Historical surveying processes

Geodetic datum

Geodetic datum is a coordinate reference system developed to assist surveyors, cartographers and navigators to describe geographic positions.

Measuring distances

Historical surveying tools used for measuring distances included the perambulator, Gunter's chain and steel tape, until distance measurement was standardised.

Measuring height

Read about tools that early explorers and surveyors used to measure the height of land.

Measuring angles

Historical surveying tools used for measuring angles including the circumferentor and theodolite.

Tools used for calculations

Historical surveying tools used for calculations including the curta and arithmometers.