Surveyor Compass

A surveyor's compass is a fundamental instrument in land surveying, used to measure horizontal angles and determine the bearing of lines relative to magnetic north. It consists of a magnetic needle mounted on a pivot, enclosed within a graduated circular ring marked with degrees and cardinal points. This setup allows surveyors to establish accurate directional bearings essential for mapping and delineating land boundaries.
The surveyor's compass operates on the principle of magnetic declination, where the magnetic needle aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field, pointing towards magnetic north. By sighting along a line and reading the angle between this line and magnetic north, surveyors can determine the bearing of that line. This process is crucial in compass surveying, a method where a series of connected lines (traverses) are measured to map an area .
In regions where Bengali is the primary language, such as West Bengal and Bangladesh, surveyor's compasses are often adapted to include Bengali script for the cardinal directions:

উ (Uttor) – North

দ (Dokkhin) – South

প (Purbô) – East

প (Pôshchim) – West
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This localization facilitates ease of use for Bengali-speaking surveyors and aligns with regional practices in cartography and navigation. Such adaptations are also seen in digital tools; for instance, the "Bengali Compass" app displays directions using Bengali letters, catering to users familiar with the script .