Pantograph: A Historic Tool and Its Application in Land Surveying

Introduction to the Pantograph

The pantograph is a mechanical device that has been in use for centuries, primarily for duplicating and scaling drawings. Invented by Christoph Scheiner in 1603, this tool leverages the principles of geometric similarity to copy figures and create scale adjustments with high precision. While its initial applications were mostly in art and engineering, the pantograph has also played a significant role

Mapping the Future: Land Surveying and Mapping the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956

On June 26, 1956, the United States Congress passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, marking a monumental moment in American history. This legislation allocated more than $30 billion for the construction of approximately 41,000 miles of interstate highways, heralding the largest public construction project the nation had ever undertaken. The Act's passage was not only a significant leap in infrastructure development b

The Solar Compass: Navigating the Past and Present of Land Surveying

The solar compass stands as a landmark innovation in the history of land surveying. Developed in the early 19th century by William Austin Burt, an American surveyor and inventor, this specialized instrument was crafted to overcome the limitations posed by magnetic deviations which affected traditional compasses, especially in areas with high mineral content. Its introduction marked a significant advancement in surveying, partic

The Crucial Role of Land Surveying in the Allied Landings at Normandy and Formation of a Unified Front

On June 6, 1944, a date now etched in the annals of history as D-Day, the Allies launched one of the most ambitious military operations ever conceived. The Normandy landings involved a massive coordination of sea, air, and land forces, all converging on the French coast to begin the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Central to the planning and execution of this colossal operation

The Crucial Role of Land Surveying and Map Making in the Oregon Treaty

The Oregon Treaty of June 15, 1846, stands as a monumental testament to the power of precise surveying and detailed cartography in shaping the world's political landscapes. This agreement not only quelled longstanding territorial disputes between Great Britain and the United States but also defined the borders of what would become the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. This critical juncture in American history

Community Cartography: The Evolution of Mapping through Crowdsourcing and Its Impact on the Land Surveying Profession

Let’s venture into the rapidly evolving realm of collaborative and crowdsourced mapping shall we. This innovative approach reshapes how we accumulate and utilize geographical data, drawing on the collective strength of communities worldwide. The impact of crowdsourcing on data collection and the role of platforms like OpenStreetMap (OSM) in professional surveying are profound. In

The Dumpy Level: A Historical and Functional Perspective in Land Surveying

In the realm of land surveying, certain tools have stood the test of time, not merely as relics, but as enduring symbols of the field's foundational principles. The Dumpy Level is one such instrument. Known for its robust simplicity and precision, the Dumpy Level has played a crucial role in shaping the practices of modern land surveying. This discussion delves deep into the historical evolution, operational mechanics, an

The Rotating Laser Level: Revolutionizing Precision in Land Surveying

In the fast-paced, evolving landscape of land surveying, the introduction of the rotating laser level marked a paradigm shift in how professionals approach the measurement and mapping of large areas. This powerful tool, with its ability to project a 360-degree laser beam, has redefined accuracy and efficiency in the field. Let's delve deeper into the world of rotating laser levels, exploring their functionality, history, and

Mapping Out The Westward American Movement

The signing of the Homestead Act by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862, marked a pivotal moment in the history of the United States. This landmark legislation catalyzed the extensive development of the American West, offering an unprecedented opportunity for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families to own land and thereby contribute to the nation's expansion and prosperity. Central to the Act’s success and its lasting impact on America’s

With Survey Earth in a Day just around the corner again, knowing where your local markers are will come in handy when deciding where to submit a point from. Aside from our growing collection of Survey Marker Photos (photos tagged 'marker' inside the community), occasionally we will share marker photos on our Facebook Page which surveyors around the world respond to with, of course, their own marker photos.  Take a look at this post for example and the comments which followed.

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• Jason Guerrero

UPDATE: 

Happy National Surveyors Week 2018 Everyone!

The purpose of Surveyors Week (NSPS) is to bring visibility to the profession. During Surveyors Week, land surveyors across the nation celebrate by educating the public on what they do & why it is important; encouraging students to consider surveying as a career choice; and participating in activities that promote and bring awareness to the surveying profession. All licensees, governmental agencies, technical professional organizations and

The following story is fictional and any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental.

Land Surveyor named Indiana Jones

One day I was sitting in my office in Downtown Houston around 5:00 pm in the afternoon in 2001 when the phone rang.  My secretary had already left and I was not anxious to answer it.  I had a comfortable practice running three field crews and another Professional Land Surveyor in the office.  I was daydreaming about maybe selling the business for a million dollars and jus

If we cannot think outside our local environment, we become chained to it.  We are all chain-breaking for the Future on Land Surveyors United!

International Land Surveyors Week 2014 (June 15-22) is for Land Surveyors in any country on earth to celebrate the value of professional land surveyors in society. This is our 3rd year celebrating this week and it is slowly changing the industry into a more open and engagable situation for surveyors all around the world.  Have you recently noticed all of

Unable to find a satisfactory job and stuck in a job I hated I finally opened up my own Land Surveying Firm in mid 1992. I was 32 at the time and thought that I knew everything about Land Surveying because of my previous experiences. It goes to show you that arrogance is most often a result of ignorance.

As I look back now I realize that I had no idea at that time what I was doing and I am really uncertain at this point how I managed to survive in the beginning. After a couple of bumpy years howe

The Gap that Swallowed the Land Surveyor

By Pean Cheneying, PLS

A client who was a custom home builder ordered a Standard Survey (survey without the benefit of a title policy) on a parcel composed of a fractional lot in a recorded subdivision created in the 30s. This particular client had ordered some small subdivisions in the past but they were redeveloping this existing fractional lot and building an expensive custom home on it. Many of the parcels within this particular subdivision were bei

With the level of competition that exists for land surveyors and geomatics professionals, being successful as a company owner or working independently requires a combination of technical and creative skills, as well as business skills. Naturally, most land surveyors are more comfortable with the technical and creative aspects and less comfortable with running a business. While you do need to have some capability to run the business, you do not need to be a business guru to be an effective and ef