At present, MSc and PhD degrees can be obtained via the Engineer in Geodesy and Cartography degree. Since l974 the Spanish government has established professional bodies with the legal right to practice in various fields. Architecture is also part of this group. Recent legislation obliges civil servants to ask for a special permission for private practice. Clients can appeal to the courts in matters of dispute.
Members carry out all survey and mapping activities for clients.
The present cadastral system is purely fiscal and is being massively overhauled. Land Information Systems are fully developed in public and private companies, local government, town councils etc. which employ several graduates in this work. There is a general belief that too few technicians are being trained for survey work. The work of building maintenance and cost control in construction is carried out by technical architects and technical civil engineers, and by rural engineers in country districts. The Colegio publishes a Technical journal, Topografia y Cartografia, at two monthly intervals, and every four years, the proceedings of its nationwide congress.