Stages of Survey Operations

The entire work of a survey operation is divided into three stages

1. Field Work
2. Office Work
3. Care and adjustment of the instruments
1. Field Work -
The filed work consists of the measurement of distances, angles and elevations required for
plotting to scale. Field work is further divided into three stages
(i) Reconnaissance – During this stage the surveyor goes over the area to fix a
number of stations, ensuring intervisibility.
(ii) Observations – the surveyor makes necessary observations for plotting the area.
Method of observation will depend upon the instruments used, nature of terrain
and the method of surveying
(iii) Field records – All the measurements made in the field are recorded in a field
book. As soon as observations are made the reading should be recorded in the
field book with a sharp 2H or 3H pencil supplemented with necessary drawings
and eraser shouldn’t be used.
2. Office Work – The various stages are – Drafting, computing and designing work
Drafting – this process consists of preparation of plans and sections by plotting the field
measurements to the desired scale
Computing – this process consists of calculating data necessary for plotting and also includes
determining the areas and volumes for the earth work.
Designing – this process of selection of best alignment or best location from the plotted plans.
3. Care and Adjustments of instruments
A great care is required to handle survey instruments. Surveyor should remember if you
respect an instrument, the instrument will respect you by giving good results.
Technical Terms –
1. Plan – A plan is the graphical representation of the features on the earth surface or
below the earth surface as projected on a horizontal plane
2. Map – The representation of the topographical features on the earth surface as
projected on a horizontal plane.
3. Accuracy – is the degree to which information collected matches true or accepted
values. Accuracy is an issue pertaining to the quality of data.
4. Precision – refers to the level of measurement and exactness of description
5. Error -
6. Scale – [map/plan distance] / [ground distance]