Landsat MSS images of the clean‐up of Lake Chicot

As a result of the 1991 Persian Gulf war, between mid‐January and June 1991, the Persian Gulf was contaminated with an estimated 4 to 6 million barrels of crude oil, released directly into the Gulf from refinement facilities, transhipment terminals, and moored tankers along the coast of Kuwait, and precipitated from oil fire smoke plumes. To assess the environmental impact of the oil, an international team of marine scientists representing 14 nations was assembled under the auspices of the United Nations International Oceanic Commission and the Regional Organization for Protection of the Marine Environment to conduct detailed surveys of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, including hydrographic, chemical, and biological measurements. To supplement the field surveys and to serve as an aid in data interpretation, astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis photographed water features and coastal habitats in the Persian Gulf during mission STS‐45 (24 March to 02 April 1992). The astronauts collected 111 hand‐held, color photographs of the Gulf (72 70 mm photographs and 39 5‐inch photographs) from an altitude of 296 km (160 n.mi.). The photographs reveal distributions in water turbidity associated with outflow from the Shatt‐al‐Arab and water circulation along the entire coast of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, coastal wetlands and shallow‐water habitats, and sticks appearing in the sunglint pattern, which appear to be oil.     

THE TRIANGULATION OF CULTIVATION OVERLOOKED BY HIGH GROUND

Abstract

1. In the Sudan, as in Egypt, the greater part of the detailed survey control required for the cadastral mapping of the cultivated land beside the Nile has been in the form of traverse. This land is very flat and partly covered by crops at all times of the year, so that normal triangulation presents many difficulties, while there are many roads and canal banks which form natural routes for traverse. Nevertheless, the traversing is often slow because of the difficulty of carrying accurate measurements and lines of sight across ground made uneven by subsidiary irrigation canals, and in many cases encumbered by houses and date palms or other trees. Moreover a certain amount of triangulation is necessary to tie the surveys of the two banks together and to connect islands to the banks.     

THE LAY-OUT OF THE EAST AFRICAN ARC

Abstract

The only essential difference between geodetic triangulation and any other of the fifteen “orders” of triangulation—which were once proposed, and happily rejected, at an International Conference—is that steps are taken to secure the high degree of accuracy necessary over the large areas to be covered. Some of the steps taken to secure increased accuracy may well be used to insure economy in secondary work, as for instance the use of fewer readings of a large instrument, or the use of luminous signals in conditions of poor visibility; while any surveyor may at any time have to connect his work to a geodetic triangulation, using much the same methods.     

THE UGANDA MAlLO SYSTEM

Abstract

So much for the system. Now to describe the method of survey. Between 1902 and 1906 a chain of triangulation, extending from Zanzibar by way of the southern border of what is now Kenya Colony, and the northern and western shores of Lake Victoria to the Belgian Congo, had been surveyed by Anglo-German Boundary Commissions under G. E. Smith and Delmé Radcliffe as leaders. In 1902 a base line was measured near the middle of the Buganda Province by officers of the Uganda Survey Department. This was connected by triangulation to the Anglo-German chain, and several new chains were run across Buganda of an order of accuracy generally classified as that of tertiary triangulation. These chains are now known as the Uganda Main Triangulation, and form the backbone of the Buganda Cadastral Survey, popularly known as the “mailo” survey.     

THE SURVEY FRAMEWORK OF NIGERIA

Abstract

At the Conference of Empire Survey Officers held in London in 1931, an historical sketch was given of the progress of triangulation in Nigeria from its commencement to the end of the 1930 season, together with a brief summary of the proposed future programme. Since that date substantial progress has been made, and the recent completion of several important chains of triangulation and of the main precise traverse framework through the thickly forested regions of the Southern Provinces seems a convenient opportunity to place on record the present position.     

