SurveyorGeneral

Surveyor General (often written as Surveyor-General) is a government post that heads a surveying or mapping agency responsible for national or regional land surveying, mapping, and cadastral administration. The office oversees geospatial data collection, maintenance, and dissemination, including topographic maps, geodetic networks, and cadastral records. It also sets professional standards, licenses surveyors, and advises government on land policy and resource management. In many jurisdictions, the Surveyor General maintains the official geodetic datum and national coordinate systems used for mapping and navigation. The title is common in countries with British colonial heritage and in states or provinces with dedicated survey departments. In India, the Surveyor General of India leads the Survey of India, the country's oldest scientific surveying department. In several Australian states, such as New South Wales and Victoria, the chief surveying official bears the title Surveyor General. Some other countries have similar offices with different names within their land or mapping agencies. The office originated in the 18th and 19th centuries as states expanded land settlement and taxation, creating a need for accurate measurement and mapping. Today the role combines technical surveying with policy and governance and has adapted to digital technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, and land information systems. The position is typically appointed by the government and operates within a department of land, resources, or surveys. See also: land surveying, cadastral surveying, geodesy, geospatial information management.