THE APPLICATION OF RADAR TO SURVEYING

Abstract

Radar can be applied to surveying for precise measuren1ent of long lines, and as a navigational aid and position-fixing device for an aircraft performing a photographic survey. Trials of the radar method have recently been carried out in Australia using a modified “Shoran” equipment. The results of a large number of radar measurements of six distances, varying from 160 to 310 miles in length, indicate that an accuracy of 7 parts in 10⁵ can be achieved. Equipment errors constitute the immediate limit to accuracy, but reasonable modifications would yield a figure of 2 parts in 10⁵. Radar measurements can be completed in a fraction of the time required by normal ground survey methods, since a measurement of upwards of a hundred miles is made in a single step.

As an aid to photographic surveying a straight-line track indicator actuated by data from the “Shoran” equipment has been designed and flight tested. Its performance enabled a pilot taking aerial photographs to keep the aircraft to within an average departure of less than 0.02 mile from any desired straight-line flight path.