Overview

Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG) is Germany’s federal authority responsible for geodesy and cartography. Established in 1952, it operates under the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. Its mandate is to provide authoritative geospatial reference data and services for the federal government and the public sector. BKG’s mission is to ensure consistent, reliable and up-to-date geospatial foundations for administration, research and policy. It supports evidence-based decision-making by maintaining national spatial reference systems and high-quality geoinformation.

Mission and focus areas

BKG focuses on national geodesy, cartography and geospatial reference systems, including coordinates, elevation models and gravity data. It plays a central role in Germany’s spatial data infrastructure, ensuring interoperability and standardisation across federal and state levels. The organisation contributes indirectly to sustainability and ESG-related work by providing geodata used in climate monitoring, environmental assessment, land use planning and infrastructure resilience. These datasets underpin risk analysis, climate adaptation planning and long-term resource management relevant to sustainable finance and public investment.

Structure and governance

BKG is a federal agency with a formal governance structure led by a president and supported by specialised departments. Its organisational structure reflects core functions such as geodetic reference systems, geodata management, cartography and digital services. The agency works closely with other federal authorities, Germany’s Länder, European institutions and international geodetic organisations. This cooperative model ensures consistency of geospatial standards and alignment with global frameworks.

Programs and offerings

BKG produces official maps, digital geodata products and spatial reference services used across government and research. It operates national geospatial services, including coordinate reference systems and elevation data, which serve as authoritative inputs for analysis and modelling. In addition, BKG develops tools and platforms that support open data access and geospatial interoperability. These outputs are particularly valuable for practitioners working in climate risk assessment, infrastructure planning and environmental monitoring, where reliable spatial data is critical for informed decision-making.