  Time-resolved ground-based surveys in general, and photometric ones in
particular, have played a crucial role in building up our knowledge of the
properties, physical nature, and the very existence of the many different
classes of variable stars and transient events that are currently known. Here I
provide a brief overview of these developments, discussing some of the
stumbling blocks that had to be overcome along the way, and others that may
still hamper further progress in the area. A compilation of different types of
past, present, and future surveys is also provided.
