Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

What Federal Office of Topography swisstopo does

The Federal Office of Topography swisstopo is Switzerland's official federal geoinformation center, established in 1838 and headquartered at Seftigenstrasse 264 in Wabern near Bern. Operating as a Swiss federal government agency rather than a commercial enterprise, swisstopo surveys and documents Switzerland's landscape and subsoil, producing authoritative spatial data including topographic maps, aerial imagery, LiDAR terrain models, 3D building models, geographic names databases, and cadastral information. The organization serves multiple customer segments: Swiss federal and cantonal authorities for official administration and land registry purposes; private individuals for navigation, outdoor recreation, and paper maps; specialist professionals requiring precise positioning, geodata, and cadastral surveying; and educational institutions receiving free teaching resources.

The agency's technology stack is built around aerial photography, LiDAR sensing, and cadastral surveying systems. Core products include SWISSIMAGE (a national orthophoto mosaic updated with current imagery), swissSURFACE3D (high-resolution LiDAR terrain models available as both raster and standard formats), swissBUILDINGS3D (3D building models integrated with federal building identifiers EGID), swissNAMES3D (over 490,000 geo-referenced Swiss geographic names), and swissALTIRegio (regional altitude models). Distribution occurs primarily through self-service digital channels including the swisstopo App and map.geo.admin.ch web portal, supplemented by a physical shop at headquarters and dedicated specialist access services. The agency maintains centimetre-level positional accuracy using official Swiss coordinate systems and coverage across all 26 cantons.

Swisstopo's business model reflects its public service mandate: the agency is primarily funded through the Swiss federal government budget, with additional revenue generated from sale of paper maps, premium digital products, and commercial licensing fees for geodata use. Core geodata is shared freely under open and reusable terms with the public, companies, and authorities. Pricing for specialist positioning services and physical products follows a unit pricing model, while educational tools and free public access are provided as part of the agency's public service mission. The organization celebrated 100 years of its flight service in 2026 and is currently modernizing its aerial imaging sensor system to maintain technological currency.

Name

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

Legal name

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

Website

https://swisstopo.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1838

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Federal Office of Topography swisstopo is Switzerland's official federal geoinformation center, producing authoritative topographic maps, aerial imagery, LiDAR terrain models, 3D building data, and cadastral information for government, businesses, professionals, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Geoinformation and Topographic Services

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geocoding, Search & Place Data Platforms (BPAMANAC), Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), National Statistics & Census Administration (BPAIAAAF)

Keywords

• National geoinformation services
• Topographic mapping
• Cadastral surveying
• Aerial imagery products
• LiDAR terrain modelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Wabern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Geospatial Data Services: As a Swiss federal government agency, swisstopo is primarily funded through the federal government budget. Revenue is generated through the sale of physical products (paper maps), digital data products, and licensing fees for commercial use of geoinformation.
2. Free Public Access Products: Core geodata is shared in an open, transparent, and reusable manner accessible to the public, companies, and authorities free of charge, reflecting the agency's public service mandate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Federal Office of Topography swisstopo is Switzerland's official federal geoinformation centre. It produces and distributes authoritative national topographic data, including aerial imagery (SWISSIMAGE), LiDAR-derived 3D terrain and surface models (swissSURFACE3D), 3D building models (swissBUILDINGS3D), geographic names (swissNAMES3D), web vector tile maps (Swiss Map Web), paper maps and cadastral/PLR land registry data, delivered through the swisstopo App, the map.geo.admin.ch web viewer, a physical shop and specialist access services for individual citizens, professionals, teachers and government authorities.

Product overview

The Federal Office of Topography swisstopo operates as Switzerland's geoinformation centre, offering a comprehensive portfolio of geodata products and services. The core offering includes the swisstopo App with its interactive Base Map featuring landmark highlighting, web-based Map Viewer (map.geo.admin.ch), and various data products including SWISSIMAGE (aerial orthophoto mosaic), swissSURFACE3D/raster (LiDAR terrain models), swissALTIRegio (regional height models), swissBUILDINGS3D (3D building models), swissNAMES3D (490,000+ geographic names), and Swiss Map Web (vector tiles). Specialist services encompass positioning/coordinates, cadastral surveying, PLR cadastre, and geological documentation. The organization also provides paper maps and aerial photography services. All products serve private individuals, teachers, and specialist users including authorities and companies, with data shared in an open, transparent, and reusable manner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• swisstopo app: Mobile application providing interactive Base Map with landmark features, coordinates, and access to Swiss geographic data.
• map.geo.admin.ch

