Eastern Visayas State University

College of Civil Engineering

Department of Engineering
Ormoc City

CE 316
Elementary and Higher Surveying

Name: Navarro, Jundel Q.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Instructor: Engr. Antonio E. Naboya, Jr., CE, GE, RMP
Date of Conduction: June 18, 2016
Date of Submission: June 28, 2016

Laboratory Exercise No. 1

PACING

I. Introduction

Pacing is a reasonably easy and quick method of measuring distance in the field.
However, in the presence of modern convenient instruments used in large-scale
measurements—it may be structural or field—pacing has been quite overlooked by many to be
an outdated and inaccurate method in surveying. However, pacing can still be one useful tool
for a civil engineer or surveyor, as though it may be reliant on estimates, at least the engineer
will still be able to familiarize the area and material that he will be working it, without being too
obvious that he is actually doing measurements.

Thus, pacing is one of the basic things that a beginner surveyor must know about, and
every surveyor or civil engineer must always determine and memorize his own pace factor,
even more so that his phone number. If no available measuring instrument is present, or if the
engineer only wishes to get a glimpse of his next project’s area of work without catching
everyone else’s eyes, pacing is the method to go. It also saves time and energy, having to only
walk normally on the length that needs to be measured, while counting mentally.

This experiment is thus conducted to determine the pace factor of the surveying
students, as well as to use this in the computation for measuring an unknown length.
II. Objectives

1. To determine individual pace factor.

2. To measure distance by pacing.

III. Instruments and Accessories

Range poles
Steel tape
Markers

IV. Procedure

1. Determining Pace Factor

a. Select a straight and level course and on both ends establish markers at least 55
meters apart. Designate these end points as A and B.
b. Walk over the course at a natural pace or gait starting with either heel or toe over
point A and count the number of paces to reach point B.
c. For succeeding trials, walk from B to A, then A to B, until 7 trials are completed, and
the number of paces recorded accordingly.
d. Tabulate.
e. To compute for the pace factor, get the average of the number of paces and then
divide this to the taped length of course AB.

2. Measuring Distance by Pacing

a. Define or establish the end points of another level course whose length is to be
determined by pacing. Designate these end points as B and C.
b. For the first trial, walk over the course from B to C at a natural pace and record the
number of paces. Then walk from C to B and again record the number of paces.
c. Repeat the above procedure until all seven trials are completed.
d. After the field data is recorded, make an actual taping of the course BC to determine
the taped distance.
e. Tabulate.
f. To compute for the paced distance, get the mean of the number of paces for the
seven trials performed on course BC and multiply this to the pace factor previously
computed.
g. To get the relative precision, determine the difference between the taped distance
of BC and the paced distance of BC. Then, divide the difference by the taped
distance and reduce the numerator to unity to determine the relative precision.
V. Data Gathered

Table 1.1: Determining Pace Factor

TAPED NUMBER OF MEAN NO. OF
TRIAL LINE PACE FACTOR
DISTANCE PACES PACES
1 AB 74
2 BA 76
3 AB 75
4 BA 55m 73 74.43 0.74
5 AB 76
6 BA 73
7 AB 74

Table 1.2: Measuring Distance by Pacing

NUMBER OF PACED TAPED RELATIVE
TRIAL LINE MEAN
PACES DISTANCE DISTANCE PRECISION
1 BC 32
2 CB 29
3 BC 28
1
4 CB 29 29.14 21.56m 21m
38
5 BC 29
6 CB 28
7 BC 29

VI. Discussion

On the first part of the activity, a taped distance was used to determine the pace factor.
The taped distance AB measured 55 meters, and it was walked on seven times, with the paces
made ranging from 73-76. The mean of the paces was then calculated—74.43—and then
divided to the taped distance. Based on the tabulated data (Table 1.1) and the computations
made, the pace factor was found out to be 0.74. The pace factor calculated is reasonable, since
this is within the range of normal pace factors.

Having found out the pace factor, this was then used to measure the unknown distance
BC. Again, Distance BC was walked on seven times, and the paces ranged from 28-32. The
average of the paces was then computed, resulting to 29.14. This was then multiplied to the
pace factor, yielding a result of 21.56 meters, which is now the paced distance. Comparing the
result to the later revealed actual distance which was 21 meters, there was a discrepancy of
1
0.56 meters. This was then used to compute the relative precision, which was 38. It means that
the paced distance and actual distance are almost the same , with only little, almost negligible
discrepancies.

Seeing that the paced distance on the second part of the exercise was almost similar to
the actual distance, this also proves that the pace factor computed was reasonable, and that
the method of pacing is still reliable when estimating field measurements. Now that the pace
factor has been determined, this can then be used on future surveys.

There are a lot of factors than can affect how the pace factor is determined. First and
foremost, the way the pace is executed is important, since there will be times that paces will
differ by a few units especially with whatever the mood of the person walking is. Also, it must
be made sure that the striding is done in a straight line, as any little curve here and there can
alter the actual length walked. These may be minute details, but when they will stack up, they
can actually lead to large differences on the results.

1
It should be noted, however, that the relative precision computed—38—is not within the
1 1
range of accepted precision for measuring distance by pacing, which is from 200 to500. This may
be neglected at the moment, though, as this involves pacing, plus the walking errors
aforementioned on the previous paragraph that has been executed due to the lack of prior
experience.

Indeed, pacing is still a method in surveying that should not be overlooked. When done
properly, this can help engineers on their estimates. It only takes a pace factor and properly—
but naturally—executed steps.

VII. Conclusion

Therefore, to determine the individual pace factor, a measured or known length of a

line must be divided by the mean number of paces taken to walk the line. To measure an
unknown distance by pacing, multiply the pace factor to the average of the number of paces
taken to traverse the line.