Cartography in Spain: from ED50 to ETRS89
Cartography in Spain: how mapping has evolved from the ED50 reference system to ETRS89, and why Clotoides transforms maps to meet Spanish and European rules.
Have you ever wondered how old maps were made in Spain? Or how they have been updated over time? In this post we explain the evolution of cartography in Spain, from the ED50 reference system to ETRS89.
The ED50 reference system
Old cartography in Spain was produced using the ED50 reference system, which was used from the 1950s to the 1990s. However, this system had some limitations, such as a lack of accuracy in the location of geographic points.
The change to ETRS89
For this reason, from the 1990s onwards a new reference system called ETRS89 began to be used, which allowed greater accuracy and reliability in the location of geographic points. This system is also compatible with the Global Positioning System (GPS), which has made possible a significant advance in the field of geolocation.
What this means for surveyors today
In short, cartography in Spain has evolved constantly, and thanks to the use of the ETRS89 system, land surveyors and cartographers can work with greater accuracy and reliability when geolocating points and places, which translates into better knowledge and management of the territory.
Tags levantamiento topograficomapaplanotopografia
Written by Vicent Doménech, geodesy and cartography engineer, chartered surveyor no. 8948.
