UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

B.Sc. (Engineering) Honours - Level II

ENGINERING SURVEYING

MAY 2012 Engin. CE 203

Answer Question One and any other Three Questions Time allowed: 3 hours

All questions carry equal marks

Start each question on a new page

This examination paper consists of 5 pages.

QUESTION 1

a) In order to mark the boundary of an engineering project, a link traverse was run from control
point P to Q in order to coordinate points A, B, and C. From the data given below, calculate
the traverse using the Bowditch method. (15 Marks)

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Coordinates
y (m) x(m)

P -209.68 196.40

Q 117.29 230.95

Directions
Q-T2 318.11. 12
P-T1 330. 16. 45
Distances (m)
PA = 168.32
AB = 114.72
BC = 146.39
CQ = 98.63

b) What effects would short legs have in a traverse? Comment on how you would minimize
their effects. (3 Marks)

c) What do you understand by the term control as used in surveying? (2 Marks)

d) Briefly describe the calibration procedure to determine the zero error of an EDM measuring
system. (5 Marks)

QUESTION 2

a) You have been tasked to produce a large scale map (with contours) of a section of the
university. Outline in detail the steps you will undertake to accomplish your task. Highlight
in your answer different sets of equipment you may use. Which of the sets would you prefer?
Justify your answer. (10 Marks)

b) A theodolite with a multiplying constant of 100 and an additive constant of 0 was used to
observe the following: (Staff held vertically at A and C)

Station Staff Lower Middle Upper Vertical Horizontal

position angle angle

B A 2.853 3.047 3.240 86 39 20 73 40 16

C 1.834 2.334 2.834 94 16 34 103 15 10

The height of the instrument was 1.58m and the reduced level of B is 1450.65m. Calculate

i) Reduced levels of A and C (4 Marks)

ii) Horizontal distance AC (5 Marks)

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c) Explain the relevance of engineering surveying to a civil/agricultural engineer making
reference to the 3 stages of an engineering project. (6 Marks)

QUESTION 3

a) After performing check leveling for a series of pegs, a surveyor accidentally dropped his
field books in a puddle, oblitering some of the figures. Determine the missing values and
complete the reduction of the field book. Show all checks. (15 Marks)

BS IS FS RISE FALL Reduced Adjusted Remarks

levels Reduced
levels

1.576 139.110 139.110 TBM A

…… ……. 0.664 …….. CP1

…….. 1.939 …….. 138.214 Ch 0m

1.762 0.100 138.114 Ch 20m

1.868 …….. …….. Ch 40m

……. …….. 0.091 ……… Ch 60m

……… …….. 137.814 Ch 80m

1.792 0.105 ……… Ch 100m

1.602 1.887 …….. 137.614 Ch 120m

1.702 …….. ………. Ch 140m

…….. 0.724 ……… 138.492 CP2

0.950 1.511 ……… 140.003 TBM B

b) Define the following terms as used in surveying

i) Level line
ii) Benchmark
iii) Datum
iv) Join
v) Polar (10 Marks)

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QUESTION 4

a) The tangent length of a simple circular curve was 202.120m and the deflection angle
of a 30m chord was found to be 02.18.00. Calculate

i) the radius of the curve (3 Marks)

ii) the total deflection angle (2 Marks)

iii) the length of the curve (2 Marks)

iv) the final deflection angle (2 Marks)

b) A circular curve of radius 800m has been set out connecting two straights with a
deflection angle of 42.00.00. It is then decided for construction reasons that the mid-
point of the curve must be moved 4m towards the centre, i.e. away from the
intersection point. If the alignment of the straights is to remain the same, calculate

i) the radius of the new curve. (4 Marks)

ii) the distance from the intersection point to the new tangent points. (4 Marks)

iii) the deflection angle for setting out the 30m chords on the new curve. (4 Marks)

iv) the length of the final sub-chord . (4 Marks)

QUESTION 5

The polygon traverse PQRSTP is to be sub-divided into two equal areas by a straight line
that must pass through point R and meets the line TP at Z. The coordinates of the points
are given in the table below.

Point Easting (m) Northing (m)

P 613.26 418.11

Q 806.71 523.16

R 942.17 366.84

S 901.89 203.18

T 652.08 259.26

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 Q

P
R
Z

a) calculate the area of the polygon PQRSTP (7 Marks)

b) compute and check the coordinates of Z (18 Marks)

END OF THIS EXAMINATION

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