Course Name: Academic Debate 1

Assignment: 1st Report on

Different Typeschniques of Surveying Te

Student Name: Hozan Sabri Mustafa
Department: Surveying Engineering
Instructor: Dr. Mamoon Mustafa
Date: 3/ 4 / 2019

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………….…. ..................................................... 3
2. Type of Surveying Techniques ……………………………………………….… .................................................... 4
a. Land surveying ………………………………………….………….…..……… ........................................................... 4
b. Engineering surveying ..…….………………………………...………..…........................................................... 4
c. Mining surveying ………………………………………………..………… ............................................................... 4
d. Hydrographic surveying …………………………………………………… ............................................................ 5
e. Geodetic surveying ………………………………………………………….…… ....................................................... 5
f. Photogrammetry and remote sensing …………………………………... ...................................................... 5
3. Modern land surveying instrument ……………….……………………..… ................................................. 6
a. Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) Instrument …………………................................................. 7
b. Total station …………………………………………………………………………………… ............................................. 8
c. Global Positioning System ………………………………………………………………......................................... 9-10
d. Automatic Level ………………………………………………………………………………… ........................................ 10
4.Conclusion:............................................................................................................................................... 11

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Introduction:
Surveying is the technique of determining the relative position of different features on, above
or beneath the surface of the earth by means of direct or indirect measurements and finally
representing them on a sheet of paper known as plan or map. The surveying process has been
in existence for a very long time and many say it is the second oldest profession in the world. In
fact, records show that it dates back to ancient times in Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome the
history of surveying and measurement has been part of FIG work since its establishment more
than 130 years ago. Land surveyors work in the office and in the field. In the field, they use the
latest technology such as high order GPS, Robotic Total Stations (Theodolites), and aerial and
terrestrial scanners to map an area, making computations and taking photos as evidence. In the
office, Surveyors then use sophisticated software, such as Auto-cad to draft plans and map the
onsite measurements. Surveyors work on a diverse variety of projects from land subdivision
and mining exploration, to tunnel building and major construction, which means no two days
are the same. They are experts in determining land size and measurement. They also give
advice and provide information to guide the work of engineers, architects and developers.

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Type of Surveying Techniques:
There are many types of disciplines in surveying and a surveyor during their career may decide
to specialize in a particular discipline or may gain experience in all disciplines. The main
disciplines of surveying are:

Land surveying:

Land surveying involves measuring and determining property boundaries, which are used as the
basis for all property transactions including buying, selling, mortgaging and leasing. Due to the
importance of having a secure and strong property market, in NSW a land surveyor needs to be
registered to be able to carry out a land survey.

Engineering surveying:

Engineering surveyors are engaged in the construction industry and ensure construction works
are built in the correct location and as per their design. They are generally found on
construction sites setting out various types of works such as buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels
and various other forms of infrastructure.

Mining surveying:

Mining surveyors are involved in the development and construction of mining operations and
can generally be found above and underground taking measurements to determine volumes
and setting out new excavations and tunneling. Mining surveyors in NSW are registered due to
many safety issues involved in mining including ensuring mining does not encroach upon
hazardous areas and future subsidence.

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Hydrographic surveying:

Hydrographic surveying involves locating and measuring points under the sea and on the
shore. There measurements are used to design infrastructure such as docks and jetties as well
as ensuring ships have enough clearance from the sea bed to safely travel around the world.
Using sonar scanners they are able to provide a picture of the sea bed without needing to get
their feet wet and enabling the discovery of ship wrecks and other objects lost at sea.

Geodetic surveying:

Geodetic surveyors are involved with undertaking very precise measurements to determine the
shape and size of the world and track the movement of continents. Their measurements are
used in the monitoring of sea level rise, earthquakes, and the tracking of satellites. Geodetic
surveyors are involved in the development of co-ordinate systems and datum which are used in
the productions of maps and plans.

Photogrammetry and remote sensing

Photogrammetry and remote sensing involves taking measurements of the world via
photography or other wavelength bands such as infra-red or ultra-violet. Measurements may
be sources from aerial photography or satellite imagery. Photogrammetry and remote sensing
is used to map large areas and determine changes in the world over time.

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Modern land surveying instrument:
Surveying is the process of analyzing and recording the characteristics of a land area span to
help design a plan or map for construction. Surveying instruments are used by surveyors to get
reliable and accurate readings of angles and distances between terrestrial points. These types
of instruments have evolved and became highly advanced over the year. The modern surveying
instruments acquire precise measurements with Global Positioning System, lasers data
collectors and digital technologies. Tape measure, chains, dumpy levels and compass used to be
the basic tools utilized for surveying lands. Even though they are not widely used anymore
nowadays as surveying instruments, they still serve a very important purpose for other
applications Modern surveying instruments provides faster and more precise surveying than
conventional instruments. Their types and uses are discussed in this:

 Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) Instruments

 Total Station
 Global Positioning System (GPS)
 Automatic Level

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1. Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) Instruments

Direct measurement of distances and their directions can be obtained by using electronic
instruments that rely on propagation, reflection and reception of either light waves or radio
waves. They may be broadly classified into three types:

a. Infrared wave instruments

b. Light wave instruments

c. Microwave instruments

a. Infrared Wave Instruments

These instruments measure distances by using amplitude modulated infrared waves. At the
end of the line, prisms mounted on target are used to reflect the waves. These instruments are
light and economical and can be mounted on theodolites for angular measurements. The range
of such an instrument will be 3 km and the accuracy achieved is ± 10 mm

b. Light Wave Instruments

These are the instruments which measures distances based on propagation of modulated light
waves. The accuracy of such an instrument varies from 0.5 to 5 mm / km distance and has a
range of nearly 3 km

c. Microwave Instruments
These instruments make use of high frequency radio waves. These instruments were invented
as early as 1950 in South Africa by Dr. T.L. Wadley. The range of these instruments is up to 100
km and can be used both during day and might.

