German Markscheider Association

The German Markscheider Association (Deutscher Markscheider-Verein e.V., DMV) is the professional association of German engineers for Markscheidewesen — the discipline of mine surveying. It represents the interests of the various professional fields spanning underground surveying, mining management and raw-material documentation. The association cooperates with universities relevant to mining, drafts proposals for academic education, and mediates in conflicts within the mining sector between the requirements of the economy and environmental protection. According to its own information, the DMV has 360 members. Carsten Wedekind served as chairman from September 2011, and Stefan Hager has held the position since September 2023. The DMV promotes and strengthens the profession in science, research and practice and represents its interests in politics. It works on developments in the neighbouring disciplines of mining and geotechnics, mining economics and mining law, and supports education and further training at the various locations. Through its conference "Umwelt, Energie und Rohstoffe" (Environment, Energy and Raw Materials), the DMV creates a platform for discussing current legal questions and presenting the latest developments. The association's roots go back to the second half of the 19th century, when the German mining industry experienced an unprecedented spirit of optimism driven by the industrial revolution. This brought profound changes to the mining landscape that also decisively revolutionised mine surveying. Industrial development, especially in the Ruhr area — the cradle of the DMV — drove the development of new extraction methods through a greatly increased demand for energy. Raw materials such as coal and ores were increasingly extracted through vertical shafts characteristic of deep mining rather than through the nearly horizontal galleries of adit mining. The mining industry boomed. To regulate the handling of resources, an unambiguous set of rules valid for all mining measures had to be created. This first happened with the "Allgemeines Berggesetz" (General Mining Act) issued by the Prussian mining administration. To account for the changing framework conditions, the "Rheinisch-Westfälischer Markscheiderverein" was founded in 1879 with the goal of "promoting the sciences pertaining to mine surveying, safeguarding and representing professional interests, and elevating the spirit of collegiality." From this organisation today's DMV developed. The DMV organises conferences such as the Geokinematischer Tag, whose 24th edition is scheduled for 7–8 May 2026, and maintains working groups (Arbeitskreise), a job exchange (Stellenbörse), internship listings, and a range of publications including a professional journal (Fachzeitschrift), conference proceedings (Tagungsbände), a book series (Buchreihe), a publication series (Schriftenreihe), teaching letters (Lehrbriefe) and other specialist literature. It also administers the Oskar-Niemczyk-Stiftung (Oskar Niemczyk Foundation).

The German Markscheider Association (Deutscher Markscheider-Verein e.V., DMV) traces its origins to the second half of the 19th century, a period of unprecedented optimism in the German mining industry. The industrial revolution and its consequences brought profound changes to the mining landscape that also decisively revolutionised mine surveying. Industrial development, especially in the Ruhr area — the cradle of the DMV — drove the development of new extraction methods through a greatly increased demand for energy. Raw materials such as coal and ores were increasingly extracted through vertical shafts characteristic of deep mining rather than through the nearly horizontal galleries of adit mining. The mining industry boomed. To regulate the handling of resources, an unambiguous set of rules valid for all mining measures had to be created. This first happened with the "Allgemeines Berggesetz" (General Mining Act) issued by the Prussian mining administration. To account for the changing framework conditions, the "Rheinisch-Westfälischer Markscheiderverein" was founded in 1879 with the goal of "promoting the sciences pertaining to mine surveying, safeguarding and representing professional interests, and elevating the spirit of collegiality." From this organisation today's DMV developed. Over the decades, the association evolved into the professional body of German engineers for Markscheidewesen, representing the various professional fields between underground surveying, mining management and raw-material documentation. It cooperates with universities relevant to mining, drafts proposals for academic education, and mediates in conflicts within the mining sector between the requirements of the economy and environmental protection. According to its own information, the DMV has 360 members. Carsten Wedekind served as chairman from September 2011, and Stefan Hager has held the position since September 2023. The association organises conferences such as the Geokinematischer Tag, whose 24th edition is scheduled for 7–8 May 2026, and maintains working groups, a job exchange, internship listings, and a range of publications including a professional journal, conference proceedings, a book series, a publication series, teaching letters and other specialist literature. It also administers the Oskar-Niemczyk-Stiftung.

• 2026

  24th Geokinematischer Tag scheduled for 7–8 May 2026.

• 2023

  Stefan Hager becomes chairman (September 2023).

• 2011

  Carsten Wedekind becomes chairman (September 2011).

• 1879

  Founding of the "Rheinisch-Westfälischer Markscheiderverein", predecessor of today's DMV.

Professional association representing German mine surveyors and promoting the discipline of Markscheidewesen in science, research, practice and politics.

• Professional journal (Fachzeitschrift)

• Conference proceedings (Tagungsbände)

• Book series (Buchreihe)

• Publication series (Schriftenreihe)

• Teaching letters (Lehrbriefe)

• Oskar-Niemczyk-Stiftung

1. 1DMV e. V. Deutscher Markscheider-Vereindmv-ev.de
2. 2Über unsdmv-ev.de
3. 3Deutscher Markscheider-Vereinde.wikipedia.org
4. 4German Markscheider Associationwikidata.org