History of the development of land surveying in Russia and basic provisions

Russia has a long and rich history of land surveying that has grown and changed over the course of the nation’s expansion. The discipline has changed significantly from the early records from the Middle Ages, when land boundaries were drawn using crude methods, to the sophisticated methods used today.

Land surveying was mainly used in the early stages of Russian history to determine property boundaries and calculate tax obligations. This simple surveying method used basic instruments like stakes, ropes, and crude measuring devices. Even though these techniques were rudimentary by today’s standards, they set the stage for later, more methodical approaches.

Land surveying saw a period of reform and standardization during the Imperial era, especially under Peter the Great’s rule. The adoption of European technologies and practices resulted in the development of more precise surveying methods. This historical period saw a notable transition toward the use of trigonometry, accurate measurement tools, and the production of comprehensive cadastral maps.

Methods for land surveying were further refined during the Soviet era. Large-scale land surveys were necessary for infrastructure, agricultural, and urban development projects as a result of industrialization and centralized planning. The widespread application of geodesic satellites, aerial photography, and sophisticated mathematical models made it possible to manage resources and expand cities quickly.

Modern technologies like GPS, GIS, and remote sensing are integrated into land surveying practices in Russia today. By enabling extremely precise measurements, effective data analysis, and the production of digital maps with never-before-seen detail, these tools have completely transformed the field. As new technologies are developed, the field of land surveying keeps developing, making it necessary for sustainable development, environmental management, and urban planning throughout the vast Russian landscape.

Period	Development Overview
Ancient Times	In early Russian history, land surveying involved basic measurements for agricultural and settlement purposes.
Medieval Era	During medieval times, land surveying expanded with the growth of towns and fortifications, focusing on property boundaries and taxation.
Imperial Russia	Under imperial rule, land surveying became more systematic, with the introduction of standardized measurement units and cadastral mapping.
Soviet Era	In the Soviet period, land surveying was central to collectivization and industrial projects, emphasizing state control and planning.
Modern Times	Today, land surveying in Russia integrates advanced technologies like GPS and digital mapping, supporting urban development and infrastructure projects.

In exploring the history of land surveying in Russia, it becomes clear how this vital practice evolved over time to shape the country"s landscape and infrastructure. From its early beginnings tied to tax assessments and boundary delineations in ancient times, Russian surveying advanced significantly during the medieval period under Mongol rule, adopting new methods and tools. The 18th century marked a pivotal era with Peter the Great"s reforms, introducing European surveying techniques to modernize land management. These developments laid the groundwork for the systematic cadastre in the 19th century, crucial for taxation and land use planning. Today, Russian land surveying incorporates both traditional methods and modern technologies, ensuring accurate land measurements and sustainable development practices across its vast territories.

Story

The 16th and 17th centuries saw the rise of feudal land ownership in Russia. written questionnaires.

They were regarded as the primary kind of work, done by the state in compliance with the Local Order, to establish features on the ground.

Alongside them The holdings’ most crucial components were the only ones that were measured. All of the outcomes were recorded in special books, which were open-access business description documents.

All settlements kept these books:

The division of land and the establishment of boundaries between its owners is one of the primary objectives of the Scribe descriptions.

If the government did not play a role in drawing boundaries at first—specifically, the legal aspect of it—by the 17th century. Along with land management duties, it started to define the primary subject matter of Scribe descriptions.

Attempts to demarcate landed estates in 1754

There were already attempts to define the boundaries of land plots and landed estates during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.

The first instructions to offices and offices were adopted by the administration in the spring of 1754. It allowed for the maintenance of the prior boundary affairs order, which included carrying out the following tasks:

• compiling logs when carrying out geodetic work to record data on the final lines;
• marking boundaries using “wooden posts”;
• formation of a “landmark book” and “geometric plan” for delimited objects.

Because this order was insufficient, a comprehensive reform was required. It took place during Catherine II’s reign.

In the fall of 1765, new guidelines for creating instructions for general land surveying were formally announced.

What is general surveying?

General surveying is the process of dividing up privately held land into groups and separating it from state-owned land.

Measuring all lands under the total authority of the state was the fundamental task of the land surveying gene.

It delineated the boundaries of various land holdings, cities, and other landowners with accuracy.

Establishing boundaries in this way serves the primary goal of preventing disputes and disputes over land.

Based on the 1765 executive bodies’ manifesto, the nobility received roughly 75 million. land in hectares.

Special instructions subject to the "General Rules" were issued in 1766. They made provisions for the attribution of land to cities and villages rather than to the individual owners.