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2. Total station:
Digital Theodolites are great but Total Stations are much better. The accuracy and versatility of

a Total Station can increase efficiency and accuracy simultaneously. If you need the ability to

record X, Y, and Z coordinates, record height of instrument and height of rod, as well as

distance for a true sense of what you are recording, then a Total Station is what you need. Total

Stations fulfill the need for applications like land surveying, general construction layout,

construction stake-out, mapping, utility mapping, GIS applications, archaeology mapping, law

enforcement accident reconstruction, and environmental studies. Generally speaking, Total

Stations rest on a sturdy tripod and are used to record XYZ point data such as your North, East,

and Elevation with the end result of data being a "Point file" which is nothing more than a text

file that can be transferred into a CAD system to begin mapping while connecting the dots.

When buying a Total Station, the accuracy is based on a number of things such as the optics but

the most important specification is the seconds at which it can measure down to. Surveyors

generally require a 2" instrument whereas residential and commercial contractors can be

totally fine with a 5-second or 9-second instrument which are usually used for construction

stake out and verification of locations and elevations. Most contractors generally work within

their job site and can get to a benchmark or reference point while targeting their work within

100 to 200 feet away, whereas land surveyors are usually sighting distances much farther away,

hence the need for greater accuracy. Keep in mind that "Reflector less" means the Total Station

does not require use of a prism on a prism pole whereas other Total Stations do require the use

of a prism to record a location. Most Total Stations today are of the reflector less type.

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3. Global Positioning System (GPS):

Global Positioning System (GPS) is developed by U.S. Defense department and is called
Navigational System with Time and Ranging Global Positioning System (NAVSTAR GPS) or simply
GPS. For this purpose U.S. Air Force has stationed 24 satellites at an altitude of 20200 km above
the earth’s surface. The satellites have been positioned in such a way; at least four satellites
will be visible from any point on earth. The user needs a GPS receiver to locate the position of
any point on ground. The receive processes the signals received from the satellite and compute
the position (latitude and longitude) and elevation of a point with reference to datum. In
practice, GPS technology is often incorporated into a Total Station to produce complete survey
data. GPS receivers used for base line measurements are generally more complex and
expensive than those in common use, requiring a high quality antenna. There are three
methods of GPS measurement that are utilized by surveyors.

 Static GPS Baseline. Static GPS is used for determining accurate coordinates for survey
points by simultaneously recording GPS observations over a known and unknown survey
point for at least 20 minutes. The data is then processed in the office to provide coordinates
with an accuracy of better than 5mm depending on the duration of the observations and

satellite availability at the time of the measurements.

 Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Observations. This is where one receiver remains in one

position over a known point – the Base Station – and another receiver moves between positions –
the Rover Station. The position of the Rover can be computed and stored within a few seconds,
using a radio link to provide a coordinate correction. This method gives similar accuracy to baseline
measurements within 10km of the base station.

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 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS). This where a survey quality
GPS receiver is permanently installed in a location as a starting point for any GPS
measurements in the district. Common users of CORS are mining sites, major engineering
projects and local governments. Surveyors’ GPS receivers can then collect field data and
combine it with the CORS data to calculate positions. Many countries have a CORS network
that is used by many industries. Australia’s CORS network is the Australian Regional GPS
Network, and uses an online processing system to deliver data over the internet within 24
hours, and give positions within accuracy of a few centimeters. Local CORS networks are
also used to provide instant positions similar to the RTK method by using a mobile phone
data link to provide a coordinate correction to the surveyor and their rover.

4. Automatic Level:

An automatic level is a special leveling instrument used in surveying which contains an optical
compensator which maintains line of sight or line of collimation even though instrument is
slightly tilted. The automatic level has either foot screws or a ball-and-socket joint. Once the
level has been approximately leveled, it gives automatically a horizontal line of sight without a
(telescope) bubble having to be accurately set. As the automatic level does not have a
telescope bubble there is no need for the telescope to be capable of tilting, therefore, there is
no tilting screw either. Setting up and approximate leveling is done with the circular bubble in
the same way as for a tilting level. The adjustment of parallax must be carried out as described
for the dumpy level. Using the automatic level the line of sight should be horizontal once the
instrument has been approximately leveled using the circular bubble. For most automatic levels
the adjustment is done by moving the diaphragm, as is done for the dumpy level. Never touch
the stabilizing unit of the automatic level but return the instrument to the supplier for repairs.

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Conclusion:

All types of surveying are important for their career, but I think a land surveying is must
important one because there are so many important uses for land surveying, and most of us
depend on it so as to ensure order in the physical world around us. Without surveyors land
ownership, developments and construction would be absolute chaos. If you need a project to
be executed perfectly, hire a reputable land surveying company to confirm your property lines
before starting any home construction or additions. This first step will help save time, money,
neighborly disputes, and legal headaches.

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References:

1- https://www.jurovichsurveying.com.au/faq/what-is-gps
2- https://constructionreviewonline.com/2017/08/land-surveying-importance/
3- https://theconstructor.org/surveying/modern-surveying-instruments-uses/16/
4- https://civiltoday.com/surveying/13-definition-and-importance-of-surveying

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