Knowledge
A
Aerial images
As the main input for the production of geodata, aerial images are the basis for products such as SWISSIMAGE or national maps. Thanks to a state-of-the-art photo sensor, swisstopo brings you Switzerland in high resolution.
Artificial and natural boundaries
With respect to the specification of the national border, a distinction is made between artificial and natural boundaries.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
Augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are special forms of 3D visualizations. They are being used more and more frequently and are becoming slowly established in daily life. With its 3D geodata, swisstopo offers useful data for the creation of such applications.
B
Basic data
In addition to historical maps and digital 3D models, geological, geophysical and geotechnical datasets are indispensable for the sustainable management of our living space. GeoCover, as geological 2D model, depicts all of Switzerland geologically at the scale of 1:25'000.
Boundaries can change
Borders are commonly regarded as fixes, but depending on the terrain they are subject to climatological changes and natural phenomena and may thus change their course.
C
Cadastral system of Switzerland
The Swiss cadastral system comprises three pillars: the cadastral surveying, the Cadastre of public-law restrictions on landownership (PLR Cadastre) and the land register.
Cadastre of public-law restrictions on landownership
The Cadastre of public-law restrictions on landownership (PLR Cadastre) is a reliable, official system providing information about the most important public law restrictions on landownership.
Cantonal boundaries and municipal boundaries
The cantons are responsible for cantonal and municipal boundaries. swisstopo manages a data set of all of these boundaries which is updated annually and issued for free.
Coordinates
How do you inform people about your location? As a rule you give them an address or describe your surroundings. With the aid of coordinates, however, you can accurately indicate the position of a given location within a few centimetres. This page explains what coordinates are and how they are calculated.
Coordination geoinformation
The federal administration and semi-public organisations supply geodata and geoservices in a variety of ways and with the aid of differing infrastructure. In order to ensure that all interest groups are able to access this data and these services quickly and efficiently, a common strategy and effective coordination are essential. The Coordinating Agency for Federal Geographic Information (GCG) is responsible for this. At the operational level, this task is performed by the Coordination, Geo-Information and Services division (COGIS) of swisstopo.
D
Digital border
Today, the administration and documentation of the national border are carried out in a geographic information system (GIS). For this purpose, the coordinates of the course of the border and the position of the border points have to be recorded and made available in digital form.
Dufour Map
The 1:100,000 topographic map of Switzerland (Dufour Map) was the first official series of maps that encompassed the whole of the country. It was published in the period from 1845 to 1865 and thus coincides with the creation of the modern Swiss Confederation.
E
Eine Debatte über das Licht in der Karte
The direction of illumination in the Swiss map series was long disputed. Albert Heim and Hans von Steiger exchanged views around 1930 on the question of whether south or north-west illumination was more suitable.
Exchange of data between authorities
On 6 April 2016 the Federal Council signed an agreement on the exchange of basic federal geodata between authorities, thus creating the basis for simplified use of these data.
F
Find out more
On this page you will find interesting information about the geography and shape of Switzerland, as well as about people and facts associated with swisstopo.You will also find articles from our annual publication «Folio». The various contributions deal with a different focus topic each year. «Folio» is published in paper form, as a downloadable PDF and in a more detailed version for the web.