America’s highest peak now measures 6962 metres!

At 6,962 Metres on Aconcagua in January 2001: Climber Gianpetro Verza has just mounted the terre- strial reflector signal to enable the classical terrestrial survey with tacheometres from the valley, and he has fixed on the top the Leica GPS 530 antenna. This configura- The highest mountain of The 7242 kilometre-long mountains are “growing” tion allowed at the same time mea- the Americas is only 38.17 Andes are the longest or "shrinking". From now on, surement in both technologies with meters short of seven mountain chain in the world. however, with technology high accuracy. Verza has put the thousand. The indications The Swiss Matthias and systems providing a Leica GPS530 terminal, the same on maps of the precise Zurbriggen was the first reproducible accuracy of a equipment as used on Kilimanjaro, elevation of America’s man to conquer Aconcagua few millimetres, it will be before him on the summit. highest peak, Mt Aconca- on 14 January 1897. In 2001 possible to precisely measu- gua, will have to be correc- it was with the most modern re the summits and record re-surveyed using the same ted and increased by two GPS measurement techno- their vertical and horizontal GPS equipment from Leica metres. This is the result of logy from Switzerland, that movements. Geosystems. an Italian-Argentinian the exact mountain height Scientific Expedition led by was re-determined. After Mt Everest and On Mt Everest, re-measured Geologist Giorgio Poretti. Mt Kilimanjaro now also in 1992 by an Italian- Previously mapped at a Scientists of Poretti’s expedi- Aconcagua Chinese-Nepalese team also height of 6959.75 metres tion team have been very In the past, highly precise led by Professor Giorgio this highest mountain of the keenly awaiting the new measurements of the Poretti, the elevation of the southern hemisphere has results to find out if they world’s summits were not highest peak of our globe been re-measured using reveal the "shrinking" trend possible due to technolo- reached 8846 metres, which the most modern global of the previously re-survey- gical limitations. However, was actually two metres positioning (Leica GPS530) ed peaks in Asia and Africa. with the emergence in the lower than previously map- and terrestrial surveying This, however, was not the past decade of extremely ped. The same happened methods and results reveal case, but the results still do accurate GPS surveying with Mt Kilimanjaro in 1999, that it is 6961.83 metres not indicate that the Andes equipment, there has been where a German-Tanzanian above sea level. are growing at a greater rate a drive to re-survey and team, led by Eberhard than the Himalyas. The new confirm the exact heights Messmer, came to the con- results give no indication of the tallest peaks in each clusion that this volcano was whether the earlier Acon- of the continents. Asia’s in fact 5893 metres above cagua measurements were Mt Everest and Africa’s sea level, two metres less inaccurate, nor whether the Mt Kilimanjaro have been than before. The highest mountains on the continents Continent Highest Mountain Height above sea level Asia Mt Everest 8846 metres* America (south) Mt Aconcagua 6962 metres* (north) Mt McKinley 6194 metres** Africa Mt Kilimanjara 5892 metres* Antarctica Mt Vinson 5140 metres** Europe (Caucasus) Mt Elbrus 5642 metres** (Alps) Mont Blanc 4810 metres** Australiasia/Oceania Carstensz Pyramid 4884 metres** Australia Mt Kosciusko 2230 metres** * Already re-measured with Leica GPS 300/500 ** Measured with Leica theodolites during the 20th century

The results of the Aconca- gua measurement are Mt.Blanc measured with Leica GPS extremely accurate. Similar Three metres higher than The measurement revealed to the Mt Everest campaign, currently stated in maps, is a result of 4810.4 metres. the experienced Poretti team the elevation of the highest The Surveying Certificate is of geologists, glaciologists, peak of the Alps, Mont signed by Pierre Bibollet, surveyors and climbers used Blanc. Its height above mean President Savoy Geomètre the most precise terrestrial sea level was defined on Association, Michel Kasser, instruments available 8 September 2001 with a Director Geodesy IGN, and today (Leica T2002/DI3000 Leica GPS500 as a result of Michel Gouinguené, Survey Tacheometres) and the most a survey campaign carried Expert and Director Leica advanced systems for GPS out by the National French Geosystems France. surveying (Leica GPS530). Surveying Authority (IGN).

Bavarian Surveying Authority celebrates its 200 anniversary A rare event indeed – a Bavaria. Based on a highly customer turns 200! Leica accurate database, the Geosystems was able to Bavarian Surveying Autho- congratulate one of its most rity today provides a important customers – the comprehensive spectrum of Bavarian Surveying Autho- maps ranging from local rity, Munich, Germany – on plans to digital selections via its recent Jubilee. Leica GPS the Internet. A book with the and TPS stations are subtitle ”There is a size/ standard in the free state of unity/measure in all things!” Bavaria. has been published and can be found at The Bavarian Surveying http://www.bayern.de/ From the times of the Royal Authority was derived from vermessung. Topographic Bureau 1801: the Topographical Bureau, measurement of the base line which was founded on between Munich-Erding. The 19 June 1801 by King Max IV poles were made from the wood Joseph. The Topographical of the fir tree – today it’s a laser Bureau’s task was to survey array. and map the Kingdom of