A NEW METHOD FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF A NETWORK OF TRIANGULATION

Abstract

A problem frequently encountered by surveyors in carrying out a system of triangulation, is the adjustment of a network of lower order triangulation to make it geometrically consistent with an existing triangulation of a higher order. For example, in Fig. 1 it will be assumed that the positions of the stations A, B, and C have already been determined and that it is now required to determine the positions of the stations a, b, c, d, e and f from the measured values of the internal angles of the network of triangulation shown. In practice, several different solutions have been suggested, ranging from rigorous least squares methods to semi-graphical solutions. The method described in this article is believed to be original and may prove of interest to surveyors.     

CORRECTION OF PLANE-TABLE HEIGHTS FOR CURVATURE OF THE EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION

Abstract

Most text-books on surveying limit their discussion of the correction of vertical angles for curvature of the earth and atmospheric refraction to the correction of angles taken with a theodolite during triangulation and omit any reference to those taken with a clinometer. This is rather illogical, as in well-observed triangulation, with all vertical angles measured in both directions, no correction for these effects is necessary, whilst in plane-tabling on small scales where sketching at considerable distances is frequently employed the application of corrections for these effects is essential.     

THE RE-TRIANGULATION OF GREAT BRITAIN-II

Abstract

Reconnaissance.—It has been possible to draw up a “paper scheme” for most of the primary triangulation by examination of large-scale topographic maps for possible obstructions to the proposed rays (after due allowance for curvature and refraction along the ray); the fact that certain of the proposed lines had been definitely observed in the existing primary or secondary triangulation was of course of material assistance. Since, however, all observations were to be to luminous beacons, requiring a close organization, it would have been unsound to draw up an observing programme on the strength of this paper scheme alone. The omission of a few key rays, subsequently found to be obstructed by timber, whose height cannot be appreciated from maps, or by local features which had grown up since the last triangulation, would have entailed some confusion in the observing programme, the establishment of additional stations for occupation during a later season, and the reoccupation of stations surrounding such additional points; in short, the probability of a year's delay in obtaining sufficient material for adjustment, and a considerable loss of economy. Arrangements were accordingly made for the paper scheme of the English main chain to be verified and amended on the ground by special reconnaissance parties in 1935, when in fact no instruments or beacons were available to commence observing in any case. In the same way, field reconnaissance of the Scottish main chain and of the Western figure (Wales and the S.W. peninsula) was completed in 1936 and a start made on the Eastern figure (East Anglia and S.E. England), so as to get the reconnaissance and station preparation well ahead of observing. Experimental reconnnaissance of a few secondary blocks—for which, as also for the primary reconnaissance of the flat enclosed East Anglian country, paper schemes are practically useless—was also commenced in 1936 and is being pushed ahead rapidly in 1937.     

BASE MEASUREMENT IN THE ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN

Abstract

Since 1899 cadastral mapping in the Sudan has been concentrated along the banks of the Nile from the Egyptian frontier to latitude 13°N., in the towns, and in the area of the Gezira, south of Khartoum, where cotton has been developed. These surveys were controlled by theodolite and steel tape either in the form of traverses or rectangulation. The early triangulation was used mainly to control topographical surveys, for it was essential to cover the whole country as rapidly as possible with a series of maps on scale 1: 250,000. As a consequence much of this early triangulation is of a relatively low order of accuracy, indifferently marked on the ground, and unfit for inclusion in a framework for medium and large scale mapping.     

THE GEODETIC SURVEY OF CANADA

Abstract

Shortly after the inception of the Geodetic Survey of Canada in 1905, reconnaissance for primary triangulation was commenced in the Ottawa-Montreal area. About the same time, precise levelliilg operations were begun from a bench mark already established by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey near the International border at Rouses Point in Quebec.     

THE CONVERSION OF CO-ORDINATES FROM THE CASSINI TO THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Abstract

1. The Secondary and Tertiary Triangulations of the six counties of Northern Ireland which were observed about 1900 were computed county by county each on its own meridian on a Cassini projection using Airy's figure of the earth. Although a number of points common to two or more counties were fixed no attempt was made to bring the separate counties into sympathy either with each other or even with the old Primary triangulation as adjusted by Clarke in 1856.     

