Use and History

A theodolite is a centuries-old instrument that combines optical, compass, and angular measurements to enable a wide range of capabilities. Over the years, theodolites have been used by many famous scientists, engineers, and explorers. Lewis and Clark famously carried a theodolite on their expedition to explore the American west. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln used theodolites for land surveying (in fact you can see Jefferson's theodolite on display at Monticello).



In modern times, theodolites are valuable tools in science and engineering, and are used extensively in the surveying and construction industries. The theodolite is a "go-to" instrument for all types of land, sea, and air measurements. Theodolites are even used in space, for measurements and backup navigation. Astronauts carried a theodolite with them to the moon on every Apollo mission.



The Theodolite app combines the concept of a real theodolite with modern GPS, sensor, camera, and hardware/software technologies on mobile devices. The app makes extensive use of OpenGL graphics for smooth and realistic performance, and uses advanced computation and fusion algorithms to combine sensor data and camera imagery. Theodolite was one of the very first augmented reality apps when it was released for the iPhone in 2009. It has been downloaded and used by millions of customers since then, has appeared in movies and TV shows, and is used every day on the job by professionals around the world. To read about some of the interesting uses and real-world customer applications of the Theodolite app, click here.



