Where Can I Find Benchmarks In Italy?

[sgtdenver]

Hello fellow geocachers!

 

I'm planning a trip to Rome and Naples, Italy this month and I would like to spend some time searching for benchmarks with my GPS. Has anyone ever searched for benchmarks in Italy? Where can I find information on benchmarks in Italy?

 

sgtdenver

[+Yerocrg]

The benchmarks in the Geocaching.com database are U.S. only. I'm not sure where you would find Italian benchmarks, but you might try a Google search. Keep in mind that they may not even have benchmarks.

 

Yerocrg

[+Kewaneh & Shark]

There are geodetic control points all over the world, and most countries have some sort of control network for either geodetic and/or land measurement or boundary measurements. Considering that a great deal of the modern sciences, astronomy, and mathmatics (and consequently, the geodetic sciences) originated in Italy and the surrounding areas, it would stand to reason that there would be some sort of geodetic control network in place. As it is in a different part of the world, it can be expected that the monuments used, and the method for catologing them is substantially different from what we're familiar with in the NGS database.

 

As far as doing a Google search, the terms 'benchmark' and 'surveying' are both American terms. It is doubtful that searching these terms in Italy would result in much. To search in another country would require you to search using that country's language. In most countries other than the US, land surveying (or measuring) is known as Geomatics or Geodetics, and surveyors are known as Geometers or Geomaticians (or another appropriate translated equivalent).

 

- Kewaneh

[ArtMan]

Another term to look for is cadastral, from the Latin cadastre, which means the modern Italian term is likely similar if not identical. Technically, cadastral surveys are those that pertain to land ownership, but anyway it's another place to start.

 

Also, you might use Babelfish or other online translation tool to come up with some Italian survey terms.

 

Good luck!

 

-ArtMan-