Geomatics Collection
The geomatic collection is located in the Hermann Hoffmann Academy (Senckenbergstrasse 17). Tours are possible by appointment. Astronomy and surveying at Giessen University have a long history: the old astronomical observatory (Sternwarte) was located on the Collegiate Building, which was built in 1607. Here Joachim Jungius observed sunspots with a telescope as early as 1612/1613. Between 1810 and 1812, the observatory was geomatically surveyed as part of the triangulation of the Duchy of Westphalia. In 1838 the observatory was demolished together with the college building. Nothing is known about its later location. The Geomatics Institute was founded between 1870 and 1880 and existed until the end of 1944. In December 1944, the institute building was destroyed with World War II bombs. Despite some losses and damages, most of the instruments of the Geomatics Institute have been preserved. The collection still includes about 100 historical geomatic instruments, such as theodolites, levels, telescopic sights, a heliotrope, and other equipment from the 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the oldest exhibits is a field compass made by Hektor Rößler. Rößler is considered one of the pioneers of geomatic instrument making in the Grand Duchy of Hessen. From 1804 to 1806, he was the 'university mechanicus' at the University of Giessen.
Contact
Collection Coordinator
Literature:
- Ernst Döpfer/Bernhard Heckmann/Alissa Theiss, Geodätische Spuren in Giessen. In: DVW (Deutscher Verein für Vermessungswesen) Hessen-/DVW Thüringen-Mitteilungen 1 (2023), 2−24.
- Alissa Theiss/Robert Wolff, Geodätische Sammlung. In: Alissa Theiss/Michael Lierz (eds.), SACHVERSTAND. Die Sammlungen der Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen (Giessen 2021), pp. 62–69.