Some Reflections on Survey Disciplines in the Context of the Present Development and Requirements of Society

Abstract

Following an exponential function, not only is world population rapidly increasing but so is our knowledge in all fields. This also holds true in the surveying disciplines. Owing to the introduction of photo grammetry, the initial scope of surveying disciplines has been significantly widened and today includes the traditional field of interest as well as the mapping of celestral bodies and precise measurements of a variety of objects and phenomena not connected with the shape and the size of the earth or its surface. This widening of the traditional field of activity occurred, however, before the primary objectives and the responsibility of the surveying disciplines were fulfilled. Only a portion of the earth’s surface has been surveyed and mapped, but what is urgently needed today is a much more detailed and dynamic information system revealing not only the geometric features of the earth, but also its resources and rapidly changing ambient conditions. To meet this requirement, it is important that the scientific and professional community realizes the new situation and takes a more active part, or perhaps even assumes direct leadership, in an effort toward planning strategy for the survival of mankind.