MANALO, KRIZELLE JOYCE C.

19-03497

LABORATORY EXERCISE 2: TAPING OVER SMOOTH AND LEVEL GROUND

FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING
 I. INTRODUCTION
The accurate determination of distance between two points on any surface is one of the
basic operations of plane surveying. (La Putt, 2009) This operation is the start of every
construction or land development there is. From the basic house repairs to buildings, roads and
dams, horizontal measurement is the initial step in starting the project. All of these are regulated
by government because they are the ones who started it after all.
Due to demand and rise of taxation, there is also a need for accurate measurement such as
ropes, lines, or cords that were treated with wax and calibrated in cubits or other ancient units.
This has gone on for centuries and the way of measurement for surveyors. For the first two-thirds
of the twentieth century the 100-ft steel ribbon tape, which was invented by English
mathematician Edward Gunter (1581–1626), was the common device used for measuring
distances. Such measuring is often called chaining, a carryover name from the time when
Gunter’s chain was introduced. This chain, which was a great improvement over the ropes and
rods used up until that time, was available in several lengths, including 33 ft, 66 ft, and 100 ft.
(McCormac, et.al., 2013)

Figure 1. Surveyor's
Chain.
https://ncccha.blogspot.com/2008/08/history-of-chain.html

In this laboratory exercise, the taping over level ground will be explained. Taping is the process
of measuring the length of the line or course with a tape. A video clip explaining the procedures
will be watched at YouTube. Based on this video, a comprehensive report regarding the mistakes
and proper procedures in taping regarding the video in Laboratory Exercise 1 will also be done
by the students.
II. OBJECTIVES

1. To determine horizontal length of a line over smooth and level ground with the
tape supported throughout its length.
III. EQUIPMENT

1. Steel Tape (30-m or 100ft)

2. Marking crayon

IV. PROCEDURE:

1. Using available tool for marking, mark both ends of the line (10 m long) to be
measured. Place a range pole behind each point and also establish intermediate
points along the line to ensure unobstructed sight lines. If the point to be marked
is on a pavement, use chalk or marking crayons. Designate these end points as A
and B.

2. The rear tapeman with one pin stations himself at the point of beginning and the
head tapeman takes the zero end of the tape and advances towards the other end
of the line to be measured.

3. When the head tapeman has gone nearly a full tape length, the rear tapeman calls
“tape” to stop the head tapeman. The rear tapeman now holds the 2.50 m
(8.2021ft) mark at the starting point and aligns the other end of the tape held by
the head tapeman on the range pole set by behind the end point or on any of the
intermediate points earlier established along the line.
4. With the 10-m mark on the starting point, and the head tapeman aligned, the rear
tapeman calls “all-right.” The head tapeman then pulls the tape taut and sticks a
chaining pin in the ground to mark the 0-m end of the tape. If the measurement is
done on pavement, a chalk or marking crayon is used to mark the end of the tape.

5. The rear tapeman picks up his chaining pin and the head tapeman pulls the tape
forward and the process is repeated for the next full tape length.

6. When the end of the line is almost reached and the last full tape length has been
measured, the remaining partial length is then measured. The rear tapeman holds
the tape until he has a full meter (or foot) mark at his chaining pin while the
head tapeman pulls the tape taut and takes note of the fractional measurement
read from the tape end.
 7. After the measurement of the whole line is completed, a second measurement
should be made along the opposite direction. The mean of the two measurements
is taken as the most probable value of the length of the line.

V. DATA ANALYSIS

1. Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying

sample format tabulation of data.

Trial Line Segment Length Total Difference Mean Relative

(m) Length (PEm) Precision
(m)
1 AB 1 2.50
2 2.50 10.00 9.92 x 10-3
3 2.50 0.098 9.86 or
4 2.50 (0.00992)
2 BA 1 9.71 9.71

√
PEm=± ∑v2
0.6745 n (n−1)
Where:
PEm= probable error of the mea n
2
∑ v =summation of the squares of the residual
s n=number of trial s

Tabulated Solution:
 Measured Length Residual Square of Residual
¿) (v2¿
10.00 m 0.145 m 0.021 m2
9.71 m -0.145 m 0.021 m2
Total (∑ v2) 0.042 m2

√
PEm=± 0.042 m2
0.6745 2 (2−1)

PEm=± 0.098
Therefore, the length of the measured line is expressed to as 9.86 m ±0.098 m .
PEm
RP=
X´

0.098 m
RP= 9.86 m

2. Based on the video presented in Laboratory Exercise 1, answer the following

questions:
i. What are the errors made in taping a smooth and level ground?

- Errors cannot be avoided in taping a smooth and level ground. Thus this type
of measurement remedies error with computation as per the trial made (human error).
Error caused by the tape not being horizontal or vertical are systematic and
always make recorded lengths either longer or shorter than true lengths.

ii. If ever you will use the measurement made in the second part of the video,
what would be the taped distance?
T D =ML (1−RP )tape too short
M L=n( NL)
TD=(5 )(30 m )
(1−0.00992)
TD=148.51 m

TD = taped distance (actual length)

ML = measured length
n = number of segments
N = nominal length
RP = relative precision

iii. Complete the table above using the measurement made in part 2 of the
video made in Laboratory Exercise 1. (Divide the measurement into 4
segments.)
- Table above completed.
iv. Line BA is the last reading made in the video.
VI. CONCLUSION

When the ground is fairly level and smooth and the ground cover vegetation is light and low, the
effort required to measure the distance between two points or to set a point ahead of some required
distance is very minimal. The outcome of the relative precision from the data analysis above is acceptable
since it is relatively close to the standard precision of 1/1000. Taping on smooth and level ground is fairly
quick, easy and cheap. Therefore, it is the most common form of distance measurement. Based on the data
acquired, it is prone to errors and mistakes. Any misalignment of the tape, either horizontally or vertically,
will result to an error in the overall measurement. Misalignment always results in a recorded distance that
is too long, or a laid offline that is too short. This is visible, since the shortest distance between two points
is a straight line.

VII. REFERENCES
1. La Putt, J. (2009). Elementary and Higher Surveying, Baguio city: Baguio Research and
publication center.
2. McCormac, Jack C., Sarasua, Wayne, Davis, William (2013) Surveying, 6th ed. John Wiley &
Sons, USA
3. Distance Measurement (n.d) Available at: https://www.in.gov/indot/files/proced1chapter4.pd