UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC.

College of Engineering and Architecture

Dubinan East, Santiago City

LEARNING MODULE

PBSCE 003 LEC - fundamentals of Surveying

MODULE 3: MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL

DISTANCES

Engr. Claudette Mine A. Lumibao

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Module 3: Measurement of Horizontal Distances

This module will give you a detailed procedures on solving problems involving Horizontal
distances and Tape Corrections and Errors in measurement.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of module 3, you should have achieved the following topic learning outcomes:
1. Explain and illustrate how to measure horizontal distances, methods and instruments used,
Tape Corrections.
2. Compute for the corrected tape measurement
DISTANCE BY PACING
Pacing consists of counting the
number of steps or paces in a
required distance. A pace is
defined as the length of a step in
walking. It may be measured
from heel to heel or from toe to
toe. In surveying, pacing means
moving with measured steps;
and if the steps are counted,
distances can be determined if
the length of a step is known.
Counting strides instead of
paces is sometimes preferred by
surveyors. A stride is equivalent to two paces or a double step.
Pace Factor (PF) = Length of a line/ Mean number of paces
DISTANCE BY TAPING
Taping consists of stretching a
calibrated tape between two points
and reading the distance indicated on
the tape. It is a form of a direct
measurement which is widely used in
the construction of buildings, dams,
bridges, canals, and many other
engineering as well as non
engineering activities.

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DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
Tachymetry measurements are performed either by the stadia method or the subtense bar method.
1. Stadia Method. It was introduced in 1771 by James Watt of Scotland and was at that time
referred to as micrometer for measuring distances.
The process of taking a stadia measurement consists in observing through the telescope the
apparent locations of the two stadia hairs on vertically held rod.

The equation D  Ks  C is employed in computing horizontal distances from stadia intervals

when sights are horizontal.
D = Horizontal distance
K = Stadia interval factor of the instrument.
s = Stadia interval or the difference between the upper stadia hair reading and the
lower stadia hair reading.
C = stadia constant or the distance from the center of the instrument to the principal focus.
2. Subtense Bar Method. The subtense abar is a convenient and practical device used for the
quick and accurate measurement of horizontal distances.
The procedure for
determining the distance
between two points
consists of setting up the
subtense bar at the
distant station, and
measuring the horizontal
angle subtended by the
distance between the
two targets. A thedolite,
set up at the other end of the line to be measured, is used in measuring the subtending angle.
The figure shows a plan view of a typical subtense measurement. Since the bar is set up
perpendicular to the line of sight, the horizontal distance is determined from the relationship
S S
  2 2
Tan    and D  since S  2.00m
2 D Tan   2 D
1  
 cot  
  2
Tan  
Where: D is the horizontal distance and α is the angle subtended 2
by the targets.

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DISTANCE BY MECHANICAL DEVICES
1. Odometer. The odometer is a simple device that can be attached to a wheel for purposes of
roughly measuring surface distances.
2. Measuring Wheel. A measuring wheel is very similar in operation to an odometer except that
it is a more portable and self-contained measuring device. It basically consists of a small wheel
which is attached to a rod and handle, and can be pushed by an operator. As the wheel of the
device is rolled along a line to be measured, a built-in calibrated recorder automatically gives a
distance readout in meters and decimals of a meter. It is suitable for measuring distances along
irregular or curved lines and boundaries.
CORRECTION IN TAPING
Taping operations could either be of the following: taping to determine an unknown length, or
taping for the purpose of laying out a required or specified length. Regardless of which of these
two categories is involved, there are some corrections which are applied to the original
measurements to determine the correct and more accurate length.
1st RULE: When a line is measured with a tape that is “too long”, the corrections are applied to
the observed length by adding.
2nd RULE: When a specified or required length is to be laid out with a tape that is “too long”,
the corrections are subtracted from the known length to determine the corrected length to be laid
out.
3rd RULE: When measuring or laying out lengths with a tape that is “too short”, the corrections
are applied opposite to those stated in the first two rules. “When measuring with tape too long,
add; tape too short, subtract. Do the reverse when laying out.”
SLOPE TAPING.
Taped measurements may be made directly along the slopes when the ground is of uniform
inclination and fairly smooth, rather than break tape every few meters. This very practical
method is generally preferred since measurements could be made quickly and more accurately
than horizontal measurements.

