UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
Distr.
LIMITED
e/CN.14/ CART/ 300
25 September 1972 Original: ENGLISH
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
Third Regional Cartographic Conference for Africa
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 30 October - 10 November 1972
Provisional agenda item 4CARTOGRAPHIC ACTIVITIES IN ETHIOPIA 1966 - 1972
Submitted by The Imperial Ethiopian Government
I. INTRODUCTION
In a paper submitted to the first United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for Africa, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in July 1963, *he lack of ac curate maps about Ethiopia was mentioned. This awareness of the need for maps by xhe Ethiopian Government, had a favourable effect on the cartography
activities in the country.Consequently, it could be said that at this stage a sotind beginning has been made* and, as a result, a significant portion of the country and a large
number of towns have been mapped.
National cartographic activities are, at present, carried out under the authority of the Surveying and Mapping Department of the Ministry of Land Reform and Administration. This Department concentrates its effort mainly
on-general purpose mapping, and on projects of a national scope. However,the Surveying and Mapping Department is periodically called upon to render
specialized technical services to other Governmental agencies. In rendering such services the Department collaborates closely with several cartographic units of other Imperial Ethiopian Government Ministries which produce special
ized maps primarily for their own requirement.
At present, the Surveying and Mapping Department is in a relatively better situation to fulfil its functions. Since the completion of its new headquarter in 1967, it has been possible to lay out properly the various map compilation and map production equipments and materials for a more efficient execution of
tasks.
* By the Survey and Mapping Department, Ministry of Land Reform and Administra
tion.
M72-1576
Equipment procurement, personnel recruiting and training are going on at a regular pace. Although the Surveying and Mapping Department is far from self-sufficient, the efforts made in the various areas of mapping are earnest attempts to carry out its responsibilities.
II. GEODETIC CONTROL NETWORK
ProjectsThe field survey for establishing the National Geodetic Control Network of Ethiopia was carried out in two separate stages. During the first stage, the project commonly known as "The Blue Kile Basin Geodetic Control Project" l/
was carried out from 1957 to 1961. During the second stage, after a time spa^
of two yearsf the Ethiopia - US Mapping Operation 2/ was carried out from I963- to 1970. Subsequent surveying and Mapping activities being carried out in Ethiopia use the results of these two Projects.
The Blue Nile River Basin Geodetic Control Project
This was a joint operation, under a technical assistance programme, car ried out by the Ethiopian Government and the US Government, in which 12
Americans and 60 Ethiopians directly participated in the Project. In an area of 300,000 sq. km, 4,500 km of first order triangulation arcs and 3,300 km of
first order levelling lines were established.In order to tie this survey to the thirtieth Meridian African Datum, a connexion was made to the Sudanese triangulation and levelling networks. The final results for 365 triangulation stations and 96O levelling bench marks
were published in 196l«In addition to this, a complete aerial photographic coverage of the area
was made as part of the project.
Ethiopia - US Mapping Operation. , ^ .
In this operation, a joint survey activity was carried out by the Ethiopian Government and the United States Government from 1963-1970. As outlined in a previous report to the.Second Cartographic Conference for Africa, the purpose
of this project was:
(i) Aerial photography of all the Empire except the Blue Nile River
Basin area;
(ii) Extension of the existing National Geodetic Control Network to
cover the whole country;
(iii) Production of 1:25,000 scale pictomaps and 1:250,000 scale topo
graphic maps;
(iv) Technical assistance in the form of personnel training and equipment
procurement.
1/ E/CN.14/CART/44; E/CN.I4/CART/65. 2/ E/CN.14/CART/151.
E/CN.14/CART/3OO
Page 3
(a) Horizontal Control
Regarding horizontal control points, the purpose of the second Ethiopian - US Mapping Project was to extend the existing national triangulation network
throughout the entire country of Ethiopia. On the other hand, the large-scale map compilation programme of the country was another immediate requirement.
For this reason a decision was made to adopt the HIRAN system of aerial surveying. In the HIRAN project in Ethiopia, the capability of the system for measuring distances precisely across inaccessible terrain was put to good advantage.
In the trilateration net, 30 HIRAN stations were occupied and 132 distances were measured. The network was adjusted on the thirtieth Meridian Datum and
the co-ordinates of the points were determined (Figure 4)•
Vertical Control
On page 2, the status of levelling in Ethiopia up to 1961 was mentioned
(Figure l). In the subsequent period, specifically from 1966 to 1970, field
survey operations were carried out to extend the existing 3*300 km of first order levelling lines in the Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopiaf to cover the entire country.
As a result about 9»000 km of second order level lines were established.
Of this total, about 6,000 km of level lines were completed during this re porting period.
Barometric levelling was also carried out to determine elevations of trilateration stations.
III. TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPPING
Present plans are for the production of small-scale topographical maps at scales of 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 and large-scale maps at scales ranging from 1:2,000 to 1:10,000* At present, all new maps produced by the Depart ment are prepared by Air Survey techniques.
Aerial Photography
In Ethiopia, a wide range of activity in aerial photography was started in 1957* This operation continued in the subsequent years with the completion of 40,000 km of photography from 1966 to 1968, a complete photographic coverage of the entire Empire of Ethiopia was achieved.
Aerial photographs taken for this purpose with a 150 mm focal length camera are of 1:50,000 scale and 23 x 23 cm format. However, other types of aerial photos covering various regions of Ethiopia do exist.
