Name: Jacquelynne P.

Amba___________________ Date Given: 09-12-2021

Class Section: _BSCE 2C CE3___________________ Date Due: 09-30-2010

Activity No.1

Measurement of Distance by Pacing

I. Introduction

In surveying, pacing is one of the commonly employed methods of linear

measurement in which is a very quick and easy method of measuring distance. However,
with the existence of modern convenient instruments employed in large-scale
measurements, whether field or structural, pacing has been ignored as an outmoded and
inaccurate method in surveying by many. On the other hand, pacing may be a valuable
tool for a civil engineer or surveyor, since it is based on estimations, the engineer will
still be able to acquaint oneself with the area and material that he/she will be working on
without being too evident that he is taking measurements. With this, the activity is
therefore carried out in order to identify the pace factor of the surveying students and to
utilize this in the computation for measuring distance by pacing.

II. Objectives

At the end of the experiment, the student must be able:

 To determine the individual pace factor; and

 To measure distance by pacing.

III. Materials

Wooden stick (approximately 1 meter in length), Carpenter’s measuring tape (15 feet
in length), and chalk (markers).

IV. Location
260 Tambo Zone 4 Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City (specifically outside our house-
street alley)

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UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
 V. Procedure
5.1 Determining pace factor

A 50 METERS B

TRIAL LINE Taped Number of Average No. of Pace Factor

Distance Paces Paces (m/pace)
(m) (paces) (paces)
1 AB 73
2 BA 76
3 AB 50 70 74.60 0.670
4 BA 75
5 AB 79
Table 5.1

5.2 Determining paced distance and relative precision

C 60 METERS D

TRIAL LINE Number Average Taped Paced Relative

of Paces no. of Distance Distance Precision
(paces) paces (m) (m)
(paces)
1 CD 87
2 DC 86
3 CD 89 89.40 60 59.898
4 DC 91
5 CD 94
Table 5.2
VI. Computations
1. Determine the Pace Factor (PF).

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UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
 2. Determine the Paced Distance (PD).

3. Determine the Relative Precision of Measurements (RPM).

VII. Results and Discussion

The pace component was determined using a taped distance in the first part of the
activity. The recorded distance AB was 50 meters long, and it was walked five times with
paces ranging from 70 to 79 paces. Then, the mean of the paces was then calculated at
74.60 paces, and the taped distance was divided accordingly. The pace factor was
determined to be 0.670 m/pace based on the tabular data above and computations. The
calculated pace factor is reasonable since it falls within the normal range of pace factors.

After determining the pace factor, it was utilized to calculate the distance CD.
Distance CD was walked five times, with paces ranging from 86 to 94 paces. After that,
the average of the paces was calculated, yielding 89.40 paces. The result was multiplied
by the pace factor, producing 59.898 meters, which is now the paced distance. There was
a discrepancy of 0.102 meters when comparing the result to the later revealed actual
distance of 60 meters. Lastly, the denominator of rpm is greater than 200, which is a good
indicator, because the greater the denominator of your RPM is to 200, the less it is in
decimal form. In which the rpm calculated shown is 1/588 is equal to 0.0017 is less than
to 1/200, which is equal to 0.005. Therefore, the relative precision of 1/588, which is not
greater than 1/200, is within the range of accepted precision for measuring distance by
pacing.
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UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
 VIII. Conclusion

This experiment is therefore carried out in order to identify the pace factor of the
surveying students and to utilize this in the computation for measuring distance using
pacing method.

IX. References

LA PUTT, J.P., 1985. Surveying Lab Manual. National Book Store, Quad Alpha
Centrum Bldg., 125 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City 1550.

Distance Measurement. (n.d.-b). CivilEngineeringBible.Com. Retrieved September 23,

2021, from
https://civilengineeringbible.com/subtopics.php?i=126#:%7E:text=Precision%20of%20v
arious%20measuring%20methods%20Pacing%20has%20a,rough%20survey%2C%20che
cking%20of%20other%20types%20of%20measurement.

http://facstaff.cbu.edu/~gmcginni/classes/CE%20115%20Field%20Measurments/PowerP
oint%20Presentations/Methods%20for%20Measuring%20Distances.pdf

La Putt, J.P. (1981). Elementary Surveying Book (3rd Edition). Mandaluyong City:
National Book Store.

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