UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

PAPER NO

EXAMINATION

DATE

First Semester 2003/2004

BECE/03F/8

BEng (Hons) Civil

Engineering
Level 1

Friday
21 November 2003

SERIES

PAPER

TIME

Nov/Dec 2003

Surveying 1
(CIVE 1107/CIVE 2105)

13.30 15.30

This paper contains SIX (6) Questions.

answer ANY FOUR (4) Questions.

Candidates are requested to

Question 1
A 30 m steel tape standardized at 20 C and supported throughout under a
tension of 5.45 kg was found to be 30.012m long. The tape had a crosssectional area of 0.050 cm 2 and a weight of 0.03967 kg/m. This tape was held
horizontal, supported at the ends only, with a constant tension of 9.09 kg, to
measure a line from A to B in three segments. The data listed in the following
table were recorded.
Section

Temp. C

A-1

Recorded
Length (m)
30.000

1-2

30.000

15

2-B

21.151

16

14

The coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction of steel is 0.0000116 per

unit length per degree Celsius and the average value of the modulus of
elasticity is 2,000,000 kg/cm2. Determine the correct length of the line.
[25 marks]

Question 2
Levelling observations have been taken in sequence, starting on a bench mark
98.760 m above mean sea level:
0.663, 1.946, 1.008, l.l53, 1.585, 2.787, 2.270, 1.218, 0.646
The levelling instrument was moved forward after observing the underlined
reading.
(i)

Book the above readings in level book form.

(ii)

Reduce the levels by the Rise and Fall method.

(iii)

Reduce the levels by the Height of Collimation method.

[25 marks]

Page 1 of 4

Question 3
A theodolite traverse carried out between two points A and B on the line of a
proposed tunnel resulted in the following observations being obtained:
Line

Bearing

Length (m)

A -1

86 37

128.88

1 -2

165 18

208.56

2 -3

223 15

96.54

3 -B

159 53

145.05

Calculate the bearing and distance of point B from point A.

[25 marks]

Question 4
(a)

A closed line traverse was run between two control stations A and E to
fix stations B, C and D. Table shows abstract of traverse data.

Observed horizontal
clockwise angles
R1 A - B
283 50 10
AB-C

256 17 18

B C -D

98 12 36

C D -E

103 30 34

D E R2

285 24 34

Known bearings A R1
E R2

139 05 45
86 20 47

Calculate:
(i)

the angular error in the traverse

(ii)

the adjusted bearings of the traverse legs.

[15 marks]
(Continued on next page)

Page 2 of 4

Question 4 (Continued)
(b)

The partial coordinates of a closed polygon traverse are:

Line

Length (m)

? E (m)

? N (m)

AB
BC
CD
DA

252.41
158.75
153.50
136.74

0.00
-110.76
-25.24
+136.15

+252.41
-113.82
-151.41
+12.67

(i)

Balance by the Bowditch adjustment the partial eastings and

northings of the traverse.

(ii)

Calculate the linear misclosure and relative precision of the

traverse.
[10 marks]

Question 5
(a)

Define the axis of sight, horizontal/transit axis, and the vertical/

standing axis of a theodolite. What relationships should exist between
these axes for an instrument in good adjustment?
[5 marks]

(b)

Describe the procedure for levelling a theodolite.

(c)

A theodolite is suspected of having the following faults:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

[5 marks]

the plate level is out of adjustment

the axis of sight is not perpendicular to the transit axis
the vertical cross hair is inclined.

Comment on the effects, if any, that these faults would have on angular
measurements. State clearly the procedure you would adopt in the
field for reducing/eliminating these errors without making any
permanent adjustments.
[15 marks]

Page 3 of 4

Question 6
The line of collimation of a tilting level was checked by taking the following
readings on a vertical staff held in turn on pegs A and B 60 m apart:

Level position
Midway between A and B
100 m from A on AB produced

Staff readings (m)

At A
At B
1.514
1.968
2.025

2.439

Use these observations to show how the level could have been adjusted for
any collimation error.
The unadjusted level was used to establish two sight rails SR1 and SR2, 100 m
apart for setting out of a sewer with a gradient falling at 1 in 200 from SR1.
The invert level at SR1 was 278.58 m and the traveller was 3.50 m long. To
establish the sight rails a backsight of 1.06 was taken on to a benchmark
281.46 m above datum and 30 m away from the level.
Determine staff readings required to set up SR1 and SR2 which were 50 m
and 45 m respectively from the level.
[25 marks]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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