Name: Marichel C.

Sebial Section: 2AR-2

Assignment 1: Plane Surveying

1. Definition of each survey instrument attach or include its picture or appearance.

Survey Instrument Picture Definition

1. Astrolabe One of the most well-known ancient

measuring instruments is Hipparchus'
astrolabe. It was created around the year
140 B.C. Ptolemy later improved on it. The
instrument was made up of a metal circle
with a pointer hinged at its center and
held in place by a ring at the top, as well as
a cross staff, a 1.25-meter-long wooden
rod with an adjustable cross arm at right
angles to it. The planispheric astrolabe,
which was widely used, allowed
astronomers to compute the Sun's
position about the horizon and the
meridian. The ecliptic, celestial equator,
and Cancer and Capricorn tropics were all
shown to the group in a planar image
alongside the celestial sphere.
2. Telescope Telescope was invented by Lipperhey
and Spitzer in 1608. It was not Galileo
Galilei because he was the first to use it to
observe celestial objects systematically. It
is typically a tubular optical device for
observing distant objects using the
reflection of light from a concave mirror or
the refraction of light through a lens. And
it primarily comprises of an adjustable
eyepiece or group of lenses fitted into one
end of a tube and an objective lens set
into the other end of the tube.
3. Transit In 1831, transit was developed by
William J. Young. A tripod-mounted optical
device with a built-in spirit level, such as a
telescope, is typically used. Transit levels
are most commonly used in surveying and
construction, but they can also be used to
determine the relative location of lines
and other objects. Transit levels are
extremely accurate. They not only serve as
a guideline but also provide precise
measurements by reading angles.
4. Semicircumferentor Semicircumferentor was developed in
1597 by Philippe Danfrie. A graphometer,
also known as a semicircle or
semicircumferentor, is a surveying
instrument used to measure angles. It
consists of a semicircular limb divided into
180 degrees and, on occasion, minutes.
The diameter encompasses the limb,
which has two sights at each end. In the
center of the diameter is a "box and
needle" (compass). The alidade has two
other sights in the same middle. The
device is attached to staff through a ball
and socket joint.

5. Plane Table
The device was first mentioned in
English by Cyprian Lucar in 1590.An
instrument composed mainly of a drawing
board mounted on a tripod with a ruler
pointing at the object being observed and
used for straightforwardly plotting survey
lines from observation.

6. Dioptra
A dioptra is a traditional
astronomical and surveying instrument
that dates back to the third century BCE.
The dioptra was a sighting tube or a rod
with a sight at both ends that was linked
to a stand. It could be used to measure
angles if equipped with protractors.
7. Roman Groma
The groma was an ancient tool used by
the Mesopotamians, Greeks, and
Etruscans, as well as Romans. It is an
instrument that composed of a cruciform
wooden frame and a plumb line at the end
of each arm used for laying down lines at
right angles to existing lines.

8. Libella The Romans used one of the earliest

designs of the level, which had a letter A-
shaped frame with an additional
horizontal bar on top. This tool, known as
a libella, had a plumbline suspended from
its apex that corresponded to a mark on
the crossbar in the center of the tool's
frame. This instrument was essential in
the construction of entire civilizations, and
in addition to determining plumb and
level, the libella also functioned as a
square and, if necessary, a ruler.

9. Vernier In 1631, French mathematician Pierre

Vernier invented the first caliper with a
secondary scale, which added precision
(1580–1637). It is a visual aid for taking an
accurate measurement reading between
two graduation markings on a linear scale
using mechanical interpolation, increasing
resolution and decreasing measurement
uncertainty by reducing human estimation
error. Many instruments that measure
linear or angular quantities contain it, but
it is most commonly found on a vernier
caliper, which measures the internal or
external diameter of hollow cylinders.
10. Diopter
A surveying instrument invented by the
Greeks around 130 B.C. Leveling, laying off
right angles, and measuring horizontal and
vertical angles were all done with the
diopter.

11. Compass During the 13th century, the magnetic

compass became widely used for defining
line direction and calculating angles
between lines. It was first used in
navigation. The compass is made up of a
magnetized steel needle mounted on a
pivot in the center of a graduated circle.
The needle continues to point toward
magnetic north and provides a reading
based on the position of the graduated
circle.
12. Gunter’s Chain
The first tools used for measuring
distances were the Gunter's chain,
developed by Edmund Gunter in 1620. It is
66 feet long and has 100 links, allowing for
the recording of distances in chains and in
decimal places of the chain. Each
component, known as a link, is 7.92 inches
or 0.66 feet long.

13. Chorobates
This instrument was created for leveling
purposes. Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
described the surveying instrument as
how Roman surveyors checked levels. It
was made up of a 6-meter-long horizontal
straight edge with supporting legs and a
2.5 cm deep and 1.5 meter long groove on
top. A horizontal line is established after
water is poured into the groove and the
bar is leveled so that water stands evenly
in the groove without spilling.
14. Merchet
The merchet was a time and meridian
measurement device. It was invented
around 4,000 B.C. by the Chaldeans. It was
made up of a slotted palm leaf through
which a plumb bob was suspended and a
bracket. A straight line could be projected
by looking through the slot and past the
plumb bob string.

