SAMPLE: Surveying 2

Title: Now I Know Where I Am!

Background: Wanting to know where we are and where other people are is natural. But, until recent times, accurate information about distances and positions was sometimes hard or impossible to come by. Early surveyors would shake their heads in disbelief at the ease with which GPS pinpoints us on the globe.

Questions:

1. Make a simple sketch of the globe showing the orientation of latitudes and longitudes.

2. Please go to: http://www.gisuser.com.au/MM/content/2002/MM21/feature_2/MM21_feature_2.html#

What was the Great Trigonometric Survey (Great Arc)? Please print the image showing the path of meridian 78⁰ E through India.

3. What was the reason for the Great Arc?

4. Historically, who first attempted an estimate of the Earth's size?

5. The huge trigonometrical survey of sections of India, commenced by William Lambton on 10 April 1802, was finished when by George Everest? Please print Everest's image.

6. Lambton triangulated how many km of India's surface?

7. Everest devised what idea to help survey observers obtain clear views between reference locations where the survey paths took the teams onto the plains of India?

8. This and subsequent surveys and the maps they produced had what effects on India?

9. An elephant wanders 1.3 km along 70⁰ before turning and moving 3 km along 280⁰. Find the direct routes (distance and direction) "out" and "back".