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 A graphical method of survey in which the field

Dr R. K. Shukla
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
M. M. M. University of Technology
Gorakhpur
observations and plotting are done simultaneously.
 It is simple and cheaper than theodolite survey.
 It is most suitable for filling details after
establishment of horizontal control.
 The plan is drawn by the surveyor in the field, while
the area to be surveyed is before his eyes. Therefore,
there is no possibility of omitting the necessary
measurements.

 Plane table surveying is based on the principle  Equipments

that lines drawn during plotting always lie  Plane Table
parallel to the corresponding lines actually  Tripod
present on the ground.  Alidade

 Let us consider four ground stations A, B, C  Accessories

 Trough Compass
and D forming a quadrilateral ABCD. In plane
 Spirit level
tabling the sides AB, BC, CD and DA are
 U-Fork with Plumb bob
plotted in such a way that they are parallel to
 Drawing paper
the sides actually available on the ground  Pins
 Drawing toolbox

 An alidade is a device in
which the vertical plane of
the line of sight is
maintained parallel to a
straight-edge ruler on
which the sighting
arrangement is kept.
 It is used to draw a line
parallel to the line of sight
and thus provides the
direction of the object to be
plotted
 Depending on the type of
sighting arrangement,
alidades are classified as
 Plain Alidade,
 Telescopic Alidade
 digital alidade

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 It consists of a straight-edge ruler, made of a metal or wood, with one of
the edges is bevelled and graduated known as fiducial edge.
 It consists of two vanes which are perpendicular to its ends, fitted with
hinges at their bases, known as sight vanes.
 These are kept folded down on the ruler when not in use.
 One of the sight vanes is provided with a narrow slit having three holes.
This is used as eye vane.
 The other, used as object vane, is open and carries a hair or thin wire at its
centre.
 Thus, the line passing through the slit of the eye vane joining the thin
wire of the object vane and passing beyond is known as the line of sight
of a plane alidade.
 A string is fitted at the top of the sight vanes and is used for inclined
sight.
 In some alidade, a compass needle as well as a spirit level gets fitted in a
box engraved at its base.
 However, the plain alidade is not very accurate
 It consists of an EDM, with a built-in telescope for
sighting, an automatic angle sensor for registering
vertical angle and a microcomputer for yielding
horizontal distance and difference in elevation.
 It also consists of a liquid crystal display which is
used to display and thus read and retrieve the
observed and calculated parameters.
 Digital alidade is particularly useful for accurate
plotting of detail and for the long line of sight.
 It consists of flat based tube with a small
bubble either circular or tubular in shape .
 It is used to check the level of plane table by
placing it on the board in two positions at right
angles to each other.
 When the bubble tube remains in the centre at
any point on the table is considered to be
properly leveled.
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 It consists of a telescope as an arrangement for sighting
(similar to that present in the upper part of a theodolite).
 The telescope is fitted with a stadia diaphragm and can be
used as tacheometer also for computations of horizontal
distance and vertical elevations.
 The line of sight of the telescope is aligned along the fiducial
edge.
 In this instrument, the object is sighted through the
telescope and the distance is scaled off in that direction
along the fiducial edge
 The telescopic alidade is designed for greater precision and
longer range of sights. It can be used with advantages for
contouring and plotting of details during topographic
surveying.
 A trough compass consists of a long, narrow
rectangular box, covered with glass.
 Inside the box, at its centre, there is a magnetic needle
resting on the pivot.
 At the extremities of the trough compass, there are
graduated scales with zero at the centre and marking
up to 5° on either side of the zero line
 The trough compass is used for marking the magnetic
north line on the drawing sheet of the plane table.
 In this case, the magnetic needle point to 0° - 0° of the
graduated scale and a line drawn parallel to the edge
of the trough compass is along the magnetic meridian.
 A trough compass is also used to orient the plane table
with respect to the magnetic meridian
 A plumbing fork is a U-shaped piece of metal or
wooden frame
 The end of one of its arm is pointed and the other arm
is having an arrangement for hanging a plumb bob.
 The frame is constructed in such away that the tip of
the pointed arm and the plumb line lie in the same
vertical line.
 At the time of use, the pointed arm is placed on the
table and the other arm, with a plumb bob attached, is
kept below the table.
 Plumbing fork with a plumb bob is used in large scale
surveying for centering of Plane table and transferring
ground points on the plane table
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 At each station, the plane table is required to get set up before

