HISTORY OF DESCRIPTIVE GEOMETRY

Gaspard Monge is known as the father of modern descriptive and differential geometry. In 1764,
he was engaged to draw a detailed plan of a fortification in his hometown, which was seen by
an officer at the école Royale du Génie de Mézières. This plan was a success and his
techniques were marked as a military secret for a long period of time. In 1780, he was elected to
the Academy of Science and participated in the work of the Commission for Weights and
Measures, that was in charge of moving the system from imperial to metric. In 1794, Monge
helped setting up the école Centrale des Travaux Publics (later école Polytechnique) where he
was lecturing Descriptive Geometry. In 1798, Napoleon undertook a campaign in Egypt. The
famous chemist Claude Louis Berthollet was asked to recruit prominent scientists. Among them
were Fourier, Monge, Dolomieu and Malus. Institut d'Egypte was established by Napoleon and
Monge was named as its first president. Monge passed away on July 28, 1818. His name is
inscribed on the base of the Eiffel Tower and it is located on the third façade opposite the
Military Academy. Besides descriptive geometry, he carried on many different researches in
chemistry and physics

MEANING OF DESCRIPTIVE GEOMETRY

Descriptive Geometry is the science studying the techniques and
methods of drawings and graphical expression of speedoms, as well as the
practical applications and operations on these expressions or drawing of these
space-lornis. It is the science of graphical resolution of practical problems
involving space-forms or objects.

THE OBJECTIVES OF DESCRIPTIVE GEOMETRY

The basic objectives of descriptive geometry include:
1. To study the methods and techniques of constructing on plane surfaces,
drawings of objects (reol and imaginary) locate in space.
2. To study the techniques of determining the forms and dimensions of
objects in space with the help of their drawings on plane surlaces, (i.e.
the study of the techniques of reading and interpreting drawings)
3. To study the methods and techniques of solving problems involving-
space forms (or objects) in space by means of their planar geometry
drawings
Architectural and engineering thoughts are in possible to realize
without the knowledge of the laws of linking or connecting space-forms
(objects) with the planar drawings of the same space-forms. In other words, the
translation from abstraction (drawings) to reality (constriction or fabrication)
is practically impossible without the understanding of the techniques of
Descriplive Geometry.
This explains the invaluable role of. Descriptive
Geometry in preparing future engineers, architects and environmental planners
and designers, who must develop their imaginative and creative powers, and
subsequently use the tool to evolve and translate abstractions into interpretables
models that could be pliysically realized.
Descriptive geumetry is directly linked with such sciences as geometry,analytical geometry,
geodesy (surveying) and engineering mathematics, It is the theoretical lasis of the wethods ol
drawing employed in the resolution of
different problems of technology. Examples of the application of Descriptive
Geometry will include the development or surfaces: determination or forces in
Streuresgraplyenl walculations in space and structural systems in
architectural design and compositional appraisals, ban and regional planning
among others. These are just but low practical applications of Descriptive
Geometry
Using the methods of descriptive geometry architects, planners, and
constructors are able to design and establish the basic volumetrie
characteristics of prospective buildings, forms and chamcter of tools, the
external constructional configuration of space forms or objects and appraise
different constructional denils. With the help of descriptive peometry
generated drawings, the arhitect can appraise the architechmil volumetric,
aesthetic and compositional qualities, and charcteristics of his designed or
prospective buildings and other built environmental products.

GEOMETRIC MODELING OF SPACE

2.1: THE CONCEPT OF GEOMETRIC MODELING OF
SPACE
The object of study in descriptive geometry is space livery ohjeet, che
it buildings; complexes, material elements, details of engineering, architecture
and constructional projects; machines and their details), from the point of view
of descriptive geometry is conceived as space-form or clement occupying
space. This space-form is also conceived to be composed of a multitude on
geometric entities or clements (points, lines, and or planes) and ench of these
coastinent elements occupies a delined position in space, and has a definite
dimension or size. By this postulation and definition, other physical
characteristics of this space-form (color, material, muss, etc) are ignored.
Geometric study of space-forms is done in the same manner as in the
chemical sciences. To carry out a study of the space-loom, it is list and
foremost disintegrated into ils constituent parts called Geometric Elements.
Geometric studies are thereafter carried out on these geometric elements of the
space-form. Space-forms as a whole, and there constituent geometric elements
constituite part of the endless three-dimensional universal space. Our
surrounding environment or space is conceptualiye to live three mutually
nemendicular measurements: length, width (or lepth) nad height, and is
therefore said to be three-dimensional".
Space-form may he real (for example an existing building the furniture
in a classroom; the wheel of a motor carl, or conceivably imaginary for example, a building
being designed an imaginary line in spice, prismatie
element suspended in space).
Geometrie operations, (which include measurements, projections and
Initis/ormations) on an existing space-form or cloment are possible, very
difficult, and sometimes mayhe impossible due to the large size and
dinensions of this natural space-forn. Even when the natural space-form is
dimensionally possible to operate upon, still certain geometric oppressions are
impossible on the original space-form. These impossible geometrie operations
are carried out on the model of this space-form. To build a model of every real
or imaginary spnoe-form is usually possible. This singular property,
churcteristic of developing the model of every space-form makes the space
models most important instrument in areas of material prodnction, and
particularly in architectural and structural designs.
By developing their models space lors could casily be studied. The
results obtained from the study of the models could easily be applied as though
the operations are enrried on the original space forms. The results obtain from
operations on the model are transferable to the original space-form by a
defined methodological technique that for an integral part of the task of
descriptive geometry. Again the results obtained from the operations on the
model of the spuce-form are geometrically the same as results of the same
operations on the original or natural space-form.
In other to construct the model of the space-form, accurately, it is
necessary to know the following:
1 The laws of geometric modeling of space.
2 Methods of carrying out geometric operations on the model, and
3.The techniques of transferring from model to the original or natural
space-form.
The methods of geometrie modeling are very vist in descriptive
geometry. the method of geometric modeling of space is drawing. Drawing is
representations, which are gotten from the laws and methods of descriptive
geometry stated earlier.
2.2: GEOMETRIC ELEMENTS OF SPACE
As earlier stated, every space-form is modeled to comprise of a
multitude of geometric elements. It is equally stated that for elective study of
any space-form, it must be disintegrated into the constituent geometric
elements. The disintegration of space-form gives rise to the following
geometrie elements of the space forni:
The Point
The Line
The Plane and
The Volume (or the space-form itsell).
These constituent elements of the space-form constitute the geometric
elements. Geometric operations are carried out on one, or a combination of the
elements to give an insight and result on the space-form.
2.2.1: The Point
This is the least indivisible element of space or space-form
In the process of disintegration of space-form, the evolution of the
point signals the end of the process. The point is characterized by the
following:
It has no extent or dimension.
It has a definite position or location in space, with reference to a
defined origin.
2.2.2: The Line
This is a continuous number of successively placed points in space
moving in one direction,
A line has
1. All the characteristics of a point, and in addition,
2. It has extent or dimension (1.) in one direction,
2: The Plane
This is a continuous number of successively placed lines in space in
one direction other than the dimensional direction of the line,
A plane is characterized by:
All the characteristics of a line and and in audition
las cient and dimension in two directions

224: The Volume

The volume or space-form or object is the totality of points,lines and
Planes,. It is characterized by
1. All the characteristics of a plane and in addition.
2. It has extent or dimension in three dimension.

TYPES OF PROJECTION
1. Central / conical projection
2. Parallel / cylindrical projection

Parallel projection
A parallel projection is a projection of an object in three-dimensional space onto a fixed plane,
known as the projection plane or image plane, where the rays, known as lines of sight or
projection lines, are parallel to each other. It is a basic tool in descriptive geometry.