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TECH
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A Brief Histor
How will Augmented Reality Evolve y of the Solar Compass
Land Surveying?
By: Matthew Palmer, LS, Young Professionals Committee Member
When tasked to come up with a topic to write about for these
By Ryan Waters and Patrick Engle, GdB Geospatial committee recognized the important of Burt’s compass and told
tech talks, I usually try to think of a “bleeding edge” type him he should petition congress for compensation. Burt did as
Being able to view data on a map is one thing. Being able to visualize this
technology to research and write about. In this issue I wanted
instructed, but no such compensation was awarded. By 1850,
data in the field is another - and the developing field of augmented reality
to do something different and look at a technology from the
Burt’s solar compass was being manufactured as a commercial
is attempting to accomplish just that. Augmented reality, as we think of it
product while Burt saw no profits from the sales. In the end
past. In 1835, a United States deputy surveyor named William
today, has been around since the early 1990s. Once viewed as a novelty,
Austin Burt was surveying land in what is known today as the
Burt received about eighty dollars in total sales of his compass
it has been gaining serious traction through practical applications that
upper peninsula of Michigan. While performing the survey,
after spending thousands to develop and improve it.
enhance how we view infrastructure assets. Much like modern instruments, Burt’s compass was affixed to a
he noticed that he had a difficult time maintaining a north-
One such application is full Reality Capture. By scanning or photographing
south line due to his magnetic compass acting erratically. At
tripod and leveled. After setting up the instrument, the operator
assets we can develop 3D models of assets or infrastructure. Modeling
one point in the survey his compass was reading 180° in the
would first consult a table for the sun’s declination on that day
has given AEC professionals the ability to review objects or plans while
wrong direction. Burt then instructed his men to examine the
and make an adjustment. They would then make an adjustment
not on site. Full sites can be vectorized and attributes applied, so review
local area, and that is when they found deposits of iron ore
for the current latitude. The current local time would then be
which were previously unknown to the area.
can happen in the office - saving time and money. Additionally, multiple
set on the hour circle. The earliest the instrument could be used
captures can be taken over the course of a job, creating a time lapse of
With his magnetic compass being rendered useless by the
was 8:30am. The compass would then be rotated until the image
what tasks were completed and document when they were completed. As
of the sun appeared on a silver plate. At this time the sighting
iron ore deposits, Burt needed to devise a way to maintain
the technology grows, we have wondered how can we leverage this data
the lines of longitude. Although Burt only had a few weeks
arms would be oriented to true north-south. The operator could
for future work, once the assets have been buried or sealed? then lock the lower plate and rotate the upper plate to read an
of formal classroom instruction, he was very knowledgeable
in math and astronomy. He realized that he could use the
With RTK Camera/LiDAR products like the Pix4D ViDoc, the angle. A magnetic compass was also attached to the instrument
position of the sun to determine his position relative to the
collection, modeling and georeferencing of assets can be captured as they to determine the magnetic declination.
are being installed. Currently, we have used the technology for capturing
meridian. He built his instrument in 1835 with help from a
After the development of Burt’s solar compass, using the sun
professional instrument maker named William James Young.
underground utility assets that are exposed in an open trench. We then
to determine position was a standard practice appearing in
He submitted the instrument to the Franklin Institute in
produce a georeferenced model that can be reviewed on site later. Bulky
many government survey manuals. The practice eventually
Philadelphia where they awarded him twenty dollars in gold
equipment, like headsets and projectors, or having super powers to see
became obsolete with the widespread use of GPS.
under the asphalt is no longer required, just a person with a smartphone
and the John Scott Medal. On February 25, 1836, he received
a patent for instrument named the solar compass.
and an app. By walking over a previously dug trench and looking through
a phone or tablet using augment reality software like vGIS you can view
Burt spent the next few years using his instrument in the field
the assets as if the trench had never been filled. Additional information
and improving it to make it easier to use and more accurate.
linked to the asset can be viewed on site with just a click, such as weld
He received another patent for the updated instrument in
ID’s or schematic drawings.
1840. Later in December of 1840, The Federal Land Office
general surveyor E.S. Haines examined Burt’s solar compass,
Current phone location data is not as accurate enough on its own so
and later wrote in a letter that
some additional spatial correction must be applied to situate the user.
Either setting your relative position and direction at viewing startup or
“I have seen and examined Burt’s ‘Solar Compass’ invented by
the use of an RTK antenna to enhance your spatial location is necessary
William A. Burt, Esq., of Michigan, and consider it a very
to be able to view this information effectively. As the technology and
important and valuable improvement in the surveying compass.”
software continue to make leaps and bounds, surveyors should continue
Burt returned to Washington in 1849 to apply for a renewal
to be on the leading edge - not only to provide the best product for their
of the solar compass patent and was persuaded by the land
clients, but also to continue pushing the profession forward.
commissioner committee to let the patent expire. The Illustration of Burt’s solar compass from the 1836 patent
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