The International Association of Surveying Engineers was founded in 1878 by professional organizations from Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Through its own commissions, workshops, publications and congresses, it aims to promote international cooperation between the surveying industry and its professional organizations, interdisciplinary cooperation and uniform standards in professional practice and training at technical colleges and universities. The association has been recognized by the United Nations as a non-governmental organization and is involved in various development programmes.

In the fall of 1971, delegates from all over the world met for the eighth International Congress in Wiesbaden. On September 1, the presidium of the congress accepted the invitation of the city council to a reception in the town hall.

Lord Mayor Schmitt welcomed the engineers and praised their efforts for the further development and standardization of training as well as for their worldwide commitment to the construction of infrastructure. The President of the International Association of Surveying Engineers, Heinz Daheim, thanked them for their kind words and then signed the city's Golden Book together with the Executive Board.