Survey

With the English term survey a more or less systematic search for subject specific relevant data is referred to in general. This term is also in the German technical language in several disciplines such as archeology, astronomy, some earth sciences, healthcare and - common science and empirical social research.

In the Anglo - American language the noun Survey primary means measurement or calculation ( " Surveyor " is a surveyor, a Quantity Surveor a competent engineer for the mass calculation ), the verb survey " to get an overview through surveys or a commission "; derived from the term also denotes a statistical survey or inspection of a trade expert.

Five meanings

In English technical languages ​​( and therefore also in German translation ) the meaning of the word depends strongly on the work area and a definition must distinguish at least three levels:

Survey in the geosciences

The fourth meaning is inter alia Terminus Surveying expressed the match as the German State Survey or some tasks of engineering geodesy.

However, the Surveyor captures not only the sites and their boundaries, but requires preformed a survey network of good market fixed points (fixed points). Are those difficult to access, it creates local measuring points ( survey points).

That was called the seven U.S. lunar probes of the 1960s also Surveyor, has in addition to the testing of new orbit and landing techniques to do with the exact exploration of the lunar soil. The served as preparation for the manned Apollo 11 landing, so Surveyor 1-7 Tasks for the purposes of the above punctuation had to meet 1 and 3 ( feared deep moon dust ).

Astronomical Surveys

In astronomy, a Survey is the survey of the sky or a particular sky cut. It takes place in the context of the above 3 meaning up to a certain limiting magnitude of stars or other objects. The star positions were previously measured primarily at meridian circles, of which there are electro-optical today. From 1900 on special photographic plates came into use, and since about 1985, the CCD technology. The brightness is determined by the density or by photometry. Important quality characteristics are: the uniformity of the recorded photographic plates or scans, their scale (focal length ), the light intensity ( limiting magnitude ) and the smallest possible distortion of the optics.

The three best-known astronomical surveys are:

• The Bonner Durchmusterung ( visually measured loci of 325,000 stars ), published in 1855 by the University of Bonn in the form of a star catalog and accompanying star charts
• The Palomar Sky Survey with thousands of blue - and red-sensitive plates, publ. to 1950 and to this day still much used (eg for galaxies or in the orbit determination of newly discovered asteroids
• The Hipparcos catalog from 1997, the 108,000 stars of Astrometriesatellit HIPPARCOS measured to ± 0.003 ''; a second Tycho catalog has even 1 Million Stars ( less accurate ) to content.

Archaeological Survey

In archeology Survey is in the importance of committing the terrain exploration for obtaining an overview of the history of settlement. It is a ground inspection of the area and its mapping.

However, the commission does not necessarily lead to an excavation, but also can ( now) be the only step in the exploration of an area. Today, it is usually combined with the geophysical methods of prospecting.

The area under investigation is usually divided and measured in grid squares, today is also increasingly used GPS. After that, the area is being systematically disposed of, the bottom surface is examined by striking terrain and soil characteristics, and it may be read and calibrated finds. All finds and findings are documented and mapped. An increased incidence of findings may indicate sites or archaeological monuments, which comes to light through soil erosion or plowing. With the collected data, the experienced archaeologist can assess whether and what type monuments are located in the ground. With the help of GIS, the findings with the topography and other characteristics, such as soil quality, land use, and the like to be associated.