Types of Ranging

There are two types of ranging:

Direct ranging
Indirect ranging
Direct ranging

Direct ranging is possible when the stations are intervisible.

Ranging is done by eye-judgement. Ranging rods are erected vertically beyond each end of survey line.

The surveyor stands 2m beyond the ranging rod while the assistant folds the ranging rod vertically in the
intermediate stations.

The ranging rod is held roughly in line by the thumb and fore-finger.

The surveyor directs the assistant to move the rod to the left or right until the three ranging rods appear to
be in a straight line.

To avoid errors due to the ranging rods not being vertical, the lower end of the rod are cited for alignment.

Indirect Ranging
1. Resiprocal Ranging:
It is possible when the ends of a line are not inter-visible as in the case when a hill ground or
when the distance between the stations are so large that they are not clearly inter-visible.
Intermediate points are fixed by the process of reciprocal ranging as explained below.

Let A and B be the ends of a survey line to be measured as a rising ground between them.
Two chain men with ranging rods take the positions M1 and N1 such that they are as nearly in line with A
and B as they could judge the chain men at M1 could N1 and B.
And the chain men at N1 could see M1 and A.
First chain men at N1 directs M1 to M2 so that he comes in the line with A and N.
Then the chain man at M2 directs N1 to N2 such that he comes in line with B and M2.
The process is repeated so that they align each other successively directing each other until they are both
finally in the line AB.
2. Random Line Method:
In this method, a random line such as BQ is being laid such that R is visible from Q. A perpendicular QR
is being erected at Q and measure its distance. Then the desired distance BR is being calculated using
distance formula.

In laying the line BR, intermediate points are established first. These are laid by taking offset from the
random line at distances calculated by using the method of similar triangle such as

After locating the intermediate points on the line BR, the obstructions get cleared to make the end points
intervisible. Then, direct ranging is being carried out to obtain an extended continous straight line.