Consider this: maps are more than paper. They are windows to understanding our world. Right here stands the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. It is Spain’s National Geographic Institute. It is dedicated to mapping and understanding the Earth.
Founded in 1870, the Instituto Geográfico Nacional is a cornerstone of Spanish geography. It operates under the Ministry of Public Works. The institute is Spain’s national mapping agency. It works alongside the Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica. Together, they chart the nation.
The Instituto Geográfico Nacional plays many important roles. It conducts astronomic observations. The institute maintains national geodetic networks. It also creates and updates the country’s cartography. This includes official National Topographic Maps. These maps are called MTN50 at 1:50,000 scale and MTN25 at 1:25,000 scale. The institute maintains the Spanish Spatial Data Infrastructure. This is known as IDEE. The institute also researches and applies teledetection systems. It is involved in geophysics, gravimetry, and the analysis of seismographic and volcanic activity.
One of the main products of the Instituto Geográfico Nacional is the MTN50. This stands for Mapa Topográfico Nacional. Its scale is 1:50,000. The institute obtains data by direct observation and measurement. MTN50 constitutes official basic cartography of Spain with MTN25. It comprises 1073 sheets. Its original publication started in 1875. It finished in 1968. Updating of sheets stopped in 1985. This allowed focus on the new 1:25,000 scale map MTN25. In 1999, a renovated MTN50 was resumed. This new version includes shading. It is generated from MTN25 sheets using digital technology. The first edition began in 1999. It ended in 2010 making 1073 sheets.
Another key product is MTN25. This also stands for Mapa Topográfico Nacional. Its scale is 1:25,000. As of October 2017, it had 4,098 sheets in vector format. It also had 4,102 in raster format. These sheets cover 5′ latitude by 10′ longitude. This distribution comes from the MTN50. Each MTN50 sheet divides into four quarters. Each quarter makes an MTN25 sheet.
The National Plan for Aerial Orthophotography is also significant. It is abbreviated as PNOA. It began in 2004. It aims to obtain digital aerial orthophotographs of all Spanish territory. These are updated every 3 years. The resolution has improved. Since 2017, the resolution is at least 25 cm. Some areas reach 15 cm resolution. PNOA is a cooperative project. The Government of Spain and Autonomous Communities participate. They ensure technical specifications are met. This approach aligns with the Inspire Directive. It promotes shared geographic information across Europe.
Notably, since 2015, the Instituto Geográfico Nacional has made most of its products freely available online. These include MTN50, MTN25 topographic maps and PNOA aerial photographs. They are licensed under a CC-BY-4.0-like license.
The Instituto Geográfico Nacional stands as a vital institution. It shapes our understanding of Spain’s geography. Its commitment to free access ensures information is available to all. As we conclude, remember the power of maps. They connect us to the world.