Modelling real estate business for governance and learning

The challenges, which are addressed by the organisers of this workshop, demand cooperation among representatives of industry, government, and academia. The present paper assumes that university departments and their staff hold a key position to address the mentioned challenges and thus to promote the FIG profession(s) at European scope. A recent EU Communication, COM(2005) 152, calls for university networks, which meet criteria of critical mass; interdisciplinary teaching; a strong European dimension; backing from regional/national authorities and direct involvement of industry; as well as identified and declared areas of excellence. Within the above context, the paper refers to outcomes and experiences from the research action: Modelling Real Property Transactions (2001-2005). Among others, processes related to real estate (purchase, subdivision) were modelled and corresponding ontologies were drafted. Also, a follow-up action is in process of approval: Rearrangement of Property Rights for Rural and Urban Areas. A short study programme on Cadastral Development is proposed, which might enhance university networking with clusters of the micro-enterprises, which provide technical services in geodetic surveying and spatial planning, as well as with mapping and cadastral agencies. Referring to existing UNIGIS and EEGECS university networks, the proposed study programme answers a request for extending the knowledge profile of the geodetic surveyor within the field of land management, and thus contribute towards meeting the criteria mentioned above.