The Royal Thai Survey Department was established on Sept 3, 1885, under a royal command. His team surveyed certain areas of Bangkok and produced maps for constructing roads and telegraph systems and protecting territorial waters. In 1875, the king established the map-making division and Alabaster was nominated to head things up. Alabaster suggested the use of modern sciences in developing the nation. The modern science of cartography from the West was introduced to Siam after King Rama V's visit to the Malay peninsula, Java and India in 1873 when the monarch decided to hire Henry Alabaster (1836-84), former deputy British consul to Siam, as his personal adviser. Through the map-making equipment and old maps, visitors can learn about the evolution of map production in Thailand. Also there are modern machines, such as mirror stereoscopes, aviagraph stereoplotters, colour separation tools and computers. On view are plane surveying, chain surveying and compass surveying tools, old-style stationery and passometers (step counting tools). Group visitors who make advance reservations may be allowed to try using certain survey tools and see how a map is produced and printed. With help from officers here, visitors can look at maps through mirror stereoscopes which provide three-dimensional images. Stepping into this room, visitors will first see a special section showing map-making machines inspected by His Majesty the King during his visit to the department in 1980 and later by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Located at the Royal Thai Survey Department on Kalayana Maitri Road near the palace, the museum is called the Therd Phra Kiat Room.ĭisplaying map-making tools and old maps, it provides a clear picture of the history and development of cartography in Thailand since the reign of King Rama V in the 19th century. Behind this European-style building of the Royal Thai Survey Department is a map museum.