History of Cartography

Historical Background

Ancient Greece was the homeland of great geographers such as Stravon and Claudius Ptolemy from Alexandria. Eratosthenescalculated the earth dimensions in an extraordinary way.

The end of the ancient world also brought a standstill in cartographic developments, whilst our country passed,following the end of the Byzantine Empire, under Turkish rule, to be liberated with the revolution of 1821, which led to the establishment of the contemporary Greek state in 1830.

The first scientific work on the mapping of Greece ook place in the period 1829-1831, with the the establishment of the trigonometric network of . Peloponnese (1100 points), by French officers. The first map of the entire Greece, at a scale of 1:400,000, was published in the decade 1840-1850, by the Bavarians, followed by an edition by the French. At that time, in 1885 the General Map of Greece at a scale of 1:300,000 was printed and published at the Military Geographical Institute of Vienna.

In 1889, the agreement co-signed by the Greek Ministry of Military Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Austrian Government, led to the establishment of the Austrian mission . thereinafter called the "Geodetic Mission", which later became the core of today's HMGS. The Greek government’s main interest at that time was the compilation of a cadastral register, in order to avoid any damages to the state economy. However, the number of officers available was limited and as such, the "Geodetic Mission" carried out only topographic and cartographic work and not cadastral work.

Lt Colonel Heinrich Hartl

In 1891, the "Geodetic Mission" was renamed to "Geodetic Detachment" and in 1895 named. "Army Cartographic Service" (ACS). A year later, the Austrian mission departed Greece and handed over the command of the ACS, to Captain ( Eng.) KontostavlosAlexandros. The Army Cartographic Service,in accordance with the Presidential Decree of 10th February 1926, became the Hellenic Military Geographical Service ( HMGS) .

During the German occupation (1940-1944), HMGS operated under the military control of the German forces. In October 1944, the German 613rd Topographic Mechanized Unit departed, confiscating and taking all the HMGStechnical equipment and part of its. archive.

In 1962, the Mapping of Greece project restarted, which ended up in the mapping of the country at a scale of 1:5,000. It was implemented with financial resources from the Public Investments fund of the Ministry of Coordination (National Economy) and has turned to be the spearhead for the renewal of the mechanical and scientific equipment of the Service, with a parallel increase in its civilian staff.

On 13 October 1971, pursuant to the National Decreeno1013 on the reorganization of the Geographical Service, the Geographical Service was designated as a Unit of the Geographical Service, administratively and financially independent, under the Army General Staff.

The 1980s and the following years, brought a revolution in the cartography with the introduction of personal computers, digital photogrammetric stations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing and Satellite Positioning Systems ( GPS ).

Through the use of modern geodetic methods and theories (spatial triangulation, gravimeter , astronomical and geomagnetic observations, etc.), their application in the practical field of topographic mapping, the use of Photogrammetry, the exploitation of satellite observations, as well as the complex processes of cartography and printing, composed the multidimensional activity of a Service that plays a leading role, both in the context of national strategy and development, and in its international synergies.

Based on its reliable and highly trained personnel (military and civilian), along with the modern and constantly evolving technological and computerized equipment, HMGS fulfills its mission by contributing with credibility to the dynamic participation of the Armed Forces in scientific and technical developments, through a vast field of theoretical research and practical applications, comparable to those of the corresponding services of other advanced countries.

HMGS puts theory into practice, a valuable guide in national defense planning, while equally important, is its participation in the progress of the country's development policy, its cooperation with all Ministries, state and private entities, public utilities and educational institutions, in programs and projects of major national importance.


Antiquity - 1888

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Introduction

GENERAL

The history of HMGS is linked with the continuous and uninterrupted geographical support of the Armed Forces with the necessary geographic products, in peace and war, while at the same time it is closely intertwined with the provision of geographical information, both in the public and private sectors.

The importance of its work emerges through the organized and systematic mapping and depiction of the geographical field of the Greek territory. The ability to study, supervise and analyze the space provided through the cartographic products of the Service constitutes a valuable tool in the organization, operation and rational planning of state activities.

HMGS is the oldest cartographic Service of the country with a diverse and remarkable cartographic work, comparable to corresponding Services of technologically advanced foreign countries. The geographical data it produces are characterized as reference data and constitute the necessary background not only for every military operation but also for the study and planning of infrastructure development projects. At the same time, it is the only national body producing and publishing a series of topographic maps of various scales for the entire Greek territory.

Cartography from antiquity to the founding of the modern Greek State (1830).

The first map in the history of mankind was carved in a cave 30,000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The ancient man has continuously drawn maps from then on, until today, in various ways, ideas and techniques, striving to obtain an image of the world and to illuminate the various aspects of the natural and artificial terrestrial environment around him.

The Ionians of Miletos city in Asia Minor , from the 7th century BC, used the stars and linked them to the Earth’surface, in order to locate their position in space, orientation and movement, thus designing the precursor to today's GPS . However, the first to initiate cartography to the science and historically mentioned as the one, who engraved a map of the world on a brass plate in 550 BC, was Anaximander of Miletοs (610-546 BC), aphilosopher, geographer and astronomer. Around 500 BC, the first known case of the use of a geographical map on European soil, in the Aegean area appeared. The historian Herodotus, mentions that the tyrant of Miletus Aristagoras fled to Sparta and presented to the Lacedaemonians, a map of the then known world in order to present to King Cleomenes the situation in Ionia (Asia Minor) and the problems that the Ionian cities were facing by Persian rule, urging him to set up a campaign against the Persians.

The urgent need to compile maps captured the attention of the ancient Greeks. Eratosthenes (276-194 BC) from Cyrene, one of the greatest geographers of the antiquity, calculated the dimensions of the earth in an amazing way, while at the same time he invented the system of meridians and parallels, which he drew on a map. Stravon (64 BC-24 AD), in his work Geographics, presented the first qualitative and accurate global geographical atlas of his time. Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria (100-165 AD) with his work Geographics 1, as the precursor of scientific cartography “by geographical coordinates”, had αffected the culture of maps in the West, whilst at the same time inventing a method that allowed the construction of the most accurate maps that the known world had seen until that time.

The end of the ancient world, chronologically estimated at the end of the 4th century AD, with the collapse of the Roman Empire and the entire Medieval period (5th-15th century AD), constitutes a long period of a general decline of the sciences with adverse effects in Cartography which as a science remained stagnant.

Prior to the establishment of the modern Greek state in 1830, in the period between the fall of Byzantium (1453) and the Greek revolution (1821), two more major cartographic stations supplemented the evolutionary course of the representation of the Greek geographical space.

The first one refers to the insular cartography which flourished until the end of the 17th century and holds a prominent position among the various schools of the Renaissance cartography. The maps created are colored and handwritten, large in size and depict the coastlines and islands with the maximum accuracy, while at the same time providing amultitude of geographical and historical information. The 16 maps of the Cycladeshighly aesthetic examples of 17th-century island cartography, produced by order of King Louis XIV, from 1685 to 1687,are typical examples. Their value, is not only based on the information provided on the natural and man-made space of the geostrategic archipelago, but much more on the unprecedented for that time,scale of depiction and impression of the space perspective

The second and last milestone prior to the establishment of the modern Greek state, refers to the prominent cartographic work (1796-1797) of RigasVelestinlis, the famous Charta, which reflects his cartographic vision for the nation’sindependence.


Cartographic developments until 1889.

