Questions tagged [surveying]
14 questions
13
votes
3 answers
Measuring longer distances with high accuracy
I am involved right now in the fabrication of steel structures on the order of 5-50 feet long. Presently, we measure these structures with garden variety commercial tape measures. Most of the time, we work to a tolerance of about +/-1/16" and don't…
Ethan48
- 4,561
- 19
- 42
13
votes
3 answers
What is a Spiral Curve, and How is it Different from a Normal Curve?
I've heard the term spiral curve used to describe a section of highway that is more aesthetically pleasing to the driver's eye. However, I believe I've driven on enough road to say that I can't definitively tell the difference between any given…
gate_engineer
- 303
- 1
- 2
- 8
10
votes
6 answers
What instrument does a surveyor use to accurately find North?
The obvious answer is a compass. I have an old (1952) transit that has a compass which seems to be accurate to 15'. However, that doesn't seem too incredibly accurate at all. Furthermore, most modern digital theodolites I see don't appear to have a…
canadianer
- 203
- 2
- 7
7
votes
2 answers
How was surveying for maps done before lasers?
I understand that you can have a device with angular measurements for rotation and elevation, and use trigonometry to calculate the distances... but only if you have some distances to start with. How did they accurately measure the first…
jhabbott
- 5,990
- 8
- 32
- 63
5
votes
2 answers
How many decimal places of GPS should be stored to be accurate within a few feet?
I'm building a software application that uses GPS for a purpose related to roads.
I'd like to know how many decimal places of GPS data should be stored to provide measurements that are accurate to within a few feet?
noɥʇʎԀʎzɐɹƆ
- 153
- 6
1
vote
3 answers
Why is North considered the reference direction in Surveying?
While Surveying, the North is always considered the reference direction, for the purposes of mapping. I have specifically the following issues:
The magnetic compass, has a least count of 30 minutes, and it deeply affected by local disturbances.…
Indian
- 119
- 3
1
vote
1 answer
What is the most accurate geometry to represent earth
Currently software and maps represent earth in many different ways, the latest is Point Clouds as this is the most common surveying tools currently available. For the needs of visualisation, construction etc. this seems to suffice for now. Not sure…
Rott
- 13
- 2
1
vote
0 answers
Establishing DGPS Communications With SurvCE and Novatel Recievers
I am trying to do a differential surveying project with some outdated equipment, specifically:
An old AllegroCX personal handheld computer (Win 4.1) with SurvCE loaded on it to collect data and establish communication
Two Novatel ProPak V3…
AggroCrag
- 141
- 1
0
votes
2 answers
Notation at north arrow on mining grid map
1984 mining grid map; Eastern Ontario, Canada; proprietary info, so I can't show the whole map.
What does the notation circled in red indicate?
Is the angle related to magnetic declination? Or does it pertain to the grid lines on the map?
User1974
- 523
- 4
- 19
0
votes
1 answer
Autocad- Aligning 4 corners to 4 different lines
To explain the situation, I am creating a site plan (using Autocad 2022), I have a building that is angled within a complex property. The 4 corners of the building are dimensioned to a property line(PL). What I did, was offset a line from each of…
Markitect
- 101
- 1
0
votes
2 answers
0
votes
1 answer
Is there a standard for where treelines are drawn?
On surveys and site plans, I've often found treelines. These look like the below image, and serve to delineate in a very approximate way the areas full of trees and those that aren't:
Is there a standard for where the line should be drawn, in terms…
Dan Getz
- 111
- 4
0
votes
4 answers
Comparing the precision work of plane surveying and geodetic surveying
In geodetic surveying, we consider the spherical geometry of the surface though the surface is not perfectly spherical.
In-plane surveying, we consider a small surface area which is considered as a plane or flat surface whose results upon surveying…
AScientist
- 1
- 2
0
votes
1 answer
How maps of globe, country or region were created few decades/centuries ago when modern technology like today did not exists?
What techniques were used to create the maps of a world, country or region when satellite or similar technology did not exists few decades or centuries ago?
parag
- 675
- 1
- 5
- 5