A topographer is a specialist, without whom no geographical discovery would become the property of mankind. Its task is to display the terrain on the map with all its landscapes. He always and everywhere accompanied travelers and seafarers, and today, with his knowledge, he paves the way for geologists, builders, and power engineers.
Pioneers are always fanned by the spirit of high romanticism. People admire their courage and ability to endure the hardships of a difficult journey - their routes run in the most inaccessible places - in the taiga, in the mountains, in the sands of sultry deserts and among the icy tundra.
The discovery of new lands must be confirmed by a detailed map of their location. A topographer is capable of creating a reliable and clear image of the area. This profession appeared along with the craving of mankind to travel and make geographical discoveries.
Topography as a science has found its application in many areas of human activity, for the implementation of which specialists are trained at the specialized faculties of construction universities.
Professionals of topographic surveying and their knowledge are needed on those routes where a pipeline, high-voltage power lines will then be pulled, a plant, a new city or a residential area will grow. They draw up a plan of the area, plot points of prevailing heights, and use engineering language to transfer all the features of the relief to the map. According to the topographic map, geologists, hydrologists, builders, power engineers and other specialists are already following the pioneers - the compilers of the maps. Topographer's Day is a professional holiday for pioneers.
Topography in military affairs
It's hard to win a war without mapping specialists. On the map with the inflicted enemy objects, the artillerymen adjust the fire. With the help of terrain plans and topographic maps, logistics personnel quickly establish crossings, build bridges, fortifications, pillboxes, camouflaged points and other strategic and tactical objects.
A military surveyor is a special profession. The specialist must quickly determine the location, navigate unfamiliar terrain using modern high-tech equipment, electronic 3D maps and terrain features, build geodetic networks and perform many other complex engineering tasks. In addition, he, like any other soldier, bears all the burdens of military service on his shoulders.
Geodesy and topography
These two fields of science go hand in hand with each other. Geodesy deals with:
- creation of a planned-high-altitude basis-network;
- determining the coordinates of this network;
- calculates the amount of corrections.
Topography, in turn, on this scientific base performs applied measurements on the ground. Although the specificity of these sciences is somewhat different, it fits well into the work of the pioneer. That is why more and more often two specialties are combined into one profession - a surveyor-topographer.
The profession of a topographer is real proof that in the 21st century it is still possible to discover new lands of science and transfer them to the map of technical achievements.
