The Military Geographical Institute (IGM) provides geographic topographic cartographic support to the Units and the Commands of the Italian Army.
The Institute has got the functions of cartographic body of the State according to the Law n.68 of 2nd February 1960; it also ensures cartographic documents that guarantee a description of the territory for public and private users.
It has originated from the Technical Office of the General Staff Corps of the Royal Army that in 1861 brought together the traditions and the experiences of the Office of the Sardinian Reign, of the Neapolitan Royal Topographic Office and the Tuscan Topographic Office. Moved from Turin to Florence in 1865, it was transformed in the current location into the military topographic Institute in 1872; 10 years later it assumed the current name.