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

Land surveying equipment set up beside an active road expansion project with visible right-of-way markers
land surveying
Surveyor

Land Surveying Protects Property During Turnpike Expansion

Oklahoma City keeps growing. New roads and wider highways promise easier travel and more business. However, growth can also bring problems. The recent turnpike expansion debate has many property owners feeling unsure. People now ask a simple question: What happens if this project touches my land? That question leads to

Read More »
A land survey company using a drone to map an active construction site
land surveying
Surveyor

New Drone Rules: How a Land Survey Company Responds

If you’ve seen recent news about new drone rules and possible restrictions on certain drone brands, you might feel confused. Some headlines make it sound like drone surveying will stop or slow down. However, that’s not the full story. A good land survey company does not rely on just one

Read More »
Aerial LiDAR mapping showing detailed terrain data captured using modern remote-sensing technology
land surveying
Surveyor

LiDAR Mapping: How Remote-Sensing Technology Speeds It Up

Technology does not usually change all at once. Instead, small improvements add up over time. Right now, those improvements are pushing lidar mapping forward faster than many people expect. New remote-sensing tools make LiDAR mapping quicker, smoother, and easier to use. For property owners, developers, engineers, and city planners across

Read More »
Homebuyers reviewing closing documents with their real estate agent during a delayed transaction caused by missing elevation certificates
flood damage
Surveyor

Why Closings Are Delayed by Missing Elevation Certificates

In Oklahoma City, real estate moves fast. Buyers want quick closings. Sellers want smooth deals. Lenders want low risk. Yet today, one missing document often slows everything down: elevation certificates. Across the city, closings face sudden delays because flood paperwork arrives too late. Buyers feel stressed. Sellers feel uneasy. Agents

Read More »
A commercial property surveyor reviewing survey data on an active site before closing
land surveyor
Surveyor

When a Commercial Property Surveyor Is Required to Close

Many commercial property deals begin with a simple guess. Someone orders a standard survey and assumes it will cover everything. At first, nothing seems wrong. Then the lender asks questions. The title company flags issues. Soon, the closing date slips, and the survey must be redone. This situation happens often,

Read More »
Flooded city street caused by a water main break, showing why a construction survey is critical for verifying underground utilities and reducing repair risks
land surveying
Surveyor

What a Water Main Break Reveals About a Construction Survey

When a water main breaks, it gets attention fast. Streets flood. Traffic stops. Videos spread across social media within minutes. Recently, Oklahoma City saw exactly this kind of disruption when a water main failure sent water rushing across the road and forced crews into emergency mode. At first glance, it

Read More »