This is a set of 30 photographs of Royal Australian Survey Corps (RA Svy) personnel from Central Comd Fd Svy Unit (Adelaide) on Aerodist survey operation - Project C4 in Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory in 1967. Photos of personnel were taken either at the operations base at Numbulwar or the main base at Gove (Nhulunbuy). RA Svy conducted nineteen Aerodist operations for 12 years from 1964 to 1975. Aerodist MRC2 was a tellurometer-based system adapted for aircraft to accurately measure distances between non-intervisible ground survey stations, using the aircraft as an intermediate station. Lower order geodetic results could be achieved by survey network trilateration. The measured distances between stations formed survey networks from which each station’s latitude and longitude was computed. Aerodist MRC2 was RA Svy’s major horizontal control survey tool for mainly medium scale topographic mapping (scale 1:100,000 Class A being spatially accurate to within 50 metres) in PNG, northern NT, north-west WA, Kalimantan Barat (West) Indonesia, Sumatra Indonesia, Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York, QLD. In 1967, the Aerodist MRC2 Master equipment was installed in the aircraft featured in this set of photos, Executive Air Services’ (Essendon VIC) Grand Aero Commander VH-EXX. It was the same aircraft type and company contracted to Division of National Mapping for Aerodist MRC2 surveys. From July to October 1967 the aircraft was attached to Central Comd Fd Svy Unit (Adelaide - Major Don Ridge) on Project C4 eastern-Arnhem Land NT, where 317 Aerodist lines measuring 17,300 line miles were successfully completed. This was the most productive Aerodist project thus far. The most common helicopter used by RA Svy up to 1972 was the civilian Bell 47G-2 and the Sioux Light Observation Helicopters (LOH), the Australian Army’s equivalent featured in this photo set. These light observation helicopters had a limiting load carrying capacity of up to about 500 pounds. By comparison, one Aerodist team including two people weighed up to 1,500 pounds. Source: Royal Australian Survey Corps – Aerodist Years 1964-1975 by Peter Jensen. This is a set of 30 photographs of Royal Australian Survey Corps (RA Svy) personnel on Aerodist survey operations in Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory in 1967. The photographs are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) to .4) - black & white, 20th August 1967, Project C4 Aerodist Operations Base - Numbulwar, NT. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Probable wrecked Indonesian fishing vessel. .6) to .8) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Unidentified survey operations base, L to R: unidentified personnel. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Unidentified survey operations base, unidentified soldier driving a Haflinger 4x4 Light utility vehicle. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Unidentified survey operations base, L to R: unidentified technician. .11) - Unidentified technician reading two survey altimeters to compute corrections to the measured distances for atmospheric refraction and to compute the sea level distances from the slope distances aircraft to the ground stations. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Unidentified survey operations base, L to R: unidentified personnel. .13) to .16) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Unidentified personnel operating remote Aerodist MRC2 ground instruments. .17) to .18) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Unknown RA Svy office location. .19) to .20) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Aerodist MRC2 Master equipment. .21) to .22) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Aero Commander VH-EXX probably at Gove, NT, Central Comd Fd Svy Unit (Adelaide) – OC Major Don Ridge. .23) to .25) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Aero Commander VH-EXX probably at Gove, NT. Unidentified personnel. .26) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Aero Commander VH-EXX probably at Gove, NT. Aerodist antenna pods are visible on the aircraft. .27) to .29) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Australian Army Sioux Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) probably at Gove, NT. .30) - Photo, black & white, 1967. Panelled U337 survey station, visible as a white cross on aerial identification photo..1P to .2P – date and location on edge of film negative. .5P to .28P – no annotations .29P - annotated in white ‘RW-JEP Gove NT’ .30P - annotated in white ‘U337 Spool No1 Jun67’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, aerodist, surveying, central comd fd svy unit

