Institution gets technical
The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) has launched a new technical grade of membership. This new membership grade, namely the ICES Technical Member grade, recognises the skills and contribution of those who perform technical duties under the specialisms of either commercial management or geospatial engineering within the civil engineering surveying industry. The Technical Member grade will be introduced by the Institution in two stages over the coming months.

Firstly, geospatial engineering candidates who satisfy a range of qualification and experience requirements for this grade of membership, as set by the Institution, will be eligible to apply for the new Technical Member grade with effect from 1st September 2002. The Technical Member grade for commercial management candidates will be introduced on 1st January 2003 and further details regarding this membership grade will be announced later this year.

A successful applicant for the Technical Member grade of membership will be awarded the designatory letters, TMInstCES, and enjoy a wide range of membership benefits and services customary with a specialist and progressive professional institution.

The requirements for applications for the Geospatial Engineering Technical Member grade are as follows:

• Applicants will have, or about to commence:
• Either - an HNC/HND programme in a geospatial engineering discipline,
  i.e. engineering surveying, land surveying, photogrammetry, remote sensing, cartography / visualisation or hydrographic surveying. (ICES do not hold a definitive list of such courses but will confirm on request if a specific course is acceptable.)
• Or - a related HNC/HND which does not fully meet the requirements of the Technical Member grade and will have fully achieved the ICES Geospatial Engineering Technical Membership competencies. (The eligibility of specific courses can be confirmed on request.)
• Or - The Survey Association (TSA) 'Introduction to Surveying' course and will have fully achieved the ICES Geospatial Engineering Technical Membership competencies.
  
• The applicant must also attend and have successfully completed the ICES Technical Membership Award Event. (Held quarterly at ICES Head Office.)
• The applicant must have at least three years relevant experience.
  

The introduction of this new technical grade of membership forms part of a revised membership grading structure for the Institution, which will also be introduced on 1st September 2002.

The Institution now offers seven grades of membership, namely Student Member, Affiliate Member, Graduate Member, Associate Member (AMInstCES), Technical Member (TMInstCES), Corporate Member (MInstCES) and Fellow (FInstCES). The new Technical Member grade complements the portfolio of membership grades offered by the ICES and ensures all civil engineering surveying professionals, at all career levels, are recognised by the Institution.

For further information regarding the new Technical Member grade, contact the Institution's Education, Training and Membership Officer, Paul Brown at ICES Head Office on tel: 0161 972 3114 or by email