Now and Then: From Shadows to Surveying, Thales of Miletus

Abstract

CYNTHIA BOSIVERT and her partner work in private, but in full view. In fact, you might have seen Cynthia or someone who has the same job that she does. Cynthia works with a graduated rod and a theodolite on a tripod—she is a surveyor. Her job begins long before she takes her instruments to a site. “Before a survey team even leaves the office, there is a lot to do,” says Cynthia. “The crew has to look up the original land deed at the local Registry of Deeds to see how the original deed describes the boundary lines. Older deeds might identify a tree or a large rock as an essential part of a property line, and when you get out to the site, it isn't there any more.” Regardless of how the original deed reads, the survey crew prepares a deed sketch to help guide them when they get to the actual site.