VINLOYD YBAÑEZ BCE 211 F – 10137 LET’S CHECK ULO 1A

Methods of Surveying

Geodetic Surveying
Geodetic surveying is basically control surveying on a large scale, this means that it is control
survey over long distances where measurements are taken, and the earth’s curvature and
atmospheric pressure deductions are considered and applied. The word geodesy is from Greek
word geodesia meaning dividing and he study of the earth’s shape and size.
As we all know, the earth’s surface is round, however highly irregular, and not suitable as
computational surface because of the mountains, valleys, rivers, and the surface of the sea, it is
because of this reason that the more suitable surfaces were assumed for computational
purposes, namely the Geoid and Ellipsoid.
Geoid is defined as the more smoothed representation of the earth and is described as the
surface that would assume by the undisturbed surface of the sea, continued underneath the
continents by means of small frictionless channels while Ellipsoid is a smooth mathematical
surface that best fits the shape of the geoid and is the next level of approximation of the actual
shape of the earth.

Cadastral surveys
Cadastral surveys deal with measurement of land, subdivisions, and sectional tittles. This kind of
survey can only be carried out by a Professional Land Surveyor.

There are no prescribed methods that are used in cadastral survey, each survey is different from
the ither and it all depends on the area and information that land surveyors have. The only
requirement is that the cadastral survey must be adequately and carefully checked.
Beacons and Boundaries
A property beacon is a natural or artificial feature which marks the boundary corner of a piece of
land or property. A boundary is an imaginary line between the beacons.
The types of beacon that can be used are prescribed by the regulations, but it is usually an iron
peg of specified dimension, corner of a permanent building, well-constructed corner post or a
drilled hole in rock or concrete.

Consolidation and Sub divisional surveys

A consolidation is where an owner of adjacent properties/ land wants to combine it to form one
big property/land. A subdivision is the opposite of consolidation; here an owner of adjacent
properties wants to cut his/her property into small pieces of parcels.

Figure 1. Subdivision Plan

 Figure 2. Consolidation Plan

Engineering Surveys
This type of survey is associated with the engineering design often requiring geodetic
computations beyond normal civil engineering practice. It is required in planning and execution
of nearly every form of construction. The equipment commonly used for this are theodolites,
GNSS (GPS) and levelling instruments.

Topographic or Detailed Surveys

The purpose of topographic survey is to gather survey data about the natural and manmade
features of the land as well as its elevations. Maps are then prepared from this information. The
work usually consists of the following:
- Establishing horizontal and vertical control that will serve as reference points for the survey,
the most accurate method of establishing the vertical control is by leveling.
- Collecting enough horizontal elevation of ground points to provide enough data for plotting

when the map is prepared.

- The position and shape of natural and manmade features that may be required for the
survey.
- Calculating distances, angles, and elevations.
Setting Out
This is done to construct a structure accurately according to a design. The most common
procedure is to establish grid in a relation to the design. Then, particular points are correctly
staked out physically on site either on exact position or at a particular offset as agreed amongst
parties involved.

As Built Surveys
This type of Survey is carried out during or immediately after a construction project for record,
Completion evaluation and payment purposes. An as built survey shows the location or position
of features that have been constructed and that are subject to completion evaluation. As built
surveys are usually compared to the design information. They show the difference between the
constructed or built information and the design.

Areas and Volumes

On an engineering site measurement of areas is more often only a step in the determination of
volumes although occasions do arise when areas are only required for example, Design and
Costing: for capacity of the wall, volume of material within given limits, or volume required to fill
an empty space. All of these are determined by doing a survey and certain calculations.
Aerial Surveys
Aerial survey is a method of collecting information conducted from an airborne platform. This is
collected by using aerial photography, LiDAR or laser scanning. It is often recognized similarly as
aero photogrammetry, part of photogrammetry where the camera is mounted on an aircraft.
Aerial survey is different to a satellite imagery because of its better resolution, quality and
atmospheric conditions.
Aerial surveys are used for:
- Archeology
- Agriculture
- Land surveys
- Mining
- Reconnaissance
- Fishery surveys
- Monitoring vegetation and ground cover
- Large scale planning for land development
Mining Surveys
Mining survey is a specialist area of surveying involving the measurement, representation and
management of data associated with mining operations which could be the underground and
open – cut mine workings. These measurements enable new mine works to avoid older and
possibly flooded ones, allow connections to be made between different underground passages
and also to establish the boundaries of mining claims and territories.

