Introduction to

Surveying
 Geomatics

• The science concerned with the

measurement, representation, analysis,
management, retrieval and, display of
spatial information describing both the
Earth's physical features and the built-in
environment.
• Includes disciplines
such as:

– Surveying
– Geodesy
– Remote Sensing and
Photogrammetry
– Cartography
– Geographic
Information Systems
– Global Positioning
Systems
 Geomatics

(Traditional Definition)
The art of making measurements of the
relative positions of natural and man-
made features on the earth's surface, and
the presentation of this information
either graphically or numerically.
 Geomatics
(Modern Definition)
The art and science of determining angular
and linear measurements to establish the
form, extent, and relative position of
points, lines, and areas on or near the
surface of the earth or on other
extraterrestrial bodies through applied
mathematics and the use of specialized
equipment and techniques.
In Babylon
In Egypt
Eratosthenes
“What can be mapped,
could be ruled.”
In 1990
• The military requirements of World Wars I
and II provided the motivation for vast
improvements in the design of surveying
equipment and execution of surveying
operations.
 Uses of Survey
1. Establishment of boundaries of land.
2. Fixing of national and state boundaries.
3. Charting of coastlines and navigable
streams and lakes.
4. Precise location of definite reference points
throughout the country.
5. Collection of valuable facts concerning the
earth’s magnetism at widely scattered
stations throughout the country.
 Surveying

Plane Surveying – the type of surveying in

which the mean surface of the earth is
considered as a plane, or in which its
spheroidal shape is neglected.

Geodetic Surveying – takes into account

the true shape of the earth.
 Types of Surveys
1. Control Survey
– consists of establishment of the
horizontal and vertical positions of
arbitrary points.
2. Property Survey
– performed to determine the length and
direction of lot lines and to establish the
position of these lines on the ground.
 Types of Surveys

3. Topographic Survey
– made to secure data from which may be
made a topographic map indicating the
configuration of the terrain and the
location of natural and human-made
objects.
 Types of Surveys
4. Hydrographic Survey
– refers to surveys of bodies of water for
the purposes of navigation, water supply,
or subaqueous construction.
 Types of Surveys
5. Mine Survey

– utilizes the principles

for land, geologic and
topographic surveying
to control, locate and
map underground and
surface works related
to mining operations.
 Types of Surveys
6. Route survey
– refers to those
control, topographic,
and construction
surveys necessary
for the location and
construction of lines
of transportation,
etc.
 Types of Surveys
7. Construction Survey
– performed to lay out, locate and, monitor
public and private engineering works.
 Types of Surveys
8. Photogrammetric
Survey
– measurements
made on
photographs are
used to determine
the positions of
photographed
objects.
 Definition of Terms

• Total Station System

• Digital Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
• Satellite Positioning System
• Geographic and Land Information Systems
 Definition of Terms

Level surface – a curved surface every element of

which is normal to a line that is directed exactly
toward the Earth's center of gravity (plumb line).

Zenith – direction away from the center of the

Earth and above the observer’s head.

Nadir – direction towards the center of the Earth.

 Definition of Terms

Horizontal plane – plane tangent to a level surface

at a particular point.

Horizontal line – a line tangent to a level surface. In

surveying, it is commonly understood that a
horizontal line of sight is straight.

Horizontal angle – an angle formed by the

intersection of two lines in a horizontal plane.
 Definition of Terms

Vertical line – a line perpendicular to the horizontal

plane.

Vertical plane – is a plane in which a vertical line is

an element.

Vertical angle – angle between two intersecting lines

in a vertical plane.
 Definition of Terms

Zenith angle – angle between two lines in a vertical

plane where it is understood that one of the lines is
directed toward the zenith.

Nadir angle – angle between two lines in a vertical

plane where it is understood that one of the lines is
directed toward the nadir.
 Definition of Terms
Horizontal distances – distances measured along a
level line.

Elevation of a point – vertical distance above (or

below) some arbitrarily assumed level surface, or
datum.

Contour – an imaginary line of constant elevation on

the ground surface.
 Definition of Terms
Difference in elevation – vertical distance between
two points.

Leveling – operation of measuring difference in

elevation.

Grade or Gradient of a line – slope of the line or rate

of ascent or descent.
REFERENCES
Becker, B.J. Eratosthenes of Cyrene.
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Eratosthenes.htm
ptolemy.eecs.berkeley.edu/ people/ptolemy.htm

Buckner (1994). http://surveying.mentabolism.org/buckner.html. Last

Accessed 16June08

Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University of Arkansas.

http://www.cast.uark.edu/home/research/geomatics.html

Davis, R.E., et. al (1981). Surveying: Theory and Practice. USA:

McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Federation of American Scientists. Html link lost

Great Pyramid of Khufu. http://vncafe.blogspot.com/2008/03/great-

pyramid-of-giza.html
REFERENCES
International Federation of Surveyors.
http://www.surveyor.asn.au/for-the-public/international-
definition-of-surveyor.php

La Putt, J.P. (2007). Elementary Surveying. Philippines: National

Book Store.

ManSurveying.gif. From
http://everythingaboutsurveying.blogspot.com/2008/05/geodetic-
instrumentation-methods.html

http://surveying.mentabolism.org/geomatic.htm. From the Dept.

of Surveying and Spatial Information Science, Univ. of Tasmania.
Link (broken):
http://info.utas.edu.au/docs/geomatics/geomatics_exp.html