SETTING UP OF AN EXPERIMENTAL POLYGON IN ITALY, ECC.
13
The lower part of this page is used for calculations with program n° 193, or to
show the reference elements of the point to be calculated in respect to other pro
grams. The indication as to whether there are any references to be calculated is
given the computer by feeding in, at the end of the cards containing all data, a
card with a word formed of zeroes only, or of nine zeroes and a 1 as tenth figure.
Page 4 instead is used for transcribing the calculation results for filing purposes.
The operators complete pages 1, 2 and 3, leaving the not used spaces blank,
and the forms are then sent to the Calculation Centre. Here they have pilot cards
available for each type of information to be punched, on which all constant quanti
ties have been punched in beforehand, as well as some conventional figures for the
data not used, and appropriate duplication programs, so that the staff dealing with
the perforation duplicates the pilot cards punching only the figures written out on
the form.
This allows greatly to expedite both the punching work and the checks before
starting upon calculations. When the calculation program has been fed into the
computer, the data of all points to be calculated enter the reading unit and every
thing proceeds automatically until all calculations have been completed.
The listed results are then forwarded to the operators, together with the form
containing input data ; the operators complete page 4 after having ascertained
that the calculation should not have eliminated any direction resulting beyond
tolerance. In the latter case the causes of errors are to be ascertained and, if necessary,
the correct input data are sent back for calculation.
The 376 additional and control points have been calculated whilst ground
operations where being carried out ; therefore, when the mission ended its field
work the coordinates of all points had already been computed guaranteeing the
accuracy of the work performed.
From the instance shown in ann. n° 4 it can be seen that the maximum
adjustement shifting for planimetry has been of 8 cm only and that three shift-
ings were of less than 1 cm ; for altimetry the maximum difference between the
adjusted value and that of one single origin is of 29 cm.
Similar results have been obtained also for the other points: rarely the adjust
ment shiftings exceeded 10 cm or the elevation differences 30 cm. The precision
arrived at in the determinations effected is therefore fully corresponding to the
aims in mind.
The gound operations were directed by Major Livio Cerulli, to whose activities
the successful results of the work are mostly due ; special thanks are further due
to Prof. Luigi Solaini, director of the Institute for Geodesy, Topography and Pho-
togrammetry of the Milan Politecnico, who bore the expenses for the calculation
of the additional and control points.
5) Photographing operations.
At the beginning of August the targeting operations for the control points had
been completed and we might have begun with the flights. Atmospheric conditions,
however, which had been more or less normal in June and July, suddenly turned