|
All of the
following is attributable to Dr. Ben Buckner [Dec'94]:
ELEMENTARY DEFINITION OF SURVEYING (as paraphrased in most texts):
The art, science, and technology of detecting the relative position of
points at, above, or below the surface of the earth; or establishing such
points.
BROADER DEFINITION (according to its true nature and scope)
Surveying Measurement:
The art, science, and technology of gathering and analyzing measurement
data related to the land and other land-related surfaces and spaces, to
include designing and devising the measurement specifications and
standards to accomplish these measurements with the desired precision and
accuracy and error control and adjustment, including the use of all
instrumentation applicable to such measurements, said measurements
typically being, but not limited to distances, heights, angles,
directions, positions, areas, volumes, and other measurements associated
with these quantities.
Professional Surveying:
The application of knowledge of the science of surveying measurement, the
legal principles of boundary location, the laws related to boundaries and
land use, the applicable mathematical and computational theories and
principles, the natural and other forces which affect positional accuracy,
the land planning and development concepts pertinent to subdivision of
land and property surveys, land record and land tenure concepts, geodetic
and other earth-related sciences to the analysis, design, and execution of
surveying and mapping projects and the design of land mapping and
information systems.
LOGICAL SCOPE OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYING
1. Original Surveys for
Establishing Property Boundaries
2. Retracement of Property
Boundaries
3. Field Surveys for
Topographic and other Maps
4. Photograrnmetric Surveys
for Topographic and other Maps
5. Construction of Maps and
other Graphics for Design and Planning
6. Layout and Staking to
Guide Construction
7. Measuring and Plotting
the Position of Constructed Works
8. Geodetic and other
Precise Control Surveys
9. Surveys for Mining and
other Subsurface Operations
10. Hydrographic and
Underwater Surveys
11. Making Surveys and Maps
for Land Information Systems
12. Design of Measurement
Specifications for Various Surveys
13. Development of Measurement
Standards for Various Surveys
14. Application, Use, and
Adjustment of Measurement Instruments
15. Development of Relative
Geometric Positional and other Accuracy Needs for Land Information Systems
16. Assisting Engineers,
Lawyers, Planners, the Public, and Government Officials with the Solution
of Problems Where Surveying Expertise is Needed
THE VALUE OF
BEING A SURVEYOR:
Full understanding of the inexactness, uncertainty, and variable nature of
measurement leads to humility since it teaches that one can never be sure
of results. It is this very humility that, more than anything, creates the
professional attitude needed to constantly seek new evidence, and
consequently a higher probability of approaching the truth or proving
something with confidence.
The surveyor is primarily an analyst. As an analyst of both measurement
data and boundary location evidence (including geometric and other
mathematical relationships) the surveyor is in a position to develop a
keen sensitivity to the importance of finding and applying the truth.
A surveyor, when practicing according to the true nature of surveying, is
ever seeking the truth, whether in measurement or in boundary location.
Consequently, learning and applying the measurement science and the legal
and other principles of boundary retracement develops character.
The art and science of surveying is a mirror of life itself.
Called "Geomatics" in Canada and
much of Europe, land surveying is known as the world's second-oldest
profession. It dates back to ancient Egypt and Babylonia. Surveying is
essentially the art and science of measuring and mapping land. While the
entire scope of our profession is vast, it all eventually boils down to
determining where people's land boundaries are located. Without this
service, railroads could not be built, skyscrapers could not be erected,
and individuals could not put up fences around their yards, for fear of
trespassing on someone else's land. Would you like an interstate highway
to be built in your backyard, one you've paid for, maintained, and paid
taxes on for years, without your permission? Of course, how would you
know it was in your backyard without a surveyor to tell you where your
property even was? We also stake out boundaries of roads to be built,
monitor skyscrapers to make sure they are being erected vertically, and
measure airports so that the runways are perfectly aligned and smooth.
So, if you see a guy in the road looking through an instrument on a
tripod, that is a surveyor, now you know that he is doing more than taking
pictures.
What is a surveyor?
A surveyor is more than one of
those guys you see out in the road. Surveying is a vital part of the
design and construction process. We perform boundary surveys to tell
people where their property is, map the topography of land for engineering
design, establish elevations of home sites for flood insurance, perform
title surveys for real estate transactions, certify that structures are
built according to design, lay out buildings, subdivisions and other
construction projects so the construction companies can relate the
engineering plans to the real world, and build control networks that all
land parcels can relate to in a given area. We also map slopes and areas
for pay volumes or quantities, map river bottoms for dredging, lay out
photo control for aerial photography and photogrammetry, write legal
descriptions that are used to describe pieces of property, map and layout
corridors for tunnels, roads, airports, pipelines, cellular networks and
railroads, and split up properties into new lots, such as subdivisions. |
