JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

OF

AGRICULTURE AND

TECHNOLOGY

Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering Department.

SURVEY PRACTICAL REPORT ON LINEAR MEASUREMENT AND LEVELLING.

2nd YEAR FIRST SEMESTER.

ECE 2202.
SURVEY 1.
SUBMITTION DATE:19/12/2015.
PREPARED BY ODHIAMBO BRIAN ODHIAMBO.
GROUP MEMBERS.
1.ODHIAMBO BRIAN ODHIAMBO EN251-0427-2014
2.NYAKUNDI KEVIN SIRO EN251-0423-2014
3.MUIGAI BENSON MWATHI EN251-0420-2014
4.NDEDA ERIC GANDHI EN251-5099-2014
5.NYANGECHI NICODEMUS ONDUMA EN251-0425-2014
6.NYAMBAKA RYAN EN251-0424-2014
7.SHARIA ENOCH TINGA EN251-0433-2014
8.BARASA DANIEL EN251-2856-2014
A.OBJECTIVES.

1.To familiarize and be able to work with the various linear measuring equipment .

2.To familiarize and be able to work with the various levelling equipment .

3.To be able to use the practical knowledge learnt in 1 and 2 above to carry out linear measurement and
levelling on a given site.

4.To prepare a topographical map of the site.

B.INTRODUCTION.

By the various methods of determining distance the most accurate and common method is the method
of measuring distance with a chain or tape is called Chaining. For work of ordinary precision a chain is
used. But where great accuracy is required a steel tape is invariably used. The term chaining was
originally applied to measure of distance with a chain. The term chaining is used to denote measuring
distance with either chain or tape. In the process of chaining, The survey party consists of a leader (the
surveyor at the forward end of the chain) a follower (the surveyor at the rare end of the chain and an
assistant to establish intermediate points) .The accuracy to which measurement can be made with chain
and tape varies with the methods used and precautions exercised. The precision of chaining. For
ordinary work, ranges from 1/1000 to 1/30,000 and precise measurement such as Baseline may be of
the order of 1000000. On the other hand levelling is an operation required in the determination or more
strictly ,the comparison ,of heights of points on the surface of the earth. The qualification is necessary
since the height of one point can be given only relative to a plane, this plane is called a datum and in
topographical work the datum used is the mean sea level since it makes comparison of sea level
possible.

In this practical we used the knowledge acquired in class and that from the introductions made by the
GEGIS practical technicians to carry out linear measurements in our site. The surveyors chain and drag
tape were the main instruments used for linear measurements. Levelling process in the site was started
on a benchmark( 1550.370m AOD) which was available within the site .A Dumpy level was used for this
practical although we were introduced to other types of levels.

A 80mm allowable error was issued for the levelling process.

C.INSTRUMENTS.

We used the following instruments to carry out linear measurements and levelling for our site:

-LINEAR MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS.

1.Surveyor’s Chain.

2.Chaining Arrows.

3.Drag Tape.

4.Optical Square.

5.4 Ranging Rods.

-Levelling equipments.

1.A Dumpy level

2.A Change plate.

3.A Levelling staff.

4.A Bubble tube.

5.Pegs

6.Surveyors tape.

Picture showing the group’s practical site :

D.METHODOLOGY.

1. Reconnaissance.

The survey site was issued on October 20 th 2015 the group visited the site on 25 th October 2015
.Where we:

1.Identifed main features on our site i.e. equally spaced planted trees

2.Identified the different kinds of obstacles to the survey process .

3.Identified the nature of our site i.e. gentle sloped land.

4.A sketch of the plan was then made containing the identified features and obstacles.

2.Linear Measurement.

1.The four lengths of the site were accurately measured using a drag tape and recorded. While carrying
out measurements it was ensured that the tape was straight ,taut and lying on the ground.
2.The longest diagonal across the site was identified and a surveyors chain laid across this diagonal.
Ranging was done to ensure the chain running along the diagonal was straight .Once the chain was
confirmed to be straight a chaining arrow was fixed at its end in place of the ranging rod.
3.Features near this diagonal were mapped alternatively by ties and offsets. The optical square was used
to erect offsets from the baseline while ties were constructed from 2 different points on the chain using
the surveyors tape.
Many features were marked up to the end one chain length .Distances of the features along the baseline
and from the baseline was also measured and booked appropriately.
4.The chain was then dragged until the opposite corner at the end of the diagonal. Ranging was again
done with one member at the end of the chain to ensure the it was straight. Once straight a chaining
arrow was then pinned in place of the ranging rod.
5.Mapping of points was resumed up to the end of the second chain length
( also end of the longest diagonal) and booked appropriately
6.Some features were also mapped from the boundaries of our areas by erecting of offsets, the
horizontal distances between trees in organized rows was also measured and recorded.
NB.A wall obstacle was encountered when measuring one of the lengths however the method of
repeated alignment was used to mitigate this error
3.LEVELLING PROCESS.
1.The area was divided at 10m intervals using pegs along the longest side as the area was generally
,marking of grid intervals started at a distance m from the upper region as that region was generally
flat.
2.A Distance of 10m was measured using a surveyors tape from the pegs along the longest side into the
site, pegs were fixed at distances of multiples of 10 up to the opposite longest side of the area. This way
the area had been divided into grid squares of 10m length.
3.The level was set up in the upper region close to the bench-mark. A levelling staff was placed on the
bench-mark, temporary adjustments were made to the level and the staff reading at the benchmark
read and recorded as back-sight.
NB: This first station was still outside the grid area.
4.A spot height was taken at the upper region as a representative of the generally flat upper area.
5.On peg on the edge of the grid line was removed and a levelling staff paced at that spot this level
reading was taken as a foresight.
6.The level was then moved into the grid area, temporary adjusted and the reading of the stuff taken
again as back-sight.
7.The level stuff was then removed at this point and the peg replaced ,pegs inside the grid area were
removed each time being replaced by a levelling stuff and the reading made on this levelling stuff were
booked as inter-sights. After every reading of the level staff the pegs were inserted back in place.
8.A last reading was taken as foresight and the instrument moved to a third station ,the levelling process
repeated and closed on afore-sight at the corner of the site.
9.Levelling was again done from this last point to the bench-mark. During the fly-back,staff readings
were taken on the same initial points only the instrument position was changed.
These readings were booked separately on a fresh page.
NB: Every time a level stuff was used it was placed on top of a change plate and a bubble tube was used
to ensure it was perpendicular to the ground .Readings were only made when the staff-man indicated
that the level stuff was perpendicular.
At least 2 members of the group confirmed the main bubble formed a complete “U” before any stuff
reading was taken.
4.PREPARATION OF0 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP.
1.An appropriate scale 1:200 was chosen and used to plot all lengths with the appropriate dimensions as
per the revised sketch.
2.All features in the sketch were appropriately represented on the map ,in the case where abbreviations
were used explanation were given in the legend.
3.All reduced levels were represented on the map . When representing the reduced levels sketch
3(attached) was used to identify points A-L on the map whose reduced levels had been booked book
.Points booked were The highest and lowest reduced level were identified and vertical interval was
decide i.e. 0.5m

