I wonder if Roman Surveyors posted on Internet forums about which brand of Groma worked best on crooked roads?
"crooked roads"? But Dave, Roman roads are straight, as every English schoolboy knows.
If you were laying out a Roman road somewhere in far flung reaches of the Empire - Londinium to Eboracum say - you'd want to know which way to go.
But I don't think the declination in Rome matters to you much - least ways not on a day to day basis 🙂 Oh, and that Groma is probably military issue...
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Raises a question though - are there any Italian surveyors here yet?
I heard Model No.XXXVII was the best one.
I think we need to add a question about "have you ever used a Groma?" to the "old school skills" list.
I heard Model No.XXXVII was the best one.
But does it work well in heavy canopy or rain?
Interesting fact: When travelers in ancient Rome met at the junction of 3 roads, it was customary to stop and exchange the news. Three roads - Tri Via - trivia!
There's a story floating about the internet, about the width of the space shuttle, Roman roads, and chariot widths.
It probably goes somewhere here.?ÿ
N
I've read several stories about the construction of the Roman aqueducts and tunnels that herald their ability to maintain the accuracy required to build 25 km. long gravity segments with just "sticks and string".?ÿ To me it's not really that impressive.?ÿ They just understood the art of construction surveying.
What I did think was impressive was their ability to build tunnels by hand.?ÿ But if one reads a little deeper it comes to light there were lots of mistakes. Tunnel excavation attempted from both ends missed each other so badly that in at least one instance they wound up with two tunnels.?ÿ I also read their tunneling technique involved a vertical pilot shaft every thirty meters or so to maintain control...a good idea when labor costs weren't of any concern. 😉
Still more impressive to me was their vertical control.?ÿ No long-line gravity project was ever constructed without it.?ÿ I think they did pretty good given their circumstances.?ÿ No telling how long they would have lasted if they had only been warned about using lead in their tableware....
I wonder if Roman Surveyors posted on Internet forums about which brand of Groma worked best on crooked roads?
Probably a lot about irate land owners, where they planned a highway.
The southern Italy surveyors would box the Groma when 4 raindrops hit their helmet, they used it in the rain once but it quit working. The Northern Italy surveyors use their Groma in the rain all the time and it??s never been a problem.
Those Romans working in the world's second oldest profession had traveled extensively, discovering regions with quite desirable numbers of those working in the world's oldest profession.?ÿ Thus, became the need for better and faster roadways to get number two to number one on a more frequent basis.?ÿ Some of the work by number two may have been shoddy, but, as the worker's in the world's third oldest profession (lawyers) had not become common, there was little to fear by being a bit shoddy.
I think the aqueducts were impressive, vertical control had to have been a bitch, but I didn't read about tunnel construction. I'm amazed at anything the Romans and Egyptians built without a total station, which was everything. ????
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Water flows downhill.?ÿ Slowly when nearly level.?ÿ Faster as the slope increases.
Just like Betty Crocker instructions:?ÿ Add water as needed
Simplest level known to mankind.
Imagine doing grade calculations in Roman numerals. Let??s see now carry the X
The Northern Italy surveyors use their Groma in the rain all the time and it??s never been a problem.
They'll be someone around to rescue them sooner or later.
Gnats!!?ÿ Gnats everywhere!!?ÿ There must be MMMMMMMMMMMMM's of them.