In 2020, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) celebrates a century and a half of existence. Since its creation on 12 September 1870, it has been 150 years of intense work, full of projects, ideas, tasks and results, always at the service of society, measuring and representing the world that surrounds us. This is a mission in constant evolution that began by determining the shape and dimensions of the Earth, the production of maps and land registries, and management of the official weights and measurements system to end up including, in the twenty-first century, the most advanced technologies in the fields of Astronomy, Geodesy, Geophysics, Cartography and Geomatics.
In 2020, the National Geographic Institute marks 150 years since its founding. To celebrate the anniversary, this exhibition has been organised to revisit the most outstanding landmarks during this century and a half of trajectory. The IGN Exhibition Hall presents the most emblematic documents, maps, instruments and objects used by the IGN to perform its duties in providing scientific and geographic information about the Earth. The journey through the exhibition takes us back in time to learn about how the Institute worked in the past and how it has evolved up to the present.
The first circumnavigation of the world started in 1519 and finished three years later, in 1522. It is considered the greatest feat in the history of explorations, and could be compared with the other modern landmarks such as the first Moon landing. This Spanish enterprise was promoted and led by the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan and commanded back to Spain by the Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano. The exhibition shows the most interesting aspects of the trip in a cartographic route. Starting from the geographical concepts of the ancients, we will go through the unexpected discovery of the American continent, the cartographic espionage between the two Iberian powers, the spice trade or the first maps of the Strait of Magellan and the Moluccan Islands, everything immersed in the atmosphere of the 16th century.
In a visit to the Royal Observatory of Madrid you can learn about the evolution of Astronomy and other related sciences such as Geodesy, Cartography, and Geophysics, in addition to exploring a valuable collection of scientific and astronomical instrumentation.
The Geophysical Observatory of San Pablo de los Montes – Toledo (SPT) is a center dedicated to the monitoring of seismic movements and the Earth's magnetic field, using extremely precise instrumentation installed in pavilions expressly prepared for it. This Observatory is included within the Global Seismic Network (GSN) and the World Network of Geomagnetic Observatories (Intermagnet).
In the Geophysical Observatory of Toledo you can visit the exhibition "Historical Geophysical Instrumentation”. This exhibit features an important collection of geophysical instruments, mainly related to seismology and geomagnetism, which have been used throughout history in the IGN’s different Geophysical Observatories.
The Yebes Astronomy Classroom is an informational resource which, in an entertaining and understandable way, brings students and the general public closer to the content included in non-university educational programs on astronomy: seasons of the year, lunar phases, time zones, the solar system, the ecliptic, the zodiac, famous constellations, celestial movements, etc. It also includes an introduction to radio astronomy.
This exhibition is a journey through the different cartographic representations of Spain throughout its history, starting with the first references to the Peninsula: the Iberia of the Greeks, the Roman-Hispanic period, the scientific cartography of Claudius Ptolemy, beautified people and nautical charts in the Middle Ages, the golden age of cartography in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and mapping from the eighteenth century. The exhibition closes with the map of Spain’s provincial division in 1833, established with the then Minister for Development Javier de Burgos a few decades before the foundation of the National Geographic Institute in 1870.
Since ancient times, one of the main concerns of the human being has been to know what the World in which he lives is like, trying to answer questions such as, what is the shape of the Earth? What are its dimensions? Or what relationship does it have with the heavenly bodies? Starting from the first geographical references of ancient Greece, which considered a flat World, we will go through the spherical Earth proposed by prominent names such as Aristotle and Eratosthenes, following the maps of "T in O" and the nautical charts of the Middle Ages, the rediscovery of the Geography of Ptolemy in the Renaissance, until reaching the great oceanic explorations that finished delineating the World as we know it today.
The International Cartographic Association (ICA) Commission on Atlases, the ICA-IGU Commission On Toponymy, the National Geographic Institute and the Spanish Society of Cartography, Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (SECFT) will jointly organize a workshop on atlases and toponymy in Madrid.
The Spanish Commission of Geodesy and Geophysics, the National Geographic Institute and the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera invites the entire Spanish and Portuguese scientific communities, extended as well to the European and Maghreb scientific communities, to participate in this meeting on Geodesy and Geophysics.
The Working Group of Spanish and Portuguese Public Map Libraries (Ibercarto), made up of Spanish and Portuguese professionals in cartographic documentation, is holding its IX Congress in Madrid at the headquarters of the National Geographic Institute.
