Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

Module I
Introduction to surveying

Engage
Surveying - art and science of determining relative position of points above, on, or beneath
the surface of the earth or establishing such points.

- art and science of determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional positions of

points and the distances and angles between them.

There are two divisions or types of surveying: Plane and Geodetic surveying

1. Plane surveying – is that type of surveying in which the earth is considered to be a flat
surface, and where distances and areas involved are of limited extent that the exact shape of
the earth is disregarded.

2. Geodetic surveying –area surveys of wide extent which take into account the spheroidal
shape of the earth.

The core disciplines of surveying are:

1. Land surveying (also known as Cadastral Surveying)

2. Engineering surveying.
3. Mining surveying.
4. Hydrographic (Bathymetric) surveying.
5. Geodetic surveying.
6. Aerial (Photogrammetry and remote sensing)
7. Topographic

Classifications of Surveying based on the purpose (for which surveying is being

conducted), Surveying has been classified into:

1. Control surveying: To establish horizontal and vertical positions of control points.

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2. Land surveying: To determine the boundaries and areas of parcels of land, also known
as property survey, boundary survey or cadastral survey.
3.Topographic survey: To prepare a plan/ map of a region which includes natural as well
as and man-made features including elevation.
4. Engineering survey: To collect requisite data for planning, design and execution of
engineering projects. Three broad steps are
5. Reconnaissance survey: To explore site conditions and availability of infrastructures.
6. Preliminary survey: To collect adequate data to prepare plan / map of area to be used
for planning and design.
7. Location survey: To set out work on the ground for actual construction / execution of
the project.
8. Route survey: To plan, design, and laying out of route such as highways, railways,
canals, pipelines, and other linear projects.
9. Construction surveys: Surveys which are required for establishment of points, lines,
grades, and for staking out engineering works (after the plans have been prepared and
the structural design has been done).
10. Astronomic surveys: To determine the latitude, longitude (of the observation station)
and azimuth (of a line through observation station) from astronomical observation.
11. Mine surveys: To carry out surveying specific for opencast and underground mining
purposes.
12. Astronomic surveys: To determine the latitude, longitude (of the observation station)
and azimuth (of a line through observation station) from astronomical observation.
13. Mine surveys: To carry out surveying specific for opencast and underground mining
purposes.

EXPLORE
1. What are the surveying instruments in ancient time?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surveying_instruments

2. What are the old surveying instruments?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surveying_instruments

3. What are the modern surveying instruments?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying

ELABORATE
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Ancient surveying equipment and methods

1. Roman Groma

2. Libella

3. Gunter’s chain

4. Chorobates

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5. Greek Surveying instrument

There are many ancient surveying instrument, you may research the other ancient surveying
instrument at:
http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Ancient_Egyptian_Survey_Tools
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surveying_instruments

Old surveying equipment

1. Plane table - is a device used in surveying and related disciplines to provide a solid and
level surface on which to make field drawings, charts and maps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plane_table

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2, Transit – use to measure horizontal or direction of lines and vertical angles.

3. Wye level - A surveyor's leveling instrument having a telescope and attached spirit level,
mounted in Y-shaped supports which permit it to be lifted and reversed, end for end; it is
used in the direct measurement of differences in elevation.

4. Dumpy level - The dumpy level is an optical surveying leveling instrument consisting a
telescope tube firmly secured in two collars fixed by adjusting screws to the stage by the
vertical spindle. The telescope of dumpy level can rotate only in a horizontal plane.

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Later designed of engineer’s level

Latest deign of engineer’s level

5. Leveling rod - is a graduated wooden or aluminum rod, used with a levelling instrument
to determine the difference in height between points or heights of points above a vertical
datum. It cannot be used without a leveling instrument.
Definition of surveying.

Classes of rods: 1. Self-reading rods. 2. Target rods.

There kinds of brand also depending on the country who developed the rod like Philadelphia
rod

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6. Range rod (or range pole) - is a surveying instrument used for marking the position of
stations, and for sightings of those stations, as well as for ranging straight lines.

6. Engineer’s tape – is a measuring instrument use to measure distances directly

Tape used by surveyors: Steel tape, Invar tape, and Lovar tape. These tape maybe 30 m, 50
m, or 100 m in length.

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7. Optical theodolite -is a precision optical instrument for measuring angles between
designated visible points in the horizontal and vertical planes.

8. Digital theodolite –is a modern engineering instrument for measuring both horizontal
and vertical angles,

9. Laser -Any device that can produce or amplify optical radiation primarily by the
process of controlled stimulated emission. ... Also, an acronym for "light amplification by
stimulated emission of radiation."

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Modern surveying equipment

1. Total Station –

2. Prism less Total station –

3. Robotic total station –

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4. Smart Total Station –

5. GPS Surveying instrument (RTK)

6. Drone

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7. Bathymetric survey equipment

EXPLAIN
DEVELOPMENT OF SURVEYING EQUIPMENT

Telescope was invented in 1607 which was use in the study of science. It was incorporated to surveying
instrument when the transit was invented in 1830. It became the universal surveying instrument until
the early 1970’s. Plane table was used as field mapping instrument. In the year 1970’s, the optical
theodolite was developed from transit which has a higher degree of precision.
Due to the development of technology the optical theodolite was further improve into digital
theodolite. At this time laser technology was born in which case laser was incorporated to the digital
theodolite in which the total station was invented. The first total station was developed by a Swedish
and it was called Geodolite. Total station was further developed resulting to many brand of design.
Later development of total station is prism less total station, followed by robotic total station and the
smart total station. Smart total station is a combination already of a total station and GNSS technology.
During the middle east war in 1992, the Global Positioning System (GPS), a project of the US Ministry
of Defense for accurate positioning, was tested. This GPS was open to public use in the late 1990’s
and one of which is its use in surveying. One of the new surveying equipment available in the market
today is the Real Time Kinematics (RTK). This was integrated to total station so we have now the
smart total station.
To produced map of large area, photogrammetry was used where in aircraft was used to fly over the
area. Nowadays a drone is used instead of aircraft. A remote controlled equipment to fly over the area
to be surveyed.

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Make a list of surveying equipment from ancient time to modern or present time.Discuss the uses and
function of these instrument.

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