Prismatic compass survey is a traditional land surveying method that involves the use of a prismatic compass to measure the bearings of survey lines. It is a simple and reliable method that has been used for many years to survey land, determine boundaries, and create maps.
In a prismatic compass survey, the surveyor sets up the compass on a tripod and levels it using a spirit level. The compass is then oriented to magnetic north, and the surveyor sights along the line to be measured through a prism or mirror attached to the compass.
The angle between the line and magnetic north is then read off the compass and recorded. The process is repeated for each survey line, and the positions of the survey points are marked on the ground using pegs or stakes.
Once all the measurements have been taken, the surveyor can then use trigonometry to calculate the coordinates of the survey points and draw a map of the surveyed area.
Prismatic compass survey is a simple and effective method that can be used to survey small or large areas. However, it has limitations in accuracy and may be affected by magnetic interference or declination. Therefore, it is typically used for preliminary or rough surveys, and more accurate methods such as total stations or GPS are used for detailed surveys.
Prismatic compass survey is still used today in some parts of the world, particularly in remote areas where access to modern surveying equipment is limited. However, modern surveying techniques are increasingly being used in land surveying due to their higher accuracy and efficiency.
