LECTURE 1: Surveying Concepts and Measurements of Distance by Tape

SURVEYING CONCEPTS

DEFINITIONS:

 Surveying is the art of determining the position of points on or near the earth’s surface by
means of measurements in the three elements of space; namely distance, direction and
elevation. By Rayner and Schmidt
 Surveying is the art of measuring horizontal and vertical distance between objects, of
measuring angles between lines, of determining the direction of lines and establishing points by
predetermined angular and linear measurements. By Davis, Foote, Anderson and Michail
 Surveying is that branch of applied Mathematics which teaches the art of determining the area
of any portion of the earth’s surface, the length and directions of the boundary lines, the

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contour of the surface, and the accurately delineating the whole on paper. By Webster

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 Surveying is the science and art of determining relative positions of points above, on or beneath

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the surface of the earth, or establishing such points. By Brinker and Wolf

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 Surveying is the art and science of determining angular and linear measurements to establish
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the form extent and relative position of points lines and areas in or near the surface of the
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earth or on other extraterrestrial bodies thorough applied Mathematics and the use of
specialized equipment and techniques. By J. P. La Putt
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TYPES OF SURVEYING
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 PLANE SURVEYING - type of surveying in which the earth is considered to be a flat surface, and
where distances and areas involve are of limited extent that the exact shape of the earth is
disregarded.
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 GEODETIC SURVEYING - type of surveying that are wide extent which take into account the
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spheroid shape of the earth.

TYPES OF SURVEYS
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1. CADRASTRAL SURVEY - are usually closed surveys which are undertaken in urban and rural
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locations for the purpose of determining and defining property lines and boundaries, corners
and areas.
2. CITY SURVEYS – are surveys of the areas in and near a city for the purpose of planning
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expansions or improvements, locating property lines, fixing reference monuments, determining

the physical features and configuration of the land and preparing maps.
3. CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS - These are surveys which are undertaken at a construction cite to
provide data regarding grades, reference lines dimensions, ground configuration and location
and elevation of structures which are of concern to engineers, architects, and builders.

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 4. FORESTRYU SURVEYS – A type of survey executed in connection with forest management and
mensuration, and the production and conservation of forests lands.
5. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS - refer to surveying streams, lakes, reservoirs, harbors, oceans and
other bodies of water
6. INDUSTRIAL SURVEY – refer to the use of surveying techniques in ship building, construction
and assembly of aircraft, layout and installation of heavy and complex machinery and in other
industries where very accurate dimensional layouts are required
7. MINE SURVEYS – are surveys which are performed to determine the position of all
underground excavations and surface mine structures, to fix surface boundaries of mining
claims, determine geological formations, to calculate excavated volumes and establish lines and
grades for other related mining work
8. PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEYS – types of survey which make use of photographs taken with
specially designed cameras either from airplanes or ground stations.
9. ROUTE SURVEYS – involve the determination of alignment, grades, earthwork quantitities,
location of natural and artificial objects in connection with the planning, design, and

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construction of highways, railroads, pipelines, canals, transmission lines and other linear
projects.

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10. TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS – are those surveys made for determining the shape of the ground,
and the location and elevation and artificial features upon it.

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IMPORTANCE OF SURVEYING

 It is necessary to mark boundaries and divide tracts of land.

 Planning and design of our physical environment and infrastructure are based on the results of
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surveys
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 Layout and construction of physical environment are controlled by surveying.

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 It is also required for the laying out of industrial equipment, preparing forestry and geological
maps, positioning massive and complex machinery, in the construction of ships and airplanes as
well as in the survey and exploration of extraterrestrial bodies such as moon and planets.
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SURVEYING FIELD NOTES

 Constitute the only reliable and permanent record of actual work done in the field.
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 It is the official record of the survey

 It must be complete, legible, concise and comprehensive, logically arranged according to
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recognized practice.

TYPES OF NOTES
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1. SKETCHES – “A good sketch will help to convey a correct impression. Sketches are rarely made
to exact scale, but in most cases they are made approximately to scale. They are drawn
freehand and of liberal size.”
2. TABULATIONS – “A series of numerical values observe in the field are best shown in a tabulated
format. Tabulated form of note keeping conveys the required information in a simple and
definite manner.”

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 3. EXPLANATORY NOTES – provide a written description of what has been done in the field.
4. COMPUTATIONS- calculations of one kind or another form a large part of the work of
surveying.

INFORMATION FOUND IN FIELD NOTES

a) Title of the Field Work or Name of the Project

- Name of the project or title of the field work should always be identified. The location
of the survey and preferably its nature or purpose should always be stated.
b) Time of Day and Date
- it is necessary to document the notes and furnish a timetable as well as to correlate
different surveys.
c) Weather Conditions
- Temperature, wind velocity, typhoons, storms and other weather conditions such as
fog, sunshine and rain have decided effect upon accuracy in surveying operations.
d) Names of Group Members and Their Designations

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- From this information, duties and responsibilities can easily be pinpointed among survey

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party members.

