Jim Smith 1935-2021
Jim Smith FCInstCES qualified as a land surveyor in 1961 and became an active member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) in 1968. His dedication to FIG culminated in him being named an honorary member at the working week earlier this year.
He started his career in Nigeria as a provincial surveyor and also a lecturer at the School of Surveying in Oyo, whilst working for a government office in surveying.
He later became principal lecturer in surveying in the civil engineering department of Portsmouth Polytechnic (now Portsmouth University) for 21 years.
He was the author of many text books, which have guided more than two generations of land surveyors.
Together with Jan De Graeve, he translated and edited the conversion of the Struve Report from 1855-1857 into English from early French in 2008.
Since then he prepared notes on the history of determining the size and shape of the Earth using meridian arcs, in five volumes of some 2,100 pages with the aid of Jan.
He also prepared the Meridian arcs through East and South Africa with emphasis on the arc of the 30th Meridian and connection between the Struve Geodetic Arc and the Arc of the 30th Meridian. Both sets (a total of 3,000 pages) have recently been published.
With Jan De Graeve, he created the International Institution for the History of Surveying & Measurement – a permanent institution of FIG, which was formed in 1994. Together they prepared the inscription of the Struve Meridian Arc from northern Norway to the Black Sea covering 10 countries, with the help of local colleagues. This multinational achievement became the first scientific monument inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with Jim Smith described as the ‘silent force’ behind it.
For decades, Jim offered help and encouragement to young surveyors to publish and share their experiences. May he rest in peace with his dear wife Ann.
John Hohol, President FIG Foundation