INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS OF KENYA

LAND SURVEYORS CHAPTER

GEODETIC CONTROL: LANET- TIMBOROA ROAD (A8)

BY:
AMOS KIMUTAI NGENO
ISK NO. 3595

A Production Job submitted in partial fulfilment for the post graduate diploma of
Institution of Surveyors of Kenya

DECEMBER 2022
Abstract

As part of the project of titling survey for Lanet-Timboroa Road Reserve(A8), controls for
carrying out the exercise were established. A total of 56 controls were established at intervals
of three kilometers. It was a requirement for the controls to be connected to the national grid,
hence a detailed control survey was carried out. This report explains the detailed procedures
and activities that were carried out. As part of a team of experts, including licensed surveyors,
as an approved assistant, I was tasked with the activities of planning for the fieldwork,
identification of datum points, observation of controls and postprocessing of static survey data.
I was also tasked with the preparation of the survey controls plan submitted to the director of
surveys. With the guidance of the principals, I was able to carry out the control survey
successfully
The controls were established for the purpose of carrying out a detailed topographic and
cadastral survey along the road reserve. They were also used for delineating the road reserve as
well as the establishment of the road reserve extent beacons. The geodetic plan was
authenticated and approved by the director of surveys as TC&ST No. 1356

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Table of Contents

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... iii
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... iii
1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Locality................................................................................................................................. 4
1.2 Purpose of Survey ............................................................................................................. 5
1.3 Authority .............................................................................................................................. 6
1.3 Datum ................................................................................................................................... 6
2.0 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.1: Reconnaissance ................................................................................................... 9
2.2: Establishment of Secondary Control Points ............................................... 11
2.2.1 Survey Beacon Description ........................................................................ 11
2.3 Specifications.................................................................................................................. 12
2.4 Carrying out Traverses between Beacons ................................................................ 13
3.0 Data Processing and Results .............................................................................................. 14
3.1 Final List of Coordinates ..................................................................................... 15
APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 16
A copy of Technical Report submitted to the Director of Surveys ..................................... 17

List of Tables

Table 1: Datum ........................................................................................................................................ 6

Table 2: Control Description Template ................................................................................................. 12
Table 3: List of Coordinates ................................................................................................................... 15

List of Figures

Figure 1: Static survey illustration ............................................................................................. 4

Figure 2 Equipment Specifications: ........................................................................................... 7
Figure 3: Methodology for control establishment ...................................................................... 8
Figure 4: 103.s.6 at Eldoret Polytechnic .................................................................................. 10
Figure 5: 118.T.4 at Kirobon School........................................................................................ 10
Figure 6:Observations at a new Primary control ...................................................................... 11
Figure 7: Design of Primary Control Monument ..................................................................... 13

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1.0 Introduction

Static Survey is performed to produce a high accuracy post-processed coordinate for an

unknown position on the surface of the earth.
This method is used to determine the coordinates for survey points by simultaneously recording
GPS observations over both a known and unknown survey point for at least 20 minutes. The
data is then processed to determine coordinates within 5mm accuracy.
(Boye, 2011)

Figure 1: Static survey illustration

The other receivers, the remote receivers, are set up over points whose coordinates are
unknown. This method of surveying is based on collecting simultaneous measurements at both
the base and remote receivers for a certain period of time, which, after processing, yield the
coordinates of the unknown point. This type of survey is primarily used to create control where
no control exists to very high accuracies. (Morton, 1993)

1.1 Locality
The scope comprised approximately 97Km length of class A road (A8), including interchanges
along the road section. It traverses Nakuru County, starting at Lanet through Njoro Turnoff
(Junction B21), through Salgaa, up to Timboroa.
1.2 Purpose of Survey
The purpose of the controls was to be used for the title/ Cadastral survey for Lanet – Timboroa
road.

1.3 Objectives
The overall objective of the exercise was to establish control points for road reserve survey.
Specifically;
i. To connect the established controls to the national grid.
ii. To prepare a well-conditioned geodetic network.
iii. To determine the accuracy of the survey network.

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1.4 Authority
The Authority of the survey was the Kenya gazette notices for acquisition and an introductory
letter from Kenya National Highways Authority which is a government institution. The gazette
notices are as listed:
1. No. 65,66 of 11th January 2008,
2. No.248,249,250 _of 14th Jan. 2011,
3. No.306 of 22nd January 2016 pg 16,
4. No.448 of 23rd January 2015pg 19-20,
5. No.1421,1422 of 8th May 1981,
6. No.3278,3279,3280, 5805 1st April 2010 pg 10to16,
7. No.3514_of 2nd May,2008,
8. No.5804, 5805 of 22nd August 2014 pg 15to16,
9. No.7588 9th October 2015 pg 18,
10. No. 9823_of 1st Dec,2006,
11. No. 11384,11385 _of 28th Nov.2008

1.5 Datum
The control survey was based on the following points:

Name of Location Comments Source/Datum

Control

1 133.T 9 pillar Crescent Island Naivasha Intact Trig Index Card

2 118.T 4 pillar Ngata Farm IPCU on a Steel Quard Trig Index Card

3 103.S. 6 pillar Eldoret Polytechnic Intact Trig Index Card

4 103.S. 1 pillar Naiberi Farm Intact Trig Index Card

Table 1: Datum

All the datum points were found to be stable controls. The photos and the datum trig index
cards are annexed to the geodetic report at the appendix of the document.