RELAXATION AND THE CO-ORDINATE METHOD OF TRIANGULATION ADJUSTMENT

Abstract

Few, most certainly, will dispute the value of Mr Black's paper describing a method of “Systematic Relaxation”, which appeared in a previous number of this Review. At the same time, however, it seems to the writer to be only fair to readers to point out that the application of the method to triangulation adjustment is really a treatment, from a slightly different aspect, of methods that have long been established.     

THE UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY: ITS WORK AND PRODUCTS

Abstract

As the name of the Coast and Geodetic Survey indicates, it is the agency of the United States Government which is responsible for geodetic control surveys. Originally our geodetic surveys were made for control of surveys of the coast and to provide a proper base for the nautical charts of the coastal waters. By Congressional action in 1871 these activities were expanded to furnish basic control for the interior of the country, including geodetic connections between the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts of the United States.     

MINOR TRIANGULATION ON THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Abstract

1. Computation of a minor triangulation as if it were executed on a plane surface of course ignores spherical excess, an omission not strictly rigorous so far as azimuths are concerned. Further the reduction of such a triangulation to a system of plane coordinates again assumes that the earth's surface is a plane.     

NOTES ON THE BASE LINES OF THE CEYLON TRIANGULATION

Abstract

The triangulation of Ceylon depends for its scale upon two bases, each about 5½ miles long, situated at Negombo on the West Coast (latitude 7° 10′) and at Batticaloa on the East Coast (latitude 7° 40′). Both bases are in low, flat country; brick towers up to 70 feet high had to be built over the terminals to enable observations to be taken to surrounding points. These lines have recently been re-measured.     

THE CONFORMAL TRANSFORMATION OF A NETWORK OF TRIANGULATION

Abstract

In a recent issue of this Review, an example is given of the conformal transformation of a network of triangulation using Newton's interpolation formula with divided differences. While the application of the method appears to be new, attention should be drawn to the fact that Kruger employed Lagrange's interpolation formula in a discussion and extension of the Schols method in a paper which was published in the Zeitschrift für Vermessungswesen in 1896. A reference to this paper was given at the end of the paper, “Adjustment of the Secondary Triangulation of South Africa”, published in a previous issue of the E.S.R. (iv, 30, 480).     

IMPLICIT CONDITION EQUATIONS IN THE ADJUSTMENT OF TRIANGULATION FIGURES

Abstract

In adjusting a triangulation network it may happen that certain condition equations, of the existence of which we know a priori (by formulæ or by plotting the network point by point), cannot be established by simple inspection of the figure. This usually happens when some of the observations are missing in the otherwise continuous network. Such equations, not readily identifiable from the diagram, may be called “implicit” condition equations.     

A RAPID METHOD OF TRIANGULATION EXTENSION FOR CONTROL OF PLANE-TABLE WORK

Abstract

It sometimes happens that the limits or an area to be mapped by plane-table methods extend somewhat outside the scope of the previously observed triangulation. If the area outside the existing triangulation is not too great, it is often most convenient for the plane-tabler to extend the control himself as far as he requires it.     

THE ACCURAOY OF ASTRONOMIOAL OBSERVATIONS FOR POSITION

Abstract

The following paper describes some of the results obtained on it, tour of the Katsina and Kano Provinces of Northern Nigeria between November 1953 and February 1954. The purpose of the tour was to obtain latitudes and longitudes by astronomical observations for air photo mapping control in the northern parts of these provinces where triangulation is not available. The area is mostly flat and sandy.     

NOTES ON THE GEODETIC SURVEY OF SOUTHERN RHODESIA

Abstract

Triangulation.—Apart from Simms' Geodetic Chain, Gordon's Chain, the Copper Queen Limb, and a section of the Victoria and Umtali Series, all the primary triangulation shown on the accompanying map has been executed since 1933. The work of Simms and Gordon has been remodelled, however, being greatly strengthened, and these chains are now called Simms' and Gordon's Series. For an explanation and plan of the above Series, see “A Note on the Trigonometrical Survey of S. Rhodesia”, in the Empire Survey Review, no. 27, vol. iv.