Surveyors Week 2025

It is Surveyors Week and for those unsure what Professional Surveyors do and how they implement their practices.  Here is a summary of some matters of interest.

In 1787,  Augustus Alt, who arrived on the First Fleet with Governor Arthur Phillip, was appointed as the Colony of NSW’s first Surveyor General. Like several other appointed Surveyor Generals who followed Alt, they were all military engineering Army Officers who served in various European military engagements.

Alt’s charge was to establish roads and infrastructure and land grants, the colony’s initial form of land tenure.

Successive Surveyor General’s, Charles Grimes, John Oxley, and Thomas Mitchell continued this work processing the alienation of Crown Land. The pace for land grants exceeded the surveys. It was often common land applicants for applicants to occupy land with surveys not being completed for some years later. Such practice led to disputes and litigation in the courts.

The measurement method of Surveyors of the day was left to practical process. Measured distances by pacing, use of the Gunter’s Chain (a steel chain with 100 links, one chain equating to 66 feet, or one cricket pitch), and measuring wheels. Directions of angles were measured by compass readings based on the local magnetic meridian, together with a circumferentor (an instrument with an open type vain). Non-standardisation of measurement and marking led to disputes.

The alienation of Crown Land through land grants or purchases continued until the 1970’s. The most prolific being in the latter half of the 19th century, and in the first quarter of the 20th century. In 1864 the first set of rigorous Regulations for Licensed Surveyors was established. This document prescribed a code of practice, instructing a standard set of measurement methods and marking.

From about this time, Licensed Surveyors could utilise optical/vernier theodolites and 5-chain steel bands. This equipment revolutionised survey measurement, achieving accuracies that are in many cases up to the standards we could still expect today. Trigonometric Surveyors were also established to coordinate mapping principles for infrastructure projects such as roads and railways.

1891 saw the commencement of The Institute of Surveyors NSW, a Professional Body that introduced a code of ethics and conduct invoking professional practice in tune with title determination. The Institute continues today maintaining those principles relating to today’s practices.

1929 saw the legislation of the NSW Surveyors Act and its accompanying Survey Practice Regulations. Under this act, a qualified person was entitled to be a Registered Surveyor, the terminology we use today. Over the ensuing years, the Act and its Regulations have been amended several times to keep pace with modern practices and technology.

Measurement methods have also kept pace with modern trends. From the later 1960’s – 1970’s, saw the advent of commercially available EDM (Electronic Distance Measurement) instruments. Such equipment was instrumental in achieving more efficient distance measurements. These instruments utilised infrared and laser radiation. Further equipment changes accelerated efficiencies with the introduction of total stations (digital theodolites), robotic adaptations, GNSS (Global Navigation, Satellite System), 3D digital scanning, photogrammetric drones and computer aided software systems. Systems we are all familiar or perhaps at least heard of. Particularly GNSS or as most people understand as GPS (Global Positioning Systems). For your information GPS is purely the US based system whereas, GNSS refers to an international satellite system incorporating Russian, Chinese, Japanese, European and other privately based satellites. This is the system most satellite receivers operate through, providing Surveyors with a high degree of precision and accuracy for everyday use.    

Current equipment provides a high degree of precision and completeness that the public now expect. This, coupled with a high level of Regulatory practice, has identified a highly skilled Professional Surveyor. However, the basic practices of the Cadastral Surveyor remain today as those of the early days, that is to maintain the integrity of the Cadastre. It falls to the art of boundary determination from past and present surveys with understanding of land title investigation to effect this integrity.

In short, the Professional Surveyor evokes resilience, resourcefulness, and reliability.