Geodesy and digital cartographic survey in Fildes Peninsula, Rey Jorge Island, Antarctica

Abstract

The present paper summarizes a joint effort undertaken by the Instituto Geográfico Militar de Chile (IGM) and the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH) in order to obtain digital cartography of the Fildes Peninsula, Rey Jorge Island, Antarctica. This peninsula constitutes the prototype project area for the main IGM-INACH project N^o 153 “Cartographic Survey and Geographic Information System of the South Shetlands Islands”

The Digital Cartography was implemented at the 1:5 000 scale, using geodetic GPS control points referenced to ITRF 92 and WGS 84 Data. The UTM Projection was used. All products were produced in compliance with the cartographic standards of the IGM.

This cartography was designed in order to satisfy the requirements of a Geographic Information System developed by INACH. This geo-referenced database incorporates a variety of thematic information, enabling it to support scientific investigations, environmental and multi-disciplinary studies, and other applications.

As a result of this project the Instituto Geográfico Militar de Chile produced a map at 1:5 000 scale in digital format, and also a 1:10 000 topographic map, in paper format, with two editions: first edition of two charts and a second edition with one chart covering the whole project area.

Chile and other countries have a number of important permanent activities in this area. These maps are designed to support several and diverse geo-spatial studies related to these activities.