1.

Plane Survey
Plane surveying is the survey in which the earth surface is assumed to be plane
and the curvature of the earth is ignored. The plane surveys extend only over
small areas and the lines connecting any two points on the surface of the earth
are treated as straight lines and the angles between such lines are taken as
plane angles. In dealing with plane surveys, knowledge of plane geometry and
trigonometry is required. Surveys covering an area up to 260 km may be
treated as plane surveys. It is to be noted that the difference in length between
the arc and the subtended chord on the earth surface for a distance of 18.2 km
is only 0.1 m.
1.1

Scope and Use of Plane Surveying

Plane surveys are carried out for engineering projects on sufficiently large
scale to determine relative positions of individual features of the earth
surface. Plane surveys are used for the layout of highways, railways, canals,
fixing boundary pillars, construction of bridges, factories etc. The scope and
use of plane surveys is very wide. For majority of engineering project, plane
surveying is the first step to execute them. Plane surveys are basically
needed for proper, economical and accurate planning of all engineering
projects and their practical significance cannot be overestimated.

1.2

Division of Plane Surveying

1.2.1 Chain Surveying

Chain surveying is the simplex type of surveying in which the area to be
surveyed is divided in to a number of triangles. The length of the sides
are measured and the interior details are recorded. The whole area is
then plotted on a drawing sheet to a suitable scale to produce a map.

1.2.2 Traverse Surveying (compass and theodolite surveying)

Traverse surveying is a type of surveying in which the plot of land to be
surveyed is enclosed by a series of straight lines making angles with
one another. The length of the lines and the angles are measured and
plotted with all interior details on a drawing sheet to a suitable scale to
produce a map.

1.2.3 Plane Table Surveying

Plane table surveying is a method of surveying in which observations

and plotting are done simultaneously.