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e) List of Equipment

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- proper identification of the particular equipment use aids in isolating errors in some

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cases.
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THE FIELD SURVEY PARTY
The given composition is primarily designed for large scale surveys which is expected to
undertake field surveys covering days or weeks using either conventional or sophisticated surveying
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instruments.
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1. CHIEF OF PARTY - responsible for the overall direction, supervision and operational control of
the survey party.
2. ASSISTANT CHIEF OF PARTY – assist the chief of party in the accomplishment or the task
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assigned to the survey party.

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3. INSTRUMENT MAN – his duty is to set up, level and operate surveying instruments. He sees to
it that instruments to be used in a survey operate surveying instruments. He sees to it that
instruments to be used in a survey operation are in good working condition and in proper
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adjustment.
4. TECHNICIAN – person who is responsible for use and operation of all electronic instruments
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required in a fieldwork operation.

5. COMPUTER – perform all computations of survey data and works out necessary computational
checks required in a fieldwork operation.
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6. RECORDER – keep a record of all sketches, drawings, measurements and observations taken or
needed for a fieldwork operation.
7. HEAD TAPEMAN – responsible for the accuracy and speed of all linear measurements with
tape.
8. REAR TAPEMAN - assist the head tapeman during taping operations and in other related work.
9. FLAGMAN – hold the range ole at selected points as directed by the instrument man.
10. RODMAN – hold stadia or leveling rod when sights are to be taken on it.

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 11. PACER – check all linear measurements made by tapeman.
12. AXE MAN/LINEMAN- clear line of sight of trees, brush and other obstruction in wooded
country.
13. AIDMAN – render first aid treatment to members of the survey party.
14. UTILITYMEN – render other forms of assistance needed by the survey party or as directed by
the chief of the party.

MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE BY TAPE

ERRORS – difference between the true value and the measured value of a quantity

DEVIATION – difference of observed value from mean value

TYPES/KINDS OF ERRORS

1. Systematic Error – errors which can be anticipated and exactly calculated and thus be

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exactly corrected.
2. Accidental Error – errors which are not anticipated/predicted thus cannot be eliminated,

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however can be minimized.

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MISTAKES
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Inaccuracies in measurements which occur because some aspect of a surveying
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operation is performed by the surveyor which carelessness, inattention, poor judgment
and improper execution.
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BLUNDER
- A large mistake that it cannot be just systematic or accidental
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SOURCES OF ERRORS
1. Instrumental error – due to limited precision of each instrument to measure a quantity 100%
correct.
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a. Measuring with a steel tape of incorrect length.

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b. Using a leveling rod with painted graduation not perfectly spaced.

c. Sighting on a rod which is warped
d. Improper adjustment of the plate bubbles of a transit or level.
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2. Natural Error – brought by changes in the condition of nature from initial condition to the
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actual condition of measurement.

a. Effect of temperature variation on the length of a steel tape
b. Error in the readings of the magnetic needle due to variations in magnetic declination
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c. Deflection of the line of sight due to the effect of the earth’s curvature and atmospheric
refraction,
d. Error in the measurement of a line with a tape being blown sidewise by a strong wind.
3. Personal Errors – varies from person to person due to differences in physical capability and
work experience
a. Error in determining a reading on a rod which is out of plumb during sighting

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 b. Error in the measurement of a vertical angle when the cross hairs of the hairs of the
telescope are not positioned correctly on the target.

CORRECTION IN TAPING

I. CORRECTION DUE TO TAPE TOO LONG OR TAPE TOO SHORT

Rules in Applying The Correction

 When tape is too short

Add the correction in laying out distance

Subtract the correction in measuring distance

 When tape is too long

Subtract correction in laying out distance

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Add correction in measuring distance

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II. CORRECTION DUE TO TEMPERATURE

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CT   T2  T1 L

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 = coefficient of linear expansion T1= standard Temperature
T2= observed Temperature L = length of tape
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CT  too  long CT  too  short

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III. CORRECTION DUE TO PULL

P2  P1 L
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CP   too  long  too short

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AE
P2 = Applied pull E = Modulus of Elasticity
P1 = Standard pull L = Length of Tape
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A = Cross sectional area

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IV. CORRECTION DUE TO SAG [sign is always negative(-)]

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w 2 L3
C sg 
24P 2
where: w = weight per linear meter
L = unsupported length of the tape
P = actual pull applied

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 V. CORRECTION DUE TO SLOPE

h2 Sloping distance B
C sp 
2s
where: h = difference in elevation between two points
s = slope distance
H = horizontal distance A Horizontal distance
H = s - CSP

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