There are many agencies of the United States Government and some are certainly not very well known. This doesn't lessen their importance though as they contribute in making the nation stay on course. With regards to our nation's transportation and infrastructure, the U.S. National Geodetic Survey agency supports such function.
It can be helpful to understand what the world "geodetic" means. This term refers to geodesy which is a branch of science dedicated to determining the shape and size of the Earth and the location of points all over the globe. The scientists at this agency work on everything from shoreline mapping to emergency response imagery and airport surveys.
To define and maintain the National Spatial Reference System is the main purpose if this agency. Accurate information about every square inch of the United States, including land and water is what this system basically provides. Information about latitude and longitude as well as scale, height, gravity and orientation is continuously maintained by their staff. Throughout the year or over time, these types of statistics change as the earth continues to move and change.
The construction of roads and bridges, as well as creating accurate property lines and the likes is what this type of information benefits greatly from. Problems can occur if the measurements are inaccurate. For example, a ship could run aground, if a map shows the depth of the ocean incorrectly, even if it's just an error of a few feet. Proper mapping and surveying is one of the many examples of how society benefits from it.
More and more, the staff at the U.S. National Geodetic Survey will be using satellites and other technology to produce highly accurate maps. There are also a variety of other tools that are used to help record changes in elevation, slope, scale and height. One frequently used surveyor's tool is the theodolite and you have probably seen engineers and surveyors using these devices on your local roads.
The basic premise of a Theodolite is that is measures angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. As a whole, it is important to be familiar with the angle and slope of the land particularly in the creation of our roads and in the contraction of homes and other buildings and not having this information is somewhat incomprehensible. The slightest error can result to a building settling improperly or a bridge or road being constructed incorrectly. The U.S. National Geodetic Surgery use several tools and a Theodolite is one amongst the many. The angles of slopes also can be measured with the use of a clinometer which is also known as an inclinometer.
It can be helpful to understand what the world "geodetic" means. This term refers to geodesy which is a branch of science dedicated to determining the shape and size of the Earth and the location of points all over the globe. The scientists at this agency work on everything from shoreline mapping to emergency response imagery and airport surveys.
To define and maintain the National Spatial Reference System is the main purpose if this agency. Accurate information about every square inch of the United States, including land and water is what this system basically provides. Information about latitude and longitude as well as scale, height, gravity and orientation is continuously maintained by their staff. Throughout the year or over time, these types of statistics change as the earth continues to move and change.
The construction of roads and bridges, as well as creating accurate property lines and the likes is what this type of information benefits greatly from. Problems can occur if the measurements are inaccurate. For example, a ship could run aground, if a map shows the depth of the ocean incorrectly, even if it's just an error of a few feet. Proper mapping and surveying is one of the many examples of how society benefits from it.
More and more, the staff at the U.S. National Geodetic Survey will be using satellites and other technology to produce highly accurate maps. There are also a variety of other tools that are used to help record changes in elevation, slope, scale and height. One frequently used surveyor's tool is the theodolite and you have probably seen engineers and surveyors using these devices on your local roads.
The basic premise of a Theodolite is that is measures angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. As a whole, it is important to be familiar with the angle and slope of the land particularly in the creation of our roads and in the contraction of homes and other buildings and not having this information is somewhat incomprehensible. The slightest error can result to a building settling improperly or a bridge or road being constructed incorrectly. The U.S. National Geodetic Surgery use several tools and a Theodolite is one amongst the many. The angles of slopes also can be measured with the use of a clinometer which is also known as an inclinometer.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier loves blogging about precision scientific instruments. For more details about surveying products such as a surveyor compass, or to find other alignment instruments, go to the Warren Knight website now.
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