SURIGAO EDUCATION CENTER

Km. 2, 8400 Surigao City, Philippines

College of Engineering and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department

CEPC 102 - Fundamentals of Surveying

Laboratory Exercise No. 2

Measuring Distance by Taping

Name: ________________________________ Date Performed: _______________

Course & Year: ________________________ Time Started: __________________
Rating: _____________ Time Completed: _______________

I. INTRODUCTION
Taping as a primary accurate distance measuring method has largely been
replaced by electronic and satellite-based methods. Taping is the process of
directly measuring distances with the use of graduated tape. The usual procedure
of taping will involve the process of aligning the tape, stretching it, plumbing
selected tape marks, marking and recording tape lengths. It is standard to practice
to hold the tape horizontally above ground and to plumb at one or both ends when
taping on sloping and uneven terrain surfaces. This requires the measurement of
shorter distances which are accumulated to total a full tape length. The procedure
is referred to as “breaking tape”

A tape is a simple device, but measurements with it are subject to a number of

errors. Unlike many other survey measurements, taping errors cannot be
compensated with reversion. Systematic taping errors can be eliminated by
procedure or computations. Many of these require the tape be calibrated and that
differences between calibration and measurement conditions be compared.

There are two basic methods for measuring distance with a tape. These methods
are slope taping and horizontal taping. In the slope taping method, the slope is
held as required by the slope of the ground, the slope of the tape is measured and
the horizontal distance is computed. In the horizontal taping method, the tape is
held horizontally and the required graduation is projected on the ground with a
plumb bob.

Prepared by NOEL M. NASAYAO, CE, REA, RMP, ME1

II. OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the most probable value (mpv) and its probable error of single
and mean measurements
2. To determine the relative precession (RP) of a single and mean
measurements

III. INSTRUMENTS / MATERIALS NEEDED

⮚ Steel tape
⮚ Markers (hubs, paint, chalk, or crayons)
⮚ Range Poles
⮚ Plumb bobs
⮚ Pencil

IV. PROCEDURE

A. Taping over smooth and level ground

1. Know the place assigned to your group. Designate the terminals of the line
as point A and point B.

2. Two rodmen will hold the range poles vertically at the terminals A & B for
alignment and will remain in their position until the taping is finished.

3. Stretch out on the ground the 50-meter steel tape with the zero-meter end
ahead. With the rear tapeman holding a pin, he will designate a certain tape
length, say 10meter length.

4. With the 10-meter mark set at point A firmly, the front tapeman align the 0-
end mark with point B.

5. The second tape length is made by repeating procedure 4. The process is

repeated until point B has been reached.

6. In the measurement of the partial tape length from B to the pin marking the
end of the last full tape length measured, the 0-end mark of the tape is held
at B as the rear tapeman pulls the tape out towards the last pin.

7. After the measurement of the whole line is completed, a second

measurement should be made along the opposite direction and it should be
done by 5 trials.

Prepared by NOEL M. NASAYAO, CE, REA, RMP, ME1

 B. Taping on Sloping Ground Site
1. The ends of the line on a slope are marked with range poles. Designate the
point at the bottom of the slope as point A and the other as point B.

2. The front tapeman, holding the 0-mark, moves backward along the line while
the rear tapeman raises the end of the tape breast high.

3. When the alignment is all right, the front tapeman drives the pin vertically into
the ground while the rear tapeman plumbs from A to the terminal mark of the
tape with a plumb bob. This is the first tape length measured.

4. The rear tapeman leaves the end of the tape, and moves up the slope
holding the end of the tape over the previous point held by the front
tapeman. The second tape length is measured following the previous
procedure. Repeat this procedure until point B is reached.

5. If a partial tape length is to be measured, hold the zero mark of the tape at B.

6. Record the measured lengths.

7. After measuring line AB, measure line BA that is down the slope following
the same procedure as in up the slope.

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Distance Measurement by Taping in Horizontal ground
Trial Line Distanc Most Residual v2 Probable Relative
e by Probable s Error Precision
Taping Value (PE)
(RP)
(mpv)
1 AB
2 BA
3 AB
4 BA
5 AB

Solutions / Discussion:

Prepared by NOEL M. NASAYAO, CE, REA, RMP, ME1

Table 2. Measurement of Horizontal Distance by Taping in Slope Area
Trial Line Distanc Most Residual v2 Probable Relative
e by Probable s Error Precision
Taping Value (PE)
(RP)
(mpv)
1 AB
BC
CD
AD
2 DC
CB
BA
AD
3 AB
BC
CD
AD
4 DC
CB
BA
AD
5 AB
BC

Prepared by NOEL M. NASAYAO, CE, REA, RMP, ME1

 CD
AD

Solutions / Discussion:

VI. SKETCH / DRAWING

Prepared by NOEL M. NASAYAO, CE, REA, RMP, ME1

VIII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Prepared by NOEL M. NASAYAO, CE, REA, RMP, ME1