E.RESULTS .
LINEAR MEASUREMENTS.
All linear measurements were denoted on the revised sketch and others included in the filed notes
attached.
LEVELLING.
BACKSIGHT INTERSIGHT FORESIGHT REMARKS
1.395m Benchmark
1.017m 1.843m A(CP)
1.161m B
1.113m C
1.003m D
1.283m E
1.415m F
1.493m G
1.625m H
1.103m 1.502m I(CP)
1.675m J
1.676m K
1.250m L

FLY BACK.
 BACKSIGHT INTERSIGHT FORESIGHT REMARKS
1.423m L
1.847m K
1.843m J
1.698m 1.265m I (CP)
1.530m H
1.474m G
1.400m F
1.265m E
0.950m D
1.098m C
1.147m B
1.698m 1.033m A(CP)
1.250m BENCHMARK

READING OF LEVEL STAFF AT SPOT HEIGHT=1.298m.

F.DATA ANALYSIS

BACKSIGHT INTERSIGHT FORESIGHT RISE FALL REDUCED REMARKS

LEVELS
1.395m 1550.370m Benchmark
1.017m 1.843m 0.448m 1549.922 m A(CP)
1.161m 0.144m 1549.778m B
1.113m 0.048m 1549.826m C
1.003m 0.110m 1549.936m D
1.283m 0.280m 1549.656m E
1.415m 0.132m 1549.524m F
1.493m 0.078m 1549.446m G
1.625m 0.132m 1549.314m H
1.103m 1.502m 0.123m 1549.437m I(CP)
1.675m 0.572m 1548.865m J
1.676m 0.001m 1548.864m K
1.250m 0.426m 1549.290m L
∑BS=3.515m ∑FS=4.595m ∑R 0.707m ∑F1.787m 1549.290m
-∑FS=4.595m -∑F1.787m -1549.922m
-1.08m -1.08m

FLYBACK.

BACKSIGHT INTERSIGHT FORESIGHT RISE FALL REDUCEDLEVEL REMARKS

S
 1.423m 1549.099m L
1.847m 0.424m 1548.675m K
1.843m 0.004m 1548.679m J
1.698m 1.265m 0.578m 1549.257m I (CP)
1.530m 0.168m 1549.425m H
1.474m 0.056m 1549.481m G
1.400m 0.074m 1549.555m F
1.265m 0.135m 1549.690m E
0.950m 0.315m 1550.005m D
1.098m 0.148m 1549.857m C
1.147m 0.049m 1549.808m B
1.698m 1.033m 0.114m 1549.922m A(CP)
1.250m 0.448m 1550.370m BENCHMARK

∑ 4.819m ∑3.548m ∑1.892 ∑0.621

-∑3.548m m
-∑0.621
1.271m 1.271m

G.CONCLUSION.

When carrying out linear measurements the length of the chain was measured using the drag tape this
length was found to be 30m i.e. there chain had no lose in length however sag, tension ,slope
corrections could not be applied as instruments required for measurement of temperature ,tension
,and vertical angles were not provided.

Measurement values were recorded by 2 group members to reduce error in booking, when these values
were confirmed they were found to match.

Methods of linear measurement such as the use of EDM and ground catenary was not employed .

After construction of grid lines not all points pegged were levelled, consecutive pegs which from
observation seemed to on the same ground level were ignored during levelling.

Each group member was involved in all levelling activities alternatively and every member was able to at
one time ,read staff readings, holding the survey staff ,level the level among other activities.

The levelling process was also started and ended on a benchmark.

The reduced levels obtained during the fly back only varied slightly with the reduced levels of the same
points taken during the survey process,

I.RECCOMMENDATIONS.

1.Practicals should be in smaller groups if possible or the number of instruments per group increased.

2.Site survey areas should be of much more rugged terrain so that many survey methods are involve in
chaining or levelling