasons why Singapore is renowned as a business-friendly country, where we are fair, play by the rules, know what the rules are and apply them fairly. We ranked first for our legal and regulatory framework in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD)’s Yearbook 2022. The work done by each of you and your profession has contributed to that achievement.

b.         In the built environment sector, registered surveyors also work together with allied professionals, architects and professional engineers, in the lifecycle of a development project. That can take a period of time. The work stretches from concept to construction and even beyond; from topographic surveys of the site to the final stage of cadastral survey when the building is completed. Surveyors are often in the thick of things and are often the first ones in and the last ones out.

a.         Surveying has a history that stretches even further back – to the civilisations of ancient Egypt and ancient Babylon. It is that old.  There is no doubt the practice of surveying and the profession itself has had a long history and has had to evolve itself, because as land develops constantly, you’ve got to also evolve and move with the times. You’ve got to continue to stay relevant and meet the needs of the populations of each new generation that you serve.

a.         One example is how our surveyors have increasingly gone underground, quite literally, as demand for sub-terranean mapping increases both locally as well as globally. Globally, underground spaces have been widely used to house industry, utility and transport infrastructure – all of that in the heart of urban areas, to reduce their negative impact on city living. Singapore is one of the leading cities in planning for underground development, safeguarding the space upfront to ensure its space is optimised. We have run out of space at ground level, and so have to go underground. And surveyors have evolved and undertaken this new challenge to become a critical part of this sub-terranean mapping. I am sure that our surveyors will continue to keep pace as sub-terranean mapping becomes more commonplace globally and advances in technology and innovation allow for more detailed and accurate mapping to take place.  

b.         Going upstream, the education of surveyors is also being enhanced to better prepare surveyors for their changing roles. Most of the undergraduate surveying courses in universities for example, have been expanding their curriculum to include more geospatial technology, data analytics and data management.  Graduates can now earn bachelor’s degree in Geomatics Engineering and are now known as Geomatics Engineers.   

a.         Firstly, the surveying fraternity must deal with a shrinking manpower pool. This is not a scenario that is faced only by surveyors. Changing employment and education trends has meant that surveyors today are finding it challenging to find sufficient field workers, who are important in assisting registered surveyors in collecting measurements and data, for their surveying projects. In addition, in a point made by President earlier, fewer amongst the young are willing to take up the profession and as a result the surveying fraternity is also getting older. It is not just the surveying fraternity, in fact there are several organisations in Singapore that are finding it difficult and challenging to recruit younger talent. It is not unique to surveyors. It is happening across the board from professional organisations right through to the many clans, associations, religious organisations and other VWOs that we see.  

b.         Secondly, land surveyors must be able to deal with the impact of the increasing introduction of technology to the field. It is an advantage or a weapon, but it is also a threat if you do not watch it carefully enough. For example, while more technologically advanced tools will allow surveyors to contribute to increasingly complex construction projects, these at the same time are also expensive to procure, to learn how to use, to operate and to maintain. Many smaller surveying firms may find it challenging to be able to find the investment required to upskill in terms of technology. Technology can also potentially automate certain tasks currently carried out by surveyors, helping to improve efficiency overall. However, and this is the same problem that we see in legal industry, technology may lead to such roles being phased out, and some surveyors will need to adapt their skills and knowledge to stay relevant in this changing market and times that is being fuelled by technology.

c.         Finally, surveyors must also find a way to deal with increasing costs – again, a conundrum faced not only by surveyors today. This increased costs include the cost of vehicles to transport field workers and the rental of office premises, if they wish to continue to run a profitable surveying firm. 

a.         This evening, as you look back at the 50 years, look forward too. Some of the elements that have brought you to where you are can be harnessed to look forward to the next 50 years and beyond.

b.         Let me touch briefly on three of these areas of opportunities – firstly the adoption of new technology, secondly, exploring opportunities in new fields, and thirdly and the most basic, upskilling.

c.       By displaying the principles of innovation and being prepared to embrace and adopt innovation is already a first step. I am sure that our surveyors will be able to exploit these new opportunities that will present itself in the new economy, in the new post pandemic normal, to the fullest, and use your technical expertise combined with technology to address these new challenges.  

