In this article the focus lies on an intriguing connection between Albert Einstein, renowned for his brilliance as a physicist, philosopher, and engineer, and Heinrich Wild, the pioneering figure in modern surveying metrology. With the fervour surrounding the Einstein year now settled, there's an opportunity to revisit Einstein's legacy and unearth previously overlooked insights. The exploration will unveil striking parallels between Albert Einstein and Heinrich Wild, the founder of Wild Heerbrugg company, which served as the precursor to today's Leica Geosystems Ltd., established in 1921. Their collective influence on our understanding of earth measurement prompts speculation about a potential dialogue between these two luminaries, given the abundance of similarities.
Fritz Staudacher, during his tenure as head of the communication department at Leica Geosystems Ltd. in Heerbrugg, had already discerned some of these parallels. However, it was only in his retirement that he found the time to delve into research and consolidate his findings into a book project.
Notably, both the birth of relativity and significant aspects of quantum theory trace back to Bern, the Swiss federal capital, a century ago. Simultaneously, the evolution of modern earth and land surveying technologies was underway. Heinrich Wild, classified as a III. class expert, contributed to advancements in earth measurement and mapping through his innovative optomechanical instruments while Albert Einstein, also classified as a III. class expert, laid the theoretical groundwork for today's laser, GPS, and digital sensor measurement technologies during his tenure at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property in Bern.
Remarkably, Einstein and Wild independently reshaped a pivotal chapter in surveying history a century ago. Despite their shared biographical parallels - residing in the same locales and pursuing similar professional paths - existing records suggest that the two luminaries were not acquainted. Or were they?
Images: This newly discovered image depicts the Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein, aged 51, alongside Heinrich Wild, among other honorary doctors of ETH in the year 1930. It was captured during the ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Swiss Technical University at the Zurich Municipal Theatre on November 7th, 1930. © Image archive, Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
Simultaneous education and career paths
Both individuals embarked on similar educational and professional trajectories, shaping their remarkable parallel journeys. They departed formal education early and enrolled at Zurich Technical University in 1896. Transitioning into federal employment as III. class officials within Bernese administrations, they pioneered innovative ideas. Coincidentally, both tied the knot in Bern at the age of 23 and resided on Thunstrasse with their families concurrently. Subsequently, they departed Bern after seven years, venturing into new career paths in Germany prior to the onset of the First World War. Despite enduring the harsh conditions of the "bonce winter" and the collapse of the German empire, they continued to thrive professionally. In a testament to their achievements, both were bestowed with the prestigious Doctor Honoris Causa award by the Swiss Technical University Zurich in 1930.
Albert Einstein: physicist and gyrocompass innovator
Einstein's groundbreaking theories bore the imprint of land surveyors and mathematicians, notably Henri Poincaré, whose work greatly influenced him. Poincaré's insights, derived from the renowned length office in Sèvres, informed Einstein's formulation of the relativity theories in Zurich and Bern. Additionally, Einstein drew upon the mathematical frameworks of Carl Friedrich Gauss, a luminary in both mathematics and surveying. Beyond theoretical physics, Einstein ventured into practical innovation, patenting a gyroscopic compass device manufactured in Kiel. This endeavour not only interrupted his work on the general relativity theory in 1915 but also served as a conceptual model for his atomic depiction of permanent magnetism.
Heinrich Wild: innovator and entrepreneur
Heinrich Wild's legacy extends beyond inventive prowess to encompass entrepreneurial acumen. A trailblazer in technical innovation, Wild founded multiple business entities focused on enhancing measurement equipment. His endeavours revolutionised the field of surveying, shaping companies such as Zeiss in Jena, Germany, and later, his own venture, Leica Geosystems Ltd., in Switzerland. Wild's contributions extended to the initiation of photogrammetry groups and the development of new geodetic instruments at Kern in Aarau. Revered as the "most important designer of geodetic instruments who has ever lived" by a German professional journal, Wild's impact on the industry remains unparalleled.
Image: Artistic interpretation depicting Albert Einstein and Heinrich Wild.
Global significance and market leadership
Swiss cartography commands global acclaim for its terrestrial maps and mountain representations, including Mount Everest. Swiss surveying instruments stand at the forefront of technological innovation worldwide. While optomechanical instruments dominated the first half of the 20th century, contemporary systems harness sophisticated laser, GPS, and digital sensor technologies, incorporating principles from Einstein's photoeffect and Wild's design principles. Notably, Einstein's relativistic corrections underpin the functionality of GPS systems. A recent discovery in the ETH archives revealed a photograph capturing both luminaries receiving honorary doctorates from the Swiss Technical University Zurich in 1930, symbolising the culmination of their parallel trajectories.
The absence of a patent application jointly submitted by Heinrich Wild and reviewed by Albert Einstein during their time in Bern remains a curious anomaly. Nevertheless, the convergence of Einstein's theoretical insights and Wild's technical innovations in Bern a century ago continues to reverberate, enhancing our understanding and navigation not only on Earth but also in space, shaping landmarks, structures, and maps across the globe.
This article is an adaptation of one written by Fritz Staudacher and originally published on the Swiss Physical Society website, which can be found here.
