IBRU research & consultancy

IBRU is the world’s only research centre specialising in the resolution of international boundary and territorial problems. We offer a range of professional research and consultancy services, providing clients with authoritative analysis, advice and technical support in all aspects of boundary-making and dispute resolution. We work closely with governments, NGOs and commercial organisations around the world, helping to identify and implement effective, practical solutions to complex problems. Whether you simply want to confirm the alignment of a particular boundary or need to find a way to resolve a longstanding territorial dispute, IBRU can provide the assistance you require.

Risk assessment

Operating in border areas can be a risky business, especially at sea where more than half of the world’s potential maritime boundaries are subject to overlapping jurisdictional claims. Whether you are exploring for oil and gas, laying pipelines or calculating insurance risks, IBRU can advise on where boundaries are located, identify where disputes are likely to occur and assess potential outcomes.

Negotiation and litigation support

Whether a government is seeking to settle a boundary question by negotiation or through third-party adjudication, it is essential to be fully prepared and capable of responding effectively to the other side’s arguments. IBRU has unrivalled experience in assisting governments throughout the dispute resolution process. The Unit lies at the heart of an international network of expertise in boundary-making and we are able to assemble world-class teams of legal and technical advisers. Our global perspective enables us to identify useful precedents and innovative solutions for overcoming deadlock.

Technical and cartographic assistance

Defining a boundary on the surface of the earth is a challenging task, and there is often considerable uncertainty over the precise location of the line. IBRU can provide expert advice on boundary definition, treaty interpretation and map analysis. We can also construct and depict maritime limits and potential boundaries with precision using specialist computer software. IBRU is part of one of the world’s leading geography departments, with internationally-recognised expertise in remote sensing and geographic information systems and an award-winning cartographic unit. We are also able to draw upon the expertise of colleagues in the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office’s Law of the Sea Division on projects relating to maritime boundary delimitation.

Archive research

Nearly all boundary disputes have a historical dimension which can only be understood properly through archive research - and the outcome of some disputes hinges entirely on archival evidence. IBRU has extensive experience working in government and private archives around the world. We know what questions to ask, where to look for key documents, and how to identify and present relevant evidence effectively.

For further information on IBRU's research and consultancy services, please contact Martin Pratt.