Impact of Computers on Surveying Methods

Entirely new procedures in field surveying have been developed to take advantage of the speed and power of the electronic computer. A review of computer uses shows an already important impact on surveying field methods as well as in computation procedures. Problem-oriented computer programs have played a large part in this effect. Such a program which also provides flexible computer graphics capabilities can enable an engineer to use the computer as an aid in executing a survey beginning with the collection and use of record data to a completed map of the survey. This could include conversion of units of measurement, a computer plotted record map, reduction of field data, survey adjustments, computations, and a computer plotted map of the results of the survey. The present capabilities only allude to what will be possible in the future, as is well illustrated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Integrated Civil Engineering System (I.C.E.S.).