In 1832 the Commission for Topographical Surveys developed a complete concept for surveying and mapping the entire Swiss territory. In 1832 Dufour was nominated Director of Surveys by the Legislative Assembly. The arrangement of the sheets that he foresaw – the complete set of maps consists of 25 separate sheets – is still used today for the 1:100 000 scale national map.
Once the general survey had been completed, Dufour was able to issue instructions for the detailed surveys. In certain cantons it was possible to have recourse to existing surveys. Every year, Dufour was required to present a progress report to the Legislative Assembly, and from 1848 to the Federal Council.
By 1861 the surveys and maps were complete. The last sheet was printed in 1865 and the Topographical Bureau was transferred to Berne. Between 1845–1865, 57 952 copies of the Topographical Map of Switzerland were printed.
History of the Map
History of the Topographic Map of Switzerland 1:100,000