Since Jerry Wahl took it upon himself to discredit my recent story "Tracer Triangulation" and question the accuracy and the amount of research I had put into it, I have decided to start posting parts of the research that simply could not go into a short magazine story. I wrote the article from an unbiased historical viewpoint. Here are images of the various types of bullets that were produced during stages of development.
http://www.amerisurv.com/PDF/TheAmericanSurveyor_Penry-TracerTriangulation_Vol10No4.pdf
Tracer Triangulation (The Launchers)
There were various designs to the launchers. Perhaps more designs than anyone really knows from the first prototypes made by Albert Whitehead in the late 1960's, to those early designs by the Van Sickles in the 1970-80's, to the modern electronically fired launchers produced by Chief Industries. The gun in the launcher with the coil springs is just a toy to show simulation of a pistol. The first two photos are by John Dunaway. Please do not copy or reuse without his permission. The last two are from Chief Industries. The others are mine.
Tracer Triangulation (Fire Risk)
Article from 1982.
Tracer Triangulation (Hornady Letter)
Tracer Triangulation (The Patents)
The first two images are for the Whitehead patent for a launcher. The third image is the Van Sickle patent. The final image is the Van Sickle patent for the tracer. There are other patents for tracers as well.
Tracer Triangulation (Hornady Letter)
Jerry-
I remember looking into this exact system back in the mid '70's. Night work was normal for us.
We didn't go that route back then, but seriously considered it due to the amount of large area photo control we were doing at the time. Other technologies came into play. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
When I surveyed in the Yukon, we would carry Pen flares with us. they were the size of a "pen" and were useful to get a bead on a position when you were in a tight spot.
http://www.truflareusa.com/product_catalog.htm
One or two flares were needed to get you into the right direction. they were light, and effective in the right hands. You could also carry bear "bangers" with you for the same pen. As we were primarily doing Helicopter Bush jobs, to carry an extra set of legs and the rest of the set up for a "Tracer Triangulator" would have been out of the question.
Tracer Triangulation (The Launchers)
I recognize the emblem on the surveyor's cap as a Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors logo!
I know for a fact that Jerry P. always does a huge amount of research before writing any article and would never rewrite a biased article based on one source of information. As always a well written, historically accurate and entertaining article Jerry! Thanks for continuing to enlighten all of us.
Kurt
Tracer Triangulation (The Launchers)
That's a great story. Thanks JP for posting that.
Using guns for surveying. I wonder why one of us surveyors in Massachusetts didn't come up with that.
I expect that the accuracy would vary with something like the cube of the height. And at greater heights the wind might make a big error. Wouldn't a better test than the example of comparing the final coordinates with a traverse be to just compare the observed angle? You would block the view of the tracer below a certain height and then compare to the angle turned to a a conventional target.
Tracer Triangulation (The Launchers)
You are right. His name is Jamie Shaw and he may still be in Missoula working for MDT. I do not know if he is retired or still working. His Dad (Jim Shaw) was a surveyor for many years in Kalispell. As I recall Jim did some research and marketing for Chief.
Gene Kooper would know a bit about this as he worked for Norm Van Sickles foe a while.
Has anybody heard from Gene recently??
I think ACSM Bulletin did an article on this technique about 40 years ago. It was all pretty cool until GPS came along.
Tracer Triangulation (The Launchers)
That's correct. That's Jamie and he still works at MDT. I know another friend that worked for Shaw in the early 80's, using this device. he said it was a bit unnerving hearing the rounds fall back thru the canopy- he said calm days were worse than breezy days.
