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Mathematical Treasure: Dutch Surveying Manuscript

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

A Dutch manuscript, Gheometria oft de konste van Landt te meten, from 1681 discusses geometry, surveying techniques, and land measurement. The author is one Sebastianus David Louys; however, nothing further is known about him. Here is the title page:

Title page of Gheometria oft de konste van Landt te meten manuscript.

A sampling of the pages concerning geometry and associated computations:

Page on triangles from Gheometria oft de konste van Landt te meten manuscript.

Folios 22-23 of Gheometria oft de konste van Landt te meten manuscript.

Folio 39 of Gheometria oft de konste van Landt te meten manuscript.

On page 176 is a discussion and illustration explaining how to employ two distant sightings to determine the height of an inaccessible structure. This problem is similar to the classical Chinese problem of measuring the height of a “sea island” (ca 263 CE). Here, the observer is aided by the use of a quadrant.

The images above were obtained through the courtesy of the Dibner Library of Science and Technology, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. The full digitized volume may also be obtained via the Digital Public Library of America.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Dutch Surveying Manuscript," Convergence (May 2017)