Listening to surveyors argue
Over 30 yrs ago, we would always attend survey conventions. There was one Jim Scott that looked a little like the surveyor in “the last traverse point” cartoon.
The topic at hand was basis of bearings.
This is from memory, and any errors or misunderstandings are mine. So…
Jim was using the altitude method to determine bearings. Another fellow was using Dr Knowles ephemeris. We had been using Dr Knowles ephemers, and we felt we could get bearings within 20″regularly. So as they argued, we obviously did not agree with Jim Scott. Jim said “it was impossible to get bearings within 2 arc minutes”. This whole argument went on, and I never got to the bottom of the matter. Jim was a super nice guy. But I never got to the bottom of the whole affair. The arguments have been sitting on my desk all this time (mentally speaking).
I recently tied into some of dad’s work, that was based on “grid north” by solar observations. It fits my GPS by 21″. This jogged my memory.
Anyway, did I misunderstand the issues? Or is there an altitude method to perform a sun shot?
If so, how does it work?
I really miss the fun and fellowship in the halls, at Survey conferences. That’s where the value was.
The fall ASPS conference is coming up. I may attend it.
Anybody else going?
I wish I had the Jim Scott argument settled. Then I could “put it away”.
Nate
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