Measurement of

Horizontal
Distances
Methods of Linear
Measurement
 Pacing
 Taping
 Tachymetric
 Graphical and Mathematical
 Mechanical
 Photogrammetric
 Electronic
distance
measurement.
DISTANCE BY PACING

 Pacing - Counting the

Toe to toe
(1 pace)
number of steps or
paces in a required
distance.
 A pace is defined as
the length of a step in
walking. It may be

2 paces or a double step

measured from heel to

Heel to heel
1 stride

(1 pace)
heel or from toe to toe
 A stride is equivalent to
two paces or a double
step.
 Pace factor – length of
one’s pace
DISTANCE BY PACING

 The length of a pace

will vary with the
speed of pacing, the
roughness of the
ground, the weight of
clothing and shoes
used, fatigue on the
part of the pacer, the
slope of the terrain, as
well as the age and sex
of the individual.
 Precision is about
1/200
DISTANCE BY TAPING

 The most common- method

of measuring or laying out
horizontal distances.
 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.
 Taping may vary from a
relative precision of about
1:1000 to 1:25000 or better.
DISTANCE BY
TACHYOMETRY
 Measurement based on the
optical geometry of the
instruments employed and is an
indirect method of
measurement. Distances are
computed by trigonometry.
 Tachymetric measurements are
performed either by the stadia
method or the subtense bar
method.
 Stadia method has relative
precision is between 1/300 and
1/1000.
DISTANCE BY
TACHYOMETRY
 Subtense Bar
Method. The
subtense bar is a
convenient and
practical device
used for quick and
accurate
measurement of
horizontal
distances.
DISTANCE BY
TACHYOMETRY

𝑆/2
tan(∝/2) =
𝐷 if S = 2 m, then:
𝑆/2 𝐷 = cot(∝/2)
𝐷 =
tan(∝/2)
DISTANCE BY GRAPHICAL
AND MATHEMATICAL
METHODS
 Widelyemployed in plane table
surveys, and in triangulation work.
 Involves
geometric and
trigonometric relationships.
DISTANCE BY MECHANICAL
DEVICES.
 Odometer
 Measuring wheel
 Optical Range Finder
DISTANCE BY
PHOTOGRAMMETRY
 The term photogrammetry refers to
the measurement of images on a
photograph. The type of photographs
used are those taken from an aircraft -
with the axis of the camera pointed
vertically towards the terrain
photographed.
 Precision is about 1/3000 to 1/5000.
PROBLEM SOLVING

 DISTANCE BY SUBTENSE BAR.

 A subtense bar 2.000 meters long is set
up near the middle of a traverse line
PQ. Using a theodolite set up at P, the
angle subtended reads 0°20’ 14”.
When the theodolite was transferred
and set up at Q, the corresponding
subtended angle was observed as 0°23’
47”. Determine the horizontal length
of line PQ.
PROBLEM SOLVING

 DISTANCE BY PACING. A 45 - Taped No. of

Trial Line Mean
m course, AB , on level distance paces
ground was paced by a 1 AB 50
surveyor for the purpose of
2 BA 53
determining his pace
factor. The number of 3 AB 51
45 52
paces for each trial taken 4 BA 53
are shown in the following 5 AB 52
tabulation: 6 BA 53

 Determine the surveyor’s pace factor.

 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 ?
 Assuming that the taped length of line CD is 667.0-m ,
determine the relative precision of the measurement
performed.
Distance By Taping

 Types of measuring tapes

 Steel tape
 Metallic tape
 Non-metallic tapes
 Invar tape/lovar tape.
 Fiberglass tape
 Wires
 Builder's Tape
 Phosphor-Bronze Tape
 Nylon-coated steel tape
TAPING ACCESSORIES.

 Range pole (flags or lining rods)

 Tape Clamping Handles
 Chaining Pins.
 Tension Handle
 Tape Thermometer
 Plumb Bob.
 Wooden Stake or Hub
 Leather Thongs
 Hand Level and clinometer
 lumber crayons
PROCEDURE OF TAPING

 Aligning the Tape

 Stretching the Tape
 Plumbing
 Marking Full Tape Lengths
 Tallying Taped Measurements
 Measuring Fractional Lengths
Breaking Tape
Slope Taping
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING

 Confections to taping are applied by the

use of the following rules:
 When a line is measured with a tape that is
"too. long", the corrections are applied to
the observed length by adding.
 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.
 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.
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING

 The following conditions which could

exist during a taping operation may
require the application of corrections:
 The tape used is not of standard or
‘nominal length due to either faults in
their manufacture, or damage caused by
kirks, bends, cuts, and splices on the
tape.
 Ends of the tape are not held at the
same level when :!breaking tape" along
inclined or rough terrain surfaces, or
when undertaking slope taping.
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING

 The following conditions which could

exist during a taping operation may
require the application of corrections:
 Inaccuracy in keeping the tape along a
straight line during the measurement of
in laying out of lengths.
 Tape is got of nominal length due to the
difference in temperature prevailing
during the actual measurement and the
temperature for which the tape was
standardized
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING

 The following conditions which could

exist during a taping operation may
require the application of corrections:
 Shortening or lengthening of the tape
due to the application of a pull on its
ends which differs significantly from the
pull applied on the tape during
standardization .
 Distance between the end points of an
unsupported length of tape is less than
the specified nominal length due to the
effect of sag or a strong blowing side
wind".
CORRECTION DUE TO
INCORRECT TAPE LENGTH
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟 = 𝑇𝐿 − 𝑁𝐿
𝑀𝐿
𝐶𝑙 = 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟
𝑁𝐿
𝐶𝐿 = 𝑀𝐿 ± 𝐶𝑙
 Where:
 𝐶𝑙 = 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
Problem Solving

 SLOPE TAPING. A measurement is

made along a line that is inclined by a
vertical angle of 15º 25’ measured
using a hand level and clinometer. The
slope measurement is 756.52 m. What
is the corresponding horizontal
distance ?
Problem Solving

 SLOPE TAPING. A horizontal distance

of 325.75 m is to be established along
a line that slopes at a vertical angle of
13º 06‘. What slope distance should be
laid out?
Problem Solving

 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 1244.38
m. If the difference in elevation
between points. X and Y is 4.25m and
that between Y and Z is 6.47m,
determine the horizontal length of the
measured line.
Problem Solving

 MEASUREMENTS WITH TAPE. The

length of line AB measured with a 50-m
tape is 465.285 m. When the tape is
compared with a standardized invar
tape it is found to be 0.016 m too long
In almost the same conditions of
support, tension , and temperature
that existed during measurement, of
the line. Determine the correct length
of AB.
Problem Solving

A rectangular lot was measured using a

50 - m steel tape which was found to be
0.025 m too short. If the recorded length
and width of the lot are 180.455 m and
I27.062 m, respectively, determine the
following:

 Actual dimensions of the lot.

 Error in area introduced due to the erroneous
length of tape.
Problem Solving

LAYING OUT DIMENSIONS WITH TAPE. A

building 38m x 45m is to be laid out with
a 50 - m long metallic tape. If during
standardization the tape is found to be
only 49.950 m, determine the following:

 Dimensions to be laid out, using this tape in

order that the building shall have the desired
dimensions.
 Using the same tape what should the
diagonals read?