CHAPTER 3

Distance Measurement
 Introduction
• Can be divided into two major categories, direct
method and indirect method.

• Early Egyptians used ropes, knotted at specific

intervals, to directly measure out property lines
after each flooding of the Nile River.

• That technique illustrates the direct application of

a measuring standard against the distance to be
measured.
 Introduction
• Nowadays, surveying field distance
measurements are accomplished by using
steel tapes or fiber glass tapes.

• But this direct method has its limitations

especially in rough terrains and remote areas.
 Introduction
• Indirect methods of distance measurement use
related measurements to deduce the required
distance using electronic distance measurement
(EDM).
• Scaling from maps, plans and aerial photographs.
• Positioning, using the global positioning system
(GPS).
• Distance and angle measurements using
geometric and trigonometric computations.
 Three Types of Distances
• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Slope
Techniques of Distance Measurement
• Pacing
• Odometer
• Fiberglass tapes
• Steel tapes
• Scaling
• Stadia
• Subtense bar
• Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM)
 Steel Tape Graduations
• Graduated through-out

• Cut tape

• Add tape
Steel Tape Graduations
Use of a Steel Tape and Plumb Bob
 Taping Accessories
• Plumb bob
• Hand level
• Clinometer
• Range pole
• Tension handle
Hand Level
Abney Clinometer
Abney Clinometer
 Abney Clinometer
Example 3-1:
How can you determine the height of a building
using a clinometer and a tape?

Solution:
 Gunter’s Chain
• A 66 ft long chain and was composed of 100
links.
• 66 ft was chosen because of its relationship to
other units in the Imperial System

80 chains = 1 mile
10 square chains = 1 acre (10x662 = 43, 560 ft2)
4 rods = 1 chain
Gunter’s Chain
Gunter’s Chain
 Gunter’s Chain
Example 3-2:
An old plan shows a dimension of 3 chains, 83
links. Convert this value to (a) feet and (b)
meters.
Solution:
(a) 3.83 x 66 = 252.78 ft
(b) 3.83 x 66 x 0.3048 = 77.047 m
Horizontal Taping Using a Plumb Bob
Horizontal Taping Using Plumb Bobs At
Both Ends of the Tape
 Taping Techniques
• In summary, the rear surveyor handles the
following tasks:
– Visually aligns the head surveyor by sighting to a
range pole or other target
– Holds the tape on the mark, either directly or with
the aid of a plumb bob. Repeatedly calls out
“tape” , “mark” or similar word to signify the head
surveyor that the plumb bob is precisely over the
station.
 Taping Techniques
• In summary, the rear surveyor handles the
following tasks:
– Calls out the station and tape reading for each
measurement and listens for verification from the
head surveyor as information is entered.
– Keeps a count of all full tape lengths included in
each overall measurement
– Maintains the equipment clean at the conclusion
of the day’s work as condition warrant.
 Taping Techniques
• The head surveyor is responsible for these
tasks:
– Carries the tape forward and ensures that the
tape is free of loops, which could lead to tape
breakage
– Prepares the ground surface for the mark (clears
away grass, leaves, etc.)
– Applies proper tension after first ensuring the
tape is straight
 Taping Techniques
• The head surveyor is responsible for these
tasks:
– Places marks (chaining pins, wood stakes, iron
bars, nails, rivets and etc.)
– Takes and records measurements of distances,
temperature, and other factors.
 Standard Conditions For Steel Tape
Use (Imperial)
100 ft tape
- Temperature = 68°F
- Tape fully supported
- Tension = 10 lbs
Standard Conditions for Steel Tape Use
(Metric)
30.000 m tape
- Temperature = 20° C
- Tape fully supported
- Tension = 50 Newtons (11.24lbs)
 Systematic Taping Errors
• Slope
• Erroneous length
• Temperature
• Tension and sag
 Random Taping Errors
• Slope
• Temperature
• Tension and sag
• Alignment
• Marking and plumbing
Slope, Vertical and Horizontal
Distances
 Systematic Slope Corrections
Example 3-3:
A road center line ℄ gradient falls from station
0+00, elevation = 564.22 ft, to station 1+50 at a
rate of -2.5%. What is the ℄ elevation at station
1+50?
 Systematic Slope Corrections
Solution:
564.22

