Vermessungswesen

Vermessungswesen, in English surveying and geomatics, is the discipline and profession that measures, represents, and manages the geometry and position of objects and land on the earth's surface. It encompasses geodesy, cadastral surveying, topography, cartography, photogrammetry, remote sensing, and the integration of geospatial data in information systems. Professionals in this field are surveyors or geomatic engineers.

Historically, Vermessungswesen grew from practical land measurement for agriculture, construction, and taxation into a formal science with standardized procedures for accuracy, scale, and reference systems. The 19th and 20th centuries saw the development of national geodetic networks and cadastral records. Since the late 20th century, digital technologies such as GNSS, total stations, laser scanning, photogrammetry, and UAV surveys have transformed workflows.

Key activities include planning field campaigns, data collection, measurement corrections, network adjustment, coordinate determination, and map or geospatial data production. Data are stored in GIS and cadastral systems, with emphasis on traceability and metadata. Three-dimensional modeling and BIM are increasingly integrated for construction, planning, and infrastructure projects.

Vermessungswesen supports land administration, construction and infrastructure development, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. In many countries, graduates obtain professional licenses or certifications to perform official cadastral surveys and to issue legal documents related to property boundaries.

Education combines geodesy, geomatics, cartography, and computer science at universities and technical colleges. The practice is established in German-speaking regions such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with ongoing developments in remote sensing, cloud GIS, and digital twins for planning and management.