Immediately after the Nation’s Liberation, at the beginning of the 19th century, the expeditions of the British Admiralty (1825) and the French expeditionary forcearrived in the Peloponnese (Moreas) from 1829 until 1838. Τhe expedition consisted of 17 scientists, the so called "Morea Scientific Mission" (Mission scientifique du Morée), who mapped the Peloponnese and the Aegean islands, studied the ancient monuments and recorded the research findings in books that provide important information about that period. Until the mid-19th century, only three main maps of the new state were published over a twenty-year period from 1832 to 1852, with primary or derivative cartographic works in Greece. In 1832, the “Map of the Morea -CarteduMorée”, from the French Military Cartographic Service (Dépôt de la Guèrre), in six sheets at a 1:200,000 scale (plus two additional sheets of a larger scale), was sent to Greece in 1834 in only 100 copies for the needs of the new State.

In 1838, the derivative map, also known as the "Map of Aldenhoven " was published in sixteen sheets and at a scale of 1:400,000, printed bilingually (in Greek and French) under the name "Map of the Kingdom of Greece".

In 1852, the map "Carte de laGrèce”, which completes the Greek cartographic period of the first half of the 19th century, depicting with rigor the space within the first borders of the new state. This map accurately captures the results of geodetic field measurements that start with the “Expedition” in 1829 and end in 1840.

In the second half of the 19th century, three events, each with its own special significance, complete the evolution of the cartographic image of the country.

In 1874, the branch of the German Archaeological Institute was founded in Athens, which, through the sponsorship of the Prussian Ministry of Culture, supports in 1875 the organization of the scientific mapping of Attica region, on a scale of 1:25,000, executed by the Captain of the Prussian Army JohannAugustKaupertand Lieutenant Alten. In 1878 this work was illustrated on twelve sheets of scale 1:25,000 under the name "Atlas of Athens". This work was expanded to include the whole region of Attica and in 1894 the publication of a series of 32 map sheets entitled “Karte von Attica” at a scale of 1:25,000was completed. The major undertaking for the mapping of the wider region of Attica is of particular value, as it will eventually result in a cognitive laboratory for the post graduate training and high-level education of Greek Topographers.

In 1884, on the basis of the 1852map of and the Aegean map, completed and published by the British Admiralty (1847), the “Map of the Kingdom of Greece” was published by the Imperial Military Geographical Institute of Vienna, in 13 sheets and at a scale of 1:300,000, whilst in 1885 the “General Map of the Kingdom of Greece” was mapped and printed by the same publisher with German nomenclature at a 1:200,000scale.

In 1887, the cartographic works began in the region of Thessaly by the team of Second Lieutenant Alexandros N. Mavrokordatos, with the scope of drawing a precise topographic map. These works constituted the first purely Greek systematic works and essentially constitute the precursor of the great cartographic enterprise of the years to follow.


Period A (1889-1918)

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CHAPTER 1 First Period (1889-1918)

The establishment of the Service and the imprint of its work until the end of World War I.

This period refers in general to the establishment of the Service and to the primary geodetic and cartographic work carried out, until the end of World War I. The dominant events that influenced its operation and organization in chronological order, were the withdrawal of the Austrian Officers (1896), the Greco-Turkish War (1897) and the Balkan Wars (1912-1913).


The starting point

The dawn of the history of the Hellenic Military Geographical Service, is literally identified with the arrival of the Geodetic Mission, which was summoned in Greece, by the Government of CharilaosTrikoupis, for the compilation of the country's cadastral map. Prime Minister Trikoupis considered the establishment of a National Cadastre an indispensable necessity for his governmental program. The distribution of the national land through the method of declarations for acquisition and use of land, applied by the Government of A. Koumoundourosin 1871, intensified the problem of land disguise, which led to land losses for the Greek State.

This appeal was a consequence of two important actions which prepared the ground for this historic action and essentially set the conditions for the establishment of the Service.

The primary one was the publication in 1882, of the Law on Land Registry, which, in Article 31 stated that " It is permitted in the Government to call to Army foreign Officers to study theState Military Organization or other military services and to introduce, assist and apply to the Army related applications. Their service cannot exceed the period of five years, unless otherwise defined by a special law"/

The second action was implemented by the issuance of the November 22, 1888 Decree, which provided that the First-Class Engineers K. Karousos and N. Palamas were summoned to Central Europe (Austria, Germany and elsewhere), in order to "... study the methods of land measurements and plantations, as well as the organization of a specialized department of Cartography Service of the State, in the Ministry of Military Affairs".

The whole issue of the above-mentioned preliminary actions, was concluded in 1889 with the signing of the “Agreement on the appeal of Austrian officers to Greece, between the Austrian Ministry of Military Affairs and the Greek Embassy”, in Vienna.

The mission was headed by the Austrian Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich Hartl , who arrived in Greece on August 8, 1889, to be joined the following day Lieutenant (MX) Evlampios On 22 August 1889, Second Lieutenants (Lieutenants) Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos and Konstantinos Nieder also participated in it, while the Austrian mission team was completed with their arrival, on 23 August 1889, by Captain Francis Lerl and Lieutenant Julius Lor. The above officers formed the core of the establishment of the modern HMGS, under the title "Geodetic Mission", which in 1891 was renamed "Geodetic Detachment".

The first work program wasput into effect in October 1889, following a related Decree, which provided the necessary facilities for the execution of the main tasks of the program (measurement of the base of the Thriasian field in Eleusis and development of the trigonometric network of the base).

Departure of the Austrian Mission

In 1895, the “Geodetic Detachment” was named to the “Army Cartographic Service”. The Austrian delegation gradually departed from Greece, with the last one being Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich Hartl (1896), who handed over command to the first Greek Commander, Captain (MX) AlexandrosKontostavlos (1897-1906) (Fig. 14). From 1906 and for two terms (1906-1910 and 1912), the Commander of the Greek Cartographic Service was Major General (M) EvlampiosMessalas, to be succeeded, from 1914 and for two terms (1914-1920 and 1922-1925) by Major General Panagiotis Photiadis.

These brilliant officers, each with his own remarkable contribution, were the pioneers in the foundation of the Service, as the geodetic and cartographic body responsible for the mapping of the territory of the Greek territory, thus preparing its entry to World War I.

Project report

The first report on the activities of the Service, was published in 1906 and refers to the period between 1889-1905. According to the report, the work to be conducted, until the departure of the Austrian Officers, mainly referred to the measurement of the base in the Thriasio field, the development of its trigonometric network, as well as the development of the 1st (104 points), 2nd (194 points), 3rd and lower class(1,750 points)network. Topographical and cadastral works were limited to educational and testing purposes. The regular cadastral works started in 1893 in the Argolic field area and in 1895 in the Thessaly region, thus occupying a total area of 20,000 acres.

At this point, it is considered appropriate to briefly outline the views of the head of the Geodetic Mission, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hartl, on the Cartographic Service, which, even after 130 years are still timeless and immutable. These principles delineate the fundamental framework of its functioning, in a simple,clear and coherent way. It underlines the great importance of the quality and accuracy of geodetic and topographic measurements, so that the value of the produced geographical productslasts over time, as a fundamental material to be provided to State bodies and Authorities, companies and individuals. Finally, it proposes the centralized operating model, emphasizing the particularly imperative need, to create a single authority for the information, observation and information on the mapping works in the country.

