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Zimmerwald geostation

The Zimmerwald geostation is the fundamental point and most important reference point for the Swiss geological survey. It secures the connection to the global networks.

Photo of the Zimmerwald geostation
Zimmerwald geostation

The Federal Office of Topography has been participating in the operation of Zimmerwald geostation since 1992. Originally conceived as the observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern, the institute started carrying out laser distance observations to artificial satellites (Satellite Laser Ranging) in 1972. As a result of these long-term observations, highly precise coordinates were determined for Zimmerwald geostation.

In the framework of the International GPS Service (IGS), the Federal Office of Topography set up a permanent GPS station in Zimmerwald in 1992. The data of this station are used by the Centre for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) at the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern for the determination of highly precise GPS satellite orbits. The IGS provides the data from Zimmerwald geostation to interested parties for scientific research.

The significance of Zimmerwald geostation for swisstopo is not only that Zimmerwald as the fundamental point is the reference for the national survey (LV95), but also that it is used as the connection to global reference systems.

Besides being used for national surveying purposes, the data of Zimmerwald geostation are also used for the swipos positioning service.

Fundamental point

Zimmerwald geostation is the fundamental point of the national survey and thus forms the point of origin for Switzerland’s coordinates system.

Observations

Here you will find a brief description of the various observation types that are used in the observatory and geostation in Zimmerwald.


Federal Office of Topography swisstopo Seftigenstrasse 264
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern
Tel.
+41 58 469 01 11

E-mail


Relevant authority

Geodesy and Federal Directorate of Cadastral Surveying
E-mail

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

Seftigenstrasse 264
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern

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