Surveying

350px|thumb|An all-female surveying crew in Idaho in 1918.
Surveying is the technique and science of accurately finding out the positionterrestrial or three-dimensional space of points and the distances and angles between them. These points are usually, but not always, associated with positions on the surface of the Earth. They are often used to make land maps and boundaries for ownership of land. A person who does the surveying is called a surveyor. In order to find the information they need, surveyors use geometry, engineering, trigonometry, mathematics, physics, geology and law.

Surveying has been very important in the development of the human environment since the beginning of recorded history (ca. 5000 years ago) and it is a requirement planning of nearly every form of construction. Its most common uses are in the fields of transport, building and construction, communications, mapping, and the making of legal boundaries for land ownership.

 Origins 
Surveying has existed throughout much of our history.  In ancient Egypt, when the Nile River overflowed its banks and washed out farm boundaries, the boundaries were recreated by surveyors using simple geometry. The construction of the pyramids, including the Great Pyramids of Giza (built c. 2700 BC) show us that the Ancient Egyptians used surveying efficiently.

Surveyor

A surveyor is a person who has the skills to accurately find out the position of points and the distances and angles between them. These points are usually, positions on the surface of the Earth. Finding these points is called "surveying". Surveyors are needed to make land maps and boundaries for ownership of land. In order to find the information they need, surveyors use geometry, engineering, trigonometry, mathematics, physics, and law.

There are different types of surveyor. A construction or building surveyor is the person who has to make sure that buildings are being put up in the correct place and fit in with planning and building laws. A quantity surveyor is the person who keeps track of costs on a building project.  A hydrographic surveyor measures features to do with water, such as rivers, lakes and oceans.  A marine surveyor inspects ships.  A mine surveyor is the person who finds out the position of underground mines, for example gold mines or coal mines.

Related pages
 Architecture
 Cartography
 Topography
 Trigonometry

 Notes 

 References 
 Keay J (2000), The Great Arc: the dramatic tale of how India was mapped and Everest was named, Harper Collins, 182pp, .
 Pugh J C (1975), Surveying for Field Scientists, Methuen, 230pp, 

 Other websites 
 National Society of Professional Surveyors 
 The Irish Institution of Surveyors 
 National Geodetic Survey
 National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
 UK Ordnance Survey
 U.S. Geological Survey
 International Federation of Surveyors
 The Institution of Surveyors, Australia 
 The Survey Association (UK)
 Survey of India
 New Zealand Institute of Surveyors

Category:Architecture
Category:Geography
Category:Geometry