Avenue Maurice d’Ocagne

Did Maurice d’Ocagne ever imagine an avenue in Paris bearing his name? Avenue Maurice d’Ocagne, a tribute to the mathematician and engineer, stretches 430 meters, nestled in the 14th arrondissement’s Plaisance quarter. This avenue, parallel to Boulevard Brune and the Périphérique, wasn’t always here. It emerged in 1956, following land annexation from Malakoff in 1925. Avenue Maurice d’Ocagne isn’t just a street. It’s a thread connecting us to a remarkable figure. D’Ocagne, born Philbert Maurice d’Ocagne in 1862, championed nomography, a graphical method for solving algebraic equations using abacuses. He also introduced the use of the clothoide curve in road design in France. His contributions extended far beyond these innovations. D’Ocagne served as an engineer in Rochefort and Cherbourg, working on hydraulic projects for the navy. Later, he joined the Ministry of Public Works, overseeing maps, plans, and precision instruments. He lectured at École Polytechnique, eventually holding the geometry chair. A prolific writer, d’Ocagne authored numerous publications, including “Calcul graphique et nomographie” and “Souvenirs et causeries.” He even delved into the history of calculating machines, from Pascal to Torres Quevedo. Today, as you stand on Avenue Maurice d’Ocagne, the Jules-Noël stadium at number 3 and Lycée Raspail at number 5 bis stand as modern landmarks along this tribute to a man whose work shaped modern mathematics and engineering. D’Ocagne’s legacy continues to resonate, from the curves of our roads to the calculations that underpin our world.