Žemės matavimo prietaisų kūrimo ir žemėlapių sudarymo istorijos bruožai

Abstract

First sources of maps can be found as prehistoric drawings of landscape. There was a need of improving landscape drawings and a need of similarity of geometric shape of a drawing and landscape. With extension of mapped square the need arose to determine the parameters of the Earth for large area maps. The oldest maps were based on single point astronomic coordinates. Geographic latitude determination was known from ancient times, when scientists had learned to determine the length of meridian. For determining geographic latitude differences synchronised astronomic observations were needed. There was a problem to transmit time signals to a long distance, therefore differences of longitude most often used were to be replaced by a distance or direction determined by compass. A considerable progress in construction of surveying instruments was achieved in the 17th century, when telescope, level, micrometric screw were invented. These inventions are still used among modern surveying instruments.[...].