Data Science Pioneers: Biruni
The great Persian mathematicians
Eighty percent of big data is spatial which contains geographic coordinates that can be mapped, according to Big spatial data for urban and environmental sustainability.
The importance of spatial data is evidenced by the growing prevalence of maps in every form of communication, from media outlets to public health briefings to social media. The spatial dimension of data provides additional information on how phenomena vary across space and relate to location.
This means that if you’re analyzing data, you could already be doing spatial data science. If you’re not already taking advantage of the spatial characteristics of your data, you may be missing key information. But to take advantage of spatial information, you need to treat your data right.
For the first time, Biruni had applied the most advanced science to calculate the earth’s radius to be 6339.6 km, an accuracy not exceeded in the West until 500 year later. Biruni (al-Biruni) was a 10th century mathematician, which in the age of 30, he used trigonometry to calculate the radius of the Earth using measurements of the height of a hill and measurement of the dip in the horizon from the top of that hill.
His calculated radius for the Earth of 3928.77 miles was 2% higher than the actual mean radius of 3847.80 miles. His estimate was given as 12,803,337 cubits, so the accuracy of his estimate compared to the modern value depends on what conversion is used for cubits. The exact length of a cubit is not clear; with an 18-inch cubit his estimate would be 3,600 miles, whereas with a 22-inch cubit, his estimate would be 4,200 miles.
He had accomplished various and precious endeavors in surveying engineering and astronomy and it is a great honor that his scientific achievements are still credible in the world after many centuries.
Today, surveying engineering and spatial information are not limited to just civil engineering fields, but also in other sections such as land use planning, environment, urban development and urban planning, e-government development, mining, agriculture, forests and pastures, dam constructions, sea, land, air navigation, crisis management and many other applications.