Where: d  s cos 
d = horizontal distance d  s2  h2
h = difference in elevation
s = slope distance

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A. CORRECTION DUE TO INCORRECT TAPE LENGTH

The absolute value for the correction per tape length (Corr) is determined from the difference
between the true or actual length of tape (TL) and the nominal length of tape (NL) .
Corr  TL  NL

TL = actual length of tape

NL = nominal length of tape

 ML 
C1  Corr  
 NL 

CL  ML  C1

C1 = total correction to be applied to the measured length or length to be laid out.

CL = corrected length of the line to be measured or laid out

ML = measured length or length to be laid out
NL = nominal length of tape

B. CORRECTION DUE TO SLOPE

When distances are measured along the slope, the equivalent horizontal distance may
correspondingly be determined by applying an approximate slope correction.

h2
Ch 
s  d 
s = measured slope distance between points A and B

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h = difference in elevation between A and B
d = equivalent horizontal distance AC
ℎ = slope correction or the difference between the slope length and the horizontal distance,
Ch  s  d

For gentle slopes (less than 20%) it is safe to assume that the slope distance (s) is approximately
equal to the horizontal distance (d) or

h2
Ch 
2s
h
Slope  100% 
d
For steep slopes, 20% to 30% range.

h2 h4
Ch  
2 s 8s 3
For very steep slopes are involved such as those greater than 30%.
h
Sin  , d  cos  , and Ch  s  d
s
Therefore:
Ch  s  s cos  or Ch  s 1 cos  

C. CORRECTION DUE TO TEMPERATURE

“The tape lengthens as the temperature rises and shortens as the temperature falls”

Ct  a T  TS L

Ct = Correction due to temperature

α = Coefficient of linear expansion

T = is the observed temperature of the tape at the time of measurement
Ts = is the temperature at which the tape was standardized

L = Length of tape was standardized

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D. CORRECTION DUE TO PULL (TENSION)

Cp 
Pm  Ps L
AE
Cp = total elongation in tape length due to pull or the correction due to incorrect pull applied on
the tape
Pm = pull applied to the tape during measurement
Ps = standard pull for the tape or pull for which the tape is calibrated
L = measured length of line
A = cross sectional area of the tape
E = modulus of elasticity of the tape material

E. CORRECTION DUE TO SAG

The correction due to sag is the difference in length between the arc formed by the tape and the
subtending chord. In determining this correction, the arc is assumed to be a parabola, and is
computed with sufficient precision by the formula

w 2 L3
Cs 
24P 2
Since W = wL or W2 = w2L2 , and substituting this to equation 1, we obtain

w2 L
Cs 
24P 2
Cs = correction due to sag or the difference between the tape reading and the
horizontal distance between supports (m)
w = weight of tape per unit length (kg/m)
W = total weight of tape between supports (kg)
L = interval between supports or the unsupported length of tape (m)

F. CORRECTION DUE TO WIND

A strong wind blowing perpendicular to the direction of taping will move the middle and
unsupported portion of the tape to one side of the line measured. This introduces an error to the

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measurement which is similar to the effect of sag but is usually much less. To avoid this type of
error, it is preferable no to undertake any taping work during windy days. If it cannot be avoided
and the measurement has to be done on windy days, efforts should be taken to support the tape
from being affected by the blowing of wind.

G. CORRECTION DUE TO NORMAL TENSION

The normal tension is the amount of pull required to make the end points coincide
with the marked points on the pavement.

0.204W AE
Pn 
Pn  Ps

PN = normal tension or the pull which will eliminate the effect of sag (kg)
W = total weight of tape between supports (kg)
A = cross-sectional area of tape (cm2)
kg
E = modulus of elasticity of tape material ( )
cm 2
Ps = standard pull for the tape (kg)

COMBINED CORRECTIONS
The corrections for the effects of incorrect length of tape, temperature, tension, slope, and sag
may be combined as a single net correction per tape length. Each correction is computed
separately and it is important to identify which correction tends to make the tape too long or too
short. Since the sign of each correction can be determined during computation, it is then a matter
of adding these quantities algebraically to arrive at a single and overall correction to lengths
which are measured or laid out. Combined corrections are usually determined on the basis of the
nominal tape length since each correction is relatively small and do not appreciably affect each
other. The resulting net correction per tape length may be used as long as conditions remain
constant during taping. Variation in conditions may be due to changes in temperature during the
day, non-uniformity of pull exerted on the ends of the tape, the ground may be such that it
becomes necessary to support the tape at various intervals, and some other factors

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EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. DISTANCE BY PACING. A 45 – m course, AB, on a level ground was placed by a surveyor
for the purpose of determining his pace factor. The number of paces for each trial taken are
shown in the accompanying tabulation.
a. Determine his pace factor.
b. If the surveyor then took 771, 770, 768, 770, 772, and 769 paces in walking an unknown
distance CD, what is the length of the line?
c. Assuming that the taped length of line CD is 667.0 m, determine the relative precision of the
measurement performed.

