RICS - the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - was created in 1868 in the United Kingdom. It received a royal charter in 1881.

Their members are known as chartered surveyors, and are recognised by the designation after their name - FRICS (for Fellow of RICS) or MRICS (for Member of RICS). Today we are a global property professional body which aims to: regulate and promote the profession; maintain the highest educational and professional standards; protect clients and consumers through a strict code of ethics; provide impartial advice, analysis and guidance. www.rics.org

The Survey Association, known generally as TSA, is the trade body for commercial survey companies in the UK. The association was formed in 1979 to give a focus for private sector businesses in land and hydrographic survey. It is important to realise, however, that it is not a regulatory body. The role of TSA is to promote best practice amongst its members, provide a forum for members for

discussion, debate and continuing professional development and, to the wider audience such as engineers and architects, provide guidance on new methods and techniques and a list of suitably qualified and experienced companies. www.tsa-uk.org.uk/

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) strives to promote and progress civil engineering. ICE was founded in 1818 and was granted a royal charter in 1828 where they declared that their aim was to “foster and promote the art and science of civil engineering”. That is still their aim today and they represent around 80,000 members worldwide. http://www.ice.org.uk/