LABORATORY NO.

3
PACING

Introduction:

Pacing is the simplest and easiest method for measuring distance. Pacing is
the process of walking the distance and counting the number of steps “paces” to
cover the distance. The distance is determined by multiplying the number of steps
taken between two points by one’s pace factor. A person’s pace factor is determined
by pacing (walking) a measured distance, usually 300 to 500 ft, several times and
determining the average length of pace (step). With practice it is possible to pace a
distance with an error of less than 2 ft per 100 ft. To achieve that level of precision a
person must learn to adopt a pacing step that is different from their normal walking
step because many factors can cause variations in the length of a person’s pace.
Three of these are the roughness of the surface, the slope of the ground, and the
type of vegetation. Care must be taken to ensure that a consistent pace factor is
used. One advantage of pacing for measuring distance is that it doesn’t require any
specialized equipment. The biggest disadvantage is that it requires being able to
walk the route. It is not very useful for measuring distance in rough terrain, across
swamps or any other terrain where an individual could not walk the distance or walk
in a straight line.

Materials:
Range Poles, Tape Measure, Markers (Hubs, Paint, Chalk or Crayons).
Procedures:
1. Determine pace factor.
a. Select a straight and level course and on both ends. Establish markers
at least 100 meters apart. Designate these ends points as A and B.
b. Walk over the course at a natural pace or gait starting with either heel
or toe over point A and count the number of paces to reach point B.
c. For succeeding trials, walk from B to A, then A to B, until 5 trials are
completed, and the number of paces recorded accordingly.
d. Refer to the accompanying sample format for the recording of
observed field data.

Trial Line Taped No. of Paces Mean no. of Pace Factor

Distance (m) Paces
(m/pace)

1 AB 100 155.5

2 BA 100 156.1

3 AB 100 154.9 155.56 0.64m/pace

4 BA 100 155.2

5 AB 100 156.1

2. Measuring distance by pacing.

a. Define or establish the end points of another level course whose length
is to be determined by pacing. Designate these end points as C and D.
b. For the first trial, walk over the course from C to D at a natural pace
and record the number of paces. Then, walk from D to C and again
record the number of paces.
c. Repeat the above procedure until all five trials are completed.
d. After the field data is recorded, make an actual taping of the course CD
to determine the taped distance.
e. Refer to the accompanying sample format for the recording of
observed field data.

Relative
Paced Taped
No. of Precision
Trial Line Mean Distance Distance
Paces (fraction
(m) (m)
form)

1 CD 116.4 580.9 74. 3552m 67.22m

2 DC 116.9 10 61/100
3 CD 115.3
 4 DC 115.7

5 CD 116.6

Computations:

1. Computation of Pace Factor (PF).

a. Get the sum of the number of paces for the five trials performed on
course AB then compute the mean number of paces.
b. Divide the known or taped distance of course AB by the mean number
of paces for AB to determine the pace factor.
2. Computing Paced Distance (PD).
a. Get the sum of the number of paces for the five trails performed on
course CD and compute the mean number of paces.
b. Multiply the mean number of paces for CD by the pace factor to obtain
the paced distance.
3. Computing Relative Precision (RP).
a. Determine the difference between the taped distance of CD and the
paced distance of CD.
b. Divide the difference by the taped distance of CD and reduce the
numerator to unity to determine the relative precision.

SOLUTION: