How Does Surveying Work?

All Americans are familiar with the roles of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as American Presidents, but many may be unaware of their lifelong association with surveying.

Considered the second oldest profession in the world, surveying (or surveying engineering) has come a long way. Though the basic principles of surveying (namely, marking, describing, and mapping property ownership) have changed little over the ages, the tools that surveyors use today have evolved tremendously. I am talking here about GPS units, laser range finders, plumb bobs, satellite communications, optical levels, endoscopes, and in-depth software.