Milestones in the development of cadastral surveying in Switzerland

Cadastral surveying data are to be enhanced by the addition of information on the third dimension (3D cadastre).

Transfer of cadastral surveying data into the 1995 national survey datum (LV95) will be completed.

Centenary of the Federal Land Registry and the Federal Cadastral Survey

In addition to the existing cadastral data which have been subject exclusively to private law, it is planned to establish a new register of property restrictions under public law.

Implementation of the first state examination brought about by new regulations governing engineering geometers (GeomV).

The new Federal Law on Geographic Information (GeoIG) comes into force. As one of the first countries in Europe, Switzerland has a modern geoinformation legislation which will fulfil its future needs.

Introduction of a register of engineering geometers: the register of geometers establishes a clear distinction between educational diplomas, professional practice and disciplinary measures. 

With the new Article 75a in the Federal Constitution, both the national land survey and the issue of regulations covering cadastral surveying are explicitly defined as Federal matters.

Based on a satellite-supported basic network, the Swiss National Land Survey LV95 consists of 210 specially selected permanent control points.

With the new Ordinances on Official Cadastral Surveying (VAV, TVAV), digital databases began to replace conventional graphic media.

GPS surveys were introduced as a new method in cadastral surveying.

The severe delay in the cadastral surveying programme as well as the shift in society towards digital technology called for new ideas in cadastral surveying.
On October 21, 1981 the Federal Council enacts a programme for the completion of the cadastral survey in Switzerland (Programme 2000).

Subsequently the «cadastral surveying reform project» (RAV) was launched with the aim of providing improved services to the government, the industry and economy as well as to the general public.

It led to the enactment of federal decrees adapting the content of the cadastral survey to the new technological possibilities. Between 1989 and 1999, the Nidwalden pilot project demonstrated that cadastral surveying in digital form can be carried out for an entire Canton.

Many new technical procedures were tested and introduced:

1974: use of automated data processing in cadastral surveying.

from around 1970: electronic distance measurements;

1965: use of electronic data processing

1940: use of mechanical desktop calculators and natural logarithms of the trigonometric functions for determining coordinates;

1929: the Federal Department of Justice and Police acquires the first surveying aircraft B.F.W. M 18c (Bavarian Aircraft Plant in Augsburg) with on-board camera for cadastral surveying;

1929: introduction of aluminium plates as a low-distortion drawing material;

1927: introduction of the polar coordinate method with optical distance measurement by means of «reduced double-image tachymeters»; 

beginning in 1925 aerial photogrammetry tests were carried out using military aircraft; the results were analyzed in Munich;

1923 – 1925 the first modern application of terrestrial photogrammetry (measurement on photographs);

Instruction for the 4th order triangulation from June 10, 1919

Instruction for cadastral surveying and delimitation from June 10, 1919

The Federal Land Registry was established at the same time as the introduction of the Swiss Civil Code. Cadastral surveying, an integral part of land registration, became a federal responsibility; its execution, however, was delegated to the Cantons. The Confederation retained the overall direction of policy and strategy and made the largest contribution to the costs of cadastral survey. Since then, land ownership has been guaranteed by the corresponding entry in the land register.

The financial contribution of the federal government to the cost of cadastral surveying is regulated by a federal resolution from April 13, 1910

The first Swiss geodetic network (1st to 3rd order triangulation) was established beginning in 1903 to approx. 1925. It was based on around 5000 permanent control points of the Swiss National Land Survey (LV03). For about 100 years this has provided the geodetic reference framework for surveying work in Switzerland.

Following the initiative from the Canton of Aargau, several Cantons adopted the «Land surveyors’ concordat» which aimed for freedom of professional movement, a common system of examination of land surveyors and laid down uniform regulations for surveying procedures.

The process of cadastral mapping by plane table surveys gradually gave way to polygonal traverse procedures.

On 18 May 1804 the Parliament of the Canton of Vaud ordered the survey of every municipality and the establishment of land ownership and valuation registers. Geneva followed the example between 1806 and 1818, and Basel from 1818 until the separation of the Canton in 1833. A cantonal surveyor was in fact appointed in Basel in 1806, although the first land parcel surveys did not take place until 1818.

Under the short-lived Helvetic Republic, the establishment of a nationwide cadastre based on the French model was proposed.

Isolated large scale surveys were occasionally carried out for the assessment of land charges (tithes, taxes, etc.).