Range Survey System - The Core's Systematic Method

This entry is a continuation to the last post on the Agricultural Core.
As a geography major who is learning  GIS, I'm really tickled by this system used for agriculture.


THE RANGE SURVEY SYSTEM. 
This system is very similar to the data in GIS format called raster , where cells make up spatial data. As I look into the images of the range survey system, its methodologies and components most definitely relate to that of raster data. Of course, raster data is a lot more refined, sophisticated, and complicated (remarkable but sometimes inflexible dataset to work with via GIS).

 

The Land Ordinance of 1785 implemented this land method in order to survey the land before deciding any settlement, in order to see if the land was fit for harvest or vegetation.  

Previously, and perhaps even during this time, specifically in the East Coast, they used plain, visible landscape features & measurements known as metes and bounds. Simple, and unsystematic. It was found unreliable, but it was the closest method they had used. 

As shown, they used both east & west lines &  north-south meridians. They also included per square mile measurements. This method of surveying, for how early it was a few centuries ago, I must say is quite sophisticated and useful for settlers. While today, GIS saves city planners and landowners hundreds to millions,  the Range Survey system must have saved settlers time and effort (and most possibly money in the long run).

This is also a great reference to look back at for a GIS technician and/or landowner, for previous land methods purposes. I'm curious to know whether a GIS tech working on surveying the Agricultural Core referred to this method. I wonder if the PNW ever used such a survey method during this time or later.