swisstopo Info 2015 Good maps for better decisions knowing where swisstopo Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confédération suisse Confederazione Svizzera Confederaziun svizra Swiss Confederation Federal Office of Topography swisstopo www.swisstopo.ch Maps with future The printed map has a future and celebrates successes in digital version. Much has changed since the publication of the first printed map of the country in 1845. Cartographic contents in digital applications have become indispen­ sable companions in many situations, both professionally and privately, and affect our decisions. swisstopo moves with the times, so that you know, today and in the future, where to. Index Reliable bases for planning and development 4 Navigation on all paths – and off them 6 Exploitation and protection do not contradict each other 8 Safety requires clarity 10 The knowledge under our feet 12 In maps we read the time 14 Mission Reliable bases for planning and development Geographic information provides modern states with the essential foundations for planning and development. In the early days of the Confederation, maps helped 672.5 690 707.5 2 2 2 1 302 to define the political1 302 structure, and to visualize the geographic area. Nowadays, they provide1011 1012 the geographic infrastructure to represent the spatial connections of Beggingen Singen 725 742.5 2 2 1 290 numerous interest groups. 1 290 1031 1032 1033 1034 760 602.5 620 637.5 655 Neunkirch Diessenhofen Steckborn Kreuzlingen 2 2 2 2 2 1 278 1 278 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053Impartial1054 and independent1055 550 567.5 585 Basel Rheinfelden Laufenburg Bad Zurzach Eglisau Andelfingen Frauenfeld Weinfelden Romanshorn 777.5 2 2 2 2 1 266 Geographic information, and maps 1in266 particular, are often used as tools to 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073shape public1074 opinion.1075 Hence,1076 the protection from any form of abuse must be Montbéliard Bonfol Rodersdorf Arlesheim Sissach Frick Baden Bülach Winterthur Wil Bischofszell Rorschach St. Margrethen 1 254 a priority. The State fulfils an important1 254 duty in mandating swisstopo to 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 Damvant St-Ursanne Delémont Passwang Hauenstein Aarau Wohlen Zürich Uster Hörnli provide Degersheimimpartial andGais independentDiepoldsau foundations. The official products are the 1 242 1 242 property of Switzerland. They are free of advertisements and based on 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 532.5 Albis Stäfa 2 Saignelégier Bellelay Moutier Balsthal Murgenthal Schöftland Hitzkirch Rickenthe law onNesslau geoinformation,Säntis Feldkirch which dictates transparently and comprehensibly 1 230 1 230 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133which services1134 swisstopo1135 is bound1136 to provide. The law also establishes the Walensee Buchs Drei Schwestern 795 812.5 830 Le Russey Les Bois Chasseral Büren a. A. Solothurn Langenthal Sursee Hochdorf Zug Einsiedeln Linthebene 2 2 2 1 218 requirements for accessing and using geodata. 1 218 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1159 515 Lyss Burgdorf Sumiswald Wolhusen 836.75 2 Le Locle Val de Ruz Bielersee Luzern Rigi Ibergeregg Klöntal Spitzmeilen Sargans Schesaplana Sulzfluh Ischgl 2 1 206 Avers is as important as Zurich 1 206 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 1172 1173 1174 1175 1176 1177 1178 1179 Murten The geography of Switzerland is very diverse. It includes a densely populated847.5 Les Verrières Travers Neuchâtel Morat Bern Worb Langnau i. E. Schüpfheim Alpnach Beckenried Muotathal Linthal Elm Vättis Schiers Serneus Gross Litzner Samnaun 2 1 194 central plateau, as well as lonesome and wild mountain valleys. Some people1 194 1182 1183 1184 1185 1186 1187 1188 1189 1190 1191 1192 1193 1194 1195 1196 1197 1198 1199 1199 bis 497.5 Ste-Croix Grandson Payerne Fribourg Schwarzenburg Münsingen Eggiwil Sörenberg Melchtal Engelberg Schächental Tödi Flims Reichenau Arosa Davos Silvretta Scuol Piz Lad 2 Freiburg value the timely and accurate representation of the new developments in 1 182 1 182 1201 1202 1203 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1212 1213the agglomeration.1214 1215 Others rely1216 on the1217 path given1218 on the 1219map to find1219 bis their way Mouthe Orbe Yverdon-les-B. Romont Rossens Guggisberg Thun Beatenberg Brienz Innertkirchen Meiental Amsteg Trun Ilanz Thusis Filisur Scalettapass Zernez S-charl Glurns ⁄ Glorenza 1 170 in the fog. The people’s demands for good maps are legitimate, and the 1 170 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 1230 1231 1232 1233same everywhere.1234 swisstopo1235 1236 ensures the1237 availability1238 of uniformly1239 123high9 bis­quality 480 Le Sentier Cossonay Echallens Moudon Gruyères Boltigen Niesen Lauterbrunnen swisstopoGrindelwald ensuresGuttannen consistentUrseren Oberalppass Greina Vals Andeer Savognin Albulapass Piz Quattervals Sta. Maria