Land surveying equipment includes theodolites, GPS, data collectors, and satellites. Theodolites measure vertical and horizontal angles and use triangulation. GPS and satellites determine boundaries and changes in land. Basic tools like tape measures, levels, and compasses are still relevant and modern equipment is an evolved version of them.
Among the many types of land surveying equipment, one, if not the most important, is the theodolite, which has been used and continuously developed since the 19th century. Some other hi-tech equipment includes a global positioning system (GPS), data collectors and satellites. The surveyor’s basic equipment, however, is still very useful, such as the compass, spirit level and tape measure.
The theodolite can measure both vertical and horizontal angles. Its appearance is very similar to a telescope that can rotate in vertical and horizontal direction so that it can measure various objects located in different areas. A surveyor would normally look through the theodolite to “lock in” on an object and the instrument would immediately measure both the vertical and horizontal axes of the object. The theodolite uses the process of triangulation so that it can measure, for example, the distance between an elevated area and a flat area. Modern versions can be equipped with technological features such as infrared, lasers and electronic encoders, which can help the surveyor record accurate measurements.
GPS and satellites revolving around the Earth are also important tools for land surveying, particularly for determining the boundaries of an area and for documenting any changes in the land. Basically, a surveyor can install a GPS antenna that transmits broadcast signals to satellites, which then relay the signal to the GPS receiver carried by the surveyor. This type of triangular transmission produces accurate data such as specific coordinates and land area. The GPS system allows the surveyor to have constantly updated data without having to physically go on site. Laptops installed with tracking software and the GPS receiver itself act as data collectors, along with other portable electronic gadgets.
Modern technology may have provided many advanced equipment for land surveyors, but simple, “non-electronic” tools are still relevant. The tape measure, for example, is very efficient at measuring short distances. The level, made up of a small amount of liquid inside a tube, can show how flat a plane is, depending on whether or not the air bubble is in the center of the tube. The compass, on the other hand, helps determine the orientation of some objects or the terrain itself. In fact, almost all modern surveying equipment is an evolved version of the more basic tools, but the main principle behind it remains the same.
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