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Organisation of swisstopo

The Federal Office of Topography “measures” Switzerland. It surveys and documents the landscape and the underground, and produces high-quality spatially-referenced geodata. Its most important products include landscape and height models, aerial images, orthophotos, geological data and maps, reference data and of course the well-known series of national maps.

The Federal Office of Topography swisstopo is Switzerland’s geoinformation centre. We supply accurate, up-to-date and reliable basic information for surveying Switzerland, collecting data on the landscape and subsoil and documenting this over time. With swisstopo, every location in Switzerland can be precisely determined to the last centimetre. swisstopo thus fulfils a federal task.

Our products include national maps, elevation and landscape models, aerial photographs, orthophotos, geological data and maps or applications on the Internet, as well as on mobile devices. The federal government’s map viewer at map.geo.admin.ch is a particularly important element.

The legal basis for swisstopo’s activities is the Federal Geoinformation Act. In addition to developing products, swisstopo is also responsible for coordinating activities relating to geoinformation and geology at the federal level, as well as for managing the Institute for Military Geography. Furthermore, it is responsible for the supervision of the cadastral survey and the Cadastre of public-law restrictions on landownership (PLR Cadastre), as well as for supervising the coordination of Swiss geodata in cooperation with the cantons, municipalities and the private sector.   

Organisation chart swisstopo

The organizational structure of swisstopo includes seven divisions:

  • Topography
  • Cartography 
  • Geodesy and Federal Directorate of Cadastral Surveying
  • COGIS (Coordination, Geoinformation and Services)
  • Swiss Geological Survey 
  • Human Resources
  • Support
     

The directorate (with the Communication and Web, Legal Services and Administrative Unit Management) is managed by the director.

The Director is in charge of the office and assumes the general responsibility. One of the heads of a division assumes the function of Deputy Director and is in charge during the director's absence. He also takes over particular tasks to unburden the Director. The management together with the Director is responsible for the strategic management of the office. The management process is responsible for the operative management of the office and for assigning tasks to the management or the divisions.

Competence centers assure the coordination between the different divisions:

  • National Point of Contact (NPOC) for Satellite Images in Switzerland;
  • Rapid mapping to prepare geoinformation in the case of extraordinary events
  • The Institute for Military Geography  forms the interface between swisstopo and the DDPS for requirements for geographical and map data in Switzerland and abroad.

The Director

Fridolin Wicki is head of the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

Cartography

The Cartography is responsible for the analogue and digital cartographic depiction of the earth’s surface in Switzerland and parts of its neighbouring countries

Coordination, Geo-Information and Services (COGIS)

As the administrative office of the Coordinating Agency for Federal Geographic Information (GCG), COGIS coordinates the activities of the federal administration in the field of geoinformation and...

Human Resources

The Human Resources Division (HR) is responsible for the HR process from recruitment to departure and supports the process and the employees in an advisory, coordinating and service role. Qualified...

Institute for Military Geography

swisstopo manages the Institute for Military Geography and is the official representative of Switzerland abroad when it comes to partnerships in the area of military geography. It performs this role...

Topography

The Topography Division is responsible for the topographic mapping of Switzerland and adjacent parts of its neighbouring countries. In this way it provides other authorities, political bodies, the...

Survey

The Geodesy and Federal Directorate of Cadastral Surveying Division is responsible for the national geodetic survey, the Cadastre of Public Law Restrictions on Landownership (PLR Cadastre) and the...

Swiss Geological Survey

The Swiss Geological Survey at swisstopo is the federal competence centre for the collection, analysis, storage and provision of geological data. It prepares the decision-making bases for shaping our...

Support

The Support Division assists the Board of Management with topics concerning strategic and operational management and provides services for the benefit of the personnel in the expert areas of...

Commissions

swisstopo leads or plays a decisive role in various commissions and committees at national and international level.


Federal Office of Topography swisstopo Seftigenstrasse 264
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern
Tel.
+41 58 469 01 11
Fax
+41 58 469 04 59

E-mail


Opening hours

Monday to Thursday
7.45 to 11.45 a.m.
1.30 to 5 p.m.
Friday
7.45 to 11.45 a.m.
1.30 to 4 p.m.


Map collection – enquiries by phone:

Mondays and Thursdays
10 to 11.45 a.m.

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

Seftigenstrasse 264
P.O. Box
3084 Wabern

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