UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

B.Sc. (Engineering) Honours - Level II

ENGINEERING SURVEYING

MAY 2015 Engin. CE 203

Answer any FOUR Questions Time allowed: 3 hours

All Questions Carry 25 Marks
Start each question on a new page
This paper comprises 5 pages.

QUESTION 1

a. Define the following branches of surveying highlighting how they differ:

i. Topographical
ii. Cadastral
iii. Engineering
iv. Photogrammetry [4 Marks]

b. In what ways can the branches mentioned above compliment engineering surveying and be
of use to a civil/agricultural engineer. [3 Marks]

c. The polygon traverse PQRSTP is to be sub-divided into two equal farming 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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 i. calculate the area of the polygon PQRSTP [6 Marks]

ii. compute and check the coordinates of Z [12 Marks]

QUESTION 2

a. Describe by means of sketches 3 techniques in setting out on a building site. [3 Marks]

b. 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]

c. 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 [3 Marks]

ii) the distance from the intersection point to the new tangent points [3 Marks]

iii) the deflection angle for setting out the 30m chords on the new curve [3 Marks]

iv) the length of the final sub-chord [4 Marks]

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QUESTION 3

a. What do you understand by the term control in surveying? Explain any two different ways
that can be employed to establish control. [2 Marks]

b. Apart from taping, what two other methods can be used for horizontal distance
measurement. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using either of the method
you have mentioned? [4 Marks]

c. Explain what is meant by the following types of traverses:

i. Open traverse ii. Closed traverse

Which of the two is more suitable and why? [4 Marks]

d. In order to mark the boundary of a civil/agricultural engineering project, a link traverse was
run between stations A and E. The coordinates of these points in metres are:

Point Y X
A -40 076.90 +26 992.30
E -39 794.17 +27 116.82

The lengths of the legs and the directions adjusted for angular misclosure are:

Line Length (m) Direction

AB 642.209 49° 27’19’’
BC 243.948 265° 15’07’’
CD 140.852 70° 16’41’’
DE 334.018 196°28’31’’

Using Bowditch method, calculate the coordinates of B, C and D. [15 Marks]

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QUESTION 4

a. Levelling forms an important component for most engineering works. Explain why and
how levels are useful to an agricultural/civil engineer? [5 Marks]

b. A theodolite having a multiplying constant of 100 and additive constant of 6 cm was

centered and leveled at a height of 1.57m above a point B on reduced level
14201.871m. A staff was held vertically at points A and C in turn and the readings
shown were taken:

Staff Position Staff Readings (m) Vertical angle Horizontal direction

A 3.240 3.047 2.853 82° 38’53’’ 66° 49’31’’
C 2.458 2.230 2.002 95° 21’36’’ 88° 07’18’’

Calculate: (i) the reduced levels of points A and C

(ii) the horizontal distance AC [10 Marks]

c. The following figures were obtained from a surveyor’s link leveling process

Reading Point Type of reading

2.195 BM1 BS
2.505 A IS
2.458 B IS
2.367 C IS
1.698 D FS
3.025 D BS
(2.369) E IS
2.481 F IS
1.365 G FS
1.527 G BS
3.225 BM2 FS

The reduced levels of BM1 and BM2 are 99.980m and 100.445m respectively. Construct and
reduce an HPC booking sheet with all necessary checks using the results above. [10 Marks]

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QUESTION 5

a. Explain the relevance of engineering surveying to a civil/agricultural engineer making

reference to the 3 stages of an engineering project. [6 Marks]

b. 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]

c. Distinguish between accuracy and precision. [2 Marks]

d. A distance of 220,450m was measured with a steel band of nominal length of 30m. On
standardisation the tape was found to be 30,003m. Calculate the correct measured distance
assuming the error is evenly distributed throughout the tape.
[4 Marks]

e. The following is a list of some parts of a theodolite, explain their functions

i. Circle drive knob

ii. Rifle sight
iii. Selector knob [3 Marks]

END OF THIS EXAMINATION