Visayas State University

College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences

Department of Forest Sciences
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte

Philfred Anthony N. Niño Date Performed: September 17, 2019

Group 3 Date Submitted: September 24, 2019

Exercise No. 5
MEASUREMENT OF OBSTRUCTED DISTANCES
AND THE ESSENCE OF FIELD NOTES TAKING

I. Introduction
In surveying, there are always instances that there obstacles upon measuring the
distances. That is why students are needed to be exposed and exercise how to measure
upon those obstacles. Measuring obstacles could be done on different methods: similar
triangles, swing-offset, and perpendicular and parallel lines.

Any sort of surveying also need to be recorded to enable surveyors calculate the
measurements accurately. It is always necessary for surveyors to take note of the
distances recorded for them to have the appropriate calculation especially when there
are obstacles on the area.

II. Objective
1. To know how to employ methods of measuring obstructed distances;
2. To employ the strategies and techniques involved in taking down notes in the
field.

III. Procedure:
A. The Similar Triangle Method
1. Select a convenient location using the road or any object as an obstruction.
2. Establish two points A on one side of the road and point B on the other side of
the road.
3. Establish point C from which both A and B are visible.
4. Walk away from point C and establish point E and D that is in line with point BC
and AC. Measure DE
5. Draw representative figure to illustrate.
B. Perpendicular and Parallel Lines
1. Establish points (A and B) from both ends of obstruction.
2. From point A, walk towards the edge of the obstruction and mark as point C.
Measure AC. From point C, construct a perpendicular line (use 3-4-5 method) at
a convenient distance of which the area is clean. Mark as point D. Measure CD.
3. From point D, establish a point E perpendicular to the edge of obstruction and in
line point D. Measure DE
4. Mark point F at the other edge of obstruction that is in line with point B.
Measure EF and FB.
5. Draw representative figure to illustrate.
C. Swing—Offset Method
1. Select an obstruction. Designate the line along the obstruction of line AB.
 2. Set a pole at a random line “AX” that is along the obstruction of line AB.
3. Using a sufficient length of tape as radius, swing an arc along the AX with B as
centerline. Mark the intersection as point “a” and “b” with pegs.
4. Measure distance “ab” and establish point C midway between “a” and “b”.
5. Measure accurately and record BC and AC.
6. Solve for AB by “Pythagorean Theorem”.
7. Draw a representative figure to illustrate.

IV. Results
A. The Similar Triangle

D E
5.7m
5m
A B
8m
B. Perpendicular and Parallel Method

C. Swing-Offset Method

V. Questions
What is the importance of this exercise as to measurement of Horizontal distances in
surveying works?
 Knowing how to measure and to calculate distances upon obstacles are the essence
of the exercise. It’s made us practice techniques on measuring obstructed areas. Also
taking down notes or record of the distances being measured plays a very important role
in surveying because it helps the surveyor remember and calculate the recorded
distances and get the obstructed measurement.

We students are trained how to survey obstructed distances so that when time
comes when we do our survey on our own we would smart enough to figure out what
method is the most appropriate to use in any obstacles in the areas being surveyed.

VI. Conclusion
Knowing how to measure obstructed distances and taking down notes of the
measurements are essential in surveying. It is full of analysis aided by the records and
getting the right way of calculating the obstructed distance. Therefore surveying is a
simultaneous process of analyzing, recording, and calculating.