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positions to establish the proper orientation of the first-order triangulation network.
The Geographic and Cadastral Institute in Madrid is the official civilian geodetic and cartographic agency. It is under the general technical supervision of the Supreme Geographic Council. During the past decade, the institute modernized its facility and has been zealous in adopting modern techniques and methods for surveying and mapping programs. The Army Geographic Service in Madrid is the official agency for geodetic and cartographic work required by the Spanish Army.
(5) Hydrology and hydraulics—Hydrologic and hydraulic research programs continue to expand and improve. They are mostly of an applied nature and are managed by well-trained engineers. Hydrologic research is concerned primarily with the exploitation of water resources. Numerous comprehensive programs are conducted to locate ground water and areas suitable for irrigation and to record stream regime data. Hydraulic research is based primarily on model investigations to determine the best designs and locations for wein and lor gates and spillways of dams and to resolve problems concerning sifting and scouring in riverbeds. These experiments are conducted primarily at the Hydraulic Laboratory in Madrid. Four other hydraulic laboratories are in Bilbao, Zamora, Seville, and Madrid.
Spanish hydrologists and hydraulic engineers cooperate with foreign institutions and are active in international hydraulic organizations.
(6) Coastal research and oceanography—The level of activity in coastal research has remained lower in Spain than in most other countries in Western Europe. The greatest activity is concentrated in government agencies and officially sponsored institutes rather than in educational institutions. Coastal research activities are concerned primarily with coastal and harbor protection and port design, sedimentation, tides, seismic refraction, currents, eddies, shoreline and estuary changes, and fresh water for coastal communities. Research on control of beach erosion is embryonic at best as are investigations on coastal water pollution.
Oceanographic activity is at a lower level than in the majority of the other countries of Western Europe. Recent interest, however, indicates a possibility of some growth. Oceanographic capability is approximately at the same level as that of Portugal but far below that of France and the United Kingdom. The strongest field is biological oceanography. The Spanish hope to increase the development of fisheries, particularly in Spanish coastal waters and the waters surrounding the Canary Islands, but the lack of adequate equipment, funds, and marine science educational and training facilities precludes any significant expansion in research in the foreseeable future. The Spanish Government has shown little interest in oceanographic research. However, the acquisition of the new 50-meter multipurpose oceanographic ship Jose Comide de Saavedra in 1970, at a cost of US$600 million, by the Merchant Marine Office, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, and the Institute of Fisheries Investigations increases capability for oceanographic data collection and fisheries research. The vessel was outfitted with US$500 million worth of scientific equipment. Most Spanish oceanographers are young and have received their advanced education in other West European countries and the United States.
Most of the oceanographic research is carried out by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Madrid, and under the Juan de la Cierva Foundation for Scientific and Technical Investigation of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. The Institute of Oceanography has branch laboratories at Malaga, Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santander, Vigo, and San Sebastián, Laboratories of the Institute of Fishery Investigations are at Blanes, Cadiz, Castellon de la Plana, and Vigo. The Navy Hydrographic Institute, Cadiz, has established an Oceanography Section. A Spanish Oceanographic Data Center has been established and has been combined with the facilities of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography.
Spain signed an agreement with Portugal in 1971 for oceanographic research in the Atlantic Ocean extending from the Bay of Biscay to the Canary Islands.
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