University of the East – Manila

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

NCE 2102 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Introduction to Surveying

Engr. Franz Alexis B. Juanico

1st semester 2019 - 2020
 Surveying
• “Surveying is the art of determining the positions of points on or near the earth’s
surface by means of measurements in the three elements of space; namely,
distance, direction, and elevation.” – Rayner and Schmidt.

• “Surveying is the art of measuring horizontal and vertical distances between

objects, of measuring angles between lines, of determining direction of lines, and
of establishing points by predetermined angular and linear measurements.” –
Davis, Foote, Anderson, and Mikhail.

• “Surveying is the art of making such measurements of the relative positions of

points on the surface of the earth that, on drawing them to scale, natural and
artificial features may be exhibited in their correct horizontal or vertical
relationships.” – Clarke.

Introduction to Surveying 2
 Surveying
• “Surveying is that branch of applied mathematics which teaches the art of
determining the area of any portion of the earth’s surface, the length and
directions of the boundary lines, the contour of the surface, and of accurately
delineating the whole on paper.” – Webster.

• “Surveying is the science or art of making such measurements as are necessary to

determine the relative position of points above, on, or beneath the surface of the
earth, or to establish such points.” – Breed, Hosmer, and Bone.

• “Surveying is the science and art of determining relative positions of points

above, on or beneath the surface of the earth, or establishing such points.” –
Brinker and Wolf.

Introduction to Surveying 3
 Surveying
• General Classifications of Surveying

1. Plane Surveying – The type of surveying in which the earth is considered to be

a flat surface, and where distances and areas involved are of limited extent that
the exact shape of the earth is disregarded.

2. Geodetic Surveying – A type of surveying which takes into account the

spheroidal shape of the earth

Introduction to Surveying 4
 Surveying
• Types of Surveys

1. Cadastral Survey – Usually closed surveys which are done in urban or rural
locations in order to define the property lines and boundaries, corners, and
areas. It is also employed to fix the boundaries of municipalities, towns, and
provincial jurisdictions.

2. City Surveys – These are surveys of the areas in and near a city for the purpose
of planning expansions or improvements, locating property lines, fixing
reference monuments, determining the physical features and configuration of
the land, and preparing maps.

Introduction to Surveying 5
 Surveying
• Types of Surveys

3. Construction Surveys – These are employed at the construction site to provide

data regarding grades, reference lines, dimensions, ground configuration, and
the location and elevation of structures which are of concern to engineers,
architects, and builders.

4. Forestry Surveys – A type of survey done to protect, manage, and conserve the
forest lands

5. Hydrographic Surveys – Refer to surveys conducted on bodies of water such as

streams, lakes, harbors, seas or oceans to map shorelines, chart the area
underlying water surfaces, and the general configuration of beds.

Introduction to Surveying 6
 Surveying
• Types of Surveys

6. Industrial Surveys – Also known as optical tooling. It refers to the use of

surveying techniques in ship building, construction and assembly of aircraft,
layout of heavy machinery and equipment and other related industries.

7. Mine Surveys – Surveys which are conducted to determine the position of all
underground excavations and surface mine structures, volume to be excavated,
and other mining-related works.

8. Photogrammetric Surveys – Utilizes photographs taken with specially designed

cameras mounted on airplanes or ground stations.

Introduction to Surveying 7
 Surveying
• Types of Surveys

6. Industrial Surveys – Also known as optical tooling. It refers to the use of

surveying techniques in ship building, construction and assembly of aircraft,
layout of heavy machinery and equipment and other related industries.

7. Mine Surveys – Surveys which are conducted to determine the position of all
underground excavations and surface mine structures, volume to be excavated,
and other mining-related works.

8. Photogrammetric Surveys – Utilizes photographs taken with specially designed

cameras mounted on airplanes or ground stations.

Introduction to Surveying 8
 Surveying
• Types of Surveys

9. Route Survey – Involves the determination of alignment, grades, earthwork

quantities, location of natural and artificial features in connection with
planning, design, and construction of highways, railroads, pipelines, canals,
transmission lines, and other linear or horizontal projects.

10. Topographic Survey – Survey conducted to determine the shape of the ground,
and the location and elevation of natural or artificial features upon it.

Introduction to Surveying 9
 Surveying Instruments
Field Measuring Tape Chaining Pins

•Conversion
•1 tally = 10 pins
Metric: 1 pin = 1 tape length
English: 1 pin = 100 links
1 link = 1ft

Introduction to Surveying 10
 Surveying Instruments
Gunter’s Chain Mallet

Introduction to Surveying 11
 Surveying Instruments
Levelling Rod Range Pole

Introduction to Surveying 12
 Surveying Instruments
Hand level and clinometer Tripod

Introduction to Surveying 13
 Surveying Instruments
Dumpy Level Surveyor’s Transit

Introduction to Surveying 14
 Surveying Instruments
Theodolite

Introduction to Surveying 15
 Surveying Instruments
• Care and Proper Handling of Instruments

1. When uncoiling a tape, be careful not to leave twists on it. If twists are
unavoidable, it is very important to remove them before stretching the tape, as
the tape is easily broken in this manner

2. If the tape becomes wet, it should be wiped dry before storing.

3. Chaining pins should not be left in the ground or lying around loose, but
should be placed with a strip of cloth or other material tied to the ring end of
the pin

Introduction to Surveying 16
 Surveying Instruments
• Care and Proper Handling of Instruments

4. Range poles should not be used as javelins.

5. Do not use range poles as bar to loosen stakes or stones; such use bends the
points and soon renders the point unfit for lining purposes.

6. Handle everything with care.

Introduction to Surveying 17
 Surveying Measurement
Surveying measurements usually concentrates on

1. Distances/Lines
2. Angles
3. Elevations
4. Time
5. Area
6. Volume

Introduction to Surveying 18
 Surveying Measurement

• Measurement is the process of determining the extent, size, or dimensions of a

particular quantity in comparison to a given standard.

• Measurement is always subject to imperfections of the instrument used and the

different errors inherent in the processes of measurement.

• There is no such thing as a perfect measuring instrument nor surveyors whose

senses are sufficiently perfect to measure any quantity exactly

• Physical measurements are correct only within certain limits because errors
cannot be totally eliminated.

Introduction to Surveying 19
 Surveying Measurement
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Linear Distances

1 km = 1000 m
1m = 100 cm
1m = 1000 mm
1 mi = 1.60934 km
1 in = 2.54 cm

Introduction to Surveying 20
 Surveying Measurement
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Area

1 ha = 10,000 m2
1 km2 = 100 ha
1 acre = 0.4047 ha

Introduction to Surveying 21
 Surveying Measurement
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Volume

1 m3 = 1,000 L
1L = 1,000 mL
1 gal = 3.785 L
1 ft3 = 7.48 gal

Introduction to Surveying 22
 Surveying Measurement
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Angle

1 rev = 360 degrees

1° = 60 minutes (‘)
1’ = 60 seconds (“)
1 grad = 0.9°
1° = 0.01745 radians

Introduction to Surveying 23
 Surveying Measurement
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Angle

1 rev = 360 degrees

1° = 60 minutes (‘)
1’ = 60 seconds (“)
1 grad = 0.9°
1° = 0.01745 radians

Introduction to Surveying 24
 Surveying Measurement
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

General rules

1. Zeroes between other significant figures are significant

2. For values < 1, zeroes immediately to the right of the decimal are not significant

3. Zeroes placed at the end of decimal numbers are significant

Introduction to Surveying 25
Thank You!

Introduction to Surveying 26