AGU Advanced Textbooks
1 total work
Surveying is the technique, profession, and science ofaccurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensionalposition of points and the distances and angles between them, onthe surface of the Earth. Traditionally the work of a surveyor wasto establish cadastral maps for demarcations of boundaries for landownership. The survey profession dates back to the Egyptian timesduring which precision measurements of angle and distancemeasurements in building the pyramids. Since that time, theprinciple of land surveying of measuring angles and distances inrelation to each other has remained the same. What have changedover this period are the survey techniques and the surveyapplication.
Techniques like the digital world of Information ComputerTechnology; the Satellite imagery; aerial Photography; GIS and GPShave totally revolutionalised the land surveying profession to farmuch greater heights than ever imagined. Remote sensing imagesprovide digital spatial data which are analyzed by geographicalinformation systems (GIS), followed by global distribution throughcomplex infrastructures, and visualized on print or digital format.Earth sciences are relying increasingly on this acquired andprocessed information. The technologies which process these dataand provide significant information for various analytical studiesform the core of geo-informatics. However, relying solely ontechnological skills will not suffice or serve the interests oforganizations which are involved in processing of suchgeo-information. Skilled scientific professionals are required foranalysis and dissemination of the acquired geo-informatics data,who can keep pace with the rapid changes and developments takingplace in the scientific world. These professionals equipped withlatest technologies are competent in validating the relevancy ofdevelopments, designing new systems and infrastructures, andexploring new-edge technology for efficient and effectiveimplementation.
This book is intended to provide a unique forum for exchange ofnew ideas on geographic information sciences and technologies amongprofessionals engaged in geo-informatics and GIScience. Exchange ofideas among surveying professionals globally are responsible foraugmenting the profession to much greater heights. This book willexplore the surveying profession, look at what it was and show whatit is today and the opportunities on its far reaching applicationscreated by the new technologies mentioned above.