UN-GGCE Centre

United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence

  • UN Campus

    BonnGermany

  • Modern society relies on satellites. Satellite information is essential for economic growth, the operation of critical infrastructure, and is a cornerstone of national defence forces. But have you ever stopped to think what satellites rely on?

Satellites are reliant on constant updates about their 'place in space' (satellite orbit information) and the Earth's 'place in space' (shape, orientation, gravity field, and coordinate reference frame). This Earth and satellite 'place in space' information are collectively known as geodetic products. Constant updates to the geodetic products are needed because the Earth and satellites are always moving.

The Earth actually moves like a spinning top. As the Earth spins, it also wobbles. Weather and natural hazards like earthquakes cause the air, water, and ice to move from place to place around the Earth which makes it wobble. Thanks to geodesy it is possible to measure these wobbles. Without updates to geodetic products, satellite applications that society takes for granted, and all the benefits they provide, would degrade or fail.

The geodetic products are created through the global geodesy supply chain which includes:

  • Ground observatories and scientists who constantly observe the movement of the Earth and satellites;
  • Data centres and data centre operators who quality check the data from observatories and make it available to the global geodesy analysis community; and
  • Analysis centres, correlation centres, and analysts who translate the raw data into geodetic products.

It is a global geodesy supply chain because the observatories and highly qualified people need to be distributed around the world to achieve the required accuracy and reliability of the geodetic products. Figure 1 illustrates this start-to-end process of the global geodesy supply chain, from ground observations to usable products that keep satellites operational and accurate.

Flag Image Figure 1: The global geodesy supply chain.

 

The UN-GGCE team is composed of three internationally recruited personnel, one locally recruited staff member, and one on-site secondee from the German government (BKG) to the Centre. In addition, five personnel support the Centre virtually under collaboration and cooperation arrangements.

In 2020, the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) welcomed and supported the offer from the Federal Republic of Germany to establish and host a Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE) at the United Nations Campus in Bonn, Germany. Following the signing of the Agreement on the Operationalization of the UN-GGCE between the United Nations and the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI), the Centre officially commenced operations. The State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, Juliane Seifert, emphasized:

"With the successful conclusion of the Agreement for the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence Germany once more proved itself to be a reliable international partner. The Centre of Excellence is going to provide important contributions to a UN Member State agreed worldwide geodetic infrastructure. This infrastructure is the reliable long-term foundation for applications like satellite navigation, space-borne Earth observation as well as monitoring of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030."

Recognizing the growing need for a high quality and sustainable Global Geodetic Reference Frame (GGRF) to support good policy development and decision-making for inclusive social progress, increasing environmental sustainability and vibrant economic development, the General Assembly on 26 February 2015 adopted resolution, entitled 'A Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development':

The resolution recognizes the importance of international cooperation, as no one country can do this alone, to realize the GGRF and services to underpin global navigation satellite systems technology and provide the framework for all geospatial activity, as a key enabler of geospatial data interoperability and data integration, and sustainable development. The resolution also recognizes the economic and scientific importance of and the growing demand for an accurate and stable global geodetic reference frame for the Earth that allows the interrelationship of measurements taken anywhere on the Earth and in space, combining geometric positioning and gravity field-related observations, as the basis and reference in location and height for geospatial information, which is used in many Earth science and societal applications, including sea-level and climate change monitoring, natural hazard and disaster management and a whole series of industrial applications including mining, agriculture, transport, navigation and construction, in which precise positioning introduces efficiencies.

UN-GGCE's overarching goal is to assist Member States and geodetic organizations to coordinate and collaborate to sustain, enhance, access and utilise an accurate, accessible and sustainable GGRF to support science, society and global development. The objective is to support, within available resources, the implementation of General Assembly resolution 69/266 through strengthening and advancing: global geodetic cooperation and coordination; worldwide geodetic infrastructure; standards and policies; education, training and capacity development; and communication and awareness.

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Second Consultative Meeting on the Global Geodesy Development Plan
The Second Consultative Meeting for the Global Geodesy Development Plan was hosted by the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE) at the United Nations campus in Bonn from 20 to 23 November 2023. The…
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Concept Note
Advancing options for an International Governance for Geodesy
Sixteenth Session
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  • UN-GGCE
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MMOU - Strengthening the Global Geodesy Supply Chain (Last updated: 4 May 2026)
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State of Geodesy 2026
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Zero Draft of a Robust Global Geodesy Supply Chain
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20250325_ Geodesy Factbook (Blank Draft)
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Roadmap to Modernise a Country GRS_en_v0_2.docx
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20250325_Geodesy_Factbook (AUS Example)
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La hoja de ruta_v0_2_es
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O Roteiro_v0_2_pt
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20250325_ Geodesy Factbook (Blank Draft)
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As part of the UN-GGCE Partnership launched in June 2024, which recognizes the exceptional commitment and significant contributions of Member States, universities, and organizations to advancing the science of geodesy and strengthening the global geodesy supply chain, the UN-GGCE proudly acknowledges the following founding partners and partners:

Founding Partners:

BKG

Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy: BKG | GERMANY

Website

Kartverket

The Norwegian Mapping Authority: Kartverket | NORWAY

Website

Partners

Chalmers

Chalmers University of Technology and the Onsala Space Observatory : OSO | SWEDEN

Website Chalmers Website OSO

University of Santiago de Chile

University of Santiago de Chile | CHILE

Website

Vienna University of Technology

Vienna University of Technology : TU Wien | AUSTRIA

Website

Geoscience AUSTRALIA

Geoscience | AUSTRALIA

Website

IGN Belgium

National Geographic Institute : IGN | BELGIUM

Website

Royal Observatory of Belgium

Royal Observatory of Belgium : ROB | BELGIUM

Website

DGFI-TUM Germany

German Geodetic Research Institute at the Technical University of Munich : DGFI-TUM | GERMANY

Website

Geographic Military Institute | CHILE Website

Geographic Military Institute | CHILE

Website

FrontierSI | AUSTRALIA

FrontierSI | AUSTRALIA

Website

University of Tasmania

University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA

Website

University of Bonn

University of Bonn | GERMANY

Website

AFRIGIST

African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information : AFRIGIST | NIGERIA

Website

University of Latvia

University of Latvia | LATVIA

Website

INEGI

National Institute of Statistics and Geography : INEGI | MEXICO

Website

IGN Spain

National Geographic Institute : IGN | SPAIN

Website

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology : DUT | NETHERLANDS

Website

Delft University of Technology

Kadaster : KAD | NETHERLANDS

Website

Netherlands Hydrographic Service

Netherlands Hydrographic Service : HYD | NETHERLANDS

Website

Rijkswaterstaat

Rijkswaterstaat : RWS | NETHERLANDS

Website

National Geographic Institute of the Argentine Republic

National Geographic Institute of the Argentine Republic : NGI | ARGENTINA

Website

Esri

Environmental Systems Research Institute : Esri | USA

Website

Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi

Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi | INDIA

Website

ISO/TC 211

ISO/TC 211 Geographic information/Geomatics - SIS | SWEDEN

Website

BEV

Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying - BEV, National Geodetic Authority | AUSTRIA

Website

Natural Resources Canada

The Canadian Geodetic Survey - CGS, Natural Resources Canada | CANADA

Website | Tools and Data Website

SIRGAS

Geodetic Reference System for the Americas - SIRGAS | The Americas

Website

The British Geological Survey

The British Geological Survey (BGS) | UNITED KINGDOM

Website

CSDILA

the Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration (CSDILA), the University of Melbourne Department of Infrastructure Engineering | AUSTRALIA

Website

Positioning Insights

Positioning Insights | AUSTRALIA

Website

IAG

The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) | Global

Website

Hexagon

Hexagon AB (including Leica Geosystems) | Global

Website

Overview
The Roadmap provides a guidance on how to modernise and implement a country's GRS to ensure that all geospatial data whether from maps, satellite imagery, or GNSS enabled technologies is accurately aligned to a unified, nationally consistent way. This foundation supports precise positioning, underpins smart infrastructure, enhances resilience to climate change and natural disasters, and facilitates integration with international geodetic frameworks. The Roadmap also defines governance structures, guides institutional responsibilities, and prioritizes investments in infrastructure and capacity development.
The Roadmap is organised as a sequence of steps to guide countries from understanding their current geodetic environment through to implementation, adoption, and long-term operation of a modern Geospatial Reference System (GRS).

Reference material

 

  • Figure 1

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Understanding the current Geospatial Reference System and stakeholder needs is essential before making any changes, as updates can be costly, time-consuming, and disruptive if not clearly required. Changes that are unnecessary may waste resources and impact systems that already meet user needs. Updated components must be justified by stakeholder demand and meet accuracy requirements now and into the future.

Action 1.1: Document the current Geospatial Reference System in the form of a Geodesy Factsheet for your country (Appendix A).

Action 1.2: Create a diagram describing your country's GRS (Figure 1).

Action 1.3: Identify and understand the needs of stakeholders.

Action 1.4: Summarize stakeholder needs and decide which elements of the GRS need updating.

Action 1.5: Classify stakeholders using a matrix of their level of interest and level of influence (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Reference material

Communicating the need to update the Geospatial Reference System

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Related resources

Establishing effective governance arrangements

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Related resources

Justifying investment in a modern Geospatial Reference System

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

A business case for updating the country geospatial reference system should justify the investment by clearly outlining the benefits, costs, and expected outcomes. It provides decision-makers with evidence to support funding and prioritization, aligning the project with broader strategic goals of the government.

Action 4.1: Develop a business case/s which provide a clear and concise argument that demonstrates why an investment in the GRS is worthwhile.

Guidance

Examples and further reading

Planning the implementation of a modern Geospatial Reference System

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Developing a project plan is essential to define the scope, timeline, resources, and responsibilities for updating a geospatial reference system. It provides a structured roadmap that guides the project team, helping to manage risks and stay on schedule. A clear plan also facilitates communication and coordination among stakeholders, ensuring that objectives are met efficiently and effectively.

Action 5.1: Develop a project plan for the elements of the GRS you will be updating which includes scope, timeline, resources, and budget required for the GRS development.

Guidance

UN-IGIF Appendix 1.4

provides a template of a country-level action plan.

UN-IGIF Appendix 1.4

contain tools to monitor and evaluate the plan and establish success indicators.

Design, installation, data collection and processing

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

6. Establish a GNSS Network

Action 6.1: Design a GNSS network.

Action 6.2: Install a GNSS network.

Guidance

7. Collect GNSS Data

Action 7.1: Collect and archive GNSS CORS data.

Action 7.2: Collect and archive GNSS campaign data.

8. Process GNSS Data

Action 8.1: Process GNSS CORS data.

Action 8.2: Process GNSS campaign data.

Related resources

Enabling interoperability between legacy and modern reference systems

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Related resources

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Related resources

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Related resources

Height Datums and Geoid Models (UN-GGCE)

Part of the Roadmap to Modernise a Country's Geospatial Reference System.

Action 13.1: Work with the project planning team to address the following questions:

  • Does your country have legislation, regulations or policies that must be updated to recognise the new datums?
  • How will changes impact land titles, cadastral records and boundary definitions?
  • Have key stakeholder groups been engaged sufficiently?
  • Have you provided guidance on how stakeholders can transition to or use the new datum?
  • Will the change cause discrepancies in border definitions by coordinating with adjacent countries?
Portuguese

The Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMOU) on Strengthening the Global Geodesy Supply Chain became operative on 10 March 2025.

The MMOU is a shared recognition by Member State government departments and agencies, private sector companies, organizations, associations, and academic institutions, together with the United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence (UN-GGCE), that action is required to make the foundations of positioning, navigation, and timing services robust.

The purpose of the MMOU is to help you.

The MMOU allows you to demonstrate to leaders and policymakers that the global geodesy supply chain is dependent on international cooperation and collaboration, and there is an international 'coalition of the willing' (the Participants of the MMOU) who consider this to be a problem we must work on together. The MMOU does not require Participants to make financial commitments.

You can join the MMOU as a Participant at any time.

If you wish to join, please send a letter to un-ggce@un.org on official letterhead from your government agency or organization.

Download the MMOU:

Geodesy & Geospatial Opportunities

As part of the 1st Joint Development Plan on Global Geodesy, this page serves to announce vacancies for the Centre and to highlight opportunities supported by partners in geodesy and related geospatial fields.

These listings support international cooperation to strengthen skills, advance research, and grow the global geodetic workforce.

IAG & UN-GGCE Joint Job Platform

For geodesy-related, non-commercial vacancies in academia, research, and government, view or submit opportunities via the IAG & UN-GGCE Joint Job Platform:
https://geodesy.science/jobs

How it works:

  • - Submitted via Post a New Job
  • - Reviewed and approved by the IAG Secretariat
  • - Published immediately and shared through a weekly newsletter

Other Institutional Portals

  • Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)
    Geospatial science, surveying, and land management positions.
    More information
  • African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST)
    Education, research, and training in geodesy, GIS, photogrammetry, and remote sensing.
    More information


Share an Opportunity: If you are a partner and would like to publish an opportunity that does not fit the IAG Joint Job Platform, please send the information to un-ggce@un.org.