100 years of swisstopo Flight Service

In 1926, #swisstopo pioneered #aerialPhotogrammetry in Switzerland, taking to the skies when aviation was still in its infancy to map the country more precisely and efficiently than ground surveys could. A century later, the #FlightService remains the foundation for swisstopo’s geodata and maps and thus an important basis for planning, research, defence, and everyday life.
Author

Ralph Straumann

Published

June 7, 2026

100 years ago, in 1926, the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo established its Flight Service. The imagery and data collected by the Flight Service are the foundations for maps and geoinformation of the Swiss federal authorities. From the press release (DE, FR) of the Federal Council:

With a great deal of innovative spirit, staff at the Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo embraced a new technology 100 years ago. Instead of surveying Switzerland bit by bit from the ground, they took to the skies in aeroplanes and captured aerial photographs of the landscape. Aviation was still in its infancy and there was hardly any experience to draw on. Nevertheless, these pioneers had the courage to establish aerial photogrammetry. This technique represented a major leap forward in modernisation and made the mapping and surveying of the country more precise, efficient and cost-effective.

Also today, photogrammetric surveys are still an important part of swisstopo’s work:

Today, the aerial photographs taken by swisstopo’s aerial survey service mark the start of a long production chain for geodata. Without these images, there would be no reliable, regularly updated maps, no precise landscape or elevation models, and thus no sound basis for the planning, development and protection of our country. For in our interconnected society, geoinformation has become indispensable. It is used in public administration, research, the business world, defence, and also in leisure activities, and forms the basis for decisions taken in politics, the economy, and also in people’s everyday lives.

Seconded.

There is much more to discover about the history of swisstopo’s Flight Service and the work they do today:

And swisstopo has also produced a great video about the history of the Flight Service, which is available in German, French, and Italian (subtitle translation to English is available). Enjoy!