1.6 Equipment

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Pentax, FOIF and Comnav GNSS Geodetic Receivers were used. It was ensured that the
equipment met the following minimum technical specifications

Figure 2 Equipment Specifications:

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2.0 Methodology

The establishment of ground controls was done following steps listed in figure 2:

Reconnaissance

Establishment of Ground Controls

Survey beacon description

Field measurements and observations

Data processing

Figure 3: Methodology for control establishment

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2.1: Reconnaissance

Planning
Planning is one of the most important parts of the performance of a control survey utilizing
GPS survey measurement techniques.
The field reconnaissance survey of the site mentioned above should accomplish the following:
• Determine the location and sky visibility of existing and new control stations
• Pick the locations for new stations making sure satellites can be recorded in a
minimum of three quadrants
• Look at logistics of project and determine transportation required
• Gain permission to access station(s) on private land
• If applicable, notify law enforcement of your activities
• Record sky visibility chart data and access requirements for all stations
• Look for any objects that could be sources for radio interference
Look for any multi-path conditions that may affect data collection. The control points were
placed in suitable location to enable placing of boundary beacons.

2.1.1. Searching of Existing Old Primary Control Points

A number of ground survey control points were found and verified on the ground. The survey
pillars at Lake Naivasha Crescent Island, Ngata farm, Eldoret Polytechnic, Naiberi farm
Eldoret and some other controls at Mau summit and Lanet were and used to conduct the new
primary control points. The new points were placed at an interval of 3 kilometres apart.

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Figure 4: 103.s.6 at Eldoret Polytechnic

Figure 5: 118.T.4 at Kirobon School

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2.2: Establishment of Secondary Control Points

All the selected locations were placed on stable ground and open to the sky to ensure minimum
satellite signal obstruction during the survey and long life free from soil erosion or disturbance by
human and vehicular traffic. The survey monument has been described. The pairs of survey
controls were placed at a maximum interval of 3 kilometres.

The carrying out of static survey for geodetic controls was done from 3rd October-8th October of
2018. The data was then post processed and adjusted using the Geodetic controls.

Figure 6:Observations at a new Primary control

2.2.1 Survey Beacon Description

This constituted a sketch showing the installed control point and permanent physical features in
the neighbourhood. Prominent features (tie points) were identified and their distance from the
installed points measured for future reference. A table showing the features used as tie points and
the measured distances was prepared and appended to the description sheet.

Other details pertinent to survey point including, point name, type of control, datum of the survey,
projection type, geographical coordinates and projected coordinates were appended.

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Table 2: Control Description Template

2.3 Specifications
The horizontal control points were established as per the Survey Act regulations. The established
survey controls measured 20cmx20cmx30m dug to a depth of 53cm. The measuring point was
marked with 10mm diameter steel bar. The design is a s shown on figure 7

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Figure 7: Design of Primary Control Monument
2.4 Carrying out Traverses between Beacons
The stable controls were identified on the ground and on survey plans were subsequently used in
establishing traverse points for use in detail picking.
Ground control measurements were carried out using geodetic differential GPS equipment and
static GPS survey method. The survey method involved simultaneous GPS observation sessions
for all the control points. During the survey, one control point was fixed at a known survey of
Kenya point (pillar) and declared as the reference point for all surveys both in plan and height.
GPS receivers were then set up on the new points according to pre-planned observation sessions
and the number of receivers available. 6 GPS receivers were used and to ensure GPS network
connectivity, two receivers were retained on known stations while the rest were moved to other
points in the next observation session. This arrangement was maintained for all the observation
sessions to ensure network connectivity and good quality of survey data. It is usually good practice
to use more than two old survey of Kenya points (pillars) to act as checks and in this case 4 old
survey controls were used and two CORS network stations at Nakuru and Moi University.

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3.0 Data Processing and Results
After GPS data collection, the data was downloaded using GNSS Solutions software and processed
to determine relationship between the observed points. This process was done in three steps,
namely Pre-processing, Processing, Post process and Network Adjustment.

Pre-processing relied on two sources of data, raw GNSS data collected by the receiver and existing
SOK data. Site specific data was included; Site IDs, Observation Times and Height of the Antenna.
At this stage, the surveyor verified that specific data logged into the observation log sheets agrees
with the data uploaded onto the receiver during the survey. Any observed anomalies rectified
before proceeding to the next step.

In the processing stage, the surveyor structured the observed data to ensure the best results are
achieved e.g. editing the processing mode (static/dynamic), the elevation mask angle or the type
of orbit data that used in the processing.

The primary product of processed raw data was a vector defining the relationship between the
observed points and provisional coordinates for the processed points. In this stage, the position
data for one point was fixed and used to determine the relative coordinates of the other measured
points.

In the minimally restrained step, a network adjustment was performed to test for blunders and
errors in the observations and to compute provisional coordinates for the new points with respect
to the observed existing control points. This was performed after ascertaining non-existence of
unaccountable errors in the processed results. Known coordinates for one control point was keyed
in and the point held fixed during the minimally constrained adjustment process.

In the network adjustment, the coordinates for all the observed known control points were keyed
in and held fixed during the Over constrained adjustment process. Adjusted coordinates for all
observed points were developed after the over-constrained adjustment.

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3.1 Final List of Coordinates

This has been compiled using the fixed coordinates after the over constrained adjustment for plan
(E, N) and were attached in this report.

Table 3: List of Coordinates

A Traverse chart (TC & ST) was prepared and submitted to the Director of Surveys and it was
approved and authenticated as TC&ST 1356.

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REFERENCES

Boye, C. B. (2011). A Comparative Study on Position Fixing with GPS to Ascertain Positional Accuracy.
Ghana Mining Journal, 12.

Morton, R. A. (1993). Monitoring beach changes using GPS surveying techniques. Journal of Coastal
Research, 702-720.

Constitution of Kenya (2010), Survey Act, Cap299

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APPENDICES

A copy of Technical Report submitted to the Director of Surveys

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