Following the departure of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hartl and the transfer of Command to Captain (M) Alexandros Kontostavlos, the works focused on the completion and classification of the calculations of the 1st class trigonometric network, which had been carried out in the first phase, while the calculations for the networks of the other classes continued as well as the assimilation of most of them. During that period, it should be noted, that the work of re-establishing 1,070 trigonometric points, which were destroyed, in the region of Thessaly (mainly 3rd and lower classes), due to the Greek-Turkish War. Regular topographic works were carried out over the "Larissa" and "Trikala" Map Sheets, with a total area of 1,525 and 595 sq.km. respectively.

From 1906 to 1918, field works were greatly limited, mainly due to the Greek-Turkish and Balkan Wars as well as the outbreak of World War I. However, geodetic and topographic workscontinued to a certain extent, in the newly liberated areas, as well as the partially conducted measurements of independent triangulations in the area of Thessaloniki, Kilkis and Beles, amidst the war operations.

The period of the command of the Cartographic Service by Messalas from 1906-1910 and 1912, was one of the most productive in the field works, especially for the preparation, from 1906, of the 1:75,000 scale Map sheets of Thessaly, which also includes the review of the cartography maps of Lieutenant (PZ) Mavrokordatos (1887-1889) in the Domokos area. These series consist of 14 Map Sheets (MS), which cover the territorial area near the then borders of Greece, established before the Balkan Wars. Their value was particularly significant, since it was based on the geodetic work of the years 1889-1906, through which, all the precedent work and the know-how invested, were transformed cartographically.

Following the end of the Balkan Wars, the HMGS cartographic contribution continued with the preparation and imprint of map sheets, for the needs of the Macedonian Front during World War I, under the Command of Lieutenant General Panagiotis Photiadis, who from 1914-1920 led the Cartographic Service and returned as Commander in the period 1922-1925. Characteristic specimenof the above work, were the 1:75,000 scale maps of Thessaloniki and Kilkis (temporary edition), printed at the Papachrysanthou Photolithography in Athens and the 1:50,000 scale map of Kozani, which is a typical example, of the skills acquired at the Geographical Institute of Vienna and of the quality of work appointed by Fotiadis during his service as Commander of the HMGS.

Up until 1919 the Service acquired independent printing capabilities and the maps were printed in Vienna or in private lithographies in Athens based on the test proofs sent from Vienna for corrections. A great number of Greek Officers attended the printing of the maps in Vienna or designed themselves the maps to be printed.

It is worth noting that during this early founding period of the Service, the primary Greek trigonometric network of the 1st order was developed and covered the entire area of the then liberated Greece, that extended to the old boundary line north of Larissa.Following the victorious Balkan Wars (1912-1913), the network was extended to the new boundary line. Until 1925, the type of the high-order trigonometric network included the network of ancient Greece, the network of modern Greece (Epirus-Macedonia-Thrace) and the network of Asia Minor.

Building Facilities

Initially, the Service was housed in offices of the then Ministry of Military Affairs until 1892. Further on, HMGShas moved successively to various buildings at downtown Athens until 1918 when it has settled to a building near the current PediontouAreos, a location in which it remains to this day.


CHAPTER 2nd B Period (1919-1939)


The Asia Minor Expedition and the Interwar Period

OVERVIEW

This period is timed with the end of World War I and the annexation of the territories of Macedonia and Thrace to Greece, while the year 1919 coincides with the Asia Minor expedition. The Service was installed in privately owned premises. An urgent necessity emerges, to procure permanent machinery and sufficient scientific equipment. Nevertheless, in critical moments for the Nation, the Service managed to successfully cope with the existing difficulties, regroup organizationally and operationally andeffectively respond to all the war fronts it was called upon to act.

The period from 1924 to 1935 is defined by intense development activity similar to that of the first period of establishment of the Service (1889-1912). The key focus areas of the Service mainly refer to field and office work, education and organization. Furthermore, in this decade, colorful maps were printed, highly accurate surveying work was conducted for the first time, specific departments were established (astronomical, geomagnetic, relief map, studies, statistics, PB maps, photogrammetry, control of cartographic and topographic work), while the School of Topography began to operate at the headquarters of the Service. In 1935, the quarterly bulletin of the Service was published for the first time and its Permanent Scientific Staff was established.

The cartographic expedition of Asia Minor (1920-1922)

The historical contribution of the HMGS to the cartographic events of the Asia Minor Campaign, began in January 1920, when a cartographic team (Fig.20) organized into one (1) topographic Squadron with six (6) Topographic Sections, arrived in Smyrna. Prior to its arrival, a team of 4 Officers (3 topographers and 1 geodesist) had been sent, with the mission to carry out the necessary preparatory work, as well as the mapping of territories that would be indicated by the Greek Army in Asia Minor.

At the end of 1920, on December 20, a military brief memo issued by the Asia Minor Army, delineated the imperative need for mapping, as the main priority of the non-acquitted part of Asia Minor and further on, the remaining acquitted part by the Treaty of Sèvres .In order to carry out the required mapping work which referred to a territorial area of 30,000 sq.km., a Sub-Directorate of the Cartographic Service was organized under the Command of Army Colonel Dimitrios Petritis.

This memorandum had essentially set the operational requirement of geographical support as an essential requirement for the successful outcome of the operations, it determined the large number of the personnel and means required, in order to carry out the works. The order of the Commander of the Greek Naval Forces, Major General Alexandros Anagnostopoulos, to his Deputy Commander in Smyrna, Colonel Dimitrios Petritis, on April 10, 1922, was a typical example of the expression of concern and anxiety about the fate of the cartographic mission in Asia Minor mainly due to the absence of reinforcement in personnel. As he reports, “There has been no personnel reinforcement by the Asia Minor Armym which raises serious concerns to us and anxiety on the fate of our mission on the mapping of Asia Minor, for which we are responsible to the Greek nation. Unfortunately, the evacuation of Asia Minor seems to be irrevocable and it is unknown when will it begin ..." The works began in February 1921, in a large geographical area extending from Prousato Smyrna and under adverse weather conditions, during the severe winter. The number of the Officers ranged from 2 to 3 Officers (for the Squadron of the South Wing) and 1 to 5 Officers (for the Squadrons of the North Wing), since several Officers of the Sub-Command were allocated for military operations. The instruments used for the geodetic works were theodolites, trochoids and heliotropes and for the topographic works, a metrometer, altimeter and tachometer.

The intense morphology of the terrain, the absence of triangulation, the inability to provide timely supplies and communication, as well as the requirement to take special security measures when supplying food or sending reports, are only a small part of the great number of challenges that needed to be addressed. In such an adverse working environment, the amendments and adaptation of methods,were imperative, depending on the prevailing and ever changing situationon ground.

The Command, through the implementation of alternative action plans and the application of intelligent scientific maneuvers, managed with dynamism, flexibility and remarkable adaptability to carry out this extremely difficult cartographic task. As stated in Chapter 2 of the Service's report for the year 1921, the following scientific techniques were applied:

Wherever possible, higher-order geodetic triangulation preceded, followed by densifications by the Tachometric Squadron.Whenever the topographic works were urgent, the completion of the topographic signs was done graphically, based on geodetic points throughout the map sheet.

Wherever it was not possible to use the above methods, due to time pressure, the topographic works were based on graphic triangulation from a base measured with great precision, and the marked points were observed and calculated as geodetic at a later time.

Whenever, during the study of the works, the inapplicability of the above methods was revealed, the measurements were implemented on a large number of bases, which were developed graphically independently of each other and the ground mapping began immediately. During the progress of the works, the bases were joined with the other independent networks and finally to the overall network.

