Country Profiles » French Polynesia

Country Profile: French Polynesia

Country Resources

Topographic
SeriesPublisherScaleYearsSheets
French Polynesia Topographic Maps (Iles Marquises)Institut Geographique NationalVaries1985 – 19923
French Polynesia Topographic Maps (Iles de la Societe)Ministere de l’Equipement, de l’Amenagement, de l’Energie et des MinesVaries1958 – 200629
French Polynesia Topographic Maps (Archipel des Australes)Service de l’UrbanismeVaries1983 – 19884
French Polynesia Topographic Maps (Iles des Tuamotu)Service de l’UrbanismeVaries1967 – 19915

Thematic
SeriesPublisherScaleYearsSheets
The World 1:30,000,000 Scale Topographic Map Series 1145 (NGA)DMA1:30,000,0002

Global Census Archive: GIS Census Data

East View Geospatial has an ongoing effort to add GIS census data to our Global Census Archive program. Please contact us for the status and availability of French Polynesia census resources.


Global Resources

Topographic
SeriesPublisherScaleYearsSheets
Soviet Military City PlansVoenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie General’nogo shtaba (Soviet Union)Varies1944 – 20033017
Soviet Military 1:100,000 Scale Topographic MapsVoenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie General’nogo shtaba (Soviet Union)1:100,0001947 – 199924897
Soviet Military 1:200,000 Scale Topographic MapsVoenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie General’nogo shtaba (Soviet Union)1:200,0001949 – 200917799
Soviet Military 1:500,000 Scale Topographic MapsVoenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie General’nogo shtaba (Soviet Union)1:500,0001953 – 19983093

Nautical
SeriesPublisherScaleYearsSheets
NGA Nautical Charts POD Certified (All Scales)National Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyVaries1943 – 20134517

Aeronautical
SeriesPublisherScaleYearsSheets
Joint Operations Graphic (JOG) 1:250,000 – AeronauticalDefence Mapping Agency1:250,0001958 – 20074204
Tactical Pilotage Chart (TPC) 1:500,000 Scale – AeronauticalDefence Mapping Agency1:500,0001967 – 2006598
Operational Navigation Chart (ONC) 1:1,000,000 Scale – AeronauticalDefence Mapping Agency1:1,000,0001969 – 2001243
Jet Navigation Chart (JNC) 1:2,000,000 Scale – AeronauticalDefence Mapping Agency1:2,000,0001971 – 1999117
Global Navigation and Planning Chart (GNC) 1:5,000,000 Scale – AeronauticalDefence Mapping Agency1:5,000,0001981 – 199927

Geoscientific
SeriesPublisherScaleYearsSheets
Soviet Military 1:1,000,000 Scale Topographic MapsVoenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie General’nogo shtaba (Soviet Union)1:1,000,0001948 – 19941089

Note: East View Geospatial is continuously sourcing new resources that may not yet be listed in Global Explorer. Please contact us if you have geodata needs beyond what is listed above and we will be happy to discuss available off-the-shelf and custom solutions.


Historical Country Mapping Information

Jump to: Topographic | Nautical | Geological/Scientific | Thematic

Topographic

The French Overseas Territory of French Polynesia comprises four archipelagos: Society, Tubuai, Tuamotu / Gambier and Marquesas, and has been mapped by the French Institut Géographique National (IGN). The first phase of French mapping took place in the period between 1955 and 1967 and saw the publication of topographic surveys of the Society Islands, and Tuamotu. These sheets are three-color preliminary editions, 1:50,000 scale, on the UTM projection, International ellipsoid. New mapping programs were initiated in the late 1970s, and carried out by IGN in conjunction with the Service de l’Urbanisme (SU) in Papeete on Tahiti. The other local mapping agency for French Polynesia is the Service du Cadastre.

The best map coverage is published for Tahiti and the other larger islands in the Society group. A four-color UTM-based series at 1:20,000 scale, with a 10-25 m contour intervals is in progress by SU. Tahiti will be covered by twelve maps at this scale. Coastal areas of Tahiti are covered by 83 monochrome 1:5,000 scale sheets. Bora Bora, Huahine, Maupiti and Raiatea are also mapped with 1:5,000 scale diazo coverage. IGN publishes a 1:100,000 scale tourist map of the Society group, and a regularly revised raised-relief map at this scale of Tahiti.

Three islands in the Marquesas group are mapped in a 1:50,000 scale series with 25 m contours, compiled by SU in conjunction with IGN in the 1980s. The Tubuai archipelago is being mapped by SU at scales of 1:10,000 or 1:20,000 with 10 m contours. Differing scales and varying specifications have been used in the Gambier group: Ahe is now covered with a full-color 1:25,000 scale map, Mataiva in a 1:20,000 scale color edition, Manihi in a 1:50,000 scale image map, and Makatea at 1:10,000 scale in a monochrome map. Since the mid-1980s SU has experimented with the publication of black and white image maps designated Spatiocartes, three of which have been published to cover previously unmapped islands.

Soviet military topographic mapping of French Polynesia is available at the following scale: 1:1,000,000 (14 sheets, complete coverage, published in 1965). This product is available in print, digital raster and digital vector GIS formats from East View Geospatial.

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Nautical

Hydrographic charting of the island archipelagos of French Polynesia is published by Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM).

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Geological/Scientific

Six multi-colored geological maps of the Society Islands were published by the French Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) in the mid-1960s at 1:40,000. SU has more recently collaborated with BRGM in the compilation of new geological mapping of Tahiti. Three areas have so far been issued as 1:25,000 scale geological and geomorphological editions and as 1:50,000 scale hazards maps.

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Thematic

The French Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM) has compiled resources mapping of French Polynesia, including the 400-page national atlas, issued in the early 1990s and including many full-color maps, mostly at 1:150 000 scale. ORSTOM has also compiled 1:40,000 scale soil and land capability mapping of Tahiti, and coverage has recently been extended to other islands in the Society group. Soil on Mangareva is mapped at 1:20,000 scale.

Smaller scale bathymetric maps of the whole of the area of French Polynesia were compiled by the French Centre National Pour l’Exploitation des Oceans (now Institut Français pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)) as a five-sheet 1:1,000,000 scale series with 100 m isobaths.

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