SURVEYING

& LEVELLING

Lecture # 1
Introduction to
Surveying
COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction to Survey
Chain Surveying
Compass Traversing
Plane Table Surveying
Leveling
Theodolite Traversing
Tacheometric Surveying
Contouring
Computation of Area
Computation of Volume
REFERENCES
Surveying and Levelling,
by N. N. Basak

Surveying and Levelling, Volume 1

by Bhavikatti

Engineering Surveying, 6th Edition

by W. Schofield and M. Breach
 MARKS DISTRIBUTION

THEORY LABORATORY
(100) (100)

Quiz-1 (10) Lab Performance

Mid-Paper (30) Lab Quiz

Quiz-2 (10) Lab Viva

Final-Paper (40) Lab Attendance

Attendance (10)
INTRODUCTION TO SURVEY
SURVEYING
Surveying is the art of determining the relative position of
natural and man-made features on the surface of earth by
making measurements in the horizontal plane.
Measurements (Horizontal Distances and Angles) are made in
the Horizontal plane only.

LEVELLING
Levelling is the art of determining the relative position of
natural and man-made features on the surface of earth by
making measurements in the vertical plane.
Process of SURVEY
The process may be divided into three stages
(i) Taking a general view
It involves the need to obtain an overall picture of what is
required before any type of survey work is undertaken. In land
surveying, this is achieved during the reconnaissance study.

(ii) Observation and Measurement

The next stage of any survey constitutes to the measurement to
determine the relative position and sizes of natural and artificial
features on the land.

(iii) Presentation of Data:

The data collected in any survey must be presented in a form
which allows the information to be clearly interpreted and
understood by others. This presentation may take the form of
written report, bills of quantities, datasheets, drawings and in
land surveying maps and plan showing the features on the land.
OBJECTIVE OF SURVEYING
Survey is to collect data from the field depending upon the
requirements.

For engineers and architect/planners the requirement can be

drawing of a map or plan.
The objective of surveying is to show relative position of
various objects on paper. Such representations on paper are
called maps or plans

MAP/ PLAN
A plan or a map may be defined as the graphical representation
of the features on the surface of the earth as projected on a
horizontal plane to a suitable scale
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAP AND A PLAN
 Since the earth surface is curved and that of a paper is
plane, no part of Earth can be represented on a paper
without distortion

 If area to be represented is small, the distortion is less

and a large scale can be used for drawing. Such
representations are called plans.

 If area to be represented is large, the distortion is large

and small scales are to be used for the drawing. Such
representations are called maps.
Notice!!!
How much
distortion I
have made ...

Now that’s a
MAP!!
 APPLICATION OF SURVEY
 Topographical maps
 Road maps
 Cadastral maps
 Military surveys help in strategic planning
 Marine surveys help in planning navigation routes and harbors
 Archaeological maps
 Contour maps
 Mine surveys are required for exploring mineral wealth
 Geological surveys help in identifying underground resources
 Astronomical surveys help in study of astronomical movements
of planets and for calculating local and standard times
 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP

-Maps showing Natural and Man-made features of an

area.

-Natural features are trees, ponds, river, forests...

-Man-made features may include roads, canals, towns,

villages....
 MILITARY MAP
Maps showing communication means and areas
of High Strategic importance for the defense
of the country

(Military map of US in WWII)

 ROAD MAP

Maps Showing Roads and Highways in an

area

(Road Map of Pakistan)

 GEOLOGICAL MAP

Maps showing regions with minerals and other

geological resources of an area.

(Geological Map of Pakistan)

 LAND MINE MAP

Part of Military Map showing land mines.

(Land mines in the Balkans- The major mountain

range of Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula )
 MARINE MAPS/NAVIGATIONAL
CHARTS

Maps showing oceans and navigational charts

Hydro survey is undertaken to gather

information in the marine environment such as
mapping out the coast lines and sea bed in
order to produce navigational charts

(New York Harbor Nautical Chart)

 CADASTRAL MAP

Maps showing boundaries of a property.

For example boundaries of Fields, Houses,

Buildings....
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MAP
Maps showing location of remains of ancient
times

(Argos Archaeological sites map)

 CONTOUR MAPs
Maps showing elevated and depressed areas in a
region.

Maps show different levels on the surface of

the earth.

Contour map are useful in determining

-the reservoir capacity of dams
-route for a road or railway track
-to decide the water supply and sewage flow
direction in a scheme
 RECONNAISSANCE
-This is a preliminary survey of the land to be surveyed.
-It may be either ground reconnaissance or aerial
reconnaissance survey.
-Reconnaissance is made on arrival to a new site during which
an overall picture or view of the area is obtained.
-The most suitable position of stations is selected, the
purpose of the survey and the accuracy required will be
decided, and finally the method of observation will be
established.

Objectives of Reconnaissance
-To ascertain the possibility of building or constructing route
or track through the area.
-To choose the best one route and record on a map
-To estimate probable cost of a project and draft a report.
 PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION OF SURVEYING
 PLANE SURVEYING
In plane surveying the curvature of Earth is not taken into
consideration. The line joining any two points is considered
straight. The triangle formed by joining any three points is
considered to be plane and the angles of triangles are assumed
to be plane angels. It is carried over area exceeding 250 km2

 GEODETIC SURVEYING
In this surveying the curvature of Earth is taken into
consideration. The line joining any two points is considered as a
curve. The triangle formed by joining any three points is
considered to be spherical and the angles of triangles are
assumed to be spherical angels. It is carried over an area
exceeding 250 km2
 SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION OF SURVEYING

 BASED ON INSTRUMENT USED

1. Chain surveying
2. Compass traversing
3. Plane table surveying
4. Theodolite surveying
5. Tacheometric surveying
6. Photographic surveying

 BASED ON METHOD OF SURVEYING

1. Triangulation surveying
2. Traverse surveying
 THEODOLITE SURVEYING

CHAIN SURVEYING

COMPASS TRAVERSING PLANE TABLE SURVEYING

 BASED ON OBJECT OF SURVEYING
1. Geological surveying
2. Mine surveying
3. Archaeological surveying
4. Military surveying

 BASED ON NATURE OF FIELD

1. Land surveying
i. Topographical surveying
ii. Cadastral surveying
iii. Engineering surveying
iv. City surveying
2. Marine surveying
3. Astronomical surveying
 GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF SURVEYING

 To work from whole to part

 To locate a new station

by at least two
measurements (linear or angular)
from a fixed reference point
 TO WORK FROM WHOLE TO PART
-According to this principle, the whole area is first enclosed by
main stations which are known as the control points .
-Between these station points are the main survey lines known as
the control lines.
-High accuracy is required in forming the main station (control)
points.
-The area is divided into a number of parts by forming well
conditioned triangles.
-The main lines can be measured and then the sides of the triangles
can also be measured.
-If there is any error in the measurements of the sides of the
triangle, then it will not affect the whole work. Errors can be
detected and removed at any stage during the process.
 TO LOCATE A NEW STATION BY AT LEAST TWO
MEASUREMENTS (LINEAR OR ANGULAR) FROM A FIXED
REFERENCE POINT

According to this principle, the new stations should

always be fixed by at least two measurements (linear or
angular) from fixed reference points.
-Linear measurements refer to horizontal distances
measured by chains or tape.
-Angular measurements refer to the magnetic bearing
or horizontal angle taken by a prismatic compass or
theodolite.