a.         The surveying fraternity has been embracing technological improvements over the years. The tools of a surveyor for example have evolved from invar tapes to electronic measuring stations to laser scanners and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).

b.         Surveyors must continue to do so as we move forward, to allow the profession to be more productive and effective and serve the community better while using less labour-intensive resources and manpower. An example would be indoor mapping, where there are opportunities to adopt laser scanning technology to save time during fieldwork. Surveyors can also explore the use of drones and other remote sensing technologies to become more efficient and also more effective at what you do.

c.         Adopting technology will also allow our surveyors to play their part in combating the defining challenge of our generation – and that is climate change. The threat is particularly pertinent for a small island-state like us. Being at the forefront of the adoption of the latest geospatial technology will allow our surveyors to map out the terrain of the land more consistently and also more accurately, allowing us to determine the impact of flooding and sea level rise with greater precision and confidence. And with that, enable us to monitor and manage the associated risks and allow us to implement effective strategies way ahead of time to protect the country. 

d.         LSB will continue to work with SISV on training opportunities to equip our surveyors with the necessary know-how to thrive in the sea of new innovation and technological advancements.

a.         For example, as 3D building information models like 3D digital twins extend beyond the building of new buildings and into areas of heritage preservation and conservation purposes, surveyors will be needed to laser scan and construct survey-accurate 3D virtual models of the property. This will in turn allow greater and more efficient maintenance and repair work, some of which can be planned virtually in advance.

b.         Surveyors will also have opportunities to expand their work in the field of sub-surface mapping, by using technology such as ground penetrating radar, as well as virtual and augmented reality. This will allow you to accurately map, visualise and analyse sub-terranean structures and spaces.

c.         In addition, our surveyors can also look forward to contributing to more survey projects in the region. LSB is working with our counterparts in ASEAN to operationalise the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for surveying professionals. This will in-turn create opportunities for local registered surveyors to embark on projects in ASEAN countries with their ASEAN counterparts, expanding your scope and field of operations beyond just our boundaries. In addition, surveyors from ASEAN countries can also collaborate with you on a local project, helping local surveyors in areas of need and at the same time complementing your areas of expertise.  

d.         LSB is studying the possibility of different categorisation of services to keep in pace with the expanded role of surveyors arising from the new fields of opportunities. Based on the expertise, possibly in fields such as utility surveying or mapping using drones, LSB will be looking into the feasibility of registration for each specialisation to ensure that the new areas of work can be carried out professionally, so that industry and users will have renewed confidence in these sectors.

a.         LSB will ensure that the professional learning needs of our surveyors are met and they remain relevant to the industry’s needs. LSB has started to do this through initiatives such as the new “LSB Directives on Land Survey and Geomatics Practices”, which is an important set of guidelines developed in close consultation with our important stakeholders. These guidelines will keep our surveyors updated and aligned on the latest industry standards and the practices, such as the use of new mapping techniques. To boost the pool of surveyors equipped with the skillsets needed to flourish, LSB has also recently updated its examination requirements, introducing a new format of practical examinations that enables candidates to test their knowledge in dealing with real-life practical situations.

b.         Aside from the work of LSB, each individual surveyor can also contribute to the movement and help other surveyors to level up and add to their repertoire of skills. For example, experienced surveyors, those with more grey hair, or even newer surveyors that are early adopters of the latest surveying technology can share their knowledge, experience and skills, know how, and generally mentor those who have not been experienced in this field. This will help to build a pool of resilient and well-rounded surveyors who can help the profession continue to be all rounded and continue to flourish for many years to come.  Surveyors can also take on more mentoring roles to identify, train and mentor candidates aspiring to join the profession. Indeed, I am heartened to know that some amongst you are already doing this, such as Mr See Seng Guan, a surveyor who volunteered to conduct a series of tutorials for candidates taking the LSB examination without any remuneration. Mr See was himself very concerned that young surveyors might not have the necessary experience given what has happened the past couple of years to pass LSB’s examinations. It appears his hard work was truly effective and truly much appreciated as candidates provided feedback to LSB that Mr See helped them tremendously in their preparations for the exams.