The Department of Survey and Settlement and the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology have documented the Great Trigonometrical Survey (GTS) stations in the State and published the documentation in five volumes.
According to an official release, during British rule, the Great Trigonometrical Survey was launched by Colonel William Lambton at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai on April 10, 1802. The survey continued for 70 years until 1871 using theodolite instruments. As part of the exercise, Great Trigonometrical Survey stations were established across India, including at several locations in Tamil Nadu. These stations are under the jurisdiction of the Survey of India.
The Tamil Nadu government granted permission for a comprehensive exercise to identify all the GTS stations in the State, conduct surveys, map and document them, and take steps to preserve them. The initiative also aims to facilitate future modern surveying activities in the State by using the geo-coordinates of these stations.
Accordingly, officials from the Department of Survey and Settlement and TNSDA jointly conducted an extensive field survey, identified all the GTS stations in Tamil Nadu and documented their details.
Based on their documentation, they have published five volumes titled ‘Documentation of the Great Trigonometrical Survey Stations in Tamil Nadu’. With the objective of ensuring the preservation of the GTS stations in the districts, the Director of Survey and Settlement has distributed the volumes to District Collectors and district-level officials of the Survey Department, the release added.
Published – November 12, 2026 02:12 am IST
