peilstation

Peilstation, literally a bearing station, is a term used in navigation, surveying, and geodesy for a fixed observation point whose primary purpose is to determine position or orientation by measuring the bearing to known reference points or beacons. The concept rests on the principle that the direction from the observer to one or more fixed targets can be used to establish a line of position.

In practice, observers at a peilstation record azimuths or directions to predefined landmarks, radio beacons, or targets. When bearings from multiple stations are available, their lines of position can intersect to yield a fix for the observer or a target. Equipment commonly employed includes theodolites, compasses, alidades, or direction-finding antennas, depending on the available reference points and required precision. The system may rely on terrestrial beacons, landmarks, or radio signals as reference points.

Historically, peilstations were integral to marine and land surveying, allowing crews to determine location before the advent of satellite navigation. They were often arranged in networks, enabling triangulation over larger areas. In some contexts, peilstations also served to orient maps, verify chart accuracy, or support geodetic control surveys.

In modern usage, the explicit term peilstation is less common in English-language technical literature, having largely been superseded by broader notions of reference or surveying stations. Nevertheless, the underlying method—determining position through angular measurements to fixed references—remains foundational in geodesy and classical navigation.