GEE 141 - Fundamentals of Surveying

Field Work No. 1

PACING
Introduction

Pacing is a reasonably easy and quick method of measuring distance in the field. However, in the presence of modern
convenient instruments used in large–scale measurements – it may be structural or field–pacing has been quite overlooked by
man to be an outdated and inaccurate method in surveying. However, pacing can still be able to familiarize the area and material
that he will be working it, without being too obvious that he is actually doing measurements.

Thus, pacing is one o the basic things that a beginner surveyor must know about, and every surveyor or civil engineer must
always determine and memorize his own pace factor, even more so that his phone number. If no available measuring
instrument is present, or if the engineer. If no available measuring instrument is present, or if the engineer only wishes to get a
glimpse of his next project’s area of work without catching everyone else’s eyes, the pacing is the method to go. It also saves
time and energy, having to only walk normally on the length that needs to be measured, while counting mentally.

This experiment is thus conducted to determine the pace factor of surveying students, as well as to use this in the
computation for measuring an unknown.

Objectives

1. To determine individual pace factor.

2. To measure distance by pacing

Instrument and Accessories

Range poles Steel

Tape Markers

Procedure

1. Determining Pace Factor

a. Select a straight and level course and on both ends establish markers at least 55 meters apart. Designate
these endpoints as A and B.

b. Walk over the course at a natural pace or gait starting with either heel or toe over point A and count the number
of paces to reach point B.
 c. For succeeding trials, walk from B to A, then A to B, until 7 trials are completed, and the number of is paces
recorded accordingly.

d. Tabulate.

e. To compute for the pace factor, get the average of the number of paces and then divide this to the taped
length of course AB.

2. Measuring Distance by Pacing

a. Define or establish the endpoints of another level course whose length is to be determined by pacing.
Designate these endpoints as B and C.

b. For the first trial, walk over the course from B to C at a natural pace and record the number of paces. Then
walk from C to B and again record the number of paces.

c. Repeat the above procedure until all seven trials are completed.

d. After the data is recorded, make an actual taping of the course BC to determine the taped distance.

e. Tabulate.

f. To compute for the paced distance, get the mean of the number of paces for the seven trials performed on course
BC and multiply this by the pace actor previously computed.

g. To get the relative precision, determine the difference between the taped distance of BC and paced distance of
BC. Then, divide the difference by the taped distance and reduce the numerator to unity to determine the
relative precision.

Data Gathered

Determining Pace Factor

Area #1
TRIA LIN TAPED NUMBER OF MEAN NO. OF PACE FACTOR
L E DISTANCE PACES PACES

1 AB 36.75
2 BA 36
3 AB 36.25
4 BA 31.44 36 36.21 0.87

5 AB 36
6 BA 36..25
7 AB 36.25
 Measuring Distance by Pacing
Area #2 ( H – building )
TRIA LIN NUMBER OF MEAN PACED TAPED RELATIVE
L E PACES DISTANCE DISTANCE PRECISION

1 CD 13.25
2 DC 13
3 CD 13
4 DC 12.50 12.68 11.03 9.9 0.11

5 CD 12.25
6 DC 12.25
7 CD 12.50

Area #3 ( H – Building )
TRIA LIN NUMBER OF MEAN PACED TAPED RELATIVE
L E PACES DISTANCE DISTANCE PRECISION

1 DE 32.5
2 ED 33
3 DE 32
4 ED 32.25 32.40 28.19 29.82 0.05

5 DE 32.5
6 ED 32.5
7 DE 32

Area #4 ( H – Building )
 TRIA LIN NUMBER OF MEAN PACED TAPED RELATIVE
L E PACES DISTANCE DISTANCE PRECISION

1 DF 26
2 FD 26.5
3 DF 26
4 FD 26.25 26.18 22.78 21.67 0.05

5 DF 26.25
6 FD 26
7 DF 26.25

Area #5 ( H – Building )
TRIA LIN NUMBER OF MEAN PACED TAPED RELATIVE
L E PACES DISTANCE DISTANCE PRECISION

1 CG 70.25
2 GC 70
3 CG 69.5
4 GC 70.25 70.53 61.36 65.21 0.06

5 CG 71.5
6 GC 71
7 CG 71.25

VI. Discussion
 The pace factor of the surveyor must be determined in the first part of the activity. A
measured distance was used with a mark AB and a taped distance of 31.44m and walked on seven
times. The paces made was ranging from 36-36.75 with a mean number of 36.21 paces. The pace
factor was calculated by dividing the mean number of paces by the taped distance. Based on the data
shown in table 1 which the area number 1, determining pace factor table, the pace factor of the
surveying student was found to be 0.87 m/pace.
After finding out the pace factor, it was then used to measure the unknown distance CD, DE,
DF and CG. Same with the distance AB, unknown distance of C to G was walked on seven times, but
with having different pacing ranges. The mean number of paces was then computed, resulting in
12.68 paces in area no.2, 32.4 paces in area no.3, 26.18 paces in area no. 4 and lastly, 70.53 paces in
area no. 5. The calculated pace factor multiplied the mean number of paces to determine the paced
distance, raging in 11 to 62 meters as a result. The actual distance in each area was later revealed,
which has a different relative precision ranging 0.05m to 0.11m.

VII. Conclusion

To conclude, the pace factor computed was reasonable, and this would also prove that the
method pacing is still reliable in finding field measurements. However, only an approximate
measurement can only be given. Since the pace factor has been computed, this would then be utilized
on future surveys.
Some factors can hinder in getting, even just the approximate distance of the lines. One factor
is how the procedure was performed to be able to compute the pace factor. There will be times when
the paces will differentiate by a couple of units, especially with the state of mind of the person
walking. Another factor is that it should be assured that the pace should be done in a straight line
because the certified length walked can change even with just any little twist. These may be moment
subtleties, but they can genuinely incite a massive difference in the results.
Without a doubt, pacing can still be considered a surveying method that tought not to be
ignored. At the point when done appropriately, this can help engineers with their estimates. It just
needs a properly executed pace and a pace factor.
Hence, one can determine his pace factor by a measured length of a line divided by the mean
number of paces. To measure an unknown distance by pacing, multiply the pace factor with the mean
number of paces.