178
touched by electronic computing. The number of examples that can
be quoted is almost inexhaustible. It is striking that little or no
attention at all is paid to the automatic recording of field readings
and yet this is the beginning of automation if carried through
in the right way.
GeodesyBarometric measurement of altitude [61] (Russia)
gravimetry [62] (Italy) and [63] (Hungary); triangulation [64]
(France)calculation of geodetic lines [65] (Western Germany) and
[66] (U.S.A.) One may read about photogrammetric applications
in [67] to [75]. Basically these publications deal with solutions of
block adjustment problems.
As regards lower geodesy, I may refer to publications [76] (level
ling), [77] (measurements in town), [78] to [80] (railway measure
ments), [81] and [82].
Electronic calculation applied to road construction is dealt with
in [83] to [87].
I formerly drew attention to the fact that utilization of the
electronic computer can result in the development of other methods
for solving certain problems. Examples of this are given in publi
cations [88] to [93].
It appears from the above that the lead which electronic com
puting already had over automatic recording of field readings has
grown to an important extent during the period covered by this
report. The surveyor who for some reason cannot bring himself to
have his calculations performed by a real computer, and yet wants
to profit from modern developments in some way, may possibly
use a so-called electronic desk calculating machine. It should be
emphasised that such a machine cannot be compared with a com
puter. The control exercised by man when effecting a certain
calculation is, if programming has been executed well, completely
taken over by the computer for that calculation. An electronic
desk calculating machine is usually capable of performing successive
actions without human interference, but any real control of calcu
lation in this is out of the question. The operator has to come into
action every minute. As a "multiplier" this machine is too
expensive. Anyone who wants to get more out of it will soon be
disillusioned, because its limitations will then appear. For almost
20 firms, the manufacture of electronic desk calculating machines
represents part of their livelihood. Those who are interested in
this equipment, in spite of the above remarks, are referred to
publications [94], [95] and [96].
Section 4automation of mapping
Automatic mapping on the basis of coded records on a field sheet
(see for instance [97]) has made only little progress during the period
covered by this report. Here and there it has indeed been tried to
undertake something in this directionhowever, the trouble is that
the preparations required to arrive at automatic actions are, at
