Posted by Laurence Monkhouse on September 10, 2003 at 07:41:36 from 217.137.106.53 user Laurence_.
In Reply to: Re: Survey Problem-QBASIC answer posted by Peter Ceresole on September 10, 2003 at 05:49:23:
The whole point of the survey method used is that you don't have to do any of these calculations. The bearings are plotted with the parallel ruler from the central compass rose and the whole thing comes together without trouble provided you keep checking back to fixed points - in this case the kraal. If the length of the base line is known then any other length can be simply measured with dividers.
It is very similar to coastal navigation, which again mercifully needs no difficult calculations.
I remember at college doing it the other way by measuring the length between survey points with a chain rather than taking angles. It took two sessions, and when plotted a straight drainage ditch in the middle showed a kink because somebody had moved one of the 'fixed' points.
I think that people underrate how simple it was to use points rather than subtracting 180 from some other number while you were feeling seasick - but there isn't really any choice now as all compasses seem to be marked in degrees.