Products and services

• swisstopo App Mobile application providing interactive Base Map with prominent landmarks, aerial photos, coordinates and navigation for private individuals.
• Base Map (interactive mobile map) Interactive mobile map within the swisstopo App displaying topographic information including landmarks, buildings, towers and mountain peaks for orientation.
• Map Viewer (map.geo.admin.ch) Web-based map viewer for discovering swisstopo maps and geodata; supports distance and area measurement, historical aerial image comparison, custom marking, printing and sharing.
• SWISSIMAGE National orthophoto mosaic providing seamless aerial imagery coverage of Switzerland, updated regularly by canton using swisstopo's aerial imaging surveys.
• swissSURFACE3D High-resolution LiDAR-derived 3D terrain model providing detailed elevation and surface information across Swiss cantons, updated on a cantonal cycle.
• swissSURFACE3D Raster Raster-format version of swissSURFACE3D providing digital elevation data for Swiss cantons.
• swissALTIRegio Height/altitude model providing regional elevation data for Swiss cantons, available for download.
• swissBUILDINGS3D 3.0 Beta 3D building models integrated with federal building identifiers (EGID) for precise spatial documentation across Swiss cantons.
• swissNAMES3D Comprehensive database of over 490,000 geo-referenced Swiss geographic names, including populated-place point objects, available as GeoPackage.
• Swiss Map Web (vector tilesets) Web-based map products delivered as vector tilesets including Base and Relief layers for integration into web applications.
• Positioning Services Geolocation and coordinate services enabling precise position determination to within centimetres using Swiss coordinate systems, for specialists and enterprises.
• Cadastral Surveying Official land registry plan and property boundary documentation system for Switzerland, serving as the legal basis for cadastral records.
• PLR Cadastre Public land register cadastre system used for recording land ownership and property rights in Switzerland.
• Paper Maps Traditional printed topographic maps available for purchase through the swisstopo shop, for individuals and specialists.
• Aerial Photos Aerial photography surveys of Switzerland, sold as products and serving as the foundation for maps, land registry plans and photographic plans.
• Geological Documents Geological documentation and subsurface mapping services providing specialist geological information to professional users.
• Geodata Products Spatial geodata products and datasets covering Switzerland's landscape and subsoil, made available openly or by arrangement to the public, companies and authorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Precise positioning within a few centimetres using official coordinate systems
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Collaborative partnership with WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF and Swiss Alpine Club SAC to develop and implement the new slope class for slopes exceeding 50 degrees in the slope classes layer. The partnership aims to improve map readability for alpine safety applications.
• Swiss Alpine Club (SAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Collaborative partnership with WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF and Swiss Alpine Club SAC to develop and implement the new slope class for slopes exceeding 50 degrees in the slope classes layer. The partnership aims to improve map readability for alpine safety applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BKG (Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie): Germany's federal agency for cartography and geodesy, providing national topographic data, geodetic reference systems, and official geodata services — same federal-government national-mapping role.
• Kadaster: Netherlands' land registry and mapping agency providing cadastral records, topographic data, and official spatial information — directly comparable in combining cadastre with national geoinformation.
• Lantmäteriet: Swedish mapping, cadastral, and land-registry authority combining official geodata production with property registration — directly comparable mandate and product mix to swisstopo.
• IGN (Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière): France's national geographic information agency, responsible for topographic mapping, aerial imagery, LiDAR-derived terrain models, and official geodata distribution — a near-mirror mandate to swisstopo.
• Ordnance Survey: United Kingdom's national mapping agency, providing authoritative geospatial data, paper maps, and digital products including OS MasterMap and the OS Maps app — the closest functional analogue to swisstopo in another country.
• Kartverket (Norwegian Mapping Authority): Norway's national mapping, cadastral, and geodetic authority offering official geodata, positioning services, and land registry products — closely comparable in mandate and product structure.

Broad incumbents

• USGS (United States Geological Survey): U.S. federal scientific agency producing national topographic maps, aerial imagery, and geospatial datasets (including The National Map) — broader scientific remit but overlapping core mapping/imagery outputs.
• HERE Technologies: Commercial provider of location data, mapping platforms, and geospatial services for automotive and enterprise — competing in adjacent spaces such as positioning services and map platforms used by Swiss enterprises.
• Google Maps / Google Earth: Global consumer mapping and satellite/aerial imagery platform from Google — the dominant commercial competitor for swisstopo's consumer-facing navigation, Base Map, and SWISSIMAGE use cases.

Emerging players

• OpenStreetMap Foundation: Open, community-driven geospatial database with global coverage; serves as a free alternative base map and overlaps with swisstopo's open-data approach for consumer and developer use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/swisstopo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swisstopo
• Instagraminstagram.com/swisstopo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Federal Office of Topography swisstopo