Kalistani Major History

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Precise Survey of the Republic completed
Republican Geodesic Survey determines previous number was too small
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 15, 5328


Surveyors like this team cross the Republic to determine precise size of Kalistan

The precise size of Kalistan was calculated following the successful completion of a two year effort to survey all the land of the nation. The official size is 838,675 square miles. This calculation includes only land above the shore line, and does not include a calculation of the Ananto Strait in National Territory. This number updates previous survey estimates that showed that the numbers were about 25 percent too low.

"To come to this figure, not only did we have teams of surveyors on the ground, using theodolites and distomats, but we also checked our work with GPS survey as well. The survey calculations were found to be within 1/1000th of a percent off the calculations of the survey teams, and were therefore accepted," said Survey Project Director Katherine Black, of the Republican Geological Survey. "By our calculation, the northernmost tip of Mainland Kalistan lies at 39deg 33Min 9sec North latitude by 13deg 49min 6sec West Longitude, while the southernmost tip lies at 16deg 21min 49sec North Latitude by 5deg 2min 3sec West Longitude. From these two points, we calculated the straightline distance of mainland Kalistan to be 1688 statutory miles, and from there we were able to conduct survey on land with the straightline serving as a baseline for the entire study. This is a far cry from the old survey, which was a map survey conducted with a very vague and old Republican map. Because borders were merely guessed at, and resolution of the original map survey was quite low, we were neither able to determine a baseline, nor conduct actual field surveys to determine the correct size of the Republic. We have remedied this issue with the recent survey."

Over the last two years, surveyors in each district established new baseline studies in each district, put in survey control points all along the baseline and from there surveyed 100 mile square sections. Warmer than average winters last year ensured that surveys were completed ahead of schedule but relentless and diligent work in all weather and temperature continued. "We had more than 1000 teams in the field working in three month shifts last year and this to get this survey done on time," said Director Black. "The amount of careful calculation that we accomplished was rewarded by the GPS, which checked our work time and time again and with error at less than 1/1000th of a percent, this is a survey that we can be proud of and trust."

The Republican Geological Survey published a new map with an accurate scale showing true distance between locations within the Republic that will allow planners to better estimate costs for upcoming infrastructure projects.