FIELD TECH LEC 4 (CONT.

1. (actually step 3) Mark on the baseline where you want the offsets to be using a stone or
stake
2. Place offsets off both side of the baseline to measure the contours on either side of the
site
3. On your pad, draw your baseline, write the distance between the two ends
4. The go to the first offset marker and pace the distance to the edge of the site – record
distance
a. Repeat for perpendicular
5. After you have all the measurements, you can convert the distances into a scale that will
fit onto your paper (like 1:500)

- Measure base-line survey

1. Two poles are placed at either end of the baseline and a third pole is moved
along the baseline
a. Distances are measured to the edge of the site from the baseline
i. Important to have right angles accurate
b. Two methods to determine a right triangle:
i. Pythag and isosceles
- Equilateral method of base-line survey
1. Measure an equal distance along the baseline on either side of your selected
point
a. ie mark off two points, each 10m from our selected point on the
baseline
2. from these, stretch a tape 20m out from each point (best to have two tapes
but can be done with one)
3. the point where the two points intersect is the top of the triangle
a. the top will be 90 deg from the original selected point on the baseline
- triangulation baseline
1. set up a baseline with points/stations along it at equal distanced (every 10m)
2. each point on the edge of the site that needs to be checked is measured
from two different stations along the baseline using tape
3. place the zero point of each station and pull each to the point to be
measured
a. the edge of the survey area should be where they meet, then
calculate the vertical to the baseline from that
- plane table:
o need 2 people, plane table, tripod and ranging pole, measuring tape, chaining
pins, a level, plumb bob, masking tape, pencil, eraser, conversion ruler, drawing
pin, and a compass alidade
o setting up:
1. set up table where most of the site it visible, then level table
 2. drop plumb bob from the bottom of the table and put a pin in the
ground where the plumb bob meets the ground
a. this is the zero point where you attach your tape
3. on the tabletop, put a pin in the paper to mark where the table is on
the map (near the centre of paper) and mark north
4. the surveyor selects which points to map, assistant goes to each point
with ranging pole and tape which is pinned to the ground under the
table
5. assistant calls out distance on the tape and holds the ranging pole
vertical
6. surveyor takes a sighting using an alidade to get the degrees from
north
a. connect the dots on the map asap!!!
o Moving the table:
 Sometimes surveyor must move the table if it is not possible to reach all
the places from one position
1. Select the next place
2. Plot that location by having assistant hold pole over selected
position (should mark spot with a stake)
3. Move the pin on the map you are making to the next
location
4. move table to where the ranging pole was held
5. align table with the old station by placing the rangning pole
over the old station
6. line up the alidade to that position by rotating the table top
so the map is on the same orientation (check compass)
b. without an alidade:
 must have the tape on the table rather than on the ground
 instead of using the alidade to establish “rays”, use the edge of
the tape
o mapping large areas:
1. establish a base line and place a table on station 1
2. survey the area around the table (variables depending on
length of tape)
3. move table to a different location off of the baseline (station
2) and back-sight to previous station
4. survey this stations radius
5. move back to baseline (station 3) and repeat
1. remember to back-sight on the previous station every
time!
- Mapping a new site:
o If you have a site not on a map, you can plot it on an exsisting map
o To do this, find a nearby feature that is marked
 For example:
 1. Place a ranging poole at one point along one boundry line
2. Project an imaginary line through your site to the side, place
a ranging rode there as well
3. Measure the distance from the corner of the area to each
pole
1. That distance can then be plotted on a map
4. Then draw your imaginary line connecting the two points
5. Then, you need to move your ranging rods to the other side
of the area, creating another imaginary line that intersects
the first
6. Plot this second line
1. The intersection is where the site is located
2. If the point cannot be located within the area, you will
have to take bearings from known points using a
compass resection
- Resection:
o A process whereby you can determine your own location from that of two
known points in the distance
1. Using a map, locate these prominent features
2. From where you are, shoot an azimuth to the feature as accurately as
possible and calculate the back azimuth from that reading
a. Back azimuth is the opposite direction of the reading that your
taking
i. So take your initial measurement and subtract 180 deg
3. Repeat for second landmark
4. Take your map and draw lines (at the back of the azimuth angle you
calculated) on the map through the features that you’re using
5. Those lines will intersect at some point and that should be where you
are!
a. Adding more features will make you more accurate
o Taking azimuth:
 Two measurements straight from the two landmarks
o Draw back azimuth:
 Add 180 to one measurement
 Subtract 180 from the other