Search results
discoveryacquisition.com
- Though surveying plays an imperative role in the success of all construction projects, it isn’t just about construction. Used in key areas like transportation, communication, land apportionment and mapping, and environmental issues, it is also an important tool for research in many scientific disciplines.
www.rics.org/surveyor-careers/surveying/what-is-surveyingWhat is surveying and what does it mean for the future? | RICS
People also ask
What is surveying used for?
What is surveying for the future?
What is a survey & why is it important?
What is surveying & mapping?
What are the applications of surveying data?
Why is surveying important in construction?
Whether it’s used to address global issues such as climate change, regenerate deprived areas or pioneer high-tech cities, the true meaning of surveying for the future is to shape the way we live. Discover how else surveying is transforming the world around us and how you can enter this rewarding profession by using the links below.
Surveying is the technique of determining the relative position of different features on, above or beneath the surface of the earth by means of direct or indirect measurements and finally representing them on a sheet of paper known as plan or map.
Dec 15, 2021 · Surveying is practiced all over the world, and sometimes it seems as though the field of land surveying is some sort of secret profession. Over time and around the world, the profession has had many changes, but the basic premise has remained the same.
- Overview
- History
surveying, a means of making relatively large-scale, accurate measurements of the Earth’s surfaces. It includes the determination of the measurement data, the reduction and interpretation of the data to usable form, and, conversely, the establishment of relative position and size according to given measurement requirements. Thus, surveying has two similar but opposite functions: (1) the determination of existing relative horizontal and vertical position, such as that used for the process of mapping, and (2) the establishment of marks to control construction or to indicate land boundaries.
Surveying has been an essential element in the development of the human environment for so many centuries that its importance is often forgotten. It is an imperative requirement in the planning and execution of nearly every form of construction. Surveying was essential at the dawn of history, and some of the most significant scientific discoveries could never have been implemented were it not for the contribution of surveying. Its principal modern uses are in the fields of transportation, building, apportionment of land, and communications.
It is quite probable that surveying had its origin in ancient Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza was built about 2700 bce, 755 feet (230 metres) long and 481 feet (147 metres) high. Its nearly perfect squareness and north–south orientation affirm the ancient Egyptians’ command of surveying.
Evidence of some form of boundary surveying as early as 1400 bce has been found in the fertile valleys and plains of the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. Clay tablets of the Sumerians show records of land measurement and plans of cities and nearby agricultural areas. Boundary stones marking land plots have been preserved. There is a representation of land measurement on the wall of a tomb at Thebes (1400 bce) showing head and rear chainmen measuring a grainfield with what appears to be a rope with knots or marks at uniform intervals. Other persons are shown. Two are of high estate, according to their clothing, probably a land overseer and an inspector of boundary stones.
There is some evidence that, in addition to a marked cord, wooden rods were used by the Egyptians for distance measurement. There is no record of any angle-measuring instruments of that time, but there was a level consisting of a vertical wooden A-frame with a plumb bob supported at the peak of the A so that its cord hung past an indicator, or index, on the horizontal bar. The index could be properly placed by standing the device on two supports at approximately the same elevation, marking the position of the cord, reversing the A, and making a similar mark. Halfway between the two marks would be the correct place for the index. Thus, with their simple devices, the ancient Egyptians were able to measure land areas, replace property corners lost when the Nile covered the markers with silt during floods, and build the huge pyramids to exact dimensions.
Special offer for students! Check out our special academic rate and excel this spring semester!
Learn More
The Greeks used a form of log line for recording the distances run from point to point along the coast while making their slow voyages from the Indus to the Persian Gulf about 325 bce. The magnetic compass was brought to the West by Arab traders in the 12th century ce. The astrolabe was introduced by the Greeks in the 2nd century bce. An instrument for measuring the altitudes of stars, or their angle of elevation above the horizon, took the form of a graduated arc suspended from a hand-held cord. A pivoted pointer that moved over the graduations was pointed at the star. The instrument was not used for nautical surveying for several centuries, remaining a scientific aid only.
The world of land surveying is vast and intricate, encompassing several types, including boundary, topographic, construction, hydrographic, and geodetic surveying. Each type serves a unique function, from defining property lines to mapping the earth’s surface for construction projects.
Future of surveying. We know the challenges facing the built environment and the surveying profession — now it's time to tackle them. For over 150 years, RICS has led our profession through change, enabling our members to take advantage of the opportunities and manage the risks it presents.
Jul 29, 2023 · Surveying can be defined as the scientific process of determining the position, shape, and size of the Earth’s surface and objects on it. It involves the measurement and analysis of distances, angles, and elevation to create accurate representations of geographical features.