TRIAL LINE TAPED DISTANCE NO.OF PACES MEAN

1 AB 50
2 BA 53
3 AB 45.0 51 52
4 BA 53
5 AB 52
6 BA 53

SOLUTIONS:

a) Determining Pace Factor (PF)

L= 45 m
M=( 50+53+51+53+52+53)/6
M= 52 paces
PF= 45m/52paces
PF= 0.865 m/pace
b) Determining Unknown Distance
Sum= (771+770+768+770+772+769)
Sum= 4620 paces
M= 4620/6
M= 770 paces

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PD= 770 paces x 0.865 m/paces
PD= 666.1 m
c) Determining the Relative Precision
TD= 667.0 (taped distance)
PD= 666.1 (paced distannce)
RP= (TD- PD)/ TD
RP= (667.0- 666.1)/667.0
RP= 1/741 or say 1/700
2. DISTANCE BY STADIA. A Stadia rod held at distance point B is sighted by a 1.300m and
0.900m, respectively. If the stadia interval factor (K) is 100, and the instrument constant (C) is
zero, determine the length of line AB.
SOLUTION:

D = Ks + C

= 100(1.300-0.900) + 0.0

= 40.0m (lenght of line AB)

3. DISTANCE BY SUBTENSE BAR. A Subtense bar 2.000 meters long is set up near the
middle of travers line PQ. Using a theodolite was up at P, the angle subtended reads 0°20’14”.
When the theodolite was transffered and set up at Q, the corresponding subtended angle was
observed as 0°23’47”. Determine the horizontal length of line PQ.

SOLUTION:
1 1
D1    333.81m
 020'14"
Tan Tan
2 2

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1 1
D2    289.09m
 023'47"
Tan Tan
2 2
D  D1  D2  339.81  289.09
D  628.90m
4. SLOPE TAPING. A line XYZ is measured on the slope in two segments. The first segment
XY measures 824.45m and the second segment YZ measures 1244.38m. If the difference in
elevation between points X and Y is 4.25m anf that between Y and Z is 6.47m, determine the
horizontal length of the measured line.

SOLUTION:

d1  s1 2  h1 2  824.452  4.252  824.44m (horizontal legthof segment XY)

d2  s2 2  h2 2  1244.382  6.47 2  1244.36m (horizontal legthof segment YZ)

D  d1  d 2  824.44  1244.36  2068.80m (horizontal legth of line XYZ)

5. MEASUREMENT WITH TAPE. A Rectangular lot was measured using 50m steel tape
which was found to be 0.025m too short. If the recorded length and width of the lot are
180.455m and 127.062m, respectively, determine the following:
a. Actual dimension of the lot.
b. Error in area introduced due to the erroneous length of tape.
Given:
NL = 50m (nominal length of tape used)
Corr = 0.025m(correction per tape length, with tape being too short)
W = 127.062m(measured width of lot)
L = 180.455m (measured length of lot)
SOLUTION:
a) Determine Actual Dimensions of Lot.

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W   127.62 
CW  Corr    0.025   0.064m (total correction to be applied to the width)
 NL   50 

 L   180.455 
C L  Corr    0.025   0.090m (total correction to be applied to the length)
 NL   50 
W '  W  C w  127.062  0.064  126.998m (correct length of the lot)

L'  L  C L  180.455  0.090  180.365m (correct length of the lot)

b) Determining Error in Area.

AREA=L x W = 180.455(127.062)
= 22,928.973 sq.m (area of the lot based on uncorrected dimensions)
AREA’=L’ x W’ = 180.365(126.998)
= 22,905.994 sq.m (area of the lot based on corrected dimensions)
Error = AREA -AREA’ = 22,928.973 - 22,905.994
= 22.979 sq.m (error in area introduced due to erroneous length of tape)
6. CORRECTION DUE TO SLOPE. Slope distances AB and BC measures 330.49m and
660.97m and 660.97m, respectively. The differences in elevation are 12.22m for points A and B,
and 10.85m for points B and C. Using the approximate slope correction formula for gentle slopes,
determine the horizontal length of line ABC. Assume that line AB has rising slope and BC a
falling slope.

