Surveyor’s work is the key to civilization
The approximately 3,700-year-old cadastral survey Si.427, which depicts a surveyor’s plan of a field. It was excavated by Father Jean-Vincent Scheil during an 1894 French archaeological expedition at Sippar, southwest of Baghdad.
Surveyors have been at their labors for millennia. It’s commonly understood that the Egyptians were the first surveyors, but new evidence finds that another civilization was using cadastral surveying around the same time – perhaps even earlier. This image of a Babylonian clay tablet depicts a surveyor’s plan of a field – dated at circa 3,700 BC.[1] The Babylonians developed a unique form of trigonometry based on their sexagesimal (base 60) number system. Essentially, they constructed a wide variety of right triangles using only exact ratios (no sine, cosine or tangents)[2] — an approach that was extremely useful for surveying.
This is an Egyptian wall painting from the tomb of Menna built in the period 1420–1411 BCE in the Valley of the Kings depicting land surveyors in action
The image was photographed by Jon Bodsworth between 2001 and 2011 for his (now offline) Egypt Archive website. His photographs are from his own originals, are copyright free, and may be reproduced in any medium.
In Egypt, in about 3,000 B.C., the Egyptian government created a land register, the first known land ownership record based on surveys. This register recorded the owners and locations of property from surveys and declarations by landowners of the believed boundaries of their land.[3]
Later, the Romans used professional surveyors (known as agrimensores) to build an empire. Recently an excavation at Pompeii uncovered a symbolic depiction of a Groma, one of the surveying instruments used by Romans.[4]
Decorative pavements in the floor of a recently unearthed Roman house in Pompeii offer a glimpse into the life and work of an ancient land surveyor. The pavements depict a stylized drawing of an ancient surveyor’s tool called a groma, along with a diagram of a surveying technique and the plan of a construction project in Pompeii. So far, they’re the only original Roman illustrations of the tools and techniques the Romans used to help build an empire and its infrastructure.
At about the same time, on another continent (South America), the Incas used “wooden rods and brass plumb bobs for surveying. For leveling they used clay bowls set on tripods and filled with sand. On top of the sand was a second bowl that was partially filled with water and diametrically opposed peepsights cut into the sides. As long as the water level was equidistant below the sights, the line of sight was level. The success of that simple instrument in the layout of the world’s greatest system of irrigation canals was astounding”.[5]
Incan aqueduct at Tipon. Cusco, Peru
Recent history
Fast forward to the 1700s, and surveyors were using the Gunter chain and circumferentor to lay claim to land in colonial America, setting the foundations for the westward expansion that would define the next century.
By the 1800s, surveyors had begun to use theodolites – optical instruments that measured angles between designated visible points in horizontal and vertical planes. This instrument was continually improved with new technology and by the mid-1900s, Electromagnetic Distance Measurement (EDM) was added to the theodolite, creating the first “Total Station”. Today, Total Stations incorporate computers and robotics, delivering unprecedented precision for boundary, construction and monitoring surveying.
Even the best instruments are only as good as the fixed point
Even the best total station is only as good as the fixed point being used for measurement. Berntsen offers a full range of accessories designed for simplicity and ease while promoting precision. Our Rothbucher line of reflectors, prisms, drone targets and other accessories that address common challenges in surveying and monitoring. For surveyors interested in learning more about these valuable tools, we’ve set up two live zoom meetings featuring Georg Rothbucher, developer of the Rothbucher System.
Free Webinars
One Point Fits All -- Accessories for precise, streamlined surveying
10/26 (Thursday) 10:00 am CST
This 60-minute live, interactive webinar provides an overview of “One Point Fits All” system applicable to all instruments, such as total stations using target reflectors or prisms; scanners and drones and even mobile mapping. Highlighted products include the new Lay Out Add for robotic total stations. Other products in the system include scanner spheres, SLAM targets, prisms, reflectors and a full range of targets that can be used virtually anywhere, including tunnels, bridges, railways, construction sites, mines and more. The first part of the session will feature a short presentation, followed by live Q&A, so have your questions ready!
Monitoring Made Easy – repeatable reference points are key
11/30 (Thursday) 10:00 am CST
The Rothbucher system delivers exceptional monitoring capability in a simple, intuitive system. This session will cover:
Monitoring on difficult surfaces such as historic buildings or glass facades
Monitoring for a short term or for decades
Monitoring in combination with scanners and drones
The key is setting the base accessory on each fixed point. Then, depending on what accuracy is expected or needed, you can use prisms or target reflectors by simply snapping them on the base and taking the measurement. After each measurement is complete, just remove the accessory from the base until it’s time to return to repeat the measurements. The base remains in place so the accessory can simply be snapped back on. If you want to leave the prism/target in place, Georg has a solution for that, too. This session starts with a short product overview, followed by live Q&A.
The Rothbucher product line has tools that make surveying easier and we encourage you to join these live seminars – be sure and come with any questions you have for Georg.
In the meantime, Berntsen is always here, ready to serve you with high-quality surveying products and great customer service. We’ve been supporting surveyors for more than 50 years and we look forward to another 50 Labor Days celebrating surveying.