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Surveying is the science and art of making all essential measurements to determine the relative position of points or physical and cultural details above, on, or beneath the surface of the Earth, and to depict them in a usable form, or to establish the position of points or details.
- Traverse Surveying
Traverse Surveying is a popular method of surveying.This...
- Surveying Lecture Notes PDF
Surveying is a very important part of Civil Engineering. It...
- Parts of a Theodolite With Functions
Telescope- It is used to see the object. It rotates about a...
- Chain Surveying
The chain survey is the simplest method of surveying. In the...
- Dumpy Level
The dumpy level is a widely used surveying instrument in...
- Tacheometric Surveying- Methods, Detail Procedures
Tacheometry is a branch of angular surveying in which the...
- Traverse Surveying
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.
- 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.
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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.
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.
A student using a theodolite in field. Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them.
Key Takeaways. – Boundary surveying defines legal property limits and prevents disputes between neighbours. – Topographic surveying maps land elevation, natural, and man-made features for development and flood risk assessment.
Apr 26, 2023 · By providing accurate spatial information or by setting out features correctly to design, surveying can help projects avoid costly mistakes and any reworks. Increased safety. Surveyors can help identify high-risk areas such as live underground services.
