What does personal error stem from?

Personal error is primarily attributed to unintentional faults that arise from the observer's poor judgment or mistakes during data collection or interpretation. This type of error is inherent to the human aspect of surveying and geodesy, where individual perceptions and decision-making processes can lead to discrepancies in measurements.

For instance, an observer may misinterpret scales, misread instruments, or make incorrect assumptions about reference points due to fatigue or distraction. Unlike systematic errors, which are predictable and can be corrected, personal errors are random and vary from one observation to another. Understanding personal error is crucial for geodetic engineers as it highlights the importance of training, experience, and careful attention to detail in minimizing these types of mistakes during the surveying process.