About us
About the Atlas
The «Atlas of Switzerland» – the official national atlas – was initiated in 1961 by a federal council decision, and the editorial responsibility was transferred to the Institute of Cartography, now the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation at ETH Zurich. This thematic atlas presents the diversity of the characteristic structures and processes of the country.
The atlas was published in print form in two editions between 1965 and 1997: the first edition, edited by Prof. Eduard Imhof, consisted of nine volumes, each containing 10–12 atlas plates, and was published between 1965 and 1978. The nine volumes contained a total of around 400 maps. The second edition was produced between 1978 and 1997 under the direction of editor-in-chief Prof. Ernst Spiess and contained four volumes with a further 200 maps.
Under the directorship of editor-in-chief Prof. Lorenz Hurni, five digital versions in four languages (German, French, Italian, English) were produced between 2000 and 2026. From the very start, the concept focused on a combination of 2D maps and 3D views/terrain models, as well as the inclusion of multimedia elements (images, text, sound, video). In addition, interactive functionality in the areas of thematic navigation, spatial navigation and orientation, visualization functions, and GIS functions was an essential feature of the digital versions of the «Atlas of Switzerland».
While the first digital version was published on CD-ROM, digital versions 2 and 3 were released on DVD. Version 4 is based on a virtual globe, can be downloaded free of charge, and installed as an application. The data is obtained online. Version 5, also available free of charge from 2026, is the first version that can be run in a modern web browser without software installation and on mobile devices such as tablets and cell phones. The user interface is designed to be «responsive» and runs on different screen sizes.
Photo of the «Atlas of Switzerland»” team, taken in September 2025 during a retreat at Kartause Ittingen.
History of the Atlas - Version
Following the publication of the print edition of the «Atlas of Switzerland» between 1965 and 1997, five digital versions of the «Atlas of Switzerland» were developed at ETH Zurich starting in 1995. These are presented below in descending order (newest to oldest).
«Atlas of Switzerland Web» – Version 5
2025The «Atlas of Switzerland Web» (version 5) runs in modern web browsers without requiring installation. However, it can also be installed as a progressive web app (PWA). Both the map rendering and the graphical user interface (GUI) are based entirely on web technologies. The user interface has been redesigned in collaboration with a UX design company and can now be used on mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) for the first time. Now, not only can the map themes and map data be continuously updated, but the functionality can also be continuously expanded and improved. The new generation of AdS Web will initially be released with simpler 2D maps and a limited map inventory. At the same time, maps that have not yet been migrated can be used in the older version, «Atlas of Switzerland Online» (version 4). By around the end of 2026, all map themes (2D and 3D) will be gradually migrated to «Atlas of Switzerland Web» (version 5) and new functions will be added.