There are several uses of the word survey, relating to two primary meanings: land surveying; and statistical surveys of people or other items, such as animals, stars, or messages. Population censuses are statistical surveys which attempt to include every item in the population.

Kinds of surveys

• Surveying is the science of measuring positions and distances on Earth.
  • Geophysical surveys are surveys conducted on land.
  • Hydrographic surveys are surveys specifically conducted over navigable waters.
  • Aerial surveys are sometimes used in surveying for various reasons.
  • Archaeological field surveys are surveys conducted in order to locate archaeological sites prior to excavation.
  • Cadastral surveys map ownership boundaries for purposes of land valuation and taxation.
  • Soil surveys map the properties and varieties of soil over some area.
• Statistical surveys are used in many social sciences, marketing research, political polling, and official statistics.
  • Sample surveys collect information on only a sample from the population, in contrast to censuses.
  • Serial surveys collect the same information at various time points. These can be divided into:
    • Longitudinal surveys, which collect the information from the same item at each time point; and
    • Cross-sectional surveys, which collect the information from a new sample of items (at least in part) at each time point.
  • Paid surveys are sent by market research companies to their panel members in order to conduct research for large companies.
• The article Timeline of astronomical maps, catalogs, and surveys lists astronomical surveys; see also Durchmusterung.
  • A redshift survey is a particular kind of astronomical survey.

Land survey organizations

United States

• The Public Land Survey System divides land in the United States into sections for agricultural and civic-planning purposes.
• The United States Geological Survey, part of the United States Department of the Interior, produces maps of the United States.
• The U.S. National Geodetic Survey, part of the United States Department of Commerce, performs surveys in the United States.

Canada

• The Dominion Land Survey divides land in Canada into sections for agricultural and civic-planning purposes.

United Kingdom

• The Ordnance Survey produces maps of the United Kingdom and various other countries.
• The British Antarctic Survey conducts scientific research in and around Antarctica.

Statistical Survey Organizations

• List_of_national_and_international_statistical_services, which conduct many statistical surveys of people and businesses
• Category:Marketing research companies
• Category:Public opinion research companies

See also

• A survey township is a demarcation indicating land ownership, not necessarily corresponding to any civil township.
• A survey ship is a ship built for the purpose of conducting hydrographic surveys.

Data collection

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