What is this? These symbols have been showing up all over the walking trail I use. What do they mean? Two diagonal squares with a bolt in the middle.

26 comments
  1. Je pourrais me tromper mais ça doit être un repère de géomètre. Les carrés peints sont juste là pour qu’il soit facilement repérable.

  2. GCPs (ground control points) for drone surveys. These points are surveyed manually and their coordinates are known to <1cm absolute accuracy. This information is then used when processing the images from the drone-borne camera to produce a geo-referenced image.

  3. I can imagine the coloured markers are for aerial geo-imaging. Used for mapping the country. The bolt in the middle is used by survey people on site for measuring (or marking) the exact position not just from the distance. This is for accurately defining plots of land and ownership.

  4. My sister is a surveyor working in Canada. She was totally blown away by how nice the Swiss survey bolts are. “A little divot to hold the rod tip!? A standard dome for flat-bottomed rods!? They’re made from *brass*!?” Apparently in Canada they just use regular crappy nails. More than any other detail, these little survey markers impressed on her the technical luxury of life in Switzerland.

  5. Its a so called GCP (Ground Control Point) for drone surveys.

    I just wonder why they painted it in a bright orange, thats the most stupid color for GCP`s. XD

    Must be beginners. 🙂

  6. Stuck Pixels. Massage them with a dull object and maybe you will get them to work again. r/SwitzerlandIsFake

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