Given:
s1 = 330.49m (slope length of AB)

h1 = 12.22m (difference in elevation between A and B)

s2 = 660.97m (slope length of BC)

h2 = 10.85m (difference in elevation between B and C)

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SOLUTION:
h12 12.22 2
d1  s1   330.49 
2 s1 2660.97 
 330.49  0.23
 330.26m

h22 10.85 2
d 2  s2   660.97 
2 s2 2660.97 
 660.97  0.09
 660.88m
d  d1  d 2  330.26  660.88  991.14m

7. CORRECTION DUE TO TEMPERATURE. A steel tape, known to be of standard length

at 20°C, is used in laying out a runway 2,500.00 m long. If its coefficient of linear expansion is
0.0000116/1°C, determine the temperature correction and the correct length to be laid out when
the temperature is 42°C.
SOLUTION:
Ct  a T  TS L  0.0000116 42  202500.00 

= +0.638m (Correction for the length to be laid out due to temperature. The positive sign
indicates that the tape is too long)
8. CORRECTION DUE TO TENSION. A heavy 50m tape having a cross-sectional area of
0.05cm.sq has been standardized at a tension of 5.5kg. If E  2.10 x10 6 kg / cm 2 , determine the
elongation of the tape is a pull of 12 kg is applied.
SOLUTION:
Pm  Ps L  12  5.550
Cp 
AE 
0.05 2.10 x10 6   0.003m
9. CORRECTION DUE TO SAG. A 50- m steel tape weighs 0.04 kg/m and is supported at its
end points at the 8- m and 25- m marks. If a pull of 6kg is applied, determine the following:
a) correction due to sag between the 0-m and 8- m marks, 8-m and 25-m marks, and the 25- m
and 50- m marks
b) correction due to sag for one tape length
c) correct distance between the ends of the tape

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SOLUTION:
a) Determine Correction Due to Sag for each span.

w 2 L13 0.04  8

2 3
Cs1    0.0009 m
246 
2
24 P 2

w 2 L32 0.04  17 

2 3
Cs2    0.0091m
246 
2
24 P 2

w 2 L33 0.04  25

2 3
Cs3    0.0289 m
246 
2
24 P 2

b) Determine Total Sag correction for one tape length.

Cs  Cs1  Cs2  Cs3
 0.0009  0.0091  0.0289
 0.0389 m
c) Detemine correct distance between tape ends.
L'  L  Cs  50  0.0389
 49.9611m

10. NORMAL TENSION. A steel tape weighing 0.85 kg has a cross sectional area of 0.05 cm2.
The tape measures exactly 30.0 m when supported throughout its length under a standard pull of
5.5 kg. If the modulus of elasticity of the tape is 2.10 x106 kg/ sq. cm. determine the tension
required to make the tape equal to its nominal length when supported only at the end points.
Given:
L = 30.00m Ps = 5.5 kg
W = 0.85 kg E = 2.10x10^6 kg/cm.sq
A = 0.05cm.sq

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SOLUTION:

Pn 
0.204W AE 0.2040.85 0.05 2.10 x10 6
 
56.188 
Pn  Ps PN  5.5 PN  5.5

TryPN  15.00kg TryPN  17.00kg

56.188 56.188
15.00  17.00 
15.00  5.5 17.00  5.5
15.00  18.23 17.00  16.57

TryPN  16.50kg TryPN  16.75kg

56.188 56.188
16.50  16.75 
16.50  5.5 16.75  5.5
16.50  16.94 16.75  16.75(Checks )

Summary:
 Pace Factor (PF) = Length of a line/ Mean number of paces

 Stadia Method D  Ks  C

 Subtense bar method

1  
D  cot  
  2
Tan  
2

d  s cos 
 Slope Tapping
d  s2  h2

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 ML 
 Correction due to incorrect tape length Corr  TL  NL C1  Corr   CL  ML  C1
 NL 

h2
 Correction due to slope Ch 
s  d 
 Correction due to temperature Ct  a T  TS L

Pm  Ps L
 Correction dueto pull (tension) C p 
AE

w 2 L3 w2 L
 Correction due to sag Cs  Cs 
24P 2 24P 2

0.204W AE
 Correction due to normal tension Pn 
Pn  Ps

References:
Elementary Surveying 3rd edition, Juny Pilapil La Putt, BSCE, AGP, MS
Elementary Surveying, An Introduction to Geomatics, Charles D. Ghilani and Paul R Wolf
Surveying for Civil and Geodetic Licensure Exam, Besavilla
Engineering Formulas Series, Diego inocencio T. Gillesania

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