Describe the methods of plane table surveying with their merits and

demerits in field operations.

Plane Table Surveying is one of the most rapid method of surveying. The plane table is an
instrument used for surveying by a graphical method in which the field work and plotting are
done simultaneously. The main advantage of plane table surveying is that the topographic
features to be mapped are in full view. It is most suitable for small and medium scale-
mapping (1:10000 to 1:250000).

Methods of Plane Table Surveying

(A) Radiation Method:
In this method the instrument is setup at a station and rays are drawn to various stations
which are to be plotted. The distances are cut to a suitable scale after actual measurements.
This method is suitable only when the area to be surveyed is small and all the stations are
visible and accessible from the instrument station.

In this method, plane table is located at one point “o” as shown in fig. and perform the whole
from that point. From point O, sight the points A,B,C,D and E using alidade, locate and plot
the points as a,b,c,d and e in the drawing sheet.

MERITS OF RADIATION METHOD

1. The radiation method is very fast and suitable for locating objects from
a single station.
2. There is no need for multiple instruments set up, hence fewer chances
of error than other plane table methods.
3. As this method is conducted from a single station, no orientation work
is needed.
DEMERITS OF RADIATION METHOD
1. The radiation method does not provide very accurate results.
2. The radiation method is not suitable for surveying work in a wet
climate.
3. This method is not suitable where the stations are not visible.
 4. If in any case, the surveyor missed a measurement, the replotting of the
survey work turns impossible. Then the whole radiation method is to be
conducted again.
5. As there is no field book, replotting the map to a different scale is not
possible.

(B) Intersection Method: In this method two stations are so selected that all the other
stations to be plotted are visible from these. The line joining these two stations is called
base line. The length of this line is measured very accurately. This method is very
commonly used for plotting details.In this method we can locate the point by plotting two
rays from two known stations. As shown in figure, P and Q are the known station. First
the equipment is placed on P and plot the lines by sighting the stations A, B and Q. then
shift the equipment to station Q and plot the lines by sighting stations A, B and P. Finally,
the intersection of A and B rays is the required location of point of intersection.

MERITS OF INTERSECTION METHOD

1. Intersection method requires less ground distance measurement than radiation method.
2. By this method we can locate inaccessible points which cannot be located by radiation
method i.e from single station.
3. As objects can be located by intersection of lines, this method is more accurate in
positioning and verifying the objects than radiation method.
4. As compared to radiation method, intersection method eliminates undulation error,
bisection error and plotting errors.

DEMERITS OF INTERSECTION METHOD

1. If the survey is to be re‐plotted to a different scale or quantities are to be computed, it is a
great inconvenience in absence of the field notes.
2. It never produces accurate results.

(C) Traversing Method:

This method is similar to compass of theodolite traversing. The table is set at each of the
stations in succession. A foresight is taken to the next station and the distance is cut to a
suitably choosen scale. Traversing is the connection of series of straight lines. In case of
traversing, plane table is located at one point for suppose A as shown below. From that point
sight towards B and measure the distance AB. Then shift the plane table to point B and sight
towards A and measure BA. Average distance of AB and Ba are plotted to scale in drawing
sheet. Then Sight the point C from B and measure BC and repeat the same procedure until
last point. Conduct some checks at some points. Finally, traverse lines are plotted on the

drawing sheet.

MERITS OF TRAVERSING METHOD

• Less reconnaissance and organization needed;

• While in other systems, which may require the survey to be performed along a
rigid polygon shape, the traverse can change to any shape and thus can
accommodate a great deal of different terrains;
• Only a few observations need to be taken at each station, whereas in other survey
networks a great deal of angular and linear observations need to be made and
considered;
• Traverse networks are free of the strength of figure considerations that happen in
triangular systems;
• Scale error does not add up as the traverse is performed. Azimuth swing errors
can also be reduced by increasing the distance between stations

DEMERITS OF TRAVERSING METHOD

• The disadvantage of this method is that the traverse can be checked only if it is closed.
• This method of surveying can only be done in the day time

(D) Resection Method:

It is a method of orientation employed when the table occupies a position not yet located on
the drawing sheet. It is defined as the process of locating the instrument station occupied by
the plane table by drawing rays from the stations whose positions have already been plotted
on the drawing sheet.

This method is employed when during surveying the surveyor feels that some important
details can be plotted easily by choosing any station other than the triangulation stations. The
position of such a station is fixed on the drawing sheet by resection.

• Resection after orientation by compass.

• Resection after orientation by back sighting.
• Resection after orientation by two points (two-point problem)
• Resection after orientation by three points (three-point problem)
 MERITS OF RESECTION METHOD
(1) method of a resection permits a great freedom of positioning the total station. For this
reason, this method is one of the most used station set ups.
(2) Since the field work and plotting work together, the surveyor can compare the plotted
work with the actual characteristics of the area.
(3) It is fast and suitable for small scale maps
DEMERITS OF RESECTION METHOD
(1) Using wrong target may result in determining wrong coordinates.
(2) Less reliable in case of gross error.
(3) Orientation of control points matters in the survey.