The general survey organized the nobility’s land holdings and gave the nobility’s conquests legitimacy. Technically speaking, county surveyors completed this procedure.

Specifics of PGM

Participation in the general survey was required of all landowners. Its particularity lay in the fact that any property’s location was determined by the borders of historic "dachas" used by scribes.

In addition, there were frequently multiple people’s properties or shared belongings from various social classes inside the "dacha."

"Each to his own" is the motto that Empress Catherine II suggested for this kind of land surveying. This facial expression was added to the current stamp’s illustration.

Advantages and disadvantages

The general survey allowed for a thorough analysis of the nation’s economic situation. Information regarding the quantity of souls, the condition of the land, and all noteworthy locations were thus acquired.

The sale of vacant land at exceptionally low prices went hand in hand with this kind of site boundary definition. The country’s nomadic and semi-nomadic populations suffered greatly as a result of this.

RGADA and fund No. 1354

Established in 1925, the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts (RGADA) houses all significant records pertaining to the 11th through the 20th centuries.

In addition to the deteriorating archive documents, researchers have access to all of them. Data on counties in various provinces can be found in Fund No. 1354, "Plans of Dachas for General and Special Surveying, 1746-1917."

General survey plans

The process of drawing out the land’s boundaries was accompanied by the creation of general survey plans (GLM). They are hand-drawn and feature numerous small objects (like a farm) labeled as wasteland.

Thirty-five provinces had plans by the end of the 1800s. The Moscow province was the first to begin land surveying; a plan was created beforehand. There were no coordinate grids on PGMs.

Economic notes

For every action plan, economic notes (ES) were also created in order to set boundaries. Numbers in the plans themselves were interpreted from the notes.

Each rural site’s information was furnished by ES with the following details:

• name of the wasteland (or settlement);
• number of households;
• the presence of additional facilities (for example, churches);
• population size (both male and female).

The economic notes contained some particularly crucial information, including the names of wastelands—plots of land devoid of habitation.

Plans for dachas in the province

County maps were created using general land surveying dacha plans (GDS), which are drawings of the lands. They not only provide the object’s topographical location but also details about its economic activity.

Benefits of PDGM:

1. During production, all general survey plans were redrawn by hand, drawn up according to the scheme of dacha plans. In this regard, PDGMs are more informative; they may contain objects that were not there at the time of compilation of the PGMP.
2. They are characterized by high accuracy of objects and location of the settlement compared to PGM. Scale of dacha plans – 1 cm = 84 m.
3. PDGM contain additional information about land plots.

Special procedure

The general was followed immediately by special land surveying. Determining the boundaries of private plots and fixing general land surveying’s flaws are its primary responsibilities.

Rules for the special delimitation of general dachas through county surveyors were developed in the fall of 1806.

Provincial and county land surveyors contributed to the Genialny land survey dacha demarcation based on these regulations.

Since district land surveyors’ private initiative drove the majority of the special land surveying, it proceeded rather slowly. In this context, the government concluded in 1835 that the state ought to take the lead in implementing measures to set clear borders.

By 1842, land surveyor training had greatly advanced, and new laws had been passed to expedite the completion of special land surveys.

Russia has a long and rich history of land surveying, having developed in tandem with the nation’s rapid territorial expansion and shifting political environments over several centuries. The need to control land use and establish property borders initially motivated early Russian surveyors to use crude instruments and techniques. The Russian Empire grew, requiring more precise and advanced surveying techniques, and these early efforts set the groundwork for more systematic approaches.

Due to the influence of European practices, Russian land surveying saw significant reforms by the 18th and 19th centuries. The modernization initiatives of Tsar Peter the Great resulted in the introduction of more standardized tools and procedures, which increased accuracy and dependability. During this time, surveyor training became more standardized, and institutions specifically designed to supervise land surveying operations were established.

Land surveying in Russia saw additional changes during the Soviet era. The focus shifted to encouraging urban planning and industrialization, necessitating accurate surveying and mapping for the construction of infrastructure. Soviet surveyors made great advancements in the field by creating cutting-edge methods and tools like satellite-based geodesy and aerial photogrammetry.

Land surveying is still very important in modern Russia for resource management, urban development, and environmental preservation. The incorporation of contemporary technologies, like GPS and GIS, has improved surveying capabilities even more, making data collection and analysis more effective. Russian surveyors today continue to follow a legacy of quality and flexibility, constantly incorporating new instruments and techniques to satisfy the changing needs of a changing and varied terrain.

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