CARTOGRAPHY OF ALBANIAN TERRITORY, AS OF 1939

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030316-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 17, 2011
• Sequence Number: 316
• Publication Date: December 6, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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on
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1939
DATE DIST. 6 Dec 1951
Photostat of mo
PUBLISHED May 1951 1 `''''
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
COUNTRY Albania
SUBJECT Geographic - Cartography
_-SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
J STAT
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01 In MMM1. uT 105151 ID 110 YNAST050I1O PINION Il 01P
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(From a report presented by F. Cocconi at the 28th meeting, Pisa,
1939, of the So-ieta Italiana per it Frogresso delle Scienze,
Vol III, pp 457-463.)
The cartographic situation and the knowledge of the geodetic elements of
Albania at the beginning of 1929 were as follows:
Ca-togrsahic
1. The partial surveys T:?,+e during World `Jar I by the various belligerent:
of their respective occupation zones.
2. An Austrian survey of various regions, 1 : 75,000-
3. An Austrian map of 1 . 300,000 utilizing the data of the zones surveyed
at 1 : 75,000.
4. Preliminary survey, 1 . 100,000, covering the area of the 1912 - 1914
boundaries.
5. An Austrian map of .1 : 200,000 forming part of a series of sheets of
Central Europe.
6. Several Italian military surveys at 1 : 25,000, 1 : 50,000, and
1 : 100,000 of certain areas of military importance in the environs of Valona,
Argirocastro, Santi Quaranta, et-,
7. Various French military surveys at 1 : 50,000 of Korca and adjacent
areas.
8. A survey at 1 : 50,000 compiled under the auspices of the Commission
for Determing the Albanian Boundaries of 1925, covering the Albania-Yugoslav-
Greek boundary strip.
FOR 0 O~.Y
CLASSIFICATION Rr?1
STATE NAVY uSRS DISTRIBUTION
ARMY AIR FBI II
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1. A coastal triangulation (Austrian) made in 1869 - 1872 with a point of
departure 3 kilometers north of Scutari and which was subsequently connected to
the Italian network at the latitude o Valona-Lecce.
2. A triangulation, also Austrian, second order for the interior, which
served as a basis for the surveys at 1 : 75,000, with preliminary astronomic
oets
f
h
p
, o
w
ich, however, no publication whatsoever was made.
3. A geodetic base at Valona measured under the auspices of the Ytaliani7
th
_
______
_ ___ _
Royal Navv_ whi-h was used f
e
u
2
or
00
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, ova Ong our /tne iraiiaJ occupation zone.
4. Various elaboration; were made through the wort- of the International
d
ustria
netw
k
a?
??
or
, . some areas, both Serbian and Austrian points.
above, because none of the points had been marked on the terrain, various criteria
adopted f
th
d_--_,_____t .. _
or
e
and the data was tosuf?:-dent. Trerefoxe, it was decided to-set-"p anew network
adopted, with the centre] through Tirana and the central =parallel
a4 hi on -a
Work began in 1927- A ride gauge was installed at Durazzo for mean observa-
tions of the sea level, anal the :,rand base wac measured at 1,755.38 meters. Then,
226 trigonometric point:: were suc^-,:tve1y determined, reaching approximately as
far as Tirana-Durazzo. This work was immediate]y followed by surveying opera-
tions by 5,000 experts, -overing -.n area of 35,4 square kilometers.
In 1928, the triangulation was extended to the north (the region of the
middle and lower Drin and th? rc,,ion of the Albanian Alps), with a total of
4,000 5quare,7 kilometers of tarritcry triangulated and 155 triangulation points
uetermined. In regard to topo raphic operations, the surveying at 1 : 5,000 of
the Durazzo area (34 Laqunre?; kilometers) was continued, and the 1 50,000
survey was begun of zones tria-;-,1ate;i the previous year (Dibrano) for 1,248
square kilometer; of terri*.-:ry.
In 1929, tr, triangulation wac completed in every phase for the area of the
^ibanian Alps and Scutar?_, that xo, the entire border area from Lake Scutari to
Doberdol. The area between Elbasan, the Yugoslav border., Lake Ohrid, and the
Shkumini height was also t-ianalated. A part of the personnel assigned to the
operations were then employed for the measurement and development of the Scutari
base. The measurement, made on the basis of the already existing Austrian
measurement of 1969 ;revised by the Austrians in 1922), showed a discrepancy of
70 centimeters in relation to ours; systematic checks to ascertain the cause of
this discrepancy revealed that a post had been erected in built-up land and
therefore was subject to slippage. At the completion of the project, a total
of 2,520 square kilometers of territory had been triangulated, 137 points had
been constructed, and a base had been-teasured. The area of Peshkopja and Kukus
was surveyed at 1 : 50,000, total.:: a good 2,450 square. kilometers of terri-
tory.
