How to Survey Land with 18th Century Tools – The Tools

Land surveys consist of six basic tasks:

1. Determinizing your position on Earth using celestial navigation methods
2. Measuring distances with a Gunter’s Chain.
3. Measuring changes in elevation with a Range Pole
4. Measurement of directions and angles using a Compass.
5. Drawing the map on a Plane Table, and
6. Computing areas with basic plane geometry

In this series we will discuss the fundamentals of doing these tasks in the manner and with tools similar to those available to surveyors in the 18^th Century.

Basic Tools of the 18^th Century Surveyor

• A set of 11 chaining pins.
• A 66-foot Gunter’s chain
• Two range poles
• A plumb bob on a string
• Pencil and field notebook
• A sight alidade
• A Spirit Level and a Plane Table
• A Sighting Compass
• Various dividers and drafting tools
• A Nautical Sextant
• An accurate chromometer or watch
• A well-trained team

---

Want to Buy Beer from the Colonial Brewmeister?

Help us build a Tavern and Brewery.

Visit our GoFundMe Site

---

Want the Regimental Brewmeister at your Site or Event?

Hire me