Surveying Equipment

Surveying Mapping And GPS – Highly Sophisticated Technology For Precise Location Of Any Object

In surveying, mapping of topography is done to find precise survey locations up to minute details. Surveying is the methodology and science of determining the position of various points w.r.t. each other and the slope and distance between them. These positions of points are precisely associated with a specific position on the surface of the Earth called datum and are used to establish land mapping and boundaries for ownership and government officials. In order to accomplish their goals, surveyors use elements of engineering, Physics, Law, Trigonometry, and Math.

Surveying is done for those land surface areas of the earth, in which construction is required to be done. Its most popular and common uses are in the fields of building industry, construction and transport industry, in mapping and for the definition of legal boundaries for land ownership. In mapping, the physical features or topography of a specific land area are shown in a two-dimensional (2-D) format on a map on paper or on a computer monitor screen. Buildings, roads, utilities, and much more can be precisely located on a map for use by you. This is exactly what a land survey does, as in it precise mapping of the topography of any given surface area of land is done.

GPS (Global positioning system) systems, which are actually satellite-based, have now been recently developed for precise deployment in the field of surveying. GPS has many advantageous features in the field of surveying mapping such as highly sophisticated digital cameras and GPS compasses. These instruments prove to be very advantageous as the position of the true north pole of the Earth is different from the magnetic north pole of the Earth.

GPS systems are equipped with latest gadgets as well as digital cameras that insert the date, time, group, and location of the picture. This feature is particularly helpful when there is a requirement to put pictures into perspective w.r.t. a specific time and place, such as pictures at crime sites and work sites. Seismology sensors again use GPS systems, to keep precise time at known locations of the Earth.

In earlier times, civil surveyors had to follow the individual who plotted the land before them. In traditional Civil Surveying in earlier times, usually metal pins were driven into the middle of a nearby road. Civil surveyors had to first locate one pin and then pace off the amount or steps indicated in the book of instructions to find a 2nd corner. This required a great deal of time. But now, GPS can nail the precise location on any map. Today, improved precision is available due to GPS locators.

There are a number of GPS units available in the market that can save both time and money. The more the number of features available in a GPS system, the higher is its price tag. The functionality of a GPS system is such that although it may not be inexpensive, it can be sufficient for precise location of any object or point. In order to get the precise latitude and longitude of a house measured, a GPS unit costing about $500 will be accurate. You can then feed in these coordinates into a mapping program for surveying mapping.

Highly sophisticated GPS units have mapping capabilities using which we can even enter any address therein with the objective to physically reach that destination. Such sophisticated GPS locating systems will confirm your current position and accurately guide you to the destination. This facility is used with great advantage in surveying mapping. By using satellite technology, the beam from your hand-held GPS unit broadcasts a signal to the satellite. A return signal is sent back from the satellite to the unit, thus giving the exact position.