Ancient Greece was the homeland of great geographers, such as Stravon and Claudius
Ptolemeus from Alexandria. On the other hand, Eratosthenis has amazingly and accurately
calculated earth’s dimensions.
The end of the ancient world brought up a stalemate in the cartography developments as
well, while at that period Greece has passed from of the Byzantine Empire to the 400 year
Turkish occupation, to be thereon liberated following the 1821 war for freedom that led to
the founding of the Modern Greek state in 1830.
The initial scientific study on the mapping of Greece took place in the period 1829-1831
through the establishment of the triangular network of the Peloponnese region (1110
points) by French officers. The first map of Greece, of 1:400000 range was published during
the 1840-1850 decade by Bavarians, the next edition by the French, while in 1885 the
General Map of Greece was published by the Military Geographic Institute of Vienna at a scale of 1:300.000.
In 1889, following a bilateral agreement signed by the Greek Ministry of Military and the
Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Military Mission of the Vienna Military
Geographic Institute set up the “Geodetic Mission” which was the founding core and
precursor of the current Hellenic Military Geographical Service. The reasoning behind the
agreement and key objective of the then Greek Government was the establishment of the
National Cadastre in order to avoid potential damages to the economic sector. However the
limited number of the appointed officers led the “Geodetic Mission” to carry out only
topography and cartography works, instead of cadastral work which was the main target.
In 1891 the “Geodetic Mission” was renamed to “Geodetic Detachment” which in 1895
comprised the “Military Cartographic Service - MCS”. Almost a year later, the Austrian
mission, before its departure, hands over the MCS command to Captain (Engineer)
Alexander KONTOSTAVLOS. Thereon the Service was renamed to its HMGS, upon a
Legislative Decree issued on 10 Feb 1926, a title held until present.
During the German occupation of 1940-1944, HMGS operated under the military control of
the occupation forces. In October 1944 the German forces (namely the 613 Topography
Engineer Unit) departed from Greece, taking away all HMGS technical equipment and
materiel and a major part of the Service’s archive.
In 1962 the major project of the Mapping of Greece was initiated thus leading to the
charting of the country on a 1:5000 range. The project was implemented through Public
Investment funds of the Ministry of National Economy and led to the renewal of the
Service’s machinery and scientific equipment along with the substantial increase of its
civilian personnel.
In October 1971 HMGS, under Legislative Decree 1013, was nominated as an administrative
and financially independent Unit under the Geography Corps subordinate to the Hellenic
Army General Staff.
The 1980 decade and onwards brought up a real revolution in the cartography, through the
extensive use of personal computers, digital photogrammetry stations, Geo Information
Systems, remote sensing and Satellite Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
The use of modern geodetic methodology and theories (triangulation, gravimetry,
astronomic and geomagnetic observations, etc.) their implementation in the practical field
of topography footprint, the exploitation of Photogrammetry and satellite observations, as
well as the complex cartography processes and printing, comprise the multidimensional
activity of the Service’s prominent role in the national strategy and development and the
international cooperation.
HMGS, supported by the competent and highly qualified personnel (both military and
civilian) along with its modern and evolving technological and computer equipment, fulfils
its function thus credibly contributing to the active and dynamic participation of the Armed
Forces in the scientific and technical developments, through a vast field of theoretical
research and practical applications, comparable to respective services of other developed
countries.
HMGS turns theory into practice, a guide that is valuable to national defence planning, while
its participation in the progress of the state development policy is equally important,
through synergies with Ministries, state and private actors, public utilities and academic
institutions, in projects and works of major national importance.