Global Surveyors Day 21st March 2025

Surveying is the science, art, and profession of determining the positions of points on the Earth's surface and measuring the distances, directions, angles, and elevations between them, used for mapping, land ownership, and construction Land surveying is one of the oldest known professions, and its origins date back to ancient civilizations.

The Egyptian surveyors were incredibly skilled, especially considering the limited tools they had at the time. The annual flooding of the Nile River would wash away boundaries, so surveyors were responsible for re-establishing property lines and ensuring that land was properly divided for farming, taxation, and other purposes. The Egyptians used a variety of methods for surveying, including ropes, cords, and simple geometry, to help divide the land accurately.

Their understanding of geometry, which led to the development of early forms of the surveyor's "chain," was crucial to ensuring the land was properly measured and maintained. The process was also essential for maintaining social and economic order, as land ownership was tied to both wealth and status. Over time, surveying methods evolved, and the profession expanded beyond just land division. As societies grew more complex, surveying became crucial for mapping out cities, establishing trade routes, and designing infrastructure projects like roads, canals, and later, buildings. The history of land surveying, especially in ancient Egypt, really shows how critical it was to the development and organization of early civilizations.

The early settlement of Australia relied heavily on land surveyors, particularly in defining property boundaries and mapping the land for settlement. Surveyors such as Burke and Wills were not only explorers but also skilled in the techniques of land surveying, which were essential in establishing Australia's land ownership system. Their surveying expertise helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of cities, farms, and infrastructure in what was a vast and often challenging landscape.

During the 19th century, when explorers like Burke and Wills undertook their famous expeditions, the tools available were far less advanced than what we have today. They used basic equipment like chains (specifically Gunter's chain) and steel bands to measure distances. These tools, while effective, could be quite cumbersome, especially over long distances or rough terrain. The measurements made with these tools often needed to be recorded manually, which made the process slower and more prone to human error. To aid in these calculations, surveyors would rely on logarithmic tables and slide rulers to help with multiplication, division, and other mathematical operations that came up in the course of their work. The use of these tables and tools was essential for handling large numbers or precise measurements when making calculations in the field.

Despite the challenging conditions and primitive technology, early surveyors in Australia played a pivotal role in the country's expansion. Their work established boundaries that were crucial for defining land ownership and allowing agricultural and urban development to take place. Surveyors are essential from the very beginning of any construction project. Their work ensures that everything from small buildings to large infrastructure projects is built accurately and safely. Before any construction can begin, surveyors are the first professionals on-site, measuring and mapping the land to determine boundaries, elevations, slopes, and other key features of the terrain.

Surveyors also work alongside construction teams to mark out the exact positions where buildings and other structures will be built. This is known as "staking out" the site, where surveyors use stakes, flags, or GPS points to indicate where construction should take place. Throughout the build, surveyors continue to monitor and ensure that construction stays true to the plans, making adjustments as needed.

Given how many industries rely on their work—from construction and real estate to urban planning and environmental management—surveyors play a foundational role in shaping the built environment around us and today, on Global Surveyors Day, we celebrate them all!