The total area finally occupied by the geodetic network in 1921, amounts to 44,731 sq.km. , an area equal to 2/3 of the area of ancient Greece.

The main geodetic field works of this period refer to the measurement of four (4) trigonometric network bases (Prousa, Usak , Inonou and Kioutahia), to the creation of an upper trigonometric Network of 1st and 2nd order from 66 points and a lower network of 3rd and 4th order, consisting of 148 trigonometric points, which was connected to metropolitan Greece, to the orientation of the trigonometric network with astronomical observations at three (3) stations and to the geometric levelling on the coasts of the Propontis and Aegean Seas, for the connection of the Greek network with the network of Asia Minor.

The result of the above work was the mapping of 1,905 sq.km. in the occupied zone at a scale of 1:20,000 and a total of 44,731 sq.km. in Asia Minor at scales of 1:20,000, 1:50,000 and 1:100,000.

From the above cartographic activities, the size of the work carried out by the Cartographic Service Sub-Administration becomes clear. It is worth noting that during the winter months, extreme weather conditions prevailed for measurements (snow, rain, fog), which made it difficult and .in many cases prohibited the continuation of the work, while the sections received eighteen (18) major attacks from the Turkish army, guerrillas and bandits with several losses.

Main events of the period

The design and printing in 1921, at a scale of 1:100,000, in 6 colors and 5,000 copies, of the first map sheet in the Service's lithography Department, under the name of Militopolis.

The establishment of the School of Topography (7/3/1924 Presidential Decree), the renaming from Cartography Service to HMGS (10/2/1926 Law), the establishment of the Geography Corps of the permanent personnel of the Service (Law 5024, 15/6/1931), the study of Officers at the Polytechnic University and the establishment of the State Geodetic Committee.

The launch of high-precision surveying work (Fig.25), the establishment of an astronomical and geomagnetic section, a photogrammetry and map control section, an Artillery map section as well as the printing of multi-colored maps.

From 1925 and onwards, efforts were made to install, measure and calculate a better primary trigonometric networkand for this purpose, Greece was divided into three arcs: Central, Eastern and Western. Priority was given to measurements to be conducted in the Central arc.From the central arc, the extension to the Eastern and Western arcs was implemented and three additional bases were measured. By the end of the period, the trigonometric network of the 1st and 2nd order had been completed nationwide, whilstin most of the country, the network of the 3rd and 4th order had also been completed. The entire network counted a total of 12,000 points. The link between the Greek network and that of Italy had been made through Albania and the Dodecanese (under Italian rule), Former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey.

By the end of the period, 3/4 of the country, approximately 90,000 sq. km , had been mapped at a scale of 1:50,000 and approximately one fifth of the country's area had been mapped at a scale of 1:20,000, while the Staff Map of almost the entire country had been published at a scale of 1:100,000.

From 1923-1928, 38 topographic sheets of Attica (the Athens area) at a scale of 1:20,000 were revised and printed. The revision was based on the German scientific mapping work on a scale of 1:25,000 of Attica from 1875-1878 and its extension. which was completed in 1894. From 1926-1928, over a period of 3 years, the zone from the country's borders to the Gulf of Corinth was mapped for the first time. In 1929, the composition of the 1:400,000 scale map of Eastern Macedonia began, whilst in 1930, preparatory actions began for the composition and design of the colorful staff map of the country on a scale of 1:100,000. By 1939, seventeen 1:400,000 scale maps were produced and printed, the production of 150,000 scale maps (approximately 3/4 of the country's area) continued, whilst the country was almost entirely covered with 1:100,000 scale maps.

In 1935, the publication of the Service's quarterly bulletin was edited for the first time. This bulletin was the only platform for the presentation of studies and articles, not only by the Service 's staff but also by staff of other Bodies, Committees and Services with related subjects, as well as by the teaching staff of the Country's Universities.

BuildingFacilities

In 1922, the HMGS buildings consisted of double two-floor buildings, a ground floor, two wooden huts and a small house, on an area of 5,246 sq.m. At the South of the plot, between 1935 and 1938, the PedionAreos was constructed, while to the north there was a stream over which,Evelpidon Street was built later on. In August 1929, the ground floor was burned, due to a fire and in its place, in 1930, a new building was erected. At the East, a new hall and a shed with four apartments were constructed (Fig .28). In 1935, a two-floor building was erected on the site of the warehouse hut.


CHAPTER 3 Third Period (1940-1944)

The way forward of the Service during World War II

Greek- Italian War

The table of the wartime composition of the General Headquarters of the Hellenic Armed Forces, further provided the Topographic Service. All Topographic Departments of the Army, the Army Corps and the Divisions were its subordinate. However, since this Service was not established for mainly technical reasons, its responsibilities and obligations were automatically transferred to HMGS, which in turn, staffed the Topographic Service with technical personnel and supported its operation with the necessary logistic support and technological infrastructure.

Further on, a substantial number of senior officers of the Service were assigned to combat units to staff the 18 General Staffs of the Albanian front. Lt. Col. (PB) IoannisPaparrodou was one of those who stood out and remained in the pantheon of the General Staff heroes. At that time, the General Staff allocated 35 officers from its permanent staff for the needs of the front, 22 out of which, belonged to the then Cartography Corps. Consequently, only a small number ofArmy officers and 9 Cartographers remained at the HMGS headquarters.

The mission of the Topographic Units was, the extension of the trigonometric network to the areas of deployment and engagement of the Frontline Units, the establishment of trigonometric networks, the goniometry and calculations of the new networks, the topographic mapping of areas of the Albanian Front and the provision to the Heads of the Commands of all necessary technical information, related to the natural environment of the operations.

In particular, the Topographical Departments of the large Units of the Front, upon orders of the General Headquarters, proceeded to verify critical operational data of the rivers of Southern Albania (occupied and not). This information referred to seasonal width and depth, river flow velocity, river bed configuration, type and characteristics of resources, bridges, etc.

Another important component of the HMGS contribution, crucial for the war operations, was the supply of the Units with topographic maps of various scales. In this field, it is noteworthy to signal that, in addition to the distribution of current Greek-issued maps, HMGS managed to reprint, from the Italian maps that came to the possession of the Greek Armed Forces, all those depicting the Albanian territory (91 map sheets of scale 1:50,000 and 19 map sheets of scale 1:100,000). The geographical materiel,were printed in December 1940 and proved to be extremely valuable navigation tools for the Greek troops advancing into the Albanian territory. A part of these maps (portraying South Albania), presented deficiencies in terms of planimetric details and therefore were not used for ground organization and artillery firing. In this case, although their revision with accurate data was imperative, it was decided to gain valuable time, in order to construct. measure independent trigonometric networks for each large Unit and ultimately connect each other, as the Greek forces were moving rapidly into the Albanian territory.

German Occupation

On May 3, 1941, the German troops marched and took over the city of Athens. Prior to their entry, the signing of the final capitulation protocol on April 23, 1941 was signed in Thessaloniki, by the then Commander of the Greek Army of Epirus and Macedonia, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsolakoglou. The 613th German Topographical Motorized Unit occupied the HMGS installations, settled in its buildings in the PedionAreosat downtown Athens and took over the Command of its specialized and technical personnel and the exploitation of its equipment. During the Germans' stay in the Service, a particular relationship of tolerance and partial assistance was developed, ason the one hand, the Germans had to present a serious project in order not to be sent to the Russian front, and the Greek personnel had to survive. The Germans' first priority was the production of maps and the creation of the relief of Crete, to be used in the planning of the imminent, while the rest of the works involved certain areas of Africa.