This is a set of 1photographs of surveyors in the field measuring distances using chains, taking observations using theodolites and operating electric distance measurement equipment. They were probably employed in establishing mapping and geodetic control operations or the surveyors may have been in training. The photos were most likely taken in the 1950s and 1960s. Photos .1P to .6P feature personnel setting up geodetic survey chaining equipment to measure distances. The surveyor in Photo .5P is LTCOL Howard Angus Johnson MBE who served from 1936 to 1954. The RA Svy surveyor in photos .7P to .12P were using a theodolite to take angular measurements. They were usually supported by an observer who recording their readings on a booking form. The surveyor in Photo .10P and .11P is LTCOL Jorge Gruszka, who served from 1955 to 1985. He was CO of the Army Survey Regiment from 1982 to 1985. The surveyor in photo .13P is cutting an identification blaze on a tree using a hammer and chisel. The tellurometer in Photos .14P to .16P was a MRA1 microwave Electronic Distance Measuring instrument (EDM) introduced in 1958. It and later models were man-portable systems that improved geodetic survey efficiencies for rapid network extension and densification replacing triangulation with EDM and theodolite traverse sometimes using Bilby Towers to extend line lengths. The surveyor with the slouch hat is Colonel James ‘Jim’ Leslie Stedman, who served from 1941 to 1978. He was Director of Military Survey from 1975 to 1978 and was appointed as Colonel Commandant (honorary appointment, Retd) of the Royal Australian Survey Corps from 1978 to 1983. Jim Stedman is demonstrating EDM equipment.This is a set of 17 photographs of surveyors in the field measuring distances using chains, taking observations using theodolites and operating electric distance measurement (EDM) equipment. c1950s – 1960s. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, unidentified personnel using geodetic survey chaining equipment. .2) to .4) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, geodetic survey chaining equipment. .5) – Photo, black & white, c1950s, Jim Stedman using geodetic survey chaining equipment to measure distances. .6) - Photo, black & white, c1950s, Unidentified personnel geodetic survey chaining equipment. .7) – Photo, black & white, mounted on card, c1950s. Unidentified surveyor undertaking observations on a coral reef using a theodolite. .8) – Photo, black & white, c1950, unidentified surveyor undertaking observations with a Tavistock theodolite. .9) – Photo, black & white, mounted on green card, c1950s. Unidentified surveyor undertaking observations using a plane table. .10) – Photo, black & white, c1955, Jorge Gruszka undertaking observations with a theodolite. 7/55 Basic Survey Course Balcombe. .11) – Photo, black & white, c1950s, Jorge Gruszka undertaking observations with a theodolite. .12) – Photo, black & white, c1946-1948, unidentified surveyor undertaking observations with a theodolite to gain control for the mapping of the Snowy Mountain Diversion Scheme. .13) – Photo, black & white, c1950s, unidentified surveyor cutting a blaze in a tree. .14) and .15) – Photo, black & white, c1960s, Jim Stedman demonstrating EDM equipment. .16) – Photo, black & white, c1960s, L to R: Jim Stedman (probably) and unidentified surveyor demonstrating EDM equipment. .17) – Photo, black & white, c1950, unidentified surveyors undertaking observations with a theodolite in extreme conditions..1P on back - First Order Chaining Equipment .2P on back - First Order Chaining Equipment .3P on back - Full catenary 1800 – 1960 replaced by EDM .4P on back - First Order Chaining Equipment .5P on back - H.A. Johnson, Benambra baseline? 1st Order Chaining .6P on back - Chaining .7P on front - Difficult observing conditions especially when the tide is in. The station is sighted (sic) on a coral reef. .8P on back - Tavistock. .10P on back of duplicate in Photo Folder 14 – George (sic) Gruszka 7/55 Basic Survey Course Balcomme (sic) 1955/56 .14P and .15P on back - Jim Stedman demonstrating early EDM equipment.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, surveying

This is a superbly crafted cartographic mapping instrument. It is housed in its own high-quality purpose-built oak box. Made in the Netherlands from 1950 onwards. This instrument is from c 1956. it is a very high-quality military grade stereoscope that was generally used by photographic interpreters such as intelligence analysts but was equally useful for mapping activities. The stereoscope was used to examine 3D aerial photographic images. This instrument has a particularly useful capability to scan over the 3D stereo model using X and Y movement knobs, rather than having to physically move the aerial photographs. In the public and private sector it was also useful for photogrammetric interpretation for Forestry and Agricultural purposes. See also Bendigo RSL Collections Victoria item Number 6205.6P that shows the Old Deft Stereoscope in use at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo.This is an "Old Delft" scanning stereoscope with its reflecting carriage and legs. The Stereoscope is housed in its own purpose built wooden oak box that has dovetail joints, 2 x securing clips, 2 x handles and a lock (without key). The instrument is assembled by inserting colour coded legs into their matching slots."OLD DELFT SCANNING STEREOSCOPE ODSS III" "Patents Applied for" "OLD DELFT C4790" "MADE IN THE NETHERLANDS"royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

This instrument measures elevation by sensing minute changes in barometric air pressure relative to a fixed datum point at sea level or a known elevation, such as the starting point of a major town during a road survey, and has an accuracy of +/- 20 feet when used in experienced hands. The finely divided scale around the perimeter of the face is marked from 0 to 6000 feet elevation and 25 to 31 inches of mercury (Hg) for barometric pressure The single fine counter-balanced hand or pointer rotates anti-clockwise with increasing elevation and decreasing pressure. The label "compensated" indicates that the instrument is constructed to compensate for the effect of temperature changes on the accuracy of readings. Surveyor's Pocket Altimeter - Aneroid Barometer Type Branded N H Seward, Melbourne. Made in England. With leather carrying case and strap.forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv), surveying