Géoportail homepage > FAQ > Root
What is Géoportail?
Géoportail is an internet portal where geolocalised information, data and services provided by national organisations can be accessed and viewed.
Who is the Géoportail contracting authority?
The DGME (Direction Générale de la Modernisation de l'État – French General Directorate for State Modernisation) is the Géoportail contracting authority.
Who manages the Géoportail project?
The IGN is responsible for data-viewing project management, while the BRGM is responsible for managing the project related to data geo-cataloguing.
Who are Géoportail’s members?
Members of Géoportail include ministries, Government bodies, associations, federations, etc. all of which either generate or use geographical data.
To find out more, go to > List of members
What is the difference between Géoportail and Géoportail Services?
Géoportail
Géoportail provides search and viewing services with respect to all public sector geographical data and services, as well as links to such data and services (downloads, viewing selections etc.).
Géoportail Services
Géoportail services offers viewing and downloading of data provided by its partners, as well as access to specific services provided by the IGN or its partners.
Who builds the website?
As part of the French ADELE programme for online access to Government bodies, the DGME, with the support of the French Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, is directing the Géoportail project, assisted by two project-managers: the IGN and the BRGM.
IGN (Institut Géographique National – National Geographical Institute) is responsible for managing, developing, administrating, assisting and providing technical support for the Géoportail project, while the BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières – Geological and Mining Research Office) is responsible for managing, developing, administrating, assisting and providing technical support for the Géocatalogue project.
From an operational standpoint, the Géoportail and Géoportail Services sites were created by Atos Worldline within the framework of the "Géoportail Phase 2" contract signed by the IGN in November 2006.
Who pays for Géoportail?
Géoportail is financed by the IGN as part of its mission.
The DGME finances the Géocatalogue ("Search" and "Catalogue" tabs) which is developed by the BRGM.
Géoportail and 3D
How can I access 3D viewing?
All you have to do is download and install TerraExplorer software on your computer. To do this, go to Géoportail 3D viewing.
Once you have installed the software, you will be able to browse data via Géoportail in real time and in relief.
Available now on Windows platforms, 3D will be available for Macintosh and Linux in spring 2008.
You will mainly be browsing scanned maps and data-bases from the Référentiel Géographique à Grande Échelle – RGE (French large-scale geographical data repository), upon which all French cartography is based, particularly with regard to aerial photography (BD ORTHO ® orthophotographic database).
Thematic data supplied by other partners will enhance this cartographic core reference database in due course.
> Why can’t I see my house in relief?
See "Help" section
> Explore the 3D interface
> Browse in 3D