The science of surveying has had many practical applications throughout history. Surveyors map the land, helping to create accurate maps and to identify and establish boundaries. In addition, surveyors also help create navigational maps for both water crafts above and below the water surface. Surveyors also help plan the construction of roads, bridges, buildings and homes. With so many important tasks, it is easy to see why this job is so crucial to many industries. Here are a few notable facts about the history of surveying and a few of the most notable surveyors.
Surveyors use several special tools to help them do their work, and one of the most important tools you might see is a theodolite. This instrument is used to measure angles that are in either the vertical or horizontal plane. The first drawings of theodolites show up as early as the beginning of the 1500s, and English mathematician Leonard Digges developed the first true theodolite sometime before he died in 1559. However, the credit for developing the first modern theodolite with a sighting telescope is given to another Englishman, Jonathon Sisson, who created the predecessor to the modern theodolite in 1720.
Many notable Americans have worked as surveyors including three United States Presidents. While it is fairly common knowledge that George Washington once worked as a surveyor, you might not know that Thomas Jefferson was also a surveyor. Abraham Lincoln also worked in surveying, among his many other jobs.
Other big names in American surveying include Meriwether Lewis and William Clark who mapped out the Louisiana Territory. Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker were part of the team tasked with setting up the boundaries for Washington, D.C. Banneker was the child of a freed slave and a fugitive slave and while he was never able to attend school, he taught himself and became a well-respected surveyor, mathematician and astronomer.
There were surveyors many centuries before theodolites, clinometers, inclinometers and other important surveying and optical instruments were available. For example, while Stonehenge was built by ancient people thousands of years ago, experts believe that the builders of this mysterious collection of stones had surveying and geometry skills that were far ahead of their time.
The road system of ancient Rome is also an impressive example of early surveying work, not to mention spectacular buildings such as The Coliseum. The ancient Egyptians also used surveyors to help build their monuments, buildings and roads. In those days, chains and ropes and crude sighting instruments were used by surveyors.
Surveyors use several special tools to help them do their work, and one of the most important tools you might see is a theodolite. This instrument is used to measure angles that are in either the vertical or horizontal plane. The first drawings of theodolites show up as early as the beginning of the 1500s, and English mathematician Leonard Digges developed the first true theodolite sometime before he died in 1559. However, the credit for developing the first modern theodolite with a sighting telescope is given to another Englishman, Jonathon Sisson, who created the predecessor to the modern theodolite in 1720.
Many notable Americans have worked as surveyors including three United States Presidents. While it is fairly common knowledge that George Washington once worked as a surveyor, you might not know that Thomas Jefferson was also a surveyor. Abraham Lincoln also worked in surveying, among his many other jobs.
Other big names in American surveying include Meriwether Lewis and William Clark who mapped out the Louisiana Territory. Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker were part of the team tasked with setting up the boundaries for Washington, D.C. Banneker was the child of a freed slave and a fugitive slave and while he was never able to attend school, he taught himself and became a well-respected surveyor, mathematician and astronomer.
There were surveyors many centuries before theodolites, clinometers, inclinometers and other important surveying and optical instruments were available. For example, while Stonehenge was built by ancient people thousands of years ago, experts believe that the builders of this mysterious collection of stones had surveying and geometry skills that were far ahead of their time.
The road system of ancient Rome is also an impressive example of early surveying work, not to mention spectacular buildings such as The Coliseum. The ancient Egyptians also used surveyors to help build their monuments, buildings and roads. In those days, chains and ropes and crude sighting instruments were used by surveyors.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier enjoys blogging reviews on precision scientific instruments. For more details about surveying instruments like a compass tripod, or to find other alignment instruments, go to the Warren Knight website today.
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