The authors introduce some historical data on the activities of Konstantinovsky Land Surveying Institute graduates into scientific circulation for the first time. It was the center of geodetic education in Russia from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. This educational institution developed the latest technologies, improved the principles of land surveying, the art of mapping, preserved the traditions and spirit of innovation. With development of theory and practice, geodetic methods, techniques and mapping changed, which was facilitated, among other things, by new government assignments. Thus, in order to implement the reform of 1861, the staff of geodesists had to be greatly increased. New land surveying schools were opened and old ones were expanded, temporary courses for training the required specialists were arranged at the above mentioned institute. The education allowed them to be engaged not only in extensive practice in the field of surveying and mapping, but also to conduct a variety of research activities. This can be confirmed by the unique scientific work carried out in 1874. It was a map of the Russian Empire on a spherical surface made by an engineer V. P. Larionov