Surveying

Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the <a href="/facts/Land/3nD0PytJ">terrestrial</a> <a href="/facts/Plane_(mathematics)/tAUtRFcn">two-dimensional</a> or <a href="/facts/Three-dimensional_space/KAqKWUbS">three-dimensional</a> positions of <a href="/facts/Point_(geometry)/6YPAvX2a">points</a> and the <a href="/facts/Euclidean_distance/9qDoQKQe">distances</a> and <a href="/facts/Angle/gFUTEQYq">angles</a> between them. These points are usually on the surface of the Earth, and they are often used to establish maps and boundaries for <a href="/facts/Ownership/dI4oAYoD">ownership</a>, locations, such as the designated positions of structural components for construction or the surface location of subsurface features, or other purposes required by government or civil law, such as property sales.
A professional in land surveying is called a land surveyor.
Surveyors work with elements of <a href="/facts/Geodesy/EJH0Te0m">geodesy</a>, <a href="/facts/Geometry/wTQf5ffQ">geometry</a>, <a href="/facts/Trigonometry/K4hfaC6F">trigonometry</a>, <a href="/facts/Regression_analysis/n6z5Tf7K">regression analysis</a>, <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, engineering, <a href="/facts/Metrology/HC0MmLdb">metrology</a>, <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming languages</a>, and the law. They use equipment, such as <a href="/facts/Total_station/q4L3FeHK">total stations</a>, robotic total stations, <a href="/facts/Theodolite/G4ADP1bC">theodolites</a>, <a href="/facts/Satellite_navigation/lVgPlF5v">GNSS</a> receivers, <a href="/facts/Retroreflector/NSvFA4kG">retroreflectors</a>, <a href="/facts/3D_scanner/V972Q4RM">3D scanners</a>, <a href="/facts/Lidar/b9SPUmLM">lidar</a> sensors, radios, <a href="/facts/Inclinometer/NB4nFvg5">inclinometer</a>, handheld tablets, optical and digital <a href="/facts/Level_(instrument)/9HA0E7zQ">levels</a>, subsurface locators, drones, <a href="/facts/Geographic_information_system/PoP1kVoa">GIS</a>, and surveying software.
Surveying has been an element in the development of the human environment since the beginning of <a href="/facts/Recorded_history/pnBxFEvW">recorded history</a>. It is used in the planning and execution of most forms of <a href="/facts/Construction/58eqDhy9">construction</a>. It is also used in transportation, communications, mapping, and the definition of legal boundaries for land ownership. It is an important tool for research in many other scientific disciplines.

Surveying open-in-new

Surveying