ranging rod
{{Short description|Surveying instrument}}
{{distinguish|Measuring rod}}
File:Ranging Rods 2014-08-18 12-53.jpg
A ranging rod, or range rod, is a surveying instrument used for marking the position of stations, and for sightings of those stations, as well as for ranging straight lines.{{cite web | url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/_/dict.aspx?rd=1&word=ranging+rod | title=free dictionary | accessdate=19 November 2014}} Initially these were made of light, thin, and straight bamboo, or of well seasoned wood such as teak, pine, or deodar. They were shod with iron at the bottom and surmounted with a flag about 250 mm2 in size.Surveying by prof. Cl Kocher in chapter Linear Measurements, page no. 19 Nowadays{{When|date=October 2024|reason=When is "nowadays"}} they are made of wood, metal, or fibreglass. The rods are usually about 30 mm in diameter and 2 or 3 m long, painted with alternating bands, such as red and white, red and yellow, or black and white, in lengths of 200 mm (i.e. one link length of metric chain), 500 mm, or 1 foot. These colours are used so that the rod can be properly sighted in case of long distance or bad weather. Ranging rods of greater length, e.g. 3 to 6 m, are called ranging or range poles, and are used for very long survey lines.{{cite web | url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/r7021e/r7021e02.htm | title=elementary surveying instruments | accessdate=19 November 2014}} Another type of ranging rod is known as an offset rod, which has no flag at the top. It is used for measuring small offsets from the survey line when the work is of an ordinary nature.Surveying by prof. Cl Kocher, page 20
Notes
When the ranging rods are limited, thin sticks 400 mm to 1 m length with white papers in the cuts at tops can serve their purpose. Such sticks are pointed at the bottom and are cut from wood. These are called as whites.