carrying out any plotting work.  leveling.
 It basically consists of the following operations:  The top of the table is leveled by moving the legs of
 Fixing the tripod. The level of plane table is first judged by
 first the top of the tripod stand is fixed in level by eye estimation at
convenient height with its legs uniformly spread and shoes fixed firmly eye estimation. Further, it is checked by keeping
into the ground. The board is fixed to the tripod head by tightening the
clamping screw spirit level at different positions on the table and if
 centering required, legs are further adjusted.
 the centering with reference to already plotted position of the station. In
this case, the pointed end of the upper arm of a U-fork is held at the
plotted position of the station and the table is shifted and adjusted in such
 Marking the north line
a way that the tip of the plumb bob points exactly over the ground station.
 the centering with reference to ground location of the station. In this case,
 Orientation
the tip of the plumb bob attached to a U-frame is placed exactly over the
ground point which is required to be transferred. The point corresponding  magnetic needle or trough compass
to the tip of the pointed arm of the U-frame provides the transferred
position on the table.  back--sighting
back
 the accuracy with which centering is being carried out depends upon the
scale of plotting  resection

 magnetic needle or trough compass  back--sighting

 the edge of the trough compass is placed along the
magnetic meridian (drawn at the starting station)
and the plane table is rotated till the needle points to
zero-zero of the scale.
 the table is said to be oriented and thus clamped.
 not very accurate
 may get affected by local attraction
 generally used for small-scale survey.
back
 the fiducial edge of alidade is laid along a ray drawn
from previous station to the present station
 plane table is then rotated till the line of sight of
alidade bisects exactly the ranging rod placed at
previous station.
 The plane table is then clamped and the table is said
to be oriented.
 the level of the plane table has to be maintained
identical in both the stations.
 Not affected by local attraction

 Radiation
 The direction of the objects or points to be located are obtained
by drawing radial lines along fiducial edge of alidade after
getting the objects or points bisected along the line of sight of
the alidade.
 The horizontal distances are then measured and scaled off on
the corresponding radial lines to mark their positions on the
drawing
 Intersection
 the objects or points to be located are obtained at the point of
intersection of radial lines drawn from two different stations.
 The line joining these stations is known as base line. The scale
of base line decides the scale of map
 The intersection method is suitable when distances of objects
are large or cannot be measured properly. Thus, this method is
preferred in small scale survey and for mountainous regions
 Traversing
 This method is used to plot a traverse in cases stations
have not been previously plotted by some other methods
 traverse stations are first selected. The stations are plotted
by taking back sight on the preceding station and a fore
sight to the following station. Here distances are
generally measured
 Resection
 the position of the plane table is determined by drawing
resectors from already plotted points
 also results in the orientation of the plane table
 The basic principle of resection is opposite to that of the
method of intersection
 By three point problem
 By two point problem

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A
B
 Suppose P is a station on the ground from where
a
the object A, B, C,D and E are visible.
b  The plane table with a drawing sheet is set up and
centered over the station P. A point p is selected on
p the sheet to represent the station P.
c
 The north line is marked on the right-hand top
e corner of the sheet with trough compass.
d  With the alidade touching p, the ranging rod at A,
E C B, C,D and E are bisected and the rays are drawn.
 The distances PA, PB, PC, PD and PE are
measured and plotted to any suitable scale to
obtain the points a, b, c, d and e representing
D A,B,C,D, and E on paper.

P
 Suppose A and B are two stations and P is the object. Now it is
required to fix the position of P on the sheet by the intersection of
rays, drawn from A and B.
 The table is set up at A. It is leveled and centered so that a point ‘a’
on the sheet is just over the station A. The north line is marked on
the right-hand top corner, the Table is then clamped.
 With the alidade touching ‘a’, the object P and the ranging rod at B
are bisected, and rays are drawn through the fiducial edge on
alidade
p  The distance AB is measured and plotted to any suitable scale to
obtain point ‘b’.
 The table is shifted and centered over B and leveled properly.
a b a b Now the alidade is placed along the line ‘ba’ and orientation is
done by back sighting
 With the alidade touching ‘b’, the object P is bisected and a ray is
A B drawn
 This ray intersects the previous rays at point ‘p.’ the point p is the
required plotted position of P

a b  Suppose A,B,C,D and E are the traverse stations,

 The table is set up at the station A, a suitable point ‘a’ is
selected on the sheet in such a way that the whole area may
be plotted in the sheet. The table is centered, leveled and
clamped. The north line is marked on the right-hand top
corner of the sheet.
 With the alidade touching point ‘a’ the ranging rod at B is
bisected and a ray is drawn. The distance AB is measured
and plotted to any suitable scale.
 The table is shifted and centered over B. It is then leveled,
oriented by back sighting and clamped.
e c c  With the alidade touching point ‘b’, the ranging rod at C is
d bisected and ray is drawn. The distance BC is measured and
d plotted to the same scale.
E
 The table is shifted and set up at C and the same procedure
e c is repeated.
d  In this manner, all stations of the traverse are connected

