Table of Content

No
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Title

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Introduction

Equipment/ Apparatus

Description of Instrument

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Rubric

1. Introduction
Surveying is basically a practice of measuring altitudes, horizontal and vertical
distance between objects, the angle and direction between two lines. The distances,
angles, directions, locations, elevations, areas and volumes are determined from the
data of the survey by some mathematical calculation. There is some common
equipment which always used in every survey and it is importance to know those
equipment before carrying out any surveying. Various tape surveying instruments will
be discussed in this report.

2. Equipment/ Apparatus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Tape
Arrows
Ranging Rod
Offset Rod
Cross Staff
Pegs
Plumb Bob

3. Description of Instruments
1. Tape
There are various type of measuring tapes
material:

[1]

which made from different

i. Linen or cloth tape

Figure 1: Cloth tape

The cloth tape is made up of closely woven linen cloth and the end of tape
with brass ring with the length included in the total length of the tape. Cloth
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tapes are available in length of 10, 20, 25 and 30 meters. Since the tape is
made up of linen, it is light and flexible and are usually used for taking rough
measurement such as offsets. However, the tape is easy to twist and tangle and
since the cloth tape are not so strong, its length will get altered by stretching.
Thus the cloth tape are not suitable used for accurate measurements. [2]
ii. Metallic tape

Figure 2: Metallic tape

Metallic tape made from vanished strip of water proof linen reinforced with
small brass, cooper or bronze wire to prevent stretching or twisting of fibres.
Metallic tape are light in weight, flexible and durable. Metallic tape are
particularly useful in cross-sectioning and in some methods of topography
survey.[2] Tape are available in many lengths but tapes of 20m and 30m are
more commonly used.[1]
iii. Steel tape

Figure 3: Steel tape

A steel tape is made of light steel strip in width from 6mm to 10mm. It is
available in lengths of 1, 2, 10, 30, and 50m. The steel tape is more useful and
accurate as compared to cloth and metallic tape. Steel tape is a delicate and
light weight instrument hence it cannot withstand rough usage. Tape should be
cleaned, dried and oiled after use to prevent rusting.
iv. Invar tape

Figure 4: Invar tape

The invar tape are made of alloys of 36% nickel and 64% steel. It having very
low co-efficient of thermal expansion. It is 6mm wide and generally available
in length of 30m, 50m and 100m. The tape are used when high degree of
accuracy and precision in linear measurement is required.
v. Synthetic tape

Figure 5: Synthetic tape

The synthetic tape are manufactured of glass fibre having PVC coating. They
are graduated every 10mm and figured every 100mm. They are convenient for
measuring shorts lengths.[3]
2. Arrows

Figure 6: Arrows
Arrow are also called as marking or chaining pins. It is used to mark the points
on the ground or to mark the end of each chain during the chaining process.
The arrows are made of good quality hardened steel wire with each of them in
400mm length and 4mm diameter. They are pointed at one end of inserting
into the ground and other end bent into a loop or ring.
3. Ranging rods

Figure 7: Ranging rod

Ranging rod is a surveying instrument used for making the position of stations
and for sightings of those stations as well as for ranging some intermediate
4

points in the survey lines. The ranging rod are made of metallic materials. The
length of rod are usually 2m to 3m and diameter of 3cm. Rod are painted
alternately either red and white or black and white with each colour of 20cm
long. They are shod with heavy iron at the bottom point. The red and white or
yellow and white flag with about 25cm square should be fastened at the top
when they are at considerable distance. There are some ranging rod with
greater length, i.e., 4m to 6m long, they are called as ranging poles and used in
case of very long survey lines.[4]
4. Cross staff

Figure 8: Different type of cross staff

The cross staff is used for finding the foot of the perpendicular from a given
point to line and setting up right angle at a given point on a line. There are
three forms of cross staff, the open cross staff, French cross staff and
adjustable cross staff.[5]
i. Open cross staff
The simplest form of cross staff which consist of 2 parts: the head and the leg.
It consist of 4 metal arms with vertical slits for sighting though.
ii. French cross staff
The French cross staff consists of an octagonal brass tube with slits on all
eight sides. It has an alternate vertical slit and an opposite vertical window
with a vertical horse hair or a fine wire on each four sides which are used for
setting out right angles. On the other sides are vertical sits which used for
setting out angles of 45.
iii. Adjustable cross staff
It consist of a cylindrical brass tube with about 8cm in diameter and 1 cm in
deep. The tube is divided in the centre, the upper cylinder can be rotated
relatively to the lower one by a circular rack and pinion arrangement actuated
by screw. Both are provided with sighting slits. The lower part show the
degrees reading and upper part carry a Vernier. It can be used to setting up
angles of any magnitude. Besides, it has a magnetic compass on the top which
can be used in taking the bearing of lines.
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5. Offset rod

Figure 9: Ranging Rod and Offset Rod

The offset rod are similar to ranging rods and is usually 3m in length.
However, the offset rod has no flag on the top[4], it has a hook at top for pulling
the taper chain through fences and narrow slits for aligning the offset line. [6]
The offset rod is used for aligning the offset of short length.[3]
6. Pegs

Figure 10: Survey peg

Pegs are made from hard timber and tapered at one end. The pegs are used
when certain points on the field require more permanent marking. There are
usually 2.5cm square and 15cm long. But the 40cm to 60cm long and 4cm to
5cm square are more suitable in soft ground.[3] Sometimes, pieces of properly
sharpened tree branches are used as pegs.[7] The pegs should drive vertically
into the soil and the top should be clearly visible.
7. Plumb Bob

Figure 11: Plumb bob

Plumb bob is a weight with sharp pointed tip on the bottom that is suspended
from a string. It is used to check if the objects are vertical.

4. Discussion
Those equipment was a great invention, it was being used by people since long time
ago until now. However, some equipment are being soon replaced by more advanced
equipment to minimize the error occur, increase its accuracy and faster the setting up
time. For instance, the plumb bob, it take time for waiting it calm, and it cannot be
used in some situation such as during the windy weather. It could be better if it
replaced by equipment like laser.

5. Conclusion
It is important for anyone to know and well understood to the uses, precaution and
preservation of every equipment before the fieldwork is carry out or any laboratory
experiment. This is to ensure that the whole experimental process could carry out in
smooth, safe and able to obtain much accurate results, as well as to protect those
equipment.

6. References:
1. Tape (Surveying). (2015 October 21). Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_(surveying)
2. Tape in surveying. (2014 June 12). Retrieved from:
http://www.cegyan.com/blog/tapes-in-surveying-civil
3. Instrument used in Surveying. Retrieved from: http://www.agriinfo.in/?
page=topic&superid=8&topicid=45
4. Ranging rod. (2015 December 11). Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranging_rod
5. Instrument for Setting out Right Angles. Retrieved from:
http://www.agriinfo.in/?page=topic&superid=8&topicid=46
6. Nitsure, S. P., Pawar, A. D., & Kulkarni, L. G. (2006 January 1). Basic Civil
Engineering. India, Pune: Technical Publication Pune.
7. Elementary Surveying Equipment. Retrieved from:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/r7021e/r7021e02.htm
8. Plumb bob. (2015 December 21). Retrieved from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumb_bob