National Institute of Technology Raipur

Department of Architecture

A Report on

Three points problem in plane table survey

( Surveying and Levelling )

Submitted By:
Saubhagya Kumar Behera
Roll Number : 20122056
Semester : II
Year : 2021

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION…………………………….......................03
1.1 Equipment used in plane Table survey…..................03
1.1.1 Details about the equipment………….…………....03-04
1.1.2 Plane table survey equipment arrangement………..04
2. METHODS OF PLANE TABLE SURVEYING…………...05
3. INTRODUCTION TO THREE POINT PROBLEM………05
3.1 The three point problem……………………………...05
3.1.1 Tracing method……………………………………….…..05
3.1.2 Lehmann method………………………………………...06
3.1.3 Graphical method………………………………………...06
4. CONCLUSION………………………………………………06

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1 Introduction
Plain table survey is a graphical method of survey in which fieldwork and plotting is
done simultaneously .This is one of the quickest method of surveying as both fieldwork
and plotting was done simultaneously .It is particularly adopted for small or medium
scale of mapping of area , when greater accuracy of survey is not required .The
upcoming contents are about the equipment used in plane Table survey and there use
and how to arrange them on the site .then about the different methods of plane table
survey and THREE POINT PROBLEM IN PLANE TABLE SURVEYING .

1.1 Equipment Used in Plane Table Survey

General equipment used for conducting plane table survey are

 Plane table
 Alidade for sighting (telescopic or simple)
 Plumb bob and plumb fork
 Compass
 Spirit level
 Tripod
 Drawing sheet and drawing tools
 Paper clips or screws

1.1.1 Details about the equipment

Plane table :

The plane table is basically made up of well- seasoned, good quality drawing board
varying size from 40cm x 30 cm to 75cm x 60cm or 50 – 60 cm square. plane table is
basically used to fix the sheet on the table .

Alidade :

Alidade is a sighting instrument and there are two types of Alidade :

1. Plane Alidade
2. Telescopic Alidade

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Plumb bob and plumb fork :

The plumbing fork consists of a hair pin-shaped brass frame, having two equal arms.
One end has a pointer while a plumb bob is attached the other end. It is used in large
scale survey for accurate centering of the station location on the table over its ground
position.

Compass :

Compass consist of a magnetic needle which is pivoted at its Centre freely .Compass is
basically used for orienting the plane table to the magnetic north .

Spirit level :

It is a small metal tube which contain a small bubble .The plane table is called truly
levelled , if the bubble is exactly at the Centre of the spirit level .

1.1.2 About the Plane table survey equipment arrangement

Plane table survey equipment is arranged in four steps as follows :

 Fixing of Plane Table :

In this we have to Fix the plane table to the tripod stand and we have to arrange
the drawing sheet on the plane table using paper clips or thumb screws.

 Leveling of Plane Table :

For the purpose of levelling the plane table , we have to use spirit level.

 Centering of Plane Table :

For the purpose of centering we have to use plumbing fork , by which we can
arrange the plotted point exactly over the ground point.

 Orientation of Plane Table :

For the purpose of orienting the plane table we can use compass or else we can
use back sighting method .

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2 Methods of Plane Table Surveying
Generally there are four methods are available to perform plane table surveying.
They are : 1 . Radiation
2 . Intersection
3 . Traversing
4 . Resection

3 INTRODUCTION TO THREE POINT PROBLEM IN PLANE TABLE

SURVEYING
Resection is one of the method of plane table surveying in which the location of the
plane table is unknown and it is determined by sighting it to known points or plotted
points. It is also called the method of orientation and it can be conducted by two field
conditions as follows.

 The three-point problem

 The two-point problem

3.1 The three point problem

In this three point problem , three points and their positions in the field are known but
the location of plane table is unknown .The plane table is placed at an apposition from
where all the three points are visible. So, by sighting those three points we can locate
the point where equipment is located. This can be achieved by following methods :

 Tracing method
 Lehmann method
 Graphical method

3.1.1 Tracing method

In the tracing method, the plane table is located at a point from where three points are
visible. The table is oriented with respect to the plotted lines of those three points. Place
the tracing paper on the drawing sheet and again sight the three points and plot the
radiating lines. The tracing paper is then moved above the drawing sheet until the three
radiating lines pass through corresponding points previously plotted on the map.
Finally, the position of the plane table is marked.

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3.1.2 Lehmann Method
In this method, Plane table is located at a point P and sight the station A, B and C and
plot the rays Aa, Bb, and Cc. The rays form small triangle which is called triangle of
error. Another point P1 is chosen to reduce the error and sight the point A from P1
similarly to B and C. which will give another triangle of error. Repeat this procedure
until error becomes zero.

3.1.3 Graphical Method

In graphical method , and lengths are determined and represented it on a graph and
determines the location of plane table.

Tracing method. Lehmann method

4. CONCLUSION :
By using three point problem of plane table survey we can find The location of the
station on given point on sheet.

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