Müstair 2 1 158 maps covering the entire country, in digital and printed form. 1 158 and comprehensive coverage 1240 1241 1242 1243 1244 1245 1246 1247 1248 1249 1250 1251 1252 1253 1254 1255 1256 1257 1258 830 2 847.5 Les Rousses Marchairuz Morges Lausanne Châtel-St-Denis Château-d'Oex Zweisimmen Adelboden Mürren ofFinsteraarhorn SwitzerlandUlrichen with highVal Bedretto­ Ambrì-Piotta Olivone Hinterrhein Splügenpass Bivio St. Moritz La Stretta 2 1 146 1 146 quality maps, in print and 1260 1261 1262 1263 1264 1265 1266 1267 1268 1269 1270 1271 1272 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 Col de la Faucille Nyon Thonon-les-B. Évian-les-B. Montreux Les Mosses Lenk Gemmi Lötschental digitalAletschgletscher format.Binntal Basòdino P. Campo Tencia Biasca Mesocco Campodolcino Val Bregaglia Piz Bernina La Rösa 1 134 1 134 1280 1281 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293 1294 1296 1298 532.5 Gex Coppet 2 Monthey Les Diablerets St-Léonard Sierre Raron Brig Helsenhorn Bosco ⁄ Gurin Maggia Osogna Grono Sciora Lago di Poschiavo 1 122 1 122 1 122 1 122 1300 1301 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 1311 1312 1313 1314 760 795 2 2 777.5 812.5 Chancy Genève Val-d'Illiez Dent de Morcles Sion Vissoie St. Niklaus Simplon Comologno Locarno Bellinzona Passo San Jorio 2 2 1 110 1 110 1 110 480 515 1324 1325 1326 1327 1328 1329 1332 1333 1334 2 2 672.5 497.5 2 2 Barberine Sembrancher Rosablanche Evolène Randa Saas Brissago Tesserete Porlezza 1 098 1 098 1344 1345 1346 1347 1348 1349 1352 1353 Col de Balme Orsières Chanrion Matterhorn Zermatt Monte Moro Luino Lugano 1 086 1 086 620 655 690 550 1365 1366 1373 1374 2 2 637.5 2 2 Gd St-Bernard Mont Vélan 2 Mendrisio Como © swisstopo 1 074 1 074 585 725 2 2 567.5 602.5 707.5 742.5 2 2 2 Did you know that2 … … the first Dufour map – the first official map of Switzerland – cost the equiva­ lent of today’s 80 francs? The printed national map, as its successor, presently costs 14 francs. Under www.map.geo.admin.ch the map clippings can even be printed for free. 4 Mission Quality has its price If the existent geodata were lost, their replacement would cost over 5 billion francs. This is a tremendous value. swisstopo maps are part of this “treasure”, since many products and applications depend on these bases, and those responsible rely upon them. The debate over whether the users of geographic information and infrastructure should be charged – and if so, how much – is on­going. Politics will decide whether in the future the offer shall be freely available, or whether some uses shall continue to be paid for. Surely, appropriate founding must be secured, in order to maintain the value and quality of our geographic infrastructure. Official information centralized Times are changing. While in the past swisstopo itself collected many map data, today the network of official data is paramount. Efficiency requires that data are collected only once, by the most competent body. They are then integrated over interfaces into the swisstopo products. This saves time and resources, and ensures high quality. Via geo­services and standardized The distribution channels interfaces, swisstopo maps are now easily integrated into websites and are becoming more diverse. geographic information systems. Online services are rapidly growing in significance along Competition spurs! with trade. Not every public interest is equated with a public duty. swisstopo maps often serve as a basis to fulfil the needs of the private sector. swisstopo exerts restraint whenever tasks beyond the official services are already adequately met by private institutions. Innovation is part of the business: motivated and competent employees make sure that swisstopo is represented on the market with innovative and success­ ful solutions, which become standard. Through swisstopo participation in the competition, products are continuously questioned, customers’ needs are taken into account, and trends are identified. HINT: Free geodata! Even today, many swisstopo geodata are digitally available for free under www.swisstopo.ch / freegeodata. 5 Principles Navigation on all paths – and off them When it matters, compromises are out of the question. swisstopo maps are unique in their richness of detail. The new landscape model and high­precision elevation models ensure that the maps’ precision keeps pace with technological progress (e.g. satellite navigation for everyone). Thus, maps are not only beautiful and detailed, but also accurate. The better the bases, the better the maps The aerial images SWISSIMAGE, which are flown and rectified by swisstopo itself, have a ground resolution of 0.25 – 0.5 meters. They were used to create the elevation model swissALTI3D and the landscape model swissTLM3D, with a precision and content comparable to that of a 1: 5 000 map. It covers the whole of Switzerland and have, for well­defined objects such as roads and buildings, a position and elevation accuracy of 0.2 – 1.5 meters.