What's in a "foot"? (Surveying)

2LaneCruzer · Dec 16, 2019

It's been a problem for a long time.

Chris616 · Dec 16, 2019

Ford850 said:
This isn't about going metric. Both 'foot' measurements are based on a fraction of a meter. The only difference is the international 'foot' rounds off the measurement to 4 decimal places rather than 7 decimal places for the 'US foot'. The difference between the two formats equals 1/8" difference when measuring a mile. If we've all (except surveyors) been using the international 'foot' measurement on all rulers and tape measures since 1959, I think it's about time for the engineers to catch up with the rest of us.

You're confusing "surveyors" with "engineers". US-based surveyors have the luxury of doing all their work domestically, where working in feet isn't an issue. Many (most?) US-based engineers have to work with metric measurements because that is the system used by the rest of the world. It isn't about which system is superior (although that is clear to most), but getting everyone using the same measurement system for the sake of efficiency. As an example that most of us can relate to, I'll guess that 90% of the folks on this forum have twice as much money invested in socket sets and wrenches than should have been necessary by this time. Hmmm...is that a 1/2" nut or a 12mm? I guess that I'd better grab both wrenches.

Chris

k0ua · Dec 16, 2019

fried1765 said:
It is absolutely a shame that the US has never switched to the metric system.

Agreed. We had our chance back in the 70's. We blew it. My father was so against it. He was a carpenter and was worried about what a 2x4 would be. I tried to explain to him that you would not need to do conversions much, just start thinking in terms of the new lumber dimensions. But that didn't gel.

Ford850 · Dec 16, 2019

Chris Lowe said:
You're confusing "surveyors" with "engineers". US-based surveyors have the luxury of doing all their work domestically, where working in feet isn't an issue. Many (most?) US-based engineers have to work with metric measurements because that is the system used by the rest of the world. It isn't about which system is superior (although that is clear to most), but getting everyone using the same measurement system for the sake of efficiency. As an example that most of us can relate to, I'll guess that 90% of the folks on this forum have twice as much money invested in socket sets and wrenches than should have been necessary by this time. Hmmm...is that a 1/2" nut or a 12mm? I guess that I'd better grab both.

Chris

As I understand the article, this has nothing to do with metric. It's not discussing anyone dropping the 'foot' measurement. It's about the 2 different actual lengths of a 'foot', and moving to one format.

mike48130 · Dec 16, 2019

k0ua said:
Agreed. We had our chance back in the 70's. We blew it. My father was so against it. He was a carpenter and was worried about what a 2x4 would be. I tried to explain to him that you would not need to do conversions much, just start thinking in terms of the new lumber dimensions. But that didn't gel.

Depends on if you use the generic "2x4" or the actual size. Haha.

k0ua · Dec 16, 2019

mike48130 said:
Depends on if you use the generic "2x4" or the actual size. Haha.

Yes, and the 2x4 has been a moving target for some time.

Chris616 · Dec 16, 2019

Ford850 said:
As I understand the article, this has nothing to do with metric. It's not discussing anyone dropping the 'foot' measurement. It's about the 2 different actual lengths of a 'foot', and moving to one format.

Yes, you're right, Mark. It doesn't take long for TBN threads to go off-topic

.

I thought that this quote from the article was funny, considering what measurement system the rest of the world really uses. The speaker was explaining why the "US Foot" would be replaced by the "International Foot".

"But it makes sense to be using the same measuring stick as the rest of the world to save time and eliminate embarrassing errors, he says."

Chris

CobyRupert · Dec 16, 2019

Chris Lowe said:
Yes, you're right, Mark. It doesn't take long for TBN threads to go off-topic.
...
Chris

If you REALLY want it to go off topic, include this quote from the article:

"The U.S. foot sounds very patriotic, very American, he said in a webinar. "Then there's the word 'international foot', which sounds kind of new world order, U.N.-sanctioned, maybe with a whiff of socialism.

Oh no! It's the red menace of SOCIALISM!!

unch: Those commies are trying to get their "foot in the door". Has Trump heard about this? Just tell him Obama planned this switch & it will be overturned by the end of the day.
....this thread will probably get booted to "Friendly Politics"!

grsthegreat · Dec 16, 2019

care less about the rest of the world. i HATE the metric system. i use both systems and much prefer the tried and true US measuring mess :cool2:

then again im old, in initial stages of full retirement, and can give a cra* if they officially switch to metric cause i wont do it.

what would i do with the 30+ tape measures that i own lying about in the house, shop, trucks,tool boxes, etc.

pmsmechanic · Dec 16, 2019

grsthegreat said:
what would i do with the 30+ tape measures that i own lying about in the house, shop, trucks,tool boxes, etc.

You would just keep using them. I live in Canada and I don't own any metric tape measures. I won't even buy dual ones. They are just too inconvenient to use.

What's far more important is to measure that all your tapes use the same scale. I once had two different sae measuring tapes that were 1/4" different at 3'. Not good!