THE METHOD OF SYSTEMATIC RELAXATION APPLIED TO SURVEY PROBLEMS

Abstract

This paper reviews and elaborates the application of the “Method of Systematic Relaxation of Constraints”, originally devised by R. V. Southwell for the calculation of the forces in frameworks, to the problem of the adjustment of survey networks to conform to the condition of least squares. The method is illustrated by the solution of a simple example of a triangulation network, and its application to larger surveys is discussed.