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FOR Of"ARICTED
Triangulation operations were carried out in 1930. An accurate check of
the calculations on the spot was required to eliminate any discrepancy or error
before beginning the development of the networks of the first and second order.
A survey at 1 : 50,000 was made of the Scutari area (Albanian Alps as far as the
northern boundary), a total of 3,851 square kilometers. To achieve a suitable
basis for proceeding with the geodetic operations, the irepection and checking
operations begun in 1930 were continued in 1931. It was decided to suspend oper-
ations on the Tirana base (provisional base) and to set up a base in southern
Albania with a tidal measuring station at one end. No topographical operations
of special interest were carried out.
In 1932, four triangulators with a section chief began and completed the
Valona base. The lack of suitable posts required the choice oP the place fixed
in 1917 by the Italian Navy_ of which only one end was found at first. There was
also a survey of the Mirdizis-Scutari-Shengjerg.ji-Elbasan area. as well as a
special 1 . 5,000 quadrant, also obtained by utilizing previous Austrian surveys.
Total area surveyed: 1,200 square kilometers.
In 1933, the detailed triangulation to the north of Tirana was completed,
as well as an elaboration for the I : 2,500 survey of that city. In all, 2,840
squaxe kilometers of territory anre triangulated and 122 trigonometric points
determined. The 1 . 50,00 survey in the area of Mati-Fogradec, on the Greek-
Yugoslav border, was also carried out. The 1 2;;1)0 survey of Tirana was begun
and interrupted. In all, 1.806 square kilometers were surveyed.
In 1934, with few person.el, 3,510 square kilometers were triargulated and
118 trigonometric points doteryiref: the definitive calculations for the compen-
sation of the Scutari base were zompieted or. the spot. The 1 . 50,000 survey in
the area north of Korca was carried on as far as the Greek border. A total of
1,950 square kilometers were surveyed.
In 1935, the markers were refurnished to make them visible on photographs
taken from the air, and a supplementary survey was made in the area of the lower
course of the Arzen River. it should be pointed out that a very small complement
of personnel -- two operators -- was able to triangulate 4,1460 square kilometers
and determine 137 trigonometric points. The 1 : 50.000 surveys .ere conducted
in the Scutari-Krija-Medio Mati-Sneta,, Peninsula area, for a total of 1,290 square
kilometers.
In 1936, the second-order triangulation is the area of the lower Arzen,
Gemeni, and Bassa Vojussa was extended as far as Valona, and a detailed triangula-
tion was made between Tirana and D.:razzo to check the existing geodetic data for
greater accuracy. Elaborations were made of trigonometric points in the cities
of Tirana, Valona, and Scutari to serve for subsequent aerial photogrammetric
surveys. A total of 6,000 square kilometers werei triangulated and 223 points
determined.
Also in 1936, the r~!rial rhotoRRrammetric survey by the Santoni system was
begun; 50 square kilometers were surveyed directly and 1,565 square kilometers
were covered by reconstruction If.
In 1937: the second-order,'.third-order, and detailed triangulations for all
of Albania were completed. The aerial photographic work for all the remaining
Albanian ter}'ritory (10,500 square kilometers) was completed. The Duiazzo, Fjeri,
Elbasan, 4 d'0ra.'mshi areas were surveyed by the Santoni system; a total of 4,420
square kilometers were covered by reconstruction, and the reconstruction of 875
square Milometers was made on the spot.
llnally, in 1f3h{j,s for Valona, elaborations were made to serve for the
I : 2,500 photogi'ammet is survey of the following cities: Scutari, Elbasan,
anti Quaranta, Argtrocastro, Berat, and Kcica. A total of 2,1461 square
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kilometers were surveyed topographically. Two operators began the 1 : 1,000
plan of Tirana, while the reconstruction of 4,949 square kilometers were made
on the spot.
In 1939, it was not possible to conduct any field work because of the mili-
tary operations. However, a 1 : 50,000 map was compiled in less than one month.
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