Surveying is arguably one of the oldest professions on earth. Since the rise of the earliest civilisations on earth people have required surveyors to measure land and set out construction. Today as people search for new and sustainable ways to manage the resources of the planet, surveyors continue to be found at the forefront of development whether on land, at sea, above or beneath the Earth's surface. What identifies all surveyors is their expertise in the science of measurement and expertise in gathering and applying spatial information to a wide range of uses. Surveyors can specialise in gathering and using spatial information in a range of disciplines, like land surveying, engineering surveying, geodesy, hydrographic surveying, mine surveying, geographic information systems or aerial mapping. Once spatial data has been gathered and processed it can be made available in many forms that are recognisable to the public, for example, topographical maps and plans, specialised maps on almost any theme, nautical charts and subdivision plans. Surveyors are experts in applying spatial information through processes including land and resource planning, engineering design for land development, surveys for land title and geographic information systems. Surveying spans everything from astronomy to the positioning of telephone cables in your local street or thousands of metres below the sea. Wherever you go in New Zealand a surveyor has been in the area before you. You've probably seen a trig station on a hilltop or noticed a surveyor looking through an instrument on top of a tripod. Surveyors measure the shape and dimensions of land in cities, towns, the countryside, remote bush areas, at sea, from the air, and underground. Land surveyors have been at the very heart of land development since New Zealand was first settled.
This is the first in a series of caches about the profession of surveying. The caches are intended to get progressively harder as we learn about surveying.
Cache is camo honey jar. Be careful retrieving as it is a high muggle area.
This first cache is a simple puzzle cache about some of the famous early New Zealand surveyors. Do not go to the listed coordinates as they are false coordinates. The cache is located at S 43 AB CDE E 172 FG HIJ Where:
Two south island passes are named after early surveyors.
Name of Pass 1 This pass was explored and mapped by a surveyor with his brother in 1863, Letters in surname = C B = Value of the fourth letter of Brothers name where A=1, B=2, C=3…
Name of Pass 2 This pass was a route taken by early prospectors, it is the lowest alpine pass, Letters in surname = J Year pass was mapped by name 186A? This pass was also reached by another surveyor, J H Baker, prior to the above by in 18YZ? G = Y plus Z.
Other prominent features are also named after early surveyors. South Island walking track named after Charles ? D = value of the first letter of his surname. He became Auckland Provincial Surveyor in 18X6 where F = X divided by 2.
Large mountain lake named after Thomas ? H = value of the 6th letter of surname minus the value of the first letter of the surname. This surveyor undertook an epic and well documented journey down what river? I = number of letters in the river name. His Maori companion was ? E = the value of the second letter in his one word name minus the number of letters in his name.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com
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