A Short History on Land Surveying

Land surveying is one of the the oldest professions anywhere. After any two individuals own property on opposite sides of a line – land surveying is important.

Land surveying is fascinating. The strategy used aim to determine which section of land is owned by whom, hopefully ending arguments for good.

To put it briefly, surveying is really a process using mathematical methods for surveying land to determine its ownership.

The first accounts of surveying land extends back to ancient Egypt. Experts have discovered evidences that the ancient Egyptians used basic geometry to redraw the lines of boundary when the Nile River overflowed. An Egyptian land register going back 3000 BC was found.

Following the Egyptians, the Romans – also the most powerful civilizations within the ancient world – practiced land surveying. They took it a pace further and made “land surveyor” an official position inside the Empire. These folks called agrimensores, often called Corpus Agrimensorum Romanorum. Despite the fact they used rather simple tools, these people were very thorough with their jobs and would create straight lines and proper angles with the use of these tools. As soon as the lines were measured, they’d create shallow ditches to mark the lines. Actually, much of the furrows they made continue to exist today.

One of several recorded land surveying of the “modern” times belongs to William the Conqueror who wrote the Domesday Book in 1086. This book is really a menu of names of land owners, the amount of land they owned as well as other information about the land. While it was a substantial volume of information during this period, the pieces of information weren’t 100% correct. The locations just weren’t accurate and the maps were not made to scale.

Among history’s greatest icons have also been an ardent surveyor – Napoleon Bonaparte. The interest in surveying land was really just a product of his wish to conquer the earth. Napoleon Bonaparte founded a registry referred to as cadastre. This includes a registry of properties of a county, ownership details, locations and as much information concerning the land’s value. Yes, Napoleon Bonaparte can be regarded as a land surveyor – plus a very smart man.

The strategies put to use in land surveying also have evolved over the centuries, over time. Long ago, people would use whatever could help them determine the distance from one point to another. This implies using chains with links and even ropes. Not surprisingly, this didn’t give accurate results but they did not have the technology we now have.

Today, land surveyors possess the best technologies to assist them with their job. There is GPS, or Global Positioning System, which is quite possibly the most accurate technologies available today. Total stations are also crucial to a land surveyor, which employs the utilization of an EDM or Electronic Distance Measurement device together with a theodolite which enables for further precise angle and distance measurements.

author avatar
Surveyor

More Posts

Surveyor reviewing title documents and site plan on a desk during pre-construction property review for an alta survey in a modern office setting
alta survey
Surveyor

Schedule B Before an ALTA Survey: What to Check

Buying land in Ringgold often starts with excitement. You find a good property, talk numbers, and move forward. Then the paperwork shows up. One part of that paperwork causes more trouble than most people expect: Schedule B. Many buyers move fast because they don’t want to miss out. They end

Read More »
A surveyor marking boundary lines on land to divide a property into separate lots
land surveyor
Surveyor

How a Surveyor Helps You Divide Land Without Problems

You own a piece of land in LaGrange. Maybe you want to sell part of it. Maybe you want to give a portion to your kids. Or maybe you plan to build another home on the same property. At first, it sounds simple. Just split the land and move on.

Read More »
Land surveyor measuring property lines to estimate land survey cost for a fence, driveway, and site plan
land surveying
Surveyor

Land Survey Cost for Fence, Driveway, and Site Plans

If you’re getting ready to build something on your property, one question usually comes up fast: what will the land survey cost? Most people expect a simple answer. They think it’s based on lot size alone. That’s not how it works. The cost changes depending on what you’re trying to

Read More »
A land development engineer planning grading and drainage on a construction site before building begins
civil engineer
Surveyor

What a Land Development Engineer Does Before You Build

Building on land in Atlanta is not always simple. A piece of land may look flat and ready, but problems can show up once work begins. Water may collect in the wrong place. Soil may shift. Plans may not match what the land can handle. A land development engineer helps

Read More »
Surveyor measuring a residential property while homeowners look for a property surveyor near me to check boundaries and land conditions
land surveyor
Surveyor

Before Hiring a Property Surveyor Near Me: What to Know

Typing “property surveyor near me” sounds quick and easy. You search, call a few numbers, and expect the job to get handled. In Ringgold, it rarely works out that simply. Land here has its own quirks. Clay-heavy soil shifts when it dries out or gets saturated. Drainage doesn’t always follow

Read More »
Topographic survey showing slope and elevation changes in a backyard with a retaining wall
land surveying
Surveyor

Topographic Survey Before Building a Retaining Wall

If you own a home, chances are your yard is not flat. Many properties sit on slopes, hills, or uneven ground. Because of that, a lot of homeowners think about building a retaining wall. It can stop soil from sliding, create level space, and make your yard safer. However, here’s

Read More »