Glossary Cartography

azimuth

distance in degrees (angular) from a fixed direction (north)

baseline

is a straight line from a benchmark.

benchmark

a known location, see datum

clinometer

is an instrument used to measure vertical angles.

datum

a point, line, or surface used as a reference

declination

a deviation from a specific direction or standard

degree

a unit of longitude or latitude that is 1/360th the circumference of the Earth or a circle

grade

the degree of inclination/ slope of a road or other surface

gradient

is the rate of inclination/ slope of a road or other surface

pace

The distance of a step a) a stride or step, about 30 inches. b) a point measured from where the heel of one foot lifts off the ground to the point where it is put down again after the step of the other foot, five Roman feet or 58.1 inches.

transit

an instrument to measure horizontal and vertical angles

traverse

the line or web of lines created by sighting and measuring when surveying a tract of land.

triangulation

a procedure used to locate positions by dividing a region into a series of triangular pieces based on lines of known length that intersect at the unknown point with the other ends joining at the base of a triangle of known length between a benchmark and another know point (selected benchmark/ auxiliary datum)

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©