15. Meter Tape

Tapes are used in surveying to measure
horizontal, vertical, and slope distances.
There are several types of meter tapes
used in surveying, including linen tape,
woven metallic tape, steel tape, synthetic
tape, and invar tape. Tapes are available in
a variety of lengths and widths, and are
graduated in a variety of ways.

16. Ranging Rod

Ranging rods are between two and
three meters in length and are painted
with successive bands of two different
colors, such as white and black or red and
white. Each band is maintained at a 20-
centimeter length. The material used to
make ranging rods is well-aged wood.
Their nominal cross-section has a 3 cm
diameter and is kept either round or
octagonal.
17. Total Station
It is a transit theodolite with an
electronic distance meter (EDM). The
crosshairs on TS's reflector are
coordinated with the ranging rod, and the
vertical and horizontal angles, as well as
slope distances, are measured at the same
time.

18. Prism Square

It is an optical square and a hand device
used by surveyors to lay off right angles
that are multiples of 90° or 45°. They are
typically made up of two optical glass
penta prisms housed in a strong housing.

19. Tachymeter
A tachymeter, also known as a
tacheometer, is a type of theodolite that
determines the distance to a target
electronically or electro-optically. The
operating principles are similar to those of
rangefinders.

20. Theodolite It is an electronic device that resembles a

miniature telescope. It is widely used in
the housing industry and for measuring
vertical and horizontal angles for scaling
functions. The precision with which these
angles can be measured ranges from 5
minutes to 0.1 seconds. It is commonly
used in triangulation networks.
 2. Indicate usage in surveying.

Survey Instrument Usage

1. Astrolabe The astrolabe might also be employed as a surveying

tool for mathematical measurement. The height of a
building could be estimated by measuring the angle.
2. Telescope It is used to magnified image of distance object. It
rotates in the vertical plane about a horizontal axis.
3. Transit Transit levels are primarily used in surveying and
construction, but they can also be used to determine
the relative position of lines and objects. They are
used to establish a reference line, but they are also
used to provide precise angle readings.
4. Semicumferentor An early surveying instrument that used peep sights
to measure and layoff angles and define lines of sight.
5. Plane Table To construct a solid and level surface for field
drawings.
6. Dioptra The diopter was used to level the ground, lay off right
angles, and measure horizontal and vertical angles.
7. Roman Groma The groma instrument was used by Roman surveyors
for aligning or sighting as a point.
8. Libella It was primarily used for leveling but also served as a
square and a ruler.
9. Vernier It was primarily used for leveling but also served as a
square and a ruler.
10. Diopter It is used to peep sights were utilized for device
alignment and for sighting.
11. Compass A compass is used to measure angles identified as
bearings, and a measuring tape is used to measure
distances. Thus, the position of the object is
determined by evaluating angular and linear
 distances.
12. Gunter’s Chain It serves to measure distances when surveying land. It
enables accurate land surveying and plotting for legal
and commercial purposes.
13. Chorobates It was primarily for the goal of leveling aqueducts,
which are used to construct water channels and
roads.
14. Merchet This surveying instrument was used to accurately
measure long lines.
15. Meter Tape It is used to quantify linear distances.
16. Ranging Rod It is used to identify the locations of stations, to sight
the stations, and to range straight lines.
17. Total Station It is used to quantify horizontal angle, measure
vertical angle and measure slope distance.
18. Prism Square It used similarly to an optical square. And it’s used to
create a right angle from a survey line.
19. Tachymeter Tachymeter (survey) or tacheometer is a type of
theodolite used for quick distance estimation.
20. Theodolites To calculate the angle between two predetermined
visible points in a horizontal or vertical plane.

3. What is theodolite instrument? Define and indicate its use in surveying.

Theodolite Instrument

It is a fundamental surveying tool that has been around since the 16th century, when
English mathematician Leonard Digges invented it, though its exact origins are unidentified. A
theodolite is a surveying tool that uses a small, mobile low telescope to calculate horizontal and
vertical angles. It is a small telescope-shaped electronic device. It is widely used to measure
vertical and horizontal angles in the construction industry and for scaling purposes. The
measurement accuracy for these angles ranges from 5 minutes to 0.1 seconds.

It is utilized in triangulation networks. The horizontal or trunnion axis and the vertical
axis are the two perpendicular axes that make up a contemporary theodolite. The angles of each
of these axes can be precisely determined when the telescope is focused at a target object.
Theodolites are used everywhere, including on building projects and at intersections of major
roads. It helps surveyors determine precise positions by measuring angles using fundamental
ideas from pure mathematics.
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