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 Check lines  In this problem, three well defined points are

 To check the accuracy of the plane table traverse, a
few check lines are taken by sighting back to some
preceding station.
 Error of closure
 If the traverse to be plotted is a closed traverse, the
foresight from the terminating station should pass
through the first station. Otherwise the amount by
which plotted position of the first station on the
foresight fails to close is designated as the error of
closure. It is adjusted graphically, if the error is
within permissible limits, before any further plotting
works are done
selected, whose position have already been
plotted on the map. Then, by perfectly
bisecting these three well-defined points. A
new station is established at the required
position.
 The problem may be solved by following
methods
 Mechanical or tracing paper Method
 Graphical or Bessel’s method
 The trial and error or Lehmann’s method

 Suppose A, B and C are the
three well-defined points
which have been plotted on
the map as a, b and c. It is
required to locate a station at
P.
 The table is placed at P and
leveled. A tracing paper is
fixed on the map and a point
p is marked on it.
 With the alidade centered on
P the points A, B and C are
bisected and rays are drawn.
These rays may not pass
through the points a, b and c
as the orientation is done
approximately
B B
 Now a tracing paper is
A unfastened and moved over A
the map in such a way that
the three rays
C simultaneously pass through C
the plotted positions a, b and
c.
 The points p is pricked with
a pin to give an impression p
on the map. P is the required
points on the map. The
b tracing paper is then b
a c removed. a c
 Then the alidade is centered
on p and the rays are drawn
towards A, B and C. These p
rays must pass through the
points a, b and c

 Suppose A,B, and C are
three well-defined points
which have been plotted
as a, b and c. Now it is
required to locate a
station at P.
 The table is placed at the
required station P and
leveled. The alidade is
placed along the line ca
and the point A is
bisected with a towards
A.
 The table is clamped.
With the alidade in centre
on C, the point B is
bisected and rays is
drawn
B B
 Again the alidade is
A A
placed along the line
C C
ac and the point C is
bisected with c
towards C and the
table is clamped.
 With the alidade
touching a, the point
B is bisected and a ray
is drawn. d
 This ray intersects the
previous ray at a
point d

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 The alidade is placed
along db and the point
B is bisected. At this A been plotted as a, b and c on the
position the table is said
to be perfectly oriented.
 Now the rays Aa, Bb
and Cc are drawn.
These three rays must
meet at a point p which
is the required point on
the map.
 This point is transferred
to the ground by U-fork
and plumb bob.
 The size of the triangle of error
depends upon the amount of angular
error in the orientation
 To get the actual point, this triangle A
of error is to be eliminated
 New trial point is selected using
Lehmann’s Rules and plane table is
slightly rotated and other resectors
drawn.
 May form another triangle of error.
Another trial point selected and
process repeated till triangle of error
is eliminated.
 the triangle of error is eliminated in
such a way that the rays Aa, Bb and
Cc finally meet at a point p.
P
Q 
p marked on this ray.
q
b a b
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 Suppose A, B and C are the three
B B
well-defined points which have
A
C map. Now it is required to
C
establish a station at P.
 The table is set up at P and
leveled. Orientation is done by eye
estimation or compass
 With the alidade, rays Aa, Bb and
Cc are drawn. As the orientation is
approximate, the rays may not
intersect at a point, but may form
a small triangle known as the
triangle of error. Triangle of
Error
p
 Same Side and Same Ratio
B
 The plotted position of the plane table should
be so chosen that it is to the same side of all
the three rays.
C
 The plotted position of the plane table should
be so chosen that its distance from the the
resectors is proportional to the distance of
plane table station from the field positions of
the considered objects
 If the position of plane table station is outside
the great triangle, its plotted position should
be chosen outside the triangle of error
 If the position of plane table station is inside
the great triangle, its plotted position should
be chosen inside the triangle of error
 Suppose P and Q are two well-defined points whose
positions are plotted on map as p and q. It is required to
locate a new station at A by perfectly bisecting P and Q
An auxiliary station B is selected at a suitable position. The
table is set up at B, and leveled and oriented by eye
estimation. It is then clamped.
 With the alidade touching p and q, the points P and Q are
bisected and rays are drawn. Suppose these rays intersect at
b
 With the alidade centre on b, the ranging rod at A is bisected
and rays is drawn. Then, by eye estimation, a point a 1 is
 The table is shifted and centre on A with a1 just over A. It is
R leveled and oriented by back sighting. With the alidade
touching p, the point P is bisected and a ray is drawn.
Suppose this ray intersects the line ba1 at point a1 , as was
a assumed.
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 The accuracy with which a plane table station can be