In October 1944, the German Topographic Unit withdrew from Athens along with the rest of the German troops, confiscating all the technological equipment of the Service and a significant part of its Archive, leaving behind the furniture. It is worth noting that, although the Germans had promised to return the stolen equipment at the end of the war, this never happened. The Greek side forwarded copies of the delivery receipts, signed by the German occupiers, to the inter-Allied authorities for further appropriate actions, which did not bring any results.It should be pointed out that, following the end of World War II, an optical-mechanical projection instrument (Stereo-reduction instrument) was found in Bulgaria and delivered to HMGS in 1938. This instrument was further delivered to HMGS in 1946, without the upper part arch. In 1949, it was repaired in Switzerland and in 1950 it was brought into operation. It was used for the production of large-scale topographic diagrams until the mid-1960s and is currently exhibited in the HMGS Military Museum.

On October 12, 1944, Athens was declared free. At the that time however, the city became a field of battles and civil war, which culminated in the December 1944 uprising. This extremely difficult situation damaged the HMGS through the loss of its remaining equipment in terms of furniture and archival material.


CHAPTER 4 Fourth Period (1945-1989)

The Post-War Reconstruction and the Project of the Mapping of Greece

The Restructuring of the Hellenic Military Geographical Service (HMGS)​​

The end of the Civil War(1945-1949) allowed HMGS to start the intensive works of reorganization and reconstruction. The only asset that had remained sound and intact in its entirety, were its building facilities. In the planning of the reorganization, three issues were crucial in the agenda of the actions to be implemented. The issue of personnel, the issue of mechanical and technological equipment and that of scientific instruments.

The starting point of the reorganization is the submission to the Army General Staff on April 7, 1945 of a special study "On the organization of the Military Geographical Institute". This study analyzed the work of the Service, the method and successive stages of its execution, as well as the origin and scientific training of its personnel. Pursuant to the decision 717(78)/19-11-1947 of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the staff of the HMGS consisted of 70 officers, of whom 20 were cartographers, 4 reserve officers, and the Commander held the rank of Major General.

However, apart from the reorganization and reconstruction of the Service, one of the most critical issues that required immediate and effective action was that of the reconstruction of the Country. An urgent priority was the topographic mapping of the destroyed settlements, which in January 1946 were estimated to be approximately 1,400. Aerial photography would be undertaken by the special Service of the Ministry of Aviation, while for the topographic coverage of the works, as many teams as possible had to be established and reinforced by Officers who had been set aside the service as provided by the Constitutional Act 7/1945.

The Supreme Council of Geographical Services decided on January 26, 1946 to establish five Committees tasked to draw up a work plan with instructions for the consistent implementation of the necessary trigonometric, topographic, tachymetric, spatial weighing works and the compilation of a topographic dictionary, with the contribution of high-ranking Officers of the General Survey.

Essentially, the first post-war year was consumed in the control and counting of losses, as well as in the drafting of the office work plan, which was carried out at the headquarters of HMGS and mainly included the design, revision, printing and reprinting of Map Sheets (MS) of various scales.

The second year can be characterized as the year of planning, proposals, meetings and intense discussions on reorganization issues of the Service, in various committees and Councils of the Army General Staff. Furthermore, tables with technological and mechanical equipment and measuring instruments, necessary for the operation of the Service, were drawn up and submitted for approval.

The primary post-war mission of HMGS, its placement, structure and its organization are provided in the Legislative Decree 1176-7/10/1949. On January 23, 1951, by decision of the Council of Chiefs of General Staffs (SAGE), the HMGS, the Hydrographic Service (PN) and the Phototopographic Service (PA) remained independent, subordinate to the relevant General Staffs. The Photography Directorate of the Hellenic Airforce assumed the responsibility for satisfying the needs of all three branches of the Armed Forces in aerial photography, the Council of Geographical Services of the Armed Forces was established, which consisted of the Directors of HMGS, the Hydrography Service of the Navy and the Phototopographic Service of the Hellenic Airforce, while HMGS assumed the responsibility for providing all three branches with lithographic (printing) work.

Important events of the Period

To a very large extent, the post-war reconstruction of the Hellenic Army was based on the pre-war experiences of its officers. However, new scientific and technological developments, Greece's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1952, and the revision of the 1:40,000 scale topographic maps of the US ArmyMapService, intended for the thorough re-compilation of the basic topographic map of the country at a 1:50,000scale, all the above mentioned,were milestones in the evolutionary course of the Service, playing a crucial role in the improvement of its organizational and operational structures.

It is generally accepted, that the event which essentially triggered the fundamental upgrade of the Service's mechanical and technological equipment and constituted the capstone of its post-war history was the assignment of the project "Mapping of Greece", in 1962.

The main events that took place during that period in chronological order, are the following:

Before World War II and in the first post-war years, the basic mapscales of HMGS were, 1:20,000, 1:100,000, 1:200,000 and 1:400,000. In the aftermath of the war and Greece's entry into NATO, the last three map scales, were replaced by the 1:50,000, 1:250,000, 1:500,000, with the addition of the scale 1:1,000,000.

In 1947, the Service's bulletin was revised, thus marking the beginning of the Service's presence in the scientific and technical world of the country, whilst in 1948, the geomagnetic measurements and the construction of relief maps in areas of historical importance were initiated.

In 1949, the study of the national trigonometric networkstarted from the beginning, as the pedestals of the trigonometric points had been destroyed by more than 30% and the entire archive of measurements and calculations had been destroyed by the occupation forces. Thus, the 1st and 2nd order networks were remeasured, while a relative densification was also carried out. It is worth noting that, the measurement methods used, met the requirements of the cartographic accuracy for the needs of the Armed Forces, but did not fully meet the required specifications in terms of the use of instruments, triangle closure error and methods. This first revision was completed in 1962.

The course of the Country's cartographic coverage was placed in new foundation, through the work of the on-site revision carried out by HMGS, of the topographic signs constructed by the American Military Service, through the use of 1:42,000 scale aerial photographs. In this context, the summer of 1952, the first and most important project of the post-war cartographic coverage of the country restarted the construction of 1:50,000 scale maps. The project continued until 1966. Within 15 years, Greece acquired an invaluable cartographic background base, through which it could proceed to the publication of maps of all scales, applying the related generalization. In 1953, the trigonometric network of Greece was interconnected with Libya and Egypt, through selected points in South Crete and the island of Gavdos. APhotonavigator School was established under the Hellenic Air Force with the aim of training officers of the HMGS in aerial photography. Aerial photography is carried out with special cameras placed on modified DACOTA aircraft of typeC-47. In 1955, the construction works of the Geographic Military Data of Greece were initiated, in accordance with the

NATO Standardization Agreements (STANAGS), whereas in 1956, the distribution and use of Greek topographic maps with a Mercator quadrature system began thus replacing the Mediterranean quadrature. In that year, the application of the drawing method through the use of mechanical means began, namely by engraving the original map reproduction material on a plastic plate. In 1959

two important organizational changes took place in the educational sector. The first concerned the training of HMGS officers at the School of Agricultural and Surveying Engineers of the National Technical University of Athens, admitted in the 2nd year of the examination, and the second one was the admission of officers in the 2nd Department of the School of Topography, fortwo years.

In 1961, the use of computers was introduced to meet the needs of the Service, with the development in the first phase, of the intersection calculation program on the Army General Staff's computer.

