Exercise No.

2
TAPING ON LEVEL GROUND

Name of Student: _________________ Date of Field Exercise: __________

Group No. __________ Date Submitted: __________
Group Leader: ________________________ Grade: _______

I. BACKGROUND

One of the basic distance-measuring devices is the steel tape. When measuring on level ground
using the steel tape, one needs to lay down the tape on the ground and making sure it is taut and
straight. There are rules to follow when measuring very long distances especially on how to
count the number of full tape lengths. For example, the term one pin is being used here to
indicate one full tape length and when the surveyor has already measured 10 pins, this is then
equivalent to one tally. Hence, one tally is equivalent to 10 full tape lengths.

II. OBJECTIVES

The following are the objectives of the study:

1. To be familiar with the use of the steel tape.
2. To be able to measure an unknown distance on level ground with the use of the steel tape.

III. INSTRUMENTS

25-m steel tape 1 units

Range poles 2 units
Marking pins 1 set (composed of 10 pins)

IV. STUDY AREA

DLSU Campus

V. PROCEDURE

1. The unknown distance to be measured will be discussed by the instructor before the start
of the exercise.
2. A range pole is place on each end point of the unknown distance. The points will be
marked as points A and B.
3. Two members of the group are assigned as polemen. One will be positioned at point A
and one at Pont B. Their main responsibility is to see to it that the tape which is being laid
down, during the process of measurement, is straight.
4. Two members of the group are assigned as tapemen. One will be the rear tapeman, and
the other, the head tapeman. Their main function is to lay down the steel tape properly.
5. The rear tapeman holds the last meter-mark of the tape, and then positions himself at the
starting point (Point A or Point B).
6. The head tapeman then proceeds towards the other end point, carrying the 10 marking
pins with him.
7. When the head tapeman has used the full length of the tape, he stops, mark the point and
transfers the last tape mark on the ground.
8. The rear and head tapemen then face each other in a kneeling position and align the tape
to the two end range poles, the polemen may help, in the process. The tape should be held
steadily and pulled properly. Once the tape is aligned, the head tapeman, then, places a
marking pin on the point of the last meter-mark of the tape. He then signals to the rear
tapeman to release the tape. The head tapeman walks forward to repeat the entire process.
9. The rear tapeman should pull the marking pin before him at the end of each
measurement. The number of marking pins in the rear tapemans possession is a record of
the number of tape-lengths measured from the starting point to the last pin on the ground.
At the end of the 10th measurement, the head tapeman, then, asks the rear tapeman to
hand him the 10 marking pins in his possession. The head tapeman then records the
measurement. The same process is repeated after every 10 measurements, the results of
which are to be recorded properly.
10. Upon reaching the end point, the head tapeman positions the zero mark of the tape, with
the end point of the distance.
11. The rear tapeman pulls the tape and observes the part of the tape which coincides with the
last marking pin. The reading is then recorded.
12. The process is repeated, this time, using the end point as the starting point. If a large
discrepancy between trials 1 and 2 is observed, a third trial should be made to serve as a
check.
13. If a large discrepancy between trials 1 and 2 were observed, a third trial should be made,
to serve as a check.
VI. DATA AND RESULTS

a. Distance A to B

No. of Tallies from point A to point B = ________

No. of Pins Left after the last Tally = ________

Measurement form Endpoint to the last

marking pin = ________

b. Distance B to A

No. of Tallies from point A to point B = ________

No. of Pins Left after the last Tally = ________

Measurement form Endpoint to the last

marking pin = ________

VII. COMPUTATIONS

Distance AB = No. of Tallies x 10 (x 25m) + No. of Pins (x 25m)

+ Fractional Tape length = __________

Distance BA = = ___________

Average distance of AB = (AB + BA)/2 = ___________

VIII. ILLUSTRATIONS

IX. REMARKS/CONCLUSION