How did bridge builders of old ensure both ends of the bridge would perfect meet in the middle before laser measuring was around?
In: Engineering
There’s a lot of talk about protractors and string here … that’s only partly right. Traditional survey instruments (same principles often used today) measured angles, horizontally and vertically, extremely precisely. Quick precise distance measurement came later, but one carefully measured baseline and a series of intersecting angles can coordinate points better than you’d expect.
GPS isn’t as useful as you’d think for surveying in closed-in or covered areas, so we still use similar instruments almost every day. Behind all the software, modern terrestrial survey instruments still just measure horizontal angles, vertical angles, and slope distances.
Leveling is even easier! In fact, if you want to be really basic, you can even do it with water.
Source: professional land surveyor.
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