-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: Old surveying techniques
Date:   Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:01:59 -0500
From:   Joel Kovarsky <[log in to unmask]>
To:     Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
<[log in to unmask]>



On 1/18/2011 10:56 AM, Angie Cope wrote:
> rather talk to
> someone who really knows the history and the ingenuity used to overcome
> all the physical difficulties and compensating for things they could
> observe but not explain like the effect of gravity and large masses on
> the plumb line, air density and refraction on shooting the transit of
> stars, and the effects of procession.


Several possibilities, although you are covering a great deal of
historical ground:

     International Institution for the History of Surveying and
     Measurement-- http://www.fig.net/hsm/index.htm

     Early American Surveyors: Mapping the Wilderness--
     http://www.profsurv.com/magazine/article.aspx?i=2038 (I mention this
     online article because it was by Silvio A. Bedini, a deceased
     scientific instrument historian at the Smithsonian (although he
     retired in 1987 it may be that someone else there can point in a
     relevant direction; Bedini also wrote _With Compass and Chain: Early
     American Surveyors and Their Instruments_)

     Jonkers, A.R.T., 2005. "Parallel meridians: Diffusion and change in
     early-modern oceanic reckoning," in: Noord-Zuid in Oostindisch
     perspectief, ed. J. Parmentier. The
     Hague: Walburg, pp.17-42. (online at:
     http://earth.uni-muenster.de/~jonkers/PARAMER.pdf; extensive notes)

     Geomagnetism: Early Concept of the North Magnetic Pole--
     http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/early_nmp_e.php (site maintained
     by the Geologic Survey of Canada, with at least some mention of what
     Mercator went through to develop his landmark 1569 world ma )


I would also suggest perusing the references available here:
http://www.maphistory.info/topics.html#measuring .

--
Joel Kovarsky
The Prime Meridian
1839 Clay Dr., Crozet, VA 22932 USA
Phone: 434-823-5696
Email:[log in to unmask]
Website:http://www.theprimemeridian.com