Measuring chain (geodesy)
The measuring chain as a chain was a tool of applied geodesy and was in use until the 19th century.
The measuring chain consisted of individual links and was tailored to a specific length. With 10 fathoms the chain was 18 meters long . The builders stretched the chain in the area and marked the ends with a measuring nail. Therefore, it was the length of 10 fathoms with a chain hoist , respectively. The measuring nails were on a bundle. The total length was checked by counting the used measuring nails.
Working with the measurement chain was sufficient for rough measurements in the terrain or in the field. Hence the mention of the field measuring chain . The measuring chain for normal staking out of building surveying was used until the 19th century. The measuring chain was replaced by the tape measure and later by optical distance measurement and lasers.
In higher geodesy with consideration of the curvature of the earth on the length of a measurement in the field, for example, in the first Austrian national survey of 1762 when measuring the geodetic baseline , see Wiener Neustädter baseline , with Joseph Liesganig, measuring rods were used to measure the length of the Make baseline measurable.
literature
- The chain hoist, the length of the field measuring chain, contains 10 fathoms. In: Joseph Alois Ditscheiner: Complete textbook of commercial arithmetic for practitioners and inexperienced. Volume 3, Verlag Gustav Heckenast, Pest 1850, p. 370 digitized
- 1 chain hoist = 10 fathoms = 60 feet In: Oscar Mothes: Illustrirtes Bau-Lexikon: Practical help and reference book. Volume 2, Verlag Otto Spamer, Leipzig / Berlin 1866, p. 486. Digitized
- Measure and measurement. Length and angle measure. Stake out. Pp. 21-24. In: Erwin Reidinger : Medieval town planning using the example of Linz . Historical yearbook of the city of Linz 2001.