Essay on the Century Jubilee of the Department of Engineering Geodesy, St. Petersburg Mining University

Abstract

The authors mark the main historical events of the St. Petersburg Mining University’s Department of Engineering Geodesy hundred-year work. A great experience in Surveying theory and practice started in the times of Peter the Great was accumulated. The beginning of Russian Surveying skills forming dates at 1701 with foundation of “Navigation and Mathematic Sciences school” in Moscow. Beside engineers and gunners, surveyors were trained there. In 1715 navigation classes moved to St. Petersburg; on their base the Nautical academy was founded. In the first technical higher educational institution of Russia, St. Petersburg Miming University (at that time Mining School), the basic subjects were land- and underground Surveys. In the USSR industrializing of the country was started, so the part of Geodesy in it was among the main ones. Well-trained technical personnel were required. The Department occurred to be one of the first in the country. The history of its creating, establishment and development is given in brief. The main attention is paid to the Chairmen of the department, their achievements, scientific interests, tasks they were facing and solutions. The results of the research work which made a significant contribution in Geodetic science are also shown.