The Pan American Institute of Geography and History was founded on 7 February 1928 during the Sixth International Conference held in Havana, Cuba. At the request of the delegation from the Mexican government, the headquarters was established in Mexico City. Since its founding, the Pan American Institute of Geography and History has supported and emphatically contributed to the advancement of the sciences that form part of its scope.
The XII International Congress on Geomatics and Earth Sciences 2020, organized every four years by the Illustrious Official College of Geomatic and Topographic Engineering, aims to publicize scientific and technical advances in the field of Geomatics and other related sciences.
JIIDE 2020 motto: "Contributions for the development of a low carbon economy". The Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE) are the result of the collaboration of the Direção-Geral do Território de Portugal, the National Geographic Institute of Spain, through the National Center for Geographic Information and the Government of Andorra. The XI edition of this conference, which has been decided to be held this year 2020 virtually. it will focus on issues related to a low carbon economy.
The Renaissance was an authentic revolution in Astronomy. The Copernican model, the invention and use of the telescope by Galileo or Kepler's obsession with the movement of the planets are examples of a thrilling period.
The safety of our homes, natural seismic activity, seismic activity caused by dams and even nuclear tests are examples of what is continually and meticulously monitored by our seismic networks.
At the end of the Modern Age, the rise of rationalism accelerated Astronomy’s progress, starting with Newton's law of universal gravitation and ending with the first measurements then known of the size of the Universe.
A brief overview of the history of Metrology, its phase in the IGN and an explanation of how units are now defined in the International System (SI).
The technological, scientific and social revolution that shook Europe in the nineteenth century was reflected in Astronomy. Women, newly incorporated into science, played a stellar role in this transition.
Hyper-realistic 3D scenes of National Parks, your Map on Demand, Interactive Atlas, SIGNA, mobile applications and Standard Web Services: how technology is changing our relationship to maps.
In the twentieth century, the transformation of Astronomy into the modern science of Astrophysics was completed. The evolution of stars and the structure and dimensions of both our galaxy and the universe on a large scale is studied.
A history of fascinating Black Holes, a summary of their properties and an explanation of how it has been possible to photograph one.
Until the twentieth century, observation of the stars was practically limited to their visible light, whether to the naked eye or with traditional telescopes. Technological progress has made it possible for us to observe the sky with other eyes.
The image that man has of the world he inhabits is inextricably connected to its cartographic representation. The history of cartography is a faithful reflection of the progressive discovery of a world that was incomprehensible and unknown until not so long ago.
The space race gave rise to a new phase in the history of Astronomy. Human beings reach the Moon, robotic probes explore the Solar System and space telescopes revolutionize our knowledge.
Review of the key volcanic phenomena. From Vesuvius and Pliny the Younger by way of Santorini, Krakatoa and up to volcanoes in eruption today. The eruption of El Hierro, the latest advances in volcanic monitoring and volcanic surveillance at the IGN.
Exoplanets, dark matter and dark energy, black holes and protostars are some of the topics at the forefront of science. For their study, the most ambitious observatories in history are being built, while detection of gravitational waves and diverse particles arriving from space are being examined.
The different civilisations that have inhabited Spain over time have left their mark on geographical names that have lasted to our time, being faithful witnesses to Spain’s history.
Human beings have always tried to mathematically conceptualise the technical problems in cartography, but… were we wrong? Perhaps we should simply approach them like we did when we learned as children.
In the centuries prior to the invention of the telescope, study of the heavens advanced thanks to ancient civilizations that flourished in Asia, Europe and North Africa between prehistory and the Middle Ages.
An historical review of the way in which man has oriented himself on the Earth's surface. During this evolution, technical accuracy has been improving to the point of millimetric precision. How knowledge on the Earth’s shape and the emergence of spatial geodesic techniques have been essential in this achievement will be analysed.
Repaso histórico de la forma en que el hombre se ha ubicado sobre la superficie terrestre. Durante esta evolución la precisión de las técnicas ha ido mejorando hasta precisiones del orden del milímetro. Se analizará como el conocimiento de la forma de la Tierra y la irrupción de las técnicas geodésicas espaciales ha sido esencial en este logro.