- 2.5%

0 + 00 1 + 50

Difference in elevation = 150(2.5/100) = -3.75

Elevation at 1+50 = 564.22-3.75 = 560.47 ft
 Systematic Slope Corrections
Example 3-4:
A road runs from station 1+00, elevation =
471.37 ft, to station 4+37.25, elevation = 476.77
ft. What is the slope of the ℄ grade line?
Erroneous Tape Length Corrections
Example 3-5:
A measurement was recorded as 171.278 m
with a 30-m tape that was only 29.996 m under
standard conditions. What is the corrected
measurement?
Erroneous Tape Length Corrections
Solution:

Correction per tape length = -0.004

Number of times the tape was used = 171.278/30
Total correction = -0.004 x 171.278/30 = - 0.023 m
Corrected distance = 171.278 – 0.023 = 171.255 m
or
= 29.996/30 X 171.278 = 171.255 m
 Temperature Corrections
Ct = k (T – Ts) L
k = thermal coefficient of expansion of steel
which is 6.45X10-6 per unit length per degree
Fahrenheit or 1.16X10-5 per unit length per
degree Celsius.
Ts = standard temperature of steel tape which is
68° F and 20° C respectively.
 Temperature Corrections
Example 3.6:
A distance was recorded as being 471.37 ft at a
temperature of 38°F. What is the distance when
corrected for temperature?

Ct = 6.45X10-6 (38-68) 471.37 = -0.09 ft

Corrected distance = 471.37 – 0.09 = 471.28 ft
 Tension and Sag Corrections
• Tension correction formula
𝑃 − 𝑃𝑠 𝐿
CP =
𝐴𝐸

• Sag correction formula

−𝑤2𝐿3 −𝑊2𝐿
Cs = =
24𝑃2 24𝑃2
 Tension and Sag Corrections
Example 3.7:
A 100-ft tape is used with a 20-lb force pull,
instead of the standard tension of 10 lb. If the
cross-sectional area of the tape is 0.003 in.2 ,
what is the tension error for each tape length
used?
𝑃 − 𝑃𝑠 𝐿
CP =
𝐴𝐸
 Tension and Sag Corrections
Solution:

20 −10 100
CP = = +0.011𝑓𝑡
0.003 𝑋 29 000000
If a distance of 421.22 ft had been recorded, the
total correction would be:
4.2122 X 0.011 = 0.05 ft
The corrected distance would be 421.27 ft
 Tension and Sag Corrections
Example 3.8:
Calculate the length between two supports if
the recorded length is 50.000 m, the mass of the
tape is 1.63 kg, and the applied tension is 100N.

−𝑤2𝐿3 −𝑊2𝐿
Cs = =
24𝑃2 24𝑃2
 Tension and Sag Corrections
Solution:

− 1.63 𝑋 9.807 2 𝑋 50.000

Cs = = −0.053 𝑚
24 𝑋 (100)2

Therefore, the length between supports

= 50.000 - 0.053 m = 49.947 m
Specifications for 1:5,000 Accuracy
 Electronic Distance Measurement
• Current EDM instruments use infrared light or
laser light.
• Microwave systems use a receiver/transmitter
at both ends of the measured line, whereas
infrared and laser systems utilize a transmitter
at one end and a reflecting prism at the other
end.
 Electronic Distance Measurement
• Infrared and laser EDM instruments come in
long range (10-20 km), medium range (3-10
km), and short range (0.5-3 km).
 Electro-magnetic Energy

λ=c/f

– λ = wavelength, in meters
– C = velocity in km/s
– F = frequency in hertz (one cycle per second)
Principles of EDM
Principles of EDM
 Principles of EDM
• The double distance (2L) is equal to a whole
number of wavelengths (n λ ) plus the partial
wavelength (ϕ) occurring at the EDM
instrument:

𝑛 λ+ ϕ
L=
2
 Prisms
• Used with EDM instruments to reflect the
transmitted signal.
• Can be tribrach-mounted on a tripod or bipod-
mounted, centered by optical or laser
plummet, or attached to a prism pole held
vertical on point with the aid of bull’s eye
level.
 Prisms
• Prisms mounted on adjustable-length prism
poles are very portable and are well suited for
stakeout surveys and topographic surveys.
• Prisms mounted on poles or tribrachs be
permitted to tilt up and down so that they can
be made perpendicular to EDM signals that
are being sent from much higher or lower
positions.