The cadastral surveying is an excellent example of the smoothly functioning cooperation between the public administration and the private sector that has been ongoing for more than a hundred years.

Both the tasks and the financing are shared between the federal government, the cantons and the municipalities.

Around 2‘890 employees throughout the country are entrusted with the tasks of collecting, managing and updating cadastral surveying data.

Federal government

The federal government is responsible for the strategic management of the system. The involved authority is the Federal Directorate of Cadastral Surveying, which is responsible for the administration and supervision of cadastral surveying in Switzerland at the federal level.

Cantons

The cantons are responsible for the operational management of the system. They plan, direct and monitor the surveying activities, and each canton defines its own implementation standards. After it has been officially approved, the cadastral surveying becomes a public document.

Twenty cantons have their own cadastral surveying supervisory authority. The cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri have delegated operational management to the Federal Directorate of Cadastral Surveying, as has the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Municipalities

Cadastral surveying offices exist in the larger towns and cities, which are responsible for the implementation of cadastral surveying in their respective municipality.

Private sector

In most cantons, private surveying bureaux have been entrusted with the implementation of cadastral surveying.