Topographic Surveys
There are many ways to map the Earth all around us, each method having their own benefits. One kind of method is really a topographic survey, which are used for a variety of purposes.
Exactly what is a Topographic Survey?
Topographic surveys certainly are a type of survey that measures the elevation of a particular piece of land at various points. These points are then illustrated as contour lines on a map/plot.
Contour lines are curved or straight lines on a map that join points of the same elevation together to indicate the elevation and steepness of a specific area of land. For instance, a very steep mountain on a survey could have plenty of very close-together contour lines, whereas flat land could have very spaced out contour lines.
The survey shows the relative positions and elevations of both natural and man-made features on a property. These features can include rivers, streams, roads, buildings and lanes. These surveys are very graphical in nature and so are one of the universally understood forms of land surveys on the globe.
What are they useful for?
Topographic surveys are trusted all over the world for a variety of reasons. The three main categories their use could be classified into include development, planning and land use. These surveys could be attracted to appropriate scales to suit the purpose it is for.
https://www.openlearning.com/u/villarrealspears-re5btr/blog/TopographicSurveys start by utilizing a topographic or land survey to help with the original design stage of the building - like the best area of land for this to be built, and what features may get in the way. They're well known for their use in orienteering and hiking. Also, they are the easiest types of maps to comprehend and navigate from. It is crucial for serious hikers to learn the elevation and steepness of their surroundings, particularly in very hilly areas.
Process of creating one
They often cover large regions of land and can be quite frustrating to gather the info. However, with the advancement of apparatus and tools to aid in surveying the methods are becoming considerably faster and more accurate. Click for source to creating a survey is to establish the horizontal and vertical controls, accompanied by the surveyor locating the cool features (both natural and man-made) within the control area that will be contained in the topographic survey.
Next the data collected needs to be formatted to meet the look criteria, and finally the topographic survey must be used and completed - often alongside a detailed report.
How to locate them
Most countries on the globe have their own government agency that deals with topographic surveys of the land. These surveys are some of the most used and common means of getting across maps to the general public.
In Australia, Geoscience Australia controls the National Mapping Information Group, and they provide free surveys and maps on their website. The Ordnance Survey may be the United Kingdom's agency for various surveys. Ordnance Survey was among the first developers of topographic surveys on the globe, upon which almost every other topographic surveys are based.
In the USA, all topographic and property surveys of public land are looked after by the United States Geological Survey. The Geological Survey produces a number of surveys at different scale and detail. The internet has made finding various types of surveys extremely easy and convenient. Most government agencies, like the ones named above, now provide a selection of topographic surveys on their websites and also an option to print them as books.