Theodolites are highly precise instruments that are used to measure angles in both the horizontal and the vertical plane. Theodolites have been around in some form since the 1500s and are used in many fields, including surveying, meteorology and aerospace engineering.
There is some debate as to who truly invented the theodolite. Pictures of instruments that appear to be theodolites appeared as early as 1512, but the word was first mentioned in a 1571 book by famous British mathematician and surveyor Leonard Digges. This work describes a theodolite-like instrument and is the first known use of the actual word itself. However, German Joshua Habermel seems to have created a theodolite that looks much like the theodolites of today, complete with a tripod and compass.
Surveyors use theodolites to help them plot boundary lines which can be used to determine where property lines begin and end, as well as where to route utility lines and to help create building foundations. The types of theodolites used for surveying are known as transit theodolites. Theodolites have been used by cartographers for centuries, helping them create usable maps of countries, cities and towns.
Typically, surveyors and other engineers need to determine the location of true north as they work. When these engineers are working underground, such as in the creation of tunnels or perhaps in mining, they use a special type of theodolite known as a gyrotheodolite, which is basically a gyroscope mounted to a theodolite. Above ground, astronomical star sights are used to locate true north, but in situations such as the building of the Channel Tunnel, using a gyrotheodolite is essential.
Theodolites are used for navigation, and this can mean tracking the motion of weather balloons for use in meteorology or tracking other moving objects, such as airplanes or rockets that remain at altitudes lower than 20,000 meters. Theodolites are also helpful tools utilized in rocket launch technology.
While gyrotheolodites and transit theodolites look quite a bit like the early versions of these instruments, there are modern theodolites that look quite different and produce electronic readings. They look quite different, but perform much the same task, relying, rather than on the human eye, on the technology to read the measurements. While these are highly efficient and often can take readings and save the data, they are far more costly than standard theodolites.
There is some debate as to who truly invented the theodolite. Pictures of instruments that appear to be theodolites appeared as early as 1512, but the word was first mentioned in a 1571 book by famous British mathematician and surveyor Leonard Digges. This work describes a theodolite-like instrument and is the first known use of the actual word itself. However, German Joshua Habermel seems to have created a theodolite that looks much like the theodolites of today, complete with a tripod and compass.
Surveyors use theodolites to help them plot boundary lines which can be used to determine where property lines begin and end, as well as where to route utility lines and to help create building foundations. The types of theodolites used for surveying are known as transit theodolites. Theodolites have been used by cartographers for centuries, helping them create usable maps of countries, cities and towns.
Typically, surveyors and other engineers need to determine the location of true north as they work. When these engineers are working underground, such as in the creation of tunnels or perhaps in mining, they use a special type of theodolite known as a gyrotheodolite, which is basically a gyroscope mounted to a theodolite. Above ground, astronomical star sights are used to locate true north, but in situations such as the building of the Channel Tunnel, using a gyrotheodolite is essential.
Theodolites are used for navigation, and this can mean tracking the motion of weather balloons for use in meteorology or tracking other moving objects, such as airplanes or rockets that remain at altitudes lower than 20,000 meters. Theodolites are also helpful tools utilized in rocket launch technology.
While gyrotheolodites and transit theodolites look quite a bit like the early versions of these instruments, there are modern theodolites that look quite different and produce electronic readings. They look quite different, but perform much the same task, relying, rather than on the human eye, on the technology to read the measurements. While these are highly efficient and often can take readings and save the data, they are far more costly than standard theodolites.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier enjoys blogging reviews on precision scientific instruments. For more info about items such as precision alignment instruments, or to find more info about a telemetric alignment system, check out the Warren Knight website now.
1 comments:
While working with the survey instruments for couple of decades . Its quite refreshing knowing about the history.
https://rcmauryaco.com/alignment-telescope/
Post a Comment