A year later (1962), the use of a code number was initiated for each series and scale of maps issued in the Transverse Mercator projection system.

That year, the Cadastral Survey Squadron was established, under the Directorate of Engineering Works of the Army General Staff (DEM/GES), assigned with recording and securing the real estate of the National Defence Fund.

In 1962, the project of major importance for the development of the country, “Mapping of Greece”, commenced. This project was tasked with the mapping of the Greek territory on topographic diagrams of a scale of 1:5,000 (Fig.32,33), implemented with financial resources through Public Investments Fund of the Ministry of Coordination (National Economy). The implementation of the project was followed by a partial revision of the 1st and 2nd order trigonometric networks and the establishment of the 3rd and 4th order networks (Fig.34). These works led to the formation of the current trigonometric network13 of the Country. The new measurements for the 1st order network were completed in 1979, the time of the initiation of the calculation of the networks. By 1987, several areas of Greece were re-measured and the measurements of the lower order networks were completed. The calculation of all 2nd, 3rd and 4th order networks was completed in February 1989 and by September of the same year, the altimetry calculation of the trigonometric points were also completed.

In 1965, our country purchased three aircrafttype AIR COMMANDER, assigned to the the Army Air Force initially in Megara and then in Stefanovikeio. This procurement had a double impact on the Army General Staff, primarily due to the establishment of the aerial photography for cartographic purposes (through the use of a metric camera) conducted by HMGS personnel and secondly, it acted as a catalyst for the exemption of the aerial photography work and therefore the independenceon the Airforce General Staff.

Pursuant to Article 2 of Law 506-17/8/1968, the HMGS Officers are part of the Geographical Corps and HMGS constitutes a Unit of the Geographical Corps. On 1/10/1970 the Military Printing Office is placed organizationally and administratively under the HMGS.

On 13/10/1971, according to the Legislative Decree 1013 on the reorganization of the HMGS, the Service was designated a Unit of the Geographical Corps, subordinate to the Army Headquarters.

In 1972, the installation of the machinery of the computers in HMGS took place and the organization of the relevant department, was completed in 1978. In that same year, the reorganization of the Service's computer center took place, in order to develop independently from the Army General Staff. Thus, in 1980, a central computer was installed in the Computer Center, as well as a number of computers was establish med in various offices of the Service.

The basis for the introduction of Geo-informatics, essentially started in 1983, through the installation, for the first time in Greece, of the Geographic Information System (GIS) ARCINFO, version 2.0. The GIS revised the classic process of producing cartographic material and producing topographic data and entered the era of creating initially cartographic databases and then geographic databases, being the first in Greece and the Balkans and among the first ten services worldwide that adopted the technology of Geographic Information Systems. At the same time, in the following years until 1988, the computational capabilities of digitizing maps and diagrams, automatic mapping were completed, through the use of Geographic Information Systems technology (ARCINFO) and processing of satellite images.

In 1986 Professor Mr. Georgios Veis of the Athens National Polytechnic Universityproposed a new geodetic reference system (EGSA87) and a new cartographic projection. The state trigonometric network implemented by EGSA87 consists of 137 1st class points, 475 2nd class points, 3,903 3rd class points and 21,187 4th class points, with an average density of 1 point per 5 square kilometers.

In November 1988, the Cadastral Squadron was renamed to Army Topographic Squadron (TOMS).


CHAPTER 5 Fifth Period (1990-2019)

The entry and course into the new millennium

GENERAL OVERVIEW

This period is characterized by an unprecedented technological boost in the fields of collection, processing and production of Geographic Materiel. The GM, paved the way in the field of cartographic developments and assimilated the new technology, through continuous efforts to monitor it, for the benefit of the Armed Forces and the wider society.

The use of modern geodesy methods and theories and the parallel application in the practical field of topographic mapping, the integration of Digital Photogrammetry in the processes of production cycle of Geographic Materiel, the application of Remote Sensing in the processing and analysis of satellite images, the utilization of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), as well as the processes of digital cartography and printing, constitute the main areas of scientific and technological interest where the Service invested to support its multidimensional activity during that period.

Preparing for the digital age

In general terms, this decade can be characterized as a period of preparation and gradual application of digital methods and modern scientific equipment in the collection and production of Geographic products. HMGS, in the context of examining alternative solutions, and in order to improve the production of medium-scale topographic maps, through the use of new technologies, initiated in 1994, the gradual application of drawing on a desktop personal computer (desktoppublishing), for the construction and revision of 1:50,000 scale maps. This fact, along with the application of Digital Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, resulted, towards the end of the decade, in the abandonment of the classical map composition and its complete replacement by digital composition in a PC environment. Furthermore, in the field of Geodesy and Topography, classical measuring instruments were gradually being replaced by GPS and Total receiversStations.

The adaptation of organizational, operational and production processes.

This period is characterized by restructuring actions of the Service to a more flexible structure, capable of responding to the needs of the digital age, as well as to human resource shortages.

In August 2001, through the establishment of the Geography Directorate by Law 2913/23 May 2001, the HMGS was designated as a financially and administratively independent unit, subordinate to the Geography Directorate.

The approval of an executive study of the human resources of the Geography Corps, in line with the minutes number 303 of the 26th meeting of the Supreme Military Council in 2005, triggered the completion of the reorganization of the Service, through thedrawing up and approval of the new HMGS’ Equipment Organization Table, as well as that of the Topography Squadron of the Army in 2007, which with its transition to the new organizational structure, became a Unit under HMGS.

At the level of cartographic production,as far as the maps of the 1:50,000 series, constructed between 2003-2005, the relief shading was incorporated on a pilot basis, aiming at the capability of identification of the relief details, in parallel to its illustrative cartographic representation.

During this decade, HMGS participated in the Information Society Project, with the presentation of "Integrated GIS Information System", which became operative in 2008, thus upgrading and modernizing its informative and logistic infrastructure, as well as its operational functions.

Investment in modern innovative applications and services

During this decade, HMGS continued its evolutionary course, through innovative activities, both at the level of Geographic Support for the Hellenic Armed Forces, as well as the provision of services to the wider public. In this context, innovative network and independent applications for the provision of geographical support and services (ERATOSTHENIS, Digital Interactive Map, Portable Interactive Map) were gradually developed, based on GIS technology, over a period of seven years of operation on various devices and software platforms. The objective of the above applications was the dissemination of geographical products and services, as well as the provision of up to date geographical support at all levels of war (Strategic-operational-tactical) up to the level of the fighter.

Further on, the use of Geographic Information Systems was widely applied in the composition of a series of maps of various scales, and specιficsoftware was utilized for the processing and analysis of satellite images. In 2014,HMGS, in the context of upgrading and modernizing the map production line, gradually implemented the exclusive use of the new cartographic tools of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the construction and revision of maps. The first 1:500,000 scale mapwas constructed entirely with this process, on which the methodology applied for the collection and data processing, its composition and design, was based on the technology of the new GIS cartographic tools. The result of this process was the production of a single series of maps, within the first quarter of 2018, in digital and printed form for the entire Greek territory, using Greek and Latin codification. This methodology triggered the gradual replacement of the existing process of map production of larger scales (1:250,000, 1:50,000) and the effective application of the appropriate data for the creation of other products as well.

In September 2017, the aeronautical charts of the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), at a scale of 1:500,000, were submitted, both in printable and digital form, to the ICAO Regional Office in Paris. The production of the chart was the outcome of a collective effort and close cooperation between the Civil Aviation Service (CAA), the HMGS and the Navy Hydrographic Service (NHS).

