The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) 26th Session

Vienna, Austria 2-6 May 2011

Mr Gert Steinkellner and Chairperson Helen Kerfoot

The Session was well wisited

The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) held its 26th Session in Vienna, 2-6 May 2011. This experts group deals with technical, cultural and linguistic aspects of geographical names. It is organised in geographical/ linguistic divisions and working groups amongst others for on toponymy, exonyms and terminology. FIG was represented by Mr. Gert Steinkellner, the President of the Austrian member organisation.

The Chairperson Helen Kerfoot (Canada) highlighted in her report about the period 2009-2011 the challenges for UNGEGN, the big need for data integration and the proliferation of user-generated names in the light of rapidly advancing technology and multi-instance communications.

The FIG thanks the UNGEGN and especially the Chairperson Helen Kerfoot for welcoming its representative at the session as an observer.

15 June 2011