Theodolites And Their History

While you might not have heard the term theodolite before, this precision instrument is used each day and has been used for more than 400 years. People who use theodolites commonly work as meteorologists or surveyors, and the instruments are even used to assist with rocket launches.

There is some debate as to who truly invented the theodolite. Pictures of instruments that appear to be theodolites appeared as early as 1512, but the word was first mentioned in a 1571 book by famous British mathematician and surveyor Leonard Digges. This work describes a theodolite-like instrument and is the first known use of the actual word itself. However, German Joshua Habermel seems to have created a theodolite that looks much like the theodolites of today, complete with a tripod and compass.

Surveyors use theodolites to help them plot boundary lines which can be used to determine where property lines begin and end, as well as where to route utility lines and to help create building foundations. The types of theodolites used for surveying are known as transit theodolites. Theodolites have been used by cartographers for centuries, helping them create usable maps of countries, cities and towns.

Another type of theodolite is the gyrotheodolite, which is used when engineers and surveyors have no way to use astronomical star sights to determine true north. A gyrotheodolite is actually two instruments mounted together, including both a theodolite and a gyroscope, which is an instrument used for stabilization and maintaining a fixed orientation. These are instruments essential in underground construction, such the creation of tunnels and mines. For example, gyrotheolodites were essential tools in the building of the Channel Tunnel that connects Calais, France to Dover, England. While these are highly useful tools, they cannot be used within 15 degrees of either pole.

Theodolites also found to be quite useful for different navigational issues, such as when meteorologists need to track weather balloons. These instruments also are used to track the path of airplanes and rockets and can withstand up to about 65,000 miles in altitude.

While the transit theodolites and gyrotheolodites are commonly used and look much like the early versions of themselves, there are high-tech modern theodolites that rely on electronic signals rather than people to gather information. In addition to be able to precisely measure angles, many modern theodolites can store measures which can later been downloaded to a computer or GPS unit. Despite their accuracy, they are highly expensive, so many firms still rely on typical transit theodolites.

By Carey Bourdier

About the Author:

Carey Bourdier enjoys writing reviews on precision scientific instruments. To get more information about items like precision alignment instruments, or to find more information about a telemetric alignment system, go to the Warren Knight website now.