In October 2018, the Army Topographic Unit participated for the first time in the National Inter-Service Exercise “Parmenion 2018”. The scenario involved the mapping the port of Alexandroupolis following an enemy attack. Ground measurements were carried out through th use of GPS and Total Station receivers. The final orthoimagery was produced with images collected by an unmanned aerial vehicle (Drone).

HMGS, in the field of extroversion, promoted activitiessuch asthe development of cooperative ventures with the technological, scientific and academic community nationwide, the conclusion of Memoranda of Understanding with Universities, Higher Educational Institutions and through its dynamic presence in international cartographic conferences and exhibitions.

With regard to the continuous improvement of the geographical services to the wider public, the key actions focus on upgrading the Service's web portal, reforming and modernizing the procedures for granting Geographic Materiel through its website, with the development of an innovative system of search, location and ordering application, in operation from September 17, 2017.

International environment and Geopolicy

The Service's footprint in the international geopolitical environment is particularly important, with the aim of constantly being informed about developments in its field of action, coordinating its work with that of foreign geographic services and related international organizations, as well as, most importantly, defending national interests on issues of geographical interest.

HMGS participates in both national and international organizations and has concluded bilateral agreements with foreign related Services abroad (such as USA, Great Britain, Netherlands, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic).

The international and European programs in which the Service participates are primarily dictated by Geographic Policy and project the scientific power of our country. The products produced are deposited to international organizations and bodies, under which they are implemented, thus ensuring our national interests and the country's active presence in the global cartographic process.

HMGS actively participates (and/or in-person presence) in international scientific conferences of cartographic interest, Committees and Organizations, within the framework of the UN, NATO and the EU. In particular, the Service participates in the unified European Contour and Elevation Network (EUREF - UELN ), in the competent bodies of NATO and the European Union (EU Military Committee - EUMC ), in the pan-European cartographic organization Eurogeographics since 2000, in relevant committees of geographical interest within UN framework, as well as in the international programs MGCP and TREX, since 2009 and 2016 respectively.


Chronological Stations

Important historical milestones

Autumn 1888. Request issued by the Greek Government to the Austrian Government, through its envoy K.Karousos, for the detachment of six officers from the Imperial Military Geographical Institute of Vienna, in order to draw up the Cadastral Map of Greece.

August 1889. Arrival in Greece of the Austrian Mission consisting of three (3) officers led by Lieutenant General Heinrich Hartl . Establishment of the Geodetic Mission with the participation of Lieutenant General (MX) EvlampiosMessalas and Lieutenant General (MX) KonstantinosNieder.

1891. Renaming of the Geodetic Mission to Geodetic Detachment.

1895. Renaming of the Geodetic Detachment to the Army Cartographic Service.

1897.Administration assumed by the first Greek Commander, Lieutenant General (Eng.)AlexandrosKontostavlos, until 1905.

1918. Completion of the development of the trigonometric network of Greece. Transfer of the headquarters of the Service to today's PedionAreos.

1921. Establishment of a National Cartographic Service under the Commandof the Chief of Staff DimitriosPetritis, with the aim of mapping the unclaimed part of Asia Minor and the remaining part as claimed by the Treaty of Sèvres . The first map sheet , was printed at a scale of 1:100,000, in 6 colors and 5,000 copies, in the lithography of the Service, under the name of Militopolis .

1924. Establishmentof the School of Topography (7/3/1924)

1926. Renaming of the Army Cartographic Service to the Hellenic Military Geographical Service (10/2/1926).

1935. PrimaryPublication of the quarterly bulletin of the Service, with studies by its staff and other scientists as well as professors on related subjects.

April 1941. Death of the Hero of the Hellenic Army, Lieutenant Colonel (PB) IoannisPaparrodos from a German revolver bullet, while fighting on the Greek-Albanian front.

May 1941. Occupation of HMGS by the 613th German Topographical Motorized Unit, installed in the building facilities on the PedionAreos field, assuming the command of its technical staff and the exploitation of its equipment.

October 1944. The German Topographic Unit leaves Athens along with the rest of the German troops. At its departure it takes with the entire technical equipment of the Service and a significant part of its archive.

1947. Reissuance of the Service Bulletin after a seven-year breach due to the German invasion.

1949. Publication of Legislative Decree 1176-7/10/1949, which describes the first post-war mission of HMGS, its affiliation and its organization.

1952. Beginning of the first and extremely important project of the post-war cartographic coverage of the country: the production of 1:50000 scale maps, completed in 1966.

1953. Implementation of the interconnection of the trigonometric network of Greece with those of Libya and Egypt, through selected points in Crete and Gavdos. Formation of the Aerial Camera Operators School (Photogrammeter-Photonautilus), under the auspices of the Hellenic AirforceGeneral Staff, to train Officers in taking aerial photographs, with special cameras, which were placed in suitably modified DACOTA aircraft.C-47.

1955. Commencement of construction works on the written Geographic Military Data of Greece in accordance withNATO standardization agreements (STANAG’S ) .

1956. Beginning of the distribution and use of Greek topographic maps by the Mercator quadrature system, replacing the Mediterranean quadrature. The application of the drawing method by mechanical means started and involved the engraving of the original map reproduction material on a plastic plate.

1959. Commencement of the study of HMGS at NTUA/School of Topographers-Engineers, following admission to the 2nd year University exams. The duration of study of Officers at the 2nd Department of the School of Topography was increased to two years.

1961. Introduction of the use of computers for calculating the measurements of the country's trigonometric network, through the development of the initial topographic point determination method of program calculation on the Army General Staff's computer.

1962. Introduction of the "Mapping of Greece" project, which led to the mapping of the entire Greek territory at a scale of 1:5,000. Establishment of the Cadastral Survey Squadron , under the Directorate of Engineering Works of the Army General Staff, with the mission of recording and securing the real estate of the Hellenic National Defence Fund.

1965. Completion of theprocurement of two AIR aircraftCOMMANDER and their operational use for performing aerial photography.

1968. Inclusion of the HMGS officers in the Geographical Corps, pursuant to article 2 of Law 506-17/8/1968. HMGS became a Unit of the Geographical Corps.

1970. On 1/10/1970, the Military Printing Service was organizationally and administratively subordinated to the Army General Staff.

1971. HMGS became a Unit of the Geographical Corps, administratively and financially independent, subordinate to the Army General Staff, with Legislative Decree 1013 on Restructuring.

1980. Installation of a central computer in the Computer Center of HMGS, as well as a number of computers in various offices of the Service.

1983. Implementation of the science of Geoinformatics in the Service through the installation of the Geographic Information System (GIS) ARCINFO version 2.0.

1986. Proposal by the Professor of the National Technical University of Athens, Mr. GeorgiosVeis, to install a new state geodetic reference system (EGSA87) and a new cartographic projection. Their implementation was completed in 1990.

1988. Completion of the procurement and installation of a satellite image processing system. The Cadastral Squadron was renamed the Army Topographic Squadron (ATS).

1994. Gradual implementation of design on desktop personal computers ( desktoppublishing ) for the creation and revision of 1:50,000 scale maps.

2000. HMGS Participation, as an active member, in the European cartographic organization Eurogeographics.

2001. Establishment of the Geographical Directorate (GD) at the Army General Staff. HMGS and the Army Topographic Squadron became independent Units under GD.

