d BSCEN - II

CONTROL
SURVEYS
01

Micah P. Belocura
GEE141 - JK15
d
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT ARE CONTROL PROCESS OF CONTROL
SURVEYS? SURVEY

02 CLASSES OF CONTROL
HORIZONTAL CONTROL
SURVEYS

CONTROL STATIONS VERTICAL CONTROL

LOCATION OF CONTROL ACCURACY STANDARDS

STATIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

APPEARANCE OF CONTEXT AND

CONTROL STATIONS APPLICATIONS
d CONTROL SURVEYS

Control Surveys are used to

What are establish precise horizontal and
vertical positions of reference
03 CONTROL monuments, which serve as the

SURVEYS? basis for originating or checking

subordinate survey projects
(Dimal, n.d.)
d CONTROL SURVEYS

Examples of survey projects utilizing this type of

control are Plantsite Control, Deformation
04 Monitoring, Aerial, Topographic, Mapping or any
other survey requiring the establishment of a set of
control points to be used on an ongoing basis for
additional surveys.
d

05

CLASSES OF CONTROL SURVEYS

d Classes of
CONTROL SURVEYS
There are two classes of control surveys namely:
06
(1) geodetic control survey; and
(2) project control survey.

The classification of the control survey is

essentially based on the accuracy of which the
distances and directions of the lines inside their
traverse, triangulation, trilateration or GPS
networks have been determined.
d CLASSES OF CONTROL SURVEYS

GEODETIC Geodetic control surveys consist

of triangulation, traverse,
07 CONTROL SURVEYS trilateration, GPS, and any
combination, which together with
leveling and astronomic
observations, determine the
accurate geographic positions of
points on the earth’s surface
considering the curvature of the
earth.
d GEODETIC CONTROL SURVEYS

It also includes the determination of position of points through

satellite survey or photogrammetric aerial triangulation.
Geodetic control surveys shall be made in accordance with the
08 general instruction contained in the special publications used by
the Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department of NAMRIA for the
first, second, and third order control work.

1. First Order Geodetic Control

2. Second Order Geodetic Control
3. Third Order Geodetic Control
 09

SURVEY
ORDER
PROJECT AREA NAMRIA
DENR - NAMRIA

GEODETIC
CONTROL SURVEY
VERIFIED BY: MAPPING AND
RECOMMENDATION: RED GEODESY BRANCH
ISSUED BY: NAMRIA APPROVED BY: DIRECTOR O
ADMINISTRATOR GEODETIC ENGINEER/ MGB
SURVEY PARTY
EXECUTION OF SUBMITTAL OF
GEODETIC CONTROL GEODETIC CONTROL
SURVEY SURVEY RETURNS
d CLASSES OF CONTROL SURVEYS

Project control surveys consist of

PROJECT traverse, triangulation or any
10
CONTROL SURVEYS combination, which together with
leveling, shall determine the
positions of control points
between stations of geodetic
accuracy over an area of limited
extent, such as isolated tracts of
lands, group settlements,
barