28th June 2012, 06:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 28th June 2012, 06:41 PM by CARTOON REALITY.)
Quote:As for OS mapping I've never been sure how it even is surveyed these days, or at what scale. I probably assumed it was all digital and therefore effectively at a scale (in digital form) of 1:1. Presumably it isn't?
Digital machines don't really record at any scale. They can print (etc.) the relationship between the points surveyed out at a scale of 1:1 if needs be - but it's just recording angles/points in abstract zeros and ones - surveyed data does not exist at a scale - the maps and models it can produce exist at a scale. There's a difference there.
I hope you don't think I'm trying to be a hair splitting smart-arse about this (and I'm sure that's how it sounds) - but reality doesn't have a scale.
On the maps bit - my own experience is that Georgian maps can be a bit ropey but very illuminating, C.19th OS maps are extraordinarily accurate (compared against modern street patterns etc.) And there are surprising mistakes on the modern maps - I have heard (can't say whether this is true or not) that rectified aerial photography is now used in the mix.
Some of the worst drawings I've seen in my life, came from architects.