DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

(Part 2)
Worksheet No. 7

PACING

Pacing is a rapid means of approximately checking more precise measurements of distance.

Pacing over a rough country may be done with a precision of one in one hundred. In average
conditions, a person with some experience should have little difficulty in pacing with a precision
of one in two hundred. Obviously, there is not much precision in this method and the procedure
provides only an approximation of distance. The natural pace of each individual normally varies
from 2 ½ to 3 ft. A convenient relation between the pace and the foot is 40 paces approximately
equal 100 ft. Technicians involved in surveying standardize their pace by walking over known
distances on level, sloping, and uneven ground.

Points to remember!
- Practical measure of distance.
- Don't try to pace out one meter with every step. Walk casually over 100 m counting the
number of steps.
- Work out the length of a casual step and use this instead.
- Varies with uphill, downhill, and your age.
- Low accuracy result
- No equipment needed
- A pace is defined as one step.
- A stride is consider two steps

How to measure distance by pacing?

1. You may measure distance roughly by pacing. This means you count the number of
normal steps which will cover the distance between two points along a straight line.
Pacing is particularly useful in reconnaissance surveys, for contouring using the grid
method and for quickly checking chaining measurements.
2. To be accurate, you should know the average length of your step when you walk normally.
This length is called your normal pace. Always measure your pace from the toes of the
foot behind to the toes of the foot in front.
Remember!
Your pace factor will vary, depending on the
type of terrain you are measuring. Remember
that:
- Your pace will be shorter in tall
vegetation that in short vegetation;
- You pace will be shorter walking uphill
than walking downhill;
- You pace will be shorter walking on
slopping ground than on flat ground;
- You pace will be shorter walking on soft
ground that on hard ground.

To get the best result, you should first make

your paces as nearly the same length as
possible. To do this, walk over known
distances, both on level ground and on uneven
or sloping ground. Adjust your pace so that it
is as regular as possible.

3. Take a distance of 45 meters and mark point A where you start and point B at the end of
the line.

4. After setting the point A and B, start taking your normal steps on a horizontal ground
,starting with the toes of your back foot from point A and walking along a straight line
until your reach the point B. Don’t forget to count and record how many normal steps or
paces you will take until you reach the point B. Do this activities in 6 repetitions.

For an instance.
For your first walk from point A to B, you recorded 50 steps or paces.
For your second walk from point B to A, you recorder 53 steps or paces.
 For your third walk from point A to B, you recorder 51 steps or paces.
For your fourth walk from point B to A, you recorder 53 steps or paces.
For your fifth walk from point A to B, you recorder 52 steps or paces.
And for your final walk from point B to A, you recorded 53 steps or paces.

5. After recording your steps, get the sum of all your recorded steps and get its average.
50 + 53 + 51 + 53 + 52 + 53 = 312 steps or paces
312 / 6 = 52 average steps or paces

Note: the total steps or paces is divide into 6 because it took 6 trials in line AB.

6. After getting the average, you can use now the formula in getting your pace factor.
PF = L / Ave. paces
Where;
PF – pace factor
L – length of line AB which is 45 meters
Ave.paces – Average paces which is 52

Note: 45 meters is constant because it is the required length for the distance of line in
taking trials for your paces.

Solution:
PF = 45 meters / 52 paces
PF = 0.865 meters per steps of paces.

This means that the distance from the toes of your back foot to the toes of your front foot
measured 0.865 meters.

Remember!
The normal pace factor of a Filipino will not exceed to 1 meter or more. It may vary
depending on your age, gender and height.
 To understand more on how to get your pace factor, please open the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG6IVaG3skE

Note:
Credit to the author of the video (Sir Garru)
Instead of using 50 meters distance from point A to point B as what is shown in the video,
please use only 45 meters.

Assessment:

Measure your own pace factor. Show the actual number of paces per trial and
illustrate the calculations. Attachment of pictures in conducting the activity is
necessary to validate your work.

For. ROLAN BEN L. LORONO