The Topography Division is responsible for the national topographic mapping of Switzerland and adjacent parts of neighbouring countries. The topographic information contained in the national land survey comprises basic geographical data which describes three dimensionally the shape of the earth’s surface and the nature of the land cover as well as the names of features and places.
This information includes in particular:
• topography in the form of height data;
• orthophotos and the corresponding aerial photographs and satellite images;
• the natural and man-made objects of the topographic landscape model;
• administrative boundaries;
• geographical names.
This topographic information is regularly updated.
The Topography Division offers a broad range of services and advice in the field of geomatics in Switzerland and abroad.
In addition it operates the national aerial photography and satellite imagery archive, the national map archive and in cooperation with the Air Force a photographic flight service.
It is the Federal centre of excellence for data capture methods, checking and quality assurance and for the marketing of basic topographical data and related additional data.