Geodetic tower (or geodetic chimney) built in brick at the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, the regions most frequently mapped were those close to the front.
This tower served as a precise reference point for locating points using triangulation. Before the era of GPS, geodesists installed these towers on summits so that they could see other towers from a great distance and measure angles accurately. They also used them to raise instruments above trees to ensure a clear line of sight and provide a stable base for measuring devices (theodolites, tacheometers).
With the widespread use of GPS, geodetic towers remain a witness to the past. They are much less widely used, although some still stand as technical monuments, historical landmarks or observation platforms.
Tour géodésique de Graffigny-Chemin