Hydrographic Surveys
Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of the physical features of
the navigable portion of the earth’s surface and joining coastal areas, with special reference to
their use for the purposes of navigation. Hydrographic surveys support a variety of activities:
nautical charting, port and harbor maintenance, coastal engineering, coastal zone management
and offshore resource development.
The data collected during the hydrographic survey is massive and it has to undergo post
processing, thinned out and corrected for errors. These errors that need to be corrected are the
errors due to bad sounding, the effects of tides, waves, water levels and temperature differences.
Usually when undertaking this survey, the surveyor would have additional data collection
equipment to record the data for correcting the soundings. The final product is usually charts
which are created by a combination of specialty charting software or CAD packages usually
AutoCAD.

Figure 3. Ship scanning the ocean floor. Figure 4. Sonar image of a wreck on the
ocean floor
VINLOYD YBAÑEZ BCE 211 F – 10137 LET’S ANALYZE ULO 1A

Let’s Analyze
Activity A. Find the number of significant figures.
1. 10.258 - 5 significant figures
2. 0.00000078 - 2 significant figures
3. 500 - 1 significant figures
4. 89.5870000 - 9 significant figures
5. 0.00860 - 3 significant figures

Activity B. Solve the following problems.

1. A distance was measured and as recorded to have a value equivalent to 10 perches, 5

rods, and 50 varas. Compute the distance in feet.
Given: 10 perches = 10 rods
5 rods
50 varas
Conversion: 1 rod = 1 perch = 25 links
1 ft = 12 inches
1 link = 0.66 ft
1 vara = 33 inch
25 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠 0.66 𝑓𝑡
15 𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑠 × × = 247.5 𝑓𝑡
1 𝑟𝑜𝑑 1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘

33 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ 1 𝑓𝑡
50 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑠 × × = 137.5 𝑓𝑡
1 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑎 12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ

247.5 𝑓𝑡 + 137.5 𝑓𝑡 = 385 𝑓𝑡

2. A line was measured with 20 – m tape. There was 3 tallies and 6 pins, and the distance
from the last pin and the end of the line was 3.75 m. Find the length of the line in meters.
Given: 20 m = line
3.75 m = distance of the end line to the pin
3 tallies
6 pins
Conversion:
1 tally = 10 pins
3 tallies * 10 pins = 30 pins
30 pins + 6 pins = 36 pins
100 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠
36 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑠 × = 3600 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠
1 𝑝𝑖𝑛
0.66 𝑓𝑡 0.3048 𝑚
3600 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑠 × × = 724.2048 𝑚
1 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘 1 𝑓𝑡
724.2048 𝑚 + 20 𝑚 + 3.75 𝑚 = 747.95 𝑚
VINLOYD YBAÑEZ BCE 211 F – 10137 IN A NUTSHELL ULO 1A

In a Nutshell
Introduction to Surveying: Read and understand each statement carefully. Choose the best
answer that corresponds to the statement.
1. Surveying is defined as the art and science of determining angular and linear measurements
to establish the form, extent, science of deter and relative position of points, lines, and
establish the areas on or near the surface of the earth or on other extraterrestrial bodies
through…
A. pure mathematics and the social sciences
B. applied mathematics and the use of specialized equipment and techniques.

C. field observations and measurements

D. cartographic, geodetic, and photogrammetric methods
E. principles of algebra and geometry
2. Plane surveying is that type of surveying in which the earth is considered to be a flat surface.
Distances and areas involved are of limited extent and the
A. approximate shape of the earth is considered.
B. theoretical shape of the geoid is evaluated.
C. exact shape of the earth is disregarded.
D. spheroidal shape of the earth is considered.
E. shape of the earth is considered a geoid.
3. A type of survey which is of wide extent and takes into account the spheroidal shape of the
earth is known as
A. geodetic surveying
B. plane surveying
C. geoid surveying
D. earth surveying
E. terrestrial surveying
4. A photogrammetric survey makes use of photographs taken with specially designed cameras
either from
A. a ship or an elevated ground station
B. the ground surface or underwater
C. a field or a laboratory environment
D. a map or a scaled drawing
E. airplanes or ground stations
5. The international System of Units or SI was promulgated by the International Bureau of
weights and Measures in
A. 1960
B. 1978
C. 1983
D. 1875
E. 1799
6. Give the importance of a survey party. Is there really a need to have a complete party in all
surveying activities? Explain.
A surveyor normally supervises a crew of workers known as a survey party. Within the typical
survey party is a rodman who holds the leveling staff while measurements of distance and
elevation are made; a chairman who helps measure distances with a surveyor chain; and
instrument man who adjusts and reads instruments for measurement; and a party chief who
directs the work.
The roles of each in the survey party are important. each member of the party must perform
his/her duty with patience and precision. With each everyone working the process of surveying
would be done easily. It could also lesson the risk of errors that could happen while surveying.