DEPARTMENT OF GEODETIC

ENGINEERING
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telephone: (053) 565-0600 local 1027

Email: dge@vsu.edu.ph

Website: www.vsu.edu.ph
ESci 121 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Exercise No. 1: Laboratory Orientation

I. Introduction:

As interchangeably called geomatics, surveying is defined as the science, art, and

technology of determining the position, in three dimensions, of both natural and artificial
structures on or beneath the surface of the earth (Schofield and Breach, 2007). In this context,
the term regards the discipline that comprises all methods for measuring and gathering
information about the physical earth and the environment (Ghilani and Wolf, 2012), including
dimensions and contour of the earth’s surface, directions, and elevations.

Considering these different components, one cannot conduct measurements

accurately and precisely without surveying instruments and equipment. Surveying
instruments come in various forms, yet their essential functions, purpose, and use are similar.
Each piece of surveying equipment can then be used to measure one or more of these
components, but determining the type of equipment that best suits the application can
sometimes be overwhelming for a person with limited surveying experience. Thus,
familiarizing the surveying instruments and their usage is vital in surveying operations with
utmost accuracy and precision. Furthermore, technical know-how and skills are equally
crucial in arriving at reliable results in every surveying operation.

II. Learning Outcomes

1. To familiarize different instruments used in surveying;

2. To know the uses and functions of different surveying instruments; and
3. To draw and label different surveying instruments.

III. Materials

Basic surveying instruments, paper and pencil or drawing pens.

IV. Procedure

1. Search online or on the internet for different surveying instruments and equipment
used in the laboratory exercises in surveying or actual surveying operations.
2. Draw the different surveying instruments that you have searched and label their
appropriate names and their functions/uses, minimum of ten (10) instruments.
 3. Drawings should be done using pencils with a maximum of three (3)
instruments/equipment per page in an A4 size bond paper.
4. The drawings should be placed under the “Results and Discussion’ section.

Guide Questions:

1. Differentiate a transit and a theodolite.

A theodolite is a precision instrument utilized for estimating or measuring
angle points both in horizontal & vertical direction. Theodolites can turn along
their horizontal axis as well as their upward pivot. While Transit is a surveying
instrument that likewise takes precise angular measurements. Transit use vernier
scales and external graduated metal circles for precise readings. Both theodolites
and transits can be used for similar projects, but there are slight differences
between the two instruments.

2. What is the importance of a compass in conducting surveying operations?

The compass is for the most part used to run a traverse line. The compass
ascertains direction of lines with respect to the magnetic needles. The included
angles/points would then be able to be determined by using appropriate formulas
in the case of clockwise and anti-clockwise traverse respectively. For each survey
line in the traverse, surveyors take two orientation that is front bearing and back
bearing which ought to precisely vary by 180° if the local attraction is negligible.

3. How the hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) instrument works in finding
the distances and elevations of points?
GPS satellites circle the Earth twice a day in a very precise orbit, then
transmit signal information to the Earth. It takes this information and use trilateration
to calculate the user's exact location. 3 satellites are needed to calculate a 2-D position
and track movement. The information collected from these satellites then calculates
the latitude, longitude and height of the receiver. If the receiver is moving, continuous
data collection can be used to calculate the changing position of the receiver over
time, which can be used to calculate speed. No matter the weather conditions or time,
GPS can triangulate the signal and provide a location. The accuracy of the system
depends on many factors; Type of receiver - i.e. recreational/ commercial,
mapping/differential, and survey grade; Sources of errors - i.e. atmospheric effects
and obstructions.

V. Results and Discussion

VI. Conclusion and Recommendation(s)
 It is important to familiarize the basic surveying instrument and know
their functionalities so that it will be not hard to identify when encountering
these instrument/equipment in field. However, it is much better if we study or
familiarize the actual surveying instrument and equipment because we will
know how to use it and when will we should use it in the field.

VII. References

Anderson, J.M., Davis, R.E., Foote, F.S., and Mikhail, E.M. (1981). Surveying: Theory
and Practice, 6th Edition. MW Publishing Inc., Manila, Philippines.
Davis, R. (1955). Elementary Plane Surveying, 3 rd Edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company,
Inc., New York.
Ghilani, C.D., and Wolf, P.R. (2012). Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to
Geomatics. Thirteenth Edition. Pearson. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-255434-3.
La Putt, J.P. (1985). Elementary Surveying Lab Manual. Baguio Research and Publishing
Center. Baguio City, Philippines.
La Putt, J.P. (2008). Elementary Surveying. 3rd Edition. National Book Store. Philippines.
Reprint. ISBN 971-08-5581-6.
Schofield, W. and Breach, M. (2007). Engineering Surveying. 6 th Edition. Elsevier Ltd.
ISBN–13: 978-0-7506-6949-8.