survey

There are several uses of the word survey, relating to two primary meanings: surveys to record the position of items or fixed points on Earth and beyond, such as astronomical surveys, bird surveys, and the broad field of land surveying; and statistical surveys estimating the number of people or other items, such as animals, organisations, or messages. Population censuses are statistical surveys which attempt to include every item in the population. The names of some scientific organisations incorporate the word "Survey", even though they do not primarily conduct surveys.