Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr

The Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr (ZGeoBw) is the central office of the Geoinformation Service of the German Bundeswehr (GeoInfoDBw). It is responsible for providing geoinformation support across the entire spectrum of Bundeswehr tasks, ensuring that commanders and forces can precisely position themselves, navigate, and engage targets based on accurate terrain and geofactor data. The center is organizationally and operationally subordinate to the Kommando Cyber- und Informationsraum (KdoCIR), while its technical supervision rests with the Cyber- und Informationstechnik department of the Federal Ministry of Defence. It is one of the federal government's departmental research institutions. Founded on 11 March 2003 as the Amt für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr (AGeoBw), the center was created by merging several predecessor organizations, including the Amt für Militärisches Geowesen, the Amt für Wehrgeophysik in Traben-Trarbach, the Schule für Wehrgeophysik in Fürstenfeldbruck, the topographic troops of the Army, and parts of the Air Force Office and Naval Support Command. In 2013 it was renamed Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr. Since 1 July 2017 it has been directly subordinate to the KdoCIR. Its headquarters is in Euskirchen, with six external offices. The center employs approximately 1,000 personnel, including over 300 academics. Its core tasks include the production and provision of geoinformation, geoinformation advice, and geoscientific research. It operates a map distribution point capable of holding up to 93,000 maps, supports NATO and EU missions through the Multinational Geospatial Support Group (MN GSG) and the Multinational Meteorological/Oceanographic Support Group, and maintains a map archive covering all relevant Bundeswehr and NATO maps. As a federal research institution, it is a member of the Working Group of Departmental Research Institutions, the Working Group of the Survey Administrations of the Länder (AdV), and the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (StAGN).

The Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr (ZGeoBw) was established on 11 March 2003 as the Amt für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr (AGeoBw). It was formed from several predecessor organizations: the Amt für Militärisches Geowesen, the Amt für Wehrgeophysik in the Mont Royal barracks in Traben-Trarbach (with the Schule für Wehrgeophysik in Fürstenfeldbruck), the topographic troops of the Army including the military geographic offices of the military districts, and parts of the Air Force Office and the Naval Support Command. In 2007, as part of the realignment of the Bundeswehr, it was decided to relocate most of the office to Euskirchen and to close the Traben-Trarbach and Fürstenfeldbruck sites. The move from Traben-Trarbach was completed in 2012. The training and university components in Fürstenfeldbruck continued to conduct training until February 2026 and then also moved to Euskirchen, where they were reorganized as a Training and Exercise Center (ATZ). As part of the Bundeswehr reform, the Amt für Militärisches Geowesen was dissolved with effect from 1 October 2013 and transferred into the Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr. On 29 April 2015, the Multinational Geospatial Support Group (MN GSG) was formally commissioned as an additional organizational element by the commander of the Kommando Strategische Aufklärung, Jürgen Setzer. Its mission is to provide geoinformation for future NATO and EU operations. On 1 July 2017, the Multinational Meteorological/Oceanographic Support Group was established at the center in Euskirchen, providing standardized weather data to specialist personnel in NATO and EU mission and exercise areas. Since 1 July 2017, the center has been directly subordinate to the Kommando Cyber- und Informationsraum (KdoCIR).

• Established as Amt für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr (AGeoBw) from predecessor organizations.

• Decision to relocate most of the office to Euskirchen and close Traben-Trarbach and Fürstenfeldbruck sites.

• Relocation from Traben-Trarbach completed.

• Amt für Militärisches Geowesen dissolved and transferred into Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehr.

• Multinational Geospatial Support Group (MN GSG) formally commissioned.

• Multinational Meteorological/Oceanographic Support Group established at Euskirchen.

• Center placed directly under Kommando Cyber- und Informationsraum (KdoCIR).

Central geoinformation authority of the German Bundeswehr, combining operational geospatial support with federal geoscientific research.

• Geoinformation products and services

  Production and provision of geoinformation for all Bundeswehr tasks, including terrain and geofactor data.

• Military maps and charts

  Creation of map material for Bundeswehr and NATO, with a map storage holding every relevant map.

• Forward Map Distribution Point

  Container-based map distribution point capable of holding up to 93,000 maps.

• Geoscientific research and advice

  Geoscientific research and geoinformation advice for the Bundeswehr.

• Meteorological and oceanographic support

  Standardized weather data for NATO and EU personnel in mission and exercise areas.

1. 1Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehrbundeswehr.de
2. 2Die Geschichte der Bundeswehrbundeswehr.de
3. 3Kommando Informationstechnik-Services der Bundeswehrbundeswehr.de
4. 4Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehrde.wikipedia.org
5. 5Zentrum für Geoinformationswesen der Bundeswehrwikidata.org