Professional paper

Surveying the Vienna Meridian from Brno to Varaždin

Miljenko Solarić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb
Nikola Solarić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb

Abstract

The introduction provides a brief overview of using trigonometric chains for determining meridian arc lengths in Europe, as well as their extension to trigonometric networks in order to produce contemporary accurate maps in France. After Ruđer Bošković had visited Croatian-Hungarian Queen and Roman-German Empress Maria Theresa, she ordered Jesuit Joseph Liesganig to survey the meridian from Brno (Soběšice), over Vienna and Graz to Varaždin by establishing and surveying a trigonometric chain. That distance amounts to 320 km, i.e. the difference between latitude of the starting and finishing points of the chain equaled 2° 56' 45.85''. Two baselines were measured directly between Wiener Neustadt and Neunkirchen of 6410.903 Vienna fathom (12 158.175 m) and between Seyring and Glizendorf in the Moravian field (Moravské pole, Marchfeld) of 6387.862 Vienna fathom (12 114.478 m). Liesganig published previous Vienna Meridian survey results in Philosophical Transactions in London in 1768 and the final results in Latin in Dimensio Graduum Meridiani Viennensis et Hungarici in 1770. His results were quickly criticized and subsequently subjected to validation. Trigonometric point Varaždin is the first and oldest trigonometric point in Croatia.

Keywords

meridian arc survey; trigonometric chain; Vienna Meridian; zenith sector; quadrant

Hrčak ID:

179794

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/179794

Publication date:

20.12.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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