LAB EXERCISE NO.

PROBLEM: TAPING OVER SMOOTH AND LEVEL GROUND

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the horizontal length of a line over smooth and level ground with
the tape supported throughout its length.

A. INSTRUMENTS & ACCESSORIES

30m 100-ft measuring tape, range poles, and chalk or marking crayons

B. PROCEDURE:
1. Mark both ends of the line (150 to 300 m long) to be measured. Place a range pole behind
each point and also establish intermediate points along the line to ensure unobstructed sight
lines. If the point to be marked is on a pavement, use chalk or marking crayons. Designate
this end points as A and B.

2. The Rear Tape man with one pin stations himself at the point of beginning and the head
tape man takes the zero end of the tape and advances toward the other end of the line to be
measured.
3. When the head tape man has gone nearly a full tape length, the rear tape man calls “tape”
to stop the head tape man. The rear tape man the holds the 30-m (or 100 ft) mark at the
starting point and aligns the other end of the tape held by the head tape man on the range pole
set behind the end point or on any of the intermediate points earlier established along the line.
4. With the 30m mark at the starting point, and the head tape man align the rear tape man
calls “all right”. The head tape man then pulls the tape taut ans sticks chaining pin in the
ground to mark the 0-m end of the tape. If the measurement is done on pavement, a chalk or
marking crayon is used to mark the end of the tape.
5. The head tape man pulls the tape forward and the process is repeated for the tape length.
6. When the end of the line is almost reached and the last full tape length has been measured,
the remaining partial length is then measured. The rear tapeman holds the tape until he has a
full meter (or foot) mark at his chaining pin while the head tapeman pulls the tape taut and
takes mote of the fractional measurement read from the tape end.
7. After the measurement of the whole line is completed, a second measurement should be
made along the opposite direction. The mean of the two measurements is taken as the most
probable value of the length of the line.

8. Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying sample
format for the tabulation of data.
RELAIVE
TRIAL LINE LENGTH DI1“1“ERENCE MEAN PRECISION
65.2 65.35 1/50
1 AB 0.3
65.5
2 BA

RELATIVE
TRIAL LINE LENGTH DIFFERENCE MEAN PRECISION
63.3 1/50
1 XY 0.2 63.4
63.5
2 YX
C. COMPUTATIONS
1. The mean length of the measured line is determined by adding the two measurements and
dividing the sum by two.
Total
Aria/1+ Friaf 2 = —— Mean
2

2. The discrepancy for the measurement is the difference between the first measurement and the
second measurement.

Trial 1- Trial 2 = Answer

3. The relative precision of the measurement is determined by dividing the discrepancy

by the mean length, where the numerator is reduce to unity or 1. Relative precision is
expressed is fractional form and the denominator is rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Answer —1
MeanLenght

D. REMARKS, HINTS & PRECATUTIONS:

1. The hub is set at each end of the designated line, and a range pole is set about a meter
beyond the far hub to serve as guide during taping. A 2”x2” piece of lumber with a nail in
the middle is used for this purpose and embedded securely into the ground.
2. Prior to measurement the tape should first be calibrated.
3. As a rough check, the designated line should also be measured by pacing.
4. During measurement the tape should be supported throughout its entire length and a required
pull (approximately 4 to 7 kg) applied at the ends of the tape to avoid inconsistency errors.
5. During the lining-in process, the head tapeman is in a kneeling position to one side and
facing the line so that he can hold the tape steady and allow the rear tapeman to have a
clear view of the range pole marking the distant point.
6. As the rear tapeman leaves after each full length is measured, a pin is pulled out of the
ground. There is always one pin in the ground, and the number of pins held by the rear
tapeman at anytime indicates the number of full tape lengths measured from the
point of beginning to the pin on the ground.
7. A steady and firm pull is made on one end of the tape if the leather tong at the end of the tape
is wrap around the hand, or holding on to chaining pin slipped through the eye at the end of the
tape or by using a tape clamp.
8. The tape maybe held between the fleshy portion of the fingers and that of the palm. Enough
friction is applied to sustain the required pull without causing injury or discomfort to the
tapeman.
9. This acceptable precision should be atleast 1/1,000. If this is not attained the
measurement should be repeated.
FIELD NOTE:
DOCUMENTATION: