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

[mapper]

Back to engineers or surveyors wanting to stick with the US foot, it's always confused me why they use 10ths and 100ths of a foot in their measurements. It seems like they must use it for more precision and easier calculations, but doesn't that admit that Metric would be the best system overall rather than adding an alternative system with tenths and hundredths? Here's a description of tapes available from a surveyor's site:
-Imperial (English) = feet and inches, usually to the 1/8th or 1/16th. Official unit of measure in the USA.
-Engineers (Tenths) = feet, 10ths and 100ths. Most commonly used by Engineers, in this unit of measure the foot is divided into 10稚hs and 100ths.
-Metric (SI)= meters, decimeters, centimeters and millimeters. Official unit of measure in every country except Liberia, Myanmar and the USA

At least we got rid of chains (66')( 80 per mile), links (100 per chain) and rods (4 per chain), in land survey. Anybody in surveying remember a two and a half chain trailer tape? Learned how to use one in college !
Consider my hand raised for total conversion to international metric system.

 

[k0ua]

At least we got rid of chains (66')( 80 per mile), links (100 per chain) and rods (4 per chain), in land survey. Anybody in surveying remember a two and a half chain trailer tape? Learned how to use one in college !
Consider my hand raised for total conversion to international metric system.

Amen brother, Amen!..

 

[goeduck]

I forgot about chains. And I did a bit of surveying back in the day. :confused3:

 

[k0ua]

Oh, for what it is worth, I got the wife to buy in to going to the metric system. In her "hobby" in the last few years she has taken up making paper flowers and ribbon brooches and assorted jewelry. She has been taking instructions from others on you tube. Of course they are nearly all in other countries. Of course every measurement they take is in mm and cm. She has gotten to the point she wants everything to be in metric. She says she will deal with the kitchen stuff when it happens. Not a problem. She also has some scientific background from school so the liquid measure is something she remembers. Add one more to "our" side. Viva la-revolution!.

 

[k0ua]

I forgot about chains. And I did a bit of surveying back in the day. :confused3:

That is a good thing. We ALL need to forget. Just say no to imperial units. Lets organize, lets start a campaign. Lets get this show on the road..

 

[mapper]

Hadn't heard that one, but I recall that a foot was originally derived from the length of the king's foot (changed every time a new one was crowned?) and an inch was 3 barley corns from the center of the ear layer end to end. Wouldn't that be fun.:laughing:

 

[Jstpssng]

I have a 2 chain tape around someplace that we bought for a project a few years ago... it needs a good cleaning though, and they are no where near as heavy duty as I remembered. How many remember how to throw one?

 

[mapper]

I have a 2 chain tape around someplace that we bought for a project a few years ago... it needs a good cleaning though, and they are no where near as heavy duty as I remembered. How many remember how to throw one?

I think I remember how, have to give it a try next time I'm out in the shop. Do you remember how the half chain trailer was used (hint: it relates to the topog scale on an abney level)

 

[Wagtail]

Actually metric has more sizes. Sae 3/8' - 3/4" is seven wrenches. Metric 10mm - 19mm is 10 wrenches.

Sockets, I agree. Spanners though... 'they' consistently skip the 17mm in a 'set'.

Naturally the 17mm is a common size when working on my 4105. I now have 3 of them (straight/fixed, straight/ratchet & angled/ratchet), all individually bought.

 

[Jstpssng]

I think I remember how, have to give it a try next time I'm out in the shop. Do you remember how the half chain trailer was used (hint: it relates to the topog scale on an abney level)

We were just using them for forestry purposes so weren't that accurate. I may have learned in class but that was 40 years ago... my brother is the land surveyor.