Doing the survey
1843 to 1859: Instruments used in the survey
From 1840 to 1870 distances were measured by a chain (100 links = 1 chain), or a perambulator. The chain was used to measure distances on town, suburban and country farms. The perambulator was used on the boundaries of runs, roads and feature surveys where less accuracy was required.
The directions of the boundaries were measured by a circumferentor or compass, thus placing all the early surveys on a magnetic meridian.
Early surveys of roads and railways
There are many branches of the surveying profession, but surveys connected with a country's lines of communication are of utmost importance.
In order for a country to develop properly, the shortest and most economical transport links have to be established first.
Many of the early settlers adopted the well tried aboriginal pathways that had existed for thousands of years. In some instances, modifications were made to these existing routes to allow for the white mans' horse and dray.
Therefore, surveyors were not always the first people to find the route between points of habitation. Explorers, pastoralists, miners and teamsters were often the first. The surveyor often came later and made improvements on the existing system of tracks.
Railway surveys also required men of education who understood gradients, levels and curve radii. A thorough investigation survey had to be first carried out so that a design of the route could be made. A working survey than had to be pegged for the construction gangs to follow up and build.
1860 to 1880: Surveyors' commitment
The dedication and commitment of surveyors to their work was evidenced in the following telegram sent in 1886. Surveyor Bedford, remotely located at Boulia,wrote to the Surveyor-General in Brisbane.
The telegram reads:
Sorry to trouble you with my private affairs but Roma doctor cabled me 'Come at once if possible' as my wife dangerously ill typhoid fever. Under no consideration will I leave until longitude determined but on completion must ask permission to leave at once for Roma. Have a thoroughly reliable man to bring camp down...Bedford 1886
1901 to 1920
Advertisement for the Surveyor boot, 1916
1951 to 1985: Information recorded in the fieldbook
All measurements taken during the day were recorded in a field notebook (bearings and distances). Also recorded was 
the vegetation and soil type. This allowed intending selectors to judge the type of land they were selecting. The image shows a typical extract from a field book.
It was at night in the tent that the surveyor would calculate and plot the information from his field notebook.
1986 to the present: The changing face of surveying
Over the past 15 years, the surveying profession has progressed through rapid change. This has been driven by technology, especially with the measurement equipment, instrumentation and software applications.
The processes of surveying with purely optical and mechanical instruments used in Australia for the previous 150 years, have been replaced by computerised and integrated equipment. For example electronic total stations and robotic theodolites integrated with GPS capability.
Technologies currently used in field survey work are a result of rapid advancement in operator-friendly automated systems.
Some of the changes which have occurred in this technological evolution and are continuing to evolve in this transitional period include:
- Global acceptance and unified management of common software, hardware and ISO standards
- Common geodetic reference frame
- Integration of techniques
- Integration of technologies with satellite, robotic and electronic capability
- Automation of systems resulting in reduction of manpower
- Real time output and updating
- New professional surveying roles - new types of qualifications required
- Changing community expectations in terms of social, environmental and economic considerations
- The role of land surveying has changed to an emphasis on land and information management rather than land development
- End-user requirements have become more flexible and dynamic
- Survey activities have combined and increasingly work hand in hand with other disciplines Becker, Professor Jean-Marie 2000
Last updated: 17 June 2009