plane table
Definition
Noun: 1. A surveying instrument: A plane table is a portable instrument used in surveying and mapping. It consists of a drawing board mounted on a tripod, with a ruler (called an alidade) used for sighting and plotting topographical details directly onto a sheet of paper attached to the board.
Usage
The term "plane table" is used specifically in the context of land surveying, cartography, and field mapping. It refers to the complete instrument setup. * The surveyor set up the plane table to begin mapping the contours of the land. * Before modern GPS, the plane table was an essential tool for creating topographic maps.
Advanced Usage
- "To use a plane table": This phrase describes the action of conducting a survey with this instrument.
- The students learned how to use a plane table to produce a site plan.
Variants and Related Words
- Plane-table (verb, rare): The act of surveying with a plane table.
- They spent the afternoon plane-tabling the new construction site.
- Alidade (noun): The sighting ruler or rule used with a plane table for taking directions and drawing lines.
- Tripod (noun): The three-legged stand that supports the plane table.
Synonyms
- Surveying table
- Mapping table
Related Phrases
- Plane table surveying: A method of surveying where angular measurements are made graphically on the field sheet using the plane table, rather than being recorded numerically.
- Plane table surveying is well-suited for small-scale and detailed mapping projects.
Noun
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surveying instrument consisting of a drawing board and a ruler that are mounted on a tripod; used to sight and map topographical details
