LAND SURVEY
Land surveying is a scientific and technical method that involves measuring, recording, and analysing the Earth’s surface, including the location, shape, and elevation of both natural and man-made features.
Accurate and standardised surveying is a cornerstone of many aspects of modern society – from planning and construction to nature conservation, climate research, and emergency response. It provides reliable and precise information about the Earth's surface, terrain, and elevation, which is essential for decision-making, research, and infrastructure development.
Iceland’s uniqueness calls for a specialised approach
Iceland is located on the tectonic plate boundary of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where crustal movements, volcanic activity, and earthquakes are part of daily life. The country shifts, on average, about 1 cm per year in each direction, and such activity causes localised distortion in reference systems. This makes continuous monitoring and repeated surveying necessary to maintain accurate positioning data.
The role of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland
The Natural Science Institute of Iceland is responsible for Iceland’s geodetic systems under Act No. 54/2024 on the Natural Science Institute of Iceland and nature centres, which merged the National Land Survey of Iceland, the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, and the Nature Research Station at Mývatn. This includes all the key foundations of geodetic surveying – the national coordinate system, height system, and positioning services.
The Institute’s role includes:
- Maintaining, developing, and ensuring access to a unified coordinate and height system for Iceland
- Taking account of crustal movements and ensuring reliability in coordinate transformations
- Providing professional advice to the public, authorities, and specialists
- Making surveying data and documentation accessible in a user-friendly way