History of Positioning Techniques Quiz

Study Notes

History of Positioning

Positioning in the pre-space era was crucial for astronomy, navigation, surveying, and geodesy, all based on similar instruments and methods.
The most important practical application of positioning historically was to ensure safe ocean navigation.
Triangulation is based on the trigonometric rule that allows computation of remaining sides of a triangle if one side and two angles are known.
Theodolites, high-precision surveying instruments, measure both vertical and horizontal angles.
Geodetic networks, established in the 17th and 18th centuries, covered major countries and provided fixed stations for accurate positioning.
Tampering with geodetic points can lead to severe consequences, with punishments as severe as 9 years in jail.
Navigation on the ocean was historically problematic, with methods ranging from pilotage to celestial navigation and marine chronometers.
Pilotage, the first method of navigation, relied on visual triangulation to known landmarks, especially in coastal navigation.
Dead reckoning, used from the 15th to 17th century, involved calculating position based on estimated speed over time, with cumulative errors over long distances.
Celestial navigation became important as it provided reference points in the sky, addressing the accumulation of errors in dead reckoning over long voyages.
Calculating latitude involved using the North Star in the northern hemisphere, which is nearly directly above the north pole, to measure latitude.
The challenge of calculating longitude was addressed by the development of the marine chronometer, which relied on exact Greenwich Mean Time for accurate positioning.
Since 1957, celestial navigation has transitioned from natural objects to artificial satellites, with navigation satellites serving as orbiting landmarks for determining location on Earth.