Koya University

Faculty of Engineering
Architectural Eng. Department

Engineering Surveying

Measurement system; dimensions and angles

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Units of measurement
There are five kinds of measurement used in
plane surveying:
1. Horizontal distance
2. Vertical distance
3. Horizontal angle
4. Vertical angel
5. Slope distance

 In surveying; the most commonly employed

units are for:

length, area, volume, and angle

Two different units are in use for specifying
units:
1. Metric system (international system SI)
2. English system.
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 Metric system (international system SI)

For length; km, m , cm , mm
For area ;
km2, m2 , cm2 , mm2
For volumes; km3, m3 , cm3 , mm3
English system
For length;
mile , yard(y) , foot (ft) , inch(in)
For area;
mile2, y2 , ft2 , in2
For volumes; mile3, y3 , ft3 , in3

Linear measurements

Metric (SI) units

1 kilometer (km)

1000 meter (m)

I meter (m)

100 centimeter (cm)

1 centimeter (cm)

10 millimeter (mm)

1 hectare (ha)

10 000 m2

1 square kilometer

1 000 000 m2

1 square kilometer

100 hectares

Foot units
1 foot (ft)
1 yard (yd)
1 chain

1 mile =

12 inches (in)
3 feet (ft)
66 feet (ft)
5280 feet
1760 yards
80 chains

Foot to metric conversion

1 ft
0.3048 m (exactly)
1 inch
1 km

2.54 cm (exactly)
0.62137 miles

1 meter = 39.37 inches = 3.28 feet

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Angles
a) Degree system
Total angle = 360 degree
each degree = 60 minute
each minute = 60 second
each second = 100% percentage of second
b) Radian system
Total angle = 2
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How to convert radian to degree

e.g.1
Convert r= 1.2 to degree system
e.g.2
Convert = 45 25` 58.95`` to radian system
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H.W

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Different methods of linear measurements

1. Direct measurements
2. Indirect measurements (stadia method )
3. Electronic distance measurement (EDM)

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Direct measurements
The various methods of measuring the
distances directly are as follows:
1. Pacing

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2. Measurement with pedometer

3. Chaining

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Chaining
Chaining: chining is a term which is used to
denote measuring distance either with the help of
a chain or a tape and is the most accurate method
of making direct measurements.
Instruments for chaining:
1. Chain or tape
2. Pegs
3. Ranging rods
4. Plumb bob
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1. Tapes: tapes are used for more accurate

measurements and are classed according to
the material of which they are made, such as
follows:
I. Cloth or linen tape
II. Metallic tape
III. Steel tape
IV. Invar tape

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2. Pegs: Steel or wooden pegs are used to mark

the positions of the stations or terminal points
of a survey line. They are made of steel or wood
and 15 cm long.
They are driven into the
ground with the help of a
hammer.
2. Ranging rods: Ranging rods have a length of
either 2m or 3m, the 2m length being more
common. They are painted in
alternative bands of either
black and white or red and
white.
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4. Plumb bob: while chaining along sloping

ground, a plumb-bob is required to transfer the
points to the ground. It is also used to make
ranging poles vertical and to transfer points
from a line ranger to the
ground. In addition, it is
used as centering aid in
theodolite, plane table
and some other
surveying
instruments.
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Exercise No.1
Direct linear measurements
1. Introduction:
What is meant by linear measurement

2. Aim of exercise
a) Measuring the horizontal distance on flat lands
b) Measuring the horizontal distance on slope lands
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3. Tools & equipments

a- tape b- range rods c- pegs

d- plumb bob

4. Procedure
a. For fixing a certain point on the direction of
straight line, the observer will stand from a
distance before the start point

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b. The observer oriented the follower for

moving the range rod to the direction near
the straight line until the range rod disappear
behind the 1st range rod.

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c. At this time the follower will fix this point and

make a sign in it by peg or paint
d. By the same way the group will fixing the all
point on the direction of straight line
e. Measure the distance between points by
tape, twice measure the distance for
checking
f. Record reading of distances

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g. Choose a straight on slope ground and sign

the points by same way

h. Measure the horizontal distance & project

the end of line by plumb bob and sign it by
pegs or pants
i. Measure and record all distances once and
twice
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5. Data sheet
From

To

l`

L(average)

L= nl + l`
l= full length tape
n= number of full length tape
l`= partial tape length

6. Discussion
Explain the benefit of linear measurement
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