Laboratory Exercise No.

2
Problem : TAPING OVER SMOOTH AND LEVEL GROUND

Objective:

To determine the horizontal length of a line over smooth and level

ground with the tape supported throughout its length.

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A. INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES: 30-m or 100-ft steel tape, chaining

pins, range poles, pegs or hubs, chalk or marking crayons, and spring
scale. B. PROCEDURE:
1. Using hubs, mark both ends of the line (150 to 300 m long) to be
measured. Place a range pole behind each point and also establish
intermediate points along the line to ensure unobstructed sight
lines. If the point to be marked is on a pavement, use chalk or
marking crayons. Designate these end points as A and B.
2. The rear tapeman with one pin stations himself at the point of
beginning and the head tapeman takes the zero end of the tape and
advances toward the other end of the line to be measured.
3. When the head tapeman has gone nearly a full tape length, the rear
tapeman calls “tape” to stop the head tapeman. The rear tapeman
then holds the 30-m (or 100 ft) mark at the starting point and
aligns the other end of the tape held by the head tapeman on the
range pole set behind the end point or on any of the intermediate
points earlier established along the line.
4. With the 30-m mark at the starting point, and the head tapeman
aligned, the rear tapeman calls “all right”. The head tapeman then
pulls the tape taut and sticks a chaining pin in the ground to
mark the 0-m end of the tape. If the measurement is done on
pavement, a chalk or marking crayon is used to mark the end of the
tape.
5. The rear tapeman picks up his chaining pin and the head tapeman
pulls the tape forward and the process is repeated for the next
full tape length.
6. When the end of the line is almost reached and the last full tape
length has been measured, the remaining partial length is then
measured. The rear tapeman holds the tape until he has a full
meter (or foot) mark at his chaining pin while the head tapeman
pulls the tape taut and takes note of the fractional measurement
read from the tape end.
7. After the measurement of the whole line is completed, a second
measurement should be made along the opposite direction. The mean
of the two measurements is taken as the most probable value of the
length of the line.
8. Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the
accompanying sample format for the tabulation of data.
 MOST PROBABLE PROBABLE RELATIVE
TRIAL LINE LENGTH
VALUE ERROR PRECISION
1 AB
2 BA
3 AB
4 BA
5 AB
6 BA

C. OBSERVATION: Tabulations of Observed Data

LENGTH MOST PROBABLE PROBABLE RELATIVE
TRIAL LINE
(m) VALUE ERROR PRECISION
1 AB 150.06
2 BA 150.06
3 AB 150.06
? ? ?
4 BA 150.07
5 AB 150.06
6 BA 150.07

D. COMPUTATIONS:
1. First, determine the most probable value of the measured length.
2. The formula which was derived from least square method is then
used to compute for the probable error of the mpv.
3. Finally, the relative precision of the measurement is determined.
Relative precision is expressed in fractional form and the
denominator is rounded to the nearest hundredth.

SOLUTIONS: SHOW COMPLETE DETAILED COMPUTATIONS.

E. HINTS AND PRECAUTIONS:

 1. The hub is set at each of the designated line, and a range pole is
set about a meter beyond the far hub to serve as guide during
taping. A “2x2” piece of lumber with a nail in the middle is used
for this purpose and embedded securely into the ground.
2. Prior to measurement the tape should first be calibrated.
3. As a rough check, the designated line should also be measured by
pacing.
4. During measurement the tape should be supported throughout its
entire length and a required pull (approximately 4 to 7 kg)
applied at the ends of the rope to avoid inconsistent errors.
5. During the lining-in process, the head tapeman is in a kneeling
position to one side and facing the line so that he can hold the
tape steady and allow the rear tapeman to have a clear view of the
range pole marking the distant point.
6. As the rear tapeman leaves after each full tape length is
measured, a pin is pulled out of the ground. There is always one
pin in the ground, and the number of pins held by the rear tapeman
at any time indicates the number of full tape lengths measured
from the point of beginning to the pin in the ground.
7. A steady and firm pull is made on one end of the tape if the
leather thong at the end of the tape is wrapped around the hand,
or by holding on to a chaining pin slipped through the eye at the
end of the tape, or by using a tape clamp.
8. The tape may be held between the fleshy portion of the fingers and
that of the palm. Enough friction is applied to sustain the
required pull without causing injury or discomfort to the tapeman.

F. REMARKS, GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS:

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G. SKETCH:
(Freehand and/or ruler. Use black ink for clarity of the drawing. Do not
use color/color pen. You may add some but limit only the drawing for
background purposes. Make sure to highlight/focus on the activity and
completely label it).

A) Draw Side View

B) Draw Top View