Instituto Geográfico Nacional
C/ General Ibáñez de Íbero, 3
28003 Madrid
Metro station: Guzmán el Bueno (Lines 6 and 7)
Bus: Lines C1, C2, F, 2, 44, 45
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Real Observatorio de Madrid
C/ Alfonso XII, 3
28014 Madrid
Metro station: Atoche Renfe and Estación del Arte (Line 1) and cercanías Renfe
Bus:Lines C1, C2, E1, 10, 14, 19, 26, 27, 32, 34, 37, 45
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The Beginning of the Institution
Although the history of the IGN began in 1870, when a scientific entity called the Geographic Institute was created in the Ministry of Development, the truth is that in the eighteenth century the momentum of the Enlightenment was already looking to respond to growing geographical needs. With the decree of 12 September 1870, signed by Mr. Francisco Serrano, the Geographic Institute was created and Mr. Carlos Ibáñez e Ibáñez de Íbero, an engineering colonel, was named General Director. The creation of the Institute, which standardised Spain with other European countries, represents the triumph of an idea of cartography built around a technical and civil conception.
Vértice Tetica, Bacares (Almería).
Work on the geodesic connection with Morocco. Vértice Tetica, Bacares (Almería). Year: 1924 Work on the connection of Europe with Africa, Spain with Algeria.
The institution evolves
Photo of the exhibition
“Neocueva” of Altamira
“Neocueva” of Altamira, Santillana del Mar (Cantabria). Year: 1978 With a study done by the IGN, an exact replica of the cave was made, having great importance for tourism and cultural purposes.
School of Topography. Professor Julián de Castro
Created by Decree on 24 September 1954 and reporting to the Ministry of National Education, the School of Topography has as its mission to train topographers, preparing graduates to freely exercise the profession as well as for entry in the above-mentioned corps and, in general, to perform this activity in other public entities and corporations.
Yebes Observatory (Guadalajara)
Since 2013, the Yebes Observatory has been a Spanish Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS). Its integration into the existing map of ICTS was confirmed in November 2018, and it is considered a unique localisation infrastructure that forms part of the ICTS “Network of Astronomy Infrastructures”.
Spanish Land Use Information System (SIOSE)
The city of Santander in an image from the Spanish Land Use Information System.
ERGNSS Network
One of the more than 100 permanent GPS/GNSS reference stations from the ERGNSS Network that are found throughout the country, in Fuente Dé (Cantabria).
Astronomical Observatory of the National Geographic Institute
This instrument weighs 300 tonnes and allows the composition of comets, formation of the stars, and displacement of tectonic plates to be researched, among other applications, and in combination with other telescopes, using Very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), to study some of the most distant celestial bodies as well as remote galaxies that have black holes.
“Best Practices” Award to the National Geographic Institute Year 2007
Improvement in internal management processes that ensure the reliability of goods and services produced, efficiency in management of public funds, proper utilisation of new technologies, a work climate and stable, fluid and productive relationship with the rest of the actors in the public cartographic system.
PNOA LiDAR
Digital Model of shaded surfaces that have been overlaid with two layers coming from rasterization of edification and vegetation classes from point clouds in .LAS format and a third layer from hydrography.
Spanish National Atlas in the Twenty-first Century
Protected areas are an essential tool in the conservation of ecosystems and survival of the species. This original role, purely conservationist, has grown over recent years with the addition of social and economic features. This map can be accessed in the overview found in "Spain through Maps”. A Geographic Synthesis from the Spanish National Atlas in the Twenty-first Century.
National Geographic Institute. Year 2020
The IGN’s Spanish National Atlas is a reference work with data from the State Administration and from academic and scientific organizations. This Atlas uses digital models from the environment on a scale of 1:3,000,000
The team of the National Atlas of Spain with the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda
On December 12, 2018, at an event that took place at the Royal Observatory of Madrid, the Minister of Transportation, Mobility and Urban Agency D. José Luis Ábalos Meco presided over the presentation of the publication «Spain on maps. A geographical synthesis »of the Compendiums of the National Atlas of Spain (ANE) series, which he described as outstanding work and a fundamental reference.
SGE Communication Award 2018: National Atlas of Spain of the IGN. 2019 year.
His Majesty King Don Felipe VI gives the SGE Communication Award 2018: National Atlas of Spain of the IGN, to Lorenzo García Asensio, general director of the National Geographic Institute and president of the National Center for Geographic Information. The National Atlas of Spain of the National Geographic Institute has been awarded this Prize, which recognizes the work of magazines, editorials, media, TV programs, journalists or projects that have stood out for the dissemination of geography and of knowledge of the planet.