2004. Completion of the procurement of a pair of specially modified C-12 aircraft for aerial photography missions and their operational use.

2005. Approval of all the proposals of the staff study of the Human Resources of the Geographical Corps, by decision of the 26th/2005 Meeting of the ASS.

2007. Completion of the reorganization of the Geographical Corps with the implementation of the new Table of equipment organization of HMGS and Army Topographic Squadron. Subordination of theArmy Topographic Squadron to HMGS.

2008. Start of operation, within the framework of the 3rd CSF, of the project "Integrated Information System of the Greek Civil Aviation Authority", upgrading and modernizing its information and logistical infrastructure and its operational functions.

2009. Participation of HMGS in the international cartographic program for the co-production of 1:50,000 scale cartographic data for use in various regions of the planet (MGCP).

2010. Introductionof design and implementation of the geospatial support network application "ERATOSTHENIS". Following multiple stages of development, the application reached its final operational form in 2015.

2015. A starting point for the construction of a series of maps with the exclusive use of GIS technology, both in the collection and processing of data, as well as in the composition and design of the map.

2016. Presentation of the Digital Interactive Map.

2017. Commencementof the design and implementation of the Portable Interactive Map, as well as the operation of an innovative application for searching, locating and ordering Geographic Equipment (Geo -index).

2018. Design and presentation of a series of new innovative digital applications (3D visualizations, virtual and augmented reality applications, etc.) – Participation of the Army Topography Squadromfor the first time, in the National Army Exercise " Parmenion 2018" and the participation of HMGS at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition.

2019. Completion of 130 years of HMGS presence. A series of activities and events were organized to celebrate the anniversary.


The main figures (1889-1939)

Lt Colonel HenryHartl(1840-1903)

The founder of the current Hellenic Military Geographical Service. He was born in 1840 in Brunn, Austria. He studied at the Vienna Polytechnic and the Naval Academy. He was promoted to 2ndLieutenant in 1865. As Director of the Geodetic Department of the Vienna Geographical Institute, he was called to Greece in 1889, by the Government of CharilaosTrikoupis, to compile the cadastral map of the country. During his stay in the country, an official state geographical reference system was established, along with the execution of triangulation work throughout the then free Greece. Moreover he laid the foundations for the organization and operation of the today’s HMGS. He retired from the Greek Army in 1896, was promoted to Colonel and retired in 1898when he served as Professor of Geodesy at the University of Vienna. He died in 1903 in Vienna at the age of 63.

Captain (Eng.) AlexandrosKontostavlos (1860-1916)

He was the first Greek Commander of the Cartographic Service. Born in Constantinople, he was named Second Lieutenant (Eng.) in 1883, entered the Geodetic Detachment in 1890 and assumed its Command from 1896-1906. He was responsible for maintaining and developing the principles and methodologies introduced by Hartl and the Austrian Officers, during the first period of operation of the Service. He was an officer with extensive field experience during the period 1900-1905, where he essentially established the Cartographic Service as an “elite” institution in the Greek military community.

Major (Eng.)EvlampiosMessalas (1864-1926)

He was the second in line Commander of the Cartographic Service. He was born in Zakynthos and was named Second Lieutenant (Eng.) in 1884. He joined the Geodetic Detachment at the rank of Lieutenant in 1889. He served as Commander of the Cartographic Service for two terms from 1906-1910 and 1912. The period of his Command is directly linked to the preparation of the Map of Thessaly at a scale of 1:75,000, as well as the cartographic work in the new territories liberated by the Greek Army in 1912. The cartographic work under the command of Messalas and especially the "Thessalian" map sheets will constitute in 1912 the "cartographic spearhead" of the Army on the march from the Thessalian borders and Melouna towards Epirus and Macedonia.

Major GeneralPanagiotisPhotiadis (1865-1931)

He was one of the longest-serving and most important Commanders of the Cartographic Service. He was born in Athens and joined the Cartographic Service in 1892, serving in it until 1900. Then from 1905-1920, he supervised as Officer, the design and printing of the Directive Map of the country (Map Sheets of Thessaly) in Vienna and from 1922-1925 he served as president of the Geodetic Committee, which was established in 1923. In 1914 he assumed the Command of the Service. His serving period was associated with the modernization of the Service and the introduction of independent map printing technology, leading it into a new era. He essentially reformed the Service and prepared it for the cartographic achievement of the Asia Minor Expedition.

Major General DimitriosPetritis (1875-1960)

He was born in Aegina. In 1915-1917 he worked in the Cartographic Service and then served as a professor of Topography at the Military School of Cadets. From January 1921 to August 1922 he served as Commander of the Sub-Command of the Army Cartographic Service in Asia Minor and Inspector of Cartographies of the recapturedterritories. He was the one who, with his Command, implemented the brilliant cartographic work of the Service during the Asia Minor Expedition. In 1924 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and in 1925 he assumed the Command of the HMGS, a position in which he remained until 1930, while maintaining the presidency of the Geodetic Committee of the State. He was a key contributor to the progress and rapid development of the Service, setting the basic principles and establishing the spirit of methodological development and progress, thereby facilitating the work of his successors in the evolutionary course of the Service.

Deputy Governor Odysseas Maroulis (1878-1956)

He was born in Messolonghi. He was a Professor of Topography at the Cadet School at the years 1917-1920 and of Military Geography in the year 1923. He assumed the Command of HMGS in 1930, position he maintained until 1936. He was an excellent topographer and a great admirer of methodology and organization. During his Command, the intensive publication of the colorful Directive Map of the country at a scale of 1:100,000 was launched, while at the same time he established a department for the control of topographic and cartographic works and issued detailed instructions for the entire range of the Service's work. The main characteristic of his work was the systematic application of cartographic and topographic procedures and methods throughout the entire cycle of production of geographical materials.

Major (Artillery) IoannisPaparrodou (1904-1941)

He was born in Ypati, Fthiotida, in October 1904. He was the first to enter the Military Cadet Academy in 1920. He was among the first to graduate from the Academy as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery on 29/9/1923. In 1930 he joined the permanent scientific staff of the then HMGS. He was mainly involved in geodetic, topographic and aerial photography work.

During the Greek-Italian War of 1940-41, he served initially as Commander of the First Skier Battalion, which he formed and organized by himself, and then as Commander of the 21st Mountain Artillery Squadron in the Pogradec region . During the withdrawal from the Albanian front, as Commander of the 21st Squadron, he was deployed on 14/4/1941 on the heights west of Dispilio ,Kastoria, in order to slow down the German advance. The overrunning of the right flank of the defensive formation of the XIII Division appeared inevitable

Major PaparrodouIoannis, engages in a hard and relentless fight, a fight to the end. He wanders everywhere and encourages everyone. The fight is uneven and the retreat is fatal and despite the urges for surrender, he denied to discuss. His Squadron was neutralized by the merciless pounding of the enemy German Artillery and Air Force. The few fighters who remained notified him that he was surrounded and urged him to retreat to save himself. At that time he gave the historic, moving and unique answer:

"THE HONOR OF MY HOMELAND AND MY FAMILY FORCE ME TO STAY HERE"

He handled a machine gun, which he has embraced as his last inseparable and loyal companion in the battlements where he alone joined at 13.00 hours on April 15, 1941, Holy Tuesday, he zqsshot by a German revolver. Major PaparrodouIoannis enters eternity, adorning the Pantheon of Immortal Heroes of Modern Greece. As a small tribute to the Hero, the HMGS named its Camp after his name.