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 working near I-20 highway construction in Fort Worth showing how road expansion can affect nearby commercial property access
alta survey
Surveyor

Why an ALTA Survey Matters Before Buying Near a Road Project

If you are thinking about buying commercial property near the I-20 corridor in Fort Worth, an ALTA survey should be one of the first things on your list. TxDOT is in the middle of a $2.2 billion project called Keep 20-30 Moving. It runs through 2030 and is changing roads,

Read More »
Water pooling in a residential backyard near a home after rain, showing a drainage problem that may lead homeowners to search for engineering consultants near me
civil engineering
Surveyor

Neighbor Changed Your Drainage? When to Call an Engineer 

You didn’t touch your yard. Then one day, after a heavy rain, water starts sitting where it never did before. Maybe it runs along your fence. Maybe it heads straight for your house. A lot of homeowners deal with this after a neighbor changes something next door. It could be

Read More »
Realistic comparison of a site plan and an actual residential property, showing survey stakes in a yard and how homeowners can mistake plans for true boundary survey information
boundary surveying
Surveyor

Why a Site Plan Is Not the Same as a Boundary Survey

You’re looking at a drawing of your property. It shows your house, your driveway, and the space around it. It looks clean and official. So you think, “This must show my property line.” That’s a very common mistake. Many homeowners in Fort Worth rely on site plans, plot plans, or

Read More »
Road construction crew paving a rural road during active site work
civil engineering
Surveyor

Why Road Projects Need an Engineering Company Early

Road work in Ft. Worth is everywhere right now. Some roads are being raised, while others are being rebuilt after problems arise. At first, it looks like normal city work. Look a little closer, and a pattern starts to emerge. Many of these issues didn’t start during construction—they trace back

Read More »
Topographic survey with contour lines next to real land showing subtle slope and drainage differences
land surveying
Surveyor

What 1-Foot Contours Miss in a Topographic Survey

A lot of people assume a survey will show everything about their land. When you look at a topographic survey of your land, you see lines, numbers, and elevations, so it feels complete. It looks clean. It looks clear. Then the project starts, and things don’t quite match what you

Read More »