1:250,000 Series Topo Maps
Due to an agreement concluded a few years ago between the Ethiopian
Government and the United States Government, field annotations and survey-
operations were completed in 1970 for a total of 95 sheets required in this series for the complete coverage of the country. At present eight sheets have been published,1:50,000 Series Topo Maps
The current major activity in this area is the Ethiopia-Great Britain Mapping Project- As a result of an agreement for technical assistance signed in December 1970 between the Ethiopian Government and the British Government work on this project started in April 1971.
Although the major part of the operation is being carried out by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, the Surveying and Mapping Department of the I.E.G. Ministry of Land Reform and Adodni erfci'ation participates in all phases of the task.
From among the 88 map sheets required to cover the 68,000 sq. km of the
project area (Figure 2), field survey work is completed for some 8 sheets.
Besides, at present, major control points covering some 25 per cent of the project area are established.
With the commencement of the printing and publishing of maps towards the end of the current year, it could be said that all components of the project are being carried out according to schedule.
1:25,000 Series Pictomaps
Beginning from Addis Ababa, a number of photomaps for the Eastern region of Ethiopia have been published recently as a result of a technical co-operation programme existing between the Ethiopian Government and the Government of the United States.
Black and white mosaics and simple aerial photographs are still in demand for planning purposes. The Surveying and Mapping Department produces a large number of photo mosaics for various agencies as part of its technical service
programmes.
Large-scale Maps
Up to now, large-scale maps which are produced by the Department are mainly of urban centres. Although the mapping of townships is within the realm of activities of the Municipalities Department of the I.E.G. Ministry of Interior, the Surveying and Mapping Department of the I.E.G. Ministry of Land Reform and Administration has participated in the various stages of these projects, and has been instrumental in the production of such maps.
E/CN.14/CART/300
Page 5
Along "this line of operation, over 30 large-scale maps of various town ships were prepared from 1966 to 1972. Included in this list is a 6 colour map of the National Capital, Addis Ababa, at a scale of 1:10,000r published in September 1969. A notable addition to this list is a 1:2,000 map of Asmara, an important town and administrative centre, because this scale is considered
to be adequate for most planning purposes-This activity "being part of the national development effort, the growing list in the continuing large-scale mapping programme also includes simple villages and administrative posts.
IV. CADASTRAL PLANS
Cadastral survey (excluding urban centres) is another nation-wide program me being carried out by the Surveying and Mapping Department, As an..most other countries, it is a government service. But, unlike other countries, certain problems are unique to Ethiopia and need special attention. Accordingly, a comprehensive draft Legislation on Registration of Immovable Property is in
preparation to facilitate the efficient compilation of cadastral plans*Another concrete step taken along this line is the establishment of the Land Registration Department. The recruiting and training of personnel for this Department is going on at an accelerated pace in order to bring the man power required for the various units to full strength.
Although, at present, most transactions in land are carried out by Private Conveyancing, cadastral plans for use as instruments of deed are prepared by the Government on the request of the individuals concerned.
However, most cadastral plans compiled at present in the Department are prepared for determining the extent of State Domain Land for the purpose of land grant, land lease, and settlement programmes.
V. NATIONAL ATLAS OF "ETHIOPIA
A tentative list of maps has been preparad for the projected National Atlas of Ethiopia at a scale of 1:4,000,000 and work on compilation of maps has already commenced.
At present, the maps are being compiled from different source materials.
Although most of the information is obtained from national agencies;such as the Central Statistics Office, and the Technical Agency; some useful data from overseas sources will be incorporated in the maps.
All field checking and verification of information will be carried out by the Geography Division of the I.E.G. Ministry of Land Reform and Administration.
As a result of the continuing programme of geographic research being carried out by the Division, there axe'many field annotated aerial photographs and written reports in its -archive* --■■
At the present stage, proof copies of manuscripts are helio printed. With the planned procurement of a large process camera^ it is hoped that colour prints of manuscripts will be produced using lithographic processes..
Regional Atlases
A preliminary Regional Atlas of Arusi, one of the Governorate-Generals, incorporating 30 maps has already been produced and a revised edition is in the process of being compiled. The source material for this Atlas was largely supplied by the Office of the Governorate-General of Arusi; and it is envisaged that vital information essential for the compilation of similar Regional Atlases would be forthcoming from the other Governorate-Generals.
Special Maps
Map sheets of differing scales and information are prepared and released as often as possible or as requested by other Agencies.
VI„ TRAINING
Training of personnel is being carried out both in Ethiopia and abroad.
The majority of technicians were given on-the-job training by the various production units of the Surveying and Mapping Department. However, a sub stantial fraction of the existing personnel have taken advanced courses in specialized fields at higher institutions of learning overseas* Efforts are being made by the Department so that opportunities made available by scholar ships from friendly countries are used for the training of qualified personnel*
At present, there is an arrangement with the D.O.S, in which employees are given further training in all phases of mapping.
The present personnel strength of the Surveying and Mapping Department is as follows:
Division
1. Surveying 2. Mapping
(a) Photogrammetry (b) Aerial photo (c) Cartography (d) Reproduction
Trained abroad
4
19
10 3 4 2Trained at home
60
65
20 21 10
14
Total
64 84
30
