The story of geodesy in Bonn began in the 1876 summer semester, when the Agricultural Academy in the city’s Poppelsdorf district opened up new opportunities for Prussian surveyors to bolster their education with science. A few years later, in 1882, a four-semester degree program was established to train surveyors to work in public service—a key milestone on the path to making the subject an integral part of academia.
From tape measures to satellites
Modern geodesy has come a long way. Over a century and a half, what began with tape measures, theodolites and traditional measurement methods has developed into a state-of-the-art field here in Bonn. It was here that, early on, the groundwork was laid for seeing surveying not just as a practical technique but also as a discipline built on sound scientific foundations. New professorships, institutes and areas of research were added over time, and the then Agricultural University in Poppelsdorf was incorporated into the University of Bonn in 1934. The range of subjects covered expanded significantly after the Second World War: aside from traditional geodesy, developments were also shaped by branches including photogrammetry, cartography, geoinformation, urban planning, land management and theoretical geodesy. The growth of experimental metrology, satellite geodesy and, later on, digital image processing and algorithmic geoinformation transformed Bonn into one of the most prestigious centers for geodesy in Germany.
Researching for the agriculture of the future
The Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation is now helping to raise the profile of the university of which it is part. Its research ranges from ultra-precise reference systems for observing the Earth system through to climate and water research, robotics, remote sensing, machine learning and sustainable agriculture. Among other things, it is involved in the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence, which is driving a sustainable and technology-powered transformation of the agriculture industry, concentrating on developing innovative, sustainable cultivation systems and advancing new technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and sensor-based phenotyping. Geodesy at the University of Bonn also embraces close links between research and practice. This includes cooperation with partners from the worlds of administration, business and industry as well as degree programs with an international flavor.
Geodesy in 20 to 30 years’ time
Professor Heiner Kuhlmann, Managing Director of the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation, said: “The anniversary gives us a welcome opportunity to shine a light on how geodesy has evolved—from the early days of scientific surveying in Poppelsdorf and the growth of the institution in the 20th century through to today’s top-level research straddling the boundaries between the Earth sciences, the environment, technology and digitalization.” During their celebrations on April 21, therefore, geodesists in Bonn will primarily be looking to the future, focusing on the key question of what geodesy will need to be providing 20 to 30 years down the line.
Rector Professor Michael Hoch added his own congratulations on the anniversary: “Geodesy in Bonn has enjoyed an impressive journey over the past 150 years and is now a firm part of the University of Bonn. Prominent on the international stage, it is also helping to raise the profile of our whole University of Excellence. Its development has always been shaped by close links between research and practice. As a pivotal cutting-edge science with interdisciplinary relevance and global connections, geodesy is doing much to help overcome some of the major challenges of our times, from climate change, mobility and urbanization through to sensor systems, remote sensing and automation in agriculture. This is something that is becoming apparent in impressive fashion in our PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence and elsewhere.”
More information is available at: https://www.igg.uni-bonn.de/de/150-jahre-igg (in German)
Anyone who is interested can hear about the latest research findings in the ongoing lecture series “Die Welt im Wandel” (“A Changing World”) and at an open house on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
“Die Welt im Wandel” lecture series
May 7, 2026: “Bauwerke, Städte und Gebirge: Präzise vermessen, Wandel erkennen, Risiken verringern” (“Buildings, Cities and Mountains: Measuring Precisely, Identifying Change, Reducing Risks”), Professor Christoph Holst, Technical University of Munich, Chair of Engineering Geodesy
June 11, 2026: “Satelliten wiegen den Klimawandel” (“Satellites Weighing Climate Change”), Professor Annette Eicker, HafenCity University Hamburg, Geodesy and Adjustment Methods
June 18, 2026: “Mit Daten der Stadt die Zukunft gestalten” (“Using Data from the City to Shape the Future”), Thomas Weindel, director of the land registry for the city of Düsseldorf
Open House
From 2 pm on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation, Nussallee 17, 53115 Bonn
Media contact:
Ines Barczewski
Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation
Phone: +49 228 73-3570
Email: i.barczewski@uni-bonn.de