 With the alidade centered on a 1 the point Q is bisected located through three point problem is known as its fix.
and a ray is drawn. Suppose this ray intersects the ray  The degree of accuracy of solution of the three point
bq at a point q1. The triangle pqq1 is known as the
problem is designated as its strength i.e., if the
triangle of error, and is to be eliminated.
accuracy is high, the fix is termed as strong and for low
 The alidade is placed along the line pq1 and a ranging
accuracy, fix is called as poor.
rod R is fixed at some distance from the table. Then, the
alidade is placed along the line pq and the table is  The accuracy of fix depends on the relative positions of
turned to bisect R. At this position the table is said to the plotted points and that of location of the plane table
be perfectly oriented. station. Thus, the choice of plotted objects and location
 Finally, with the alidade centered on p and q, the of table should be made to get a strong fix.
points P and Q are bisected and rays are drawn.
Suppose these rays intersect at a point a. This would
represent the exact position of the required station A.
Then the station A is marked on the ground.

 The strength of fix is good if

 the location of station is chosen within the great triangle C
formed by joining the three well defined objects X; A
 the middle object is nearer to the position of the plane table
than other two objects;
 of the two interior angles subtended by the three objects at the
plane table stations, one is small and the other is large.
However, the objects subtending small angle should be widely
separated to each other.
 The strength of fix is poor if
 The location of the plane table is on or near the circumference
of the great circle If plane table is placed on circumference there
is no unique solution.
 Both the interior angles, subtended, by well defined objects, at
the plane table stations, are small.
p

 Instrumental Errors  Manipulation and sighting (Observer)

 Undulated plane table surface  Improper leveling of plane table :
 the sight vanes will be inclined to the vertical. There would
 Curved or inclined fiducial edge be an error and the points located will not be correct.
 Loose fittings in plane  Inaccurate Centering
 Improper magnetic compass  Improper orientation
 Improper clamping of plane table
 Non-perpendicularity of the sight
 Improperly clamped plane table will disturb its orientation
 Defect in level tube  Inexact bisection of object
 Unseasoned, poor quality drawing paper  error in direction of object will occur and thus its plotted
position.
 Improper plotting
 Instability of tripod stand

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A B
 α and β are small so
fp’ / AP = α
aa’ = pa. α = pa. fp’/AP = e.s
where s is scale and fp’< e but
taken as equal This assumption
will slightly increase the
computed error
 Similarly bb’ = e.s
 Displacement of points is less
than e.s
 If plotting accuracy is 0.25 mm
and scale is1:1000
 e = 0.00025/(1/1000) = 0.25 m
 Therefore an error of 25 cm in
centering will not have any
effect at 1: 1000 scale
 It is suitable for location of details as well as contouring for large
α β scale maps directly in the field.
 As surveying and plotting are done simultaneously in the field,
chances of omission of any detail is reduced.
 The plotting details can immediately get compared with the actual
objects present in the field. Thus errors as well as accuracy of the
plot can be ascertained as the work progresses in the field.
 Contours and specific features can be represented and checked
conveniently as the whole area is in view at the time of plotting.
 Only relevant details are located because the map is drawn as the
a b survey progresses. Irrelevant details get omitted in the field itself.
a’ b’
P’  The plane table survey is generally more rapid and less costly than
most other types of survey.
f g  As the instruments used are simple, not much skill for operation
of instruments is required. This method of survey requires no field
p pp’ = e book

 The plane table survey is not possible in unfavorable

climates such as rain, fog etc.
 This method of survey is not very accurate and thus
unsuitable for large scale or precise work.
 As no field book is maintained, plotting at different scale
require full exercise.
 The method requires large amount of time to be spent in the
field.
 Quality of the final map depends largely on the drafting
capability of the surveyor.
 This method is effective in relatively open country where
stations can be sighted easily
 Due to heaviness, it is inconvenient to transport.
 Since there are so many accessories, there is likelihood of
them being lost