FOREST SURVEYING

Sample Problem Set (answer key):

0 0
1. The angles about a point have the following observed values: 145 07’ 50’’, 148 17’20” and
0
147 35’20”. Determine the most probable value of the three angles.
0 0 0 0 0
145 07’ 50’’ + 148 17’20” + 147 35’20” 441 00’30” 147 00’10”
------------------------------------------------- = ------------- = (most probable value)
3 3

2. A student paces a 50-m length five times with the following results: 57.00, 56.75, 56.50,
58.00 and 56.25 paces. Determine how many paces must he step off in order to establish a
distance of 450 meters on level ground.

57.00 + 56.75 + 56.50 + 58.00 + 56.25

----------------------------------------------- = 56.9 ave. # of paces
5

PF = distance / # of paces = 50m. / 56.9 paces

= 0.88 m / pace

450 m = distance on level ground

0.88 m/pace = pace factor
Paces must he step off = ? = distance / PF

= 450m / 0.88 m/pace

= 511.36 paces

3. A 50m course, AB, on level ground was paced by a surveyor for the purpose of determining
his pace factor. The trial paces taken of a line AB are the following: 70, 73, 71, 73, 72 and
73. Determine his 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?

PF = distance / pace 70+ 73+ 71+ 73+ 72 + 73 = 432/6 = 72 ave. paces

= 50m / 72 paces
= 0.69 m / pace

Length of unknown line: 771+ 770+ 768+ 770+ 772 + 769 = 4620/6 = 770
= ave paces x PF 770 paces x 0.69 m/pace = 531.3 meters

4. A 30-m steel tape when compared with a standard is actually 29.95m long. Determine the
correct length of a line measured with this tape that was found to be 450m.

NL = 30m tape length

ML = 450 m (450)
Corr = 0.05 m shorter than the standard total corr = ------ x 0.05 = 0.75
30

True distance, therefore = 450 m – 0.75 = 449.25 m

5. Line AB cannot be measured directly because of a tree that serves as obstruction. Point C,
which is visible from point A and B was set at a perpendicular distance of 140m from point D
along line AB, where point D is 321m from point B. Point C measures 462m from point A.
Determine the length of the line AB?
 C

140m
462m
xxxxx
A --------------------------------xxxxx-----------------------B
Xxxxx D 321m
________________
2 2
AC = √ (462) - (140) = 482.75

AB = AC + DB = 482.75 + 321 = 803.75 m

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6. The observed interior angles of a closed traverse are as follows: A = 153 ;
0 0 0 0
B = 58 ; C = 139 ; D = 78 ; and E = 110 . Determine the angular closure and adjust the
measured angles by assuming that the angular error is of the same amount at each station.
0 0 0 0 0 0
Observed interior angle: 153 + 58 + 139 + 78 + 110 = 538
True interior angle: (n - 2) 180 = 540
0
Discrepancy / error: 540 - 538 = 2 /5 = 120’/5 = 24’ to be distributed at every stn.
0
153 + 24’
0
58 + 24’
0
139 + 24’
0
78 + 24’
0
110 + 24’
---------------
0
540 = 540

7. The following are bearings taken on open compass traverse. Correct them for observational
error / local attraction:

Line Forward Bearing Back bearing

0 0 0 0
AB N37 15’E N35 45’E S36 30’W S35 45’W
0 0 0
BC S65 30’E S66 15’E (45’cc) N66 15’W
0 0
CD S31 00’E N31 00’W best line
0 0 0 0
DE S89 15’W N89 45’E N 89 15’E (0 30’ cc)
0 0 0 0
EF N46 30’W N47 00’W S46 45’E S47 00’E

8. The value of an observed interior angle in a closed traverse is 350 grads. Convert the angle
into its equivalent value in degrees, mils, and radians.
0 g 0 g
350 grads (360 / 400 ) = 315 350 grads ( 2π / 400 ) = 1.75π or 5.4978
g
350 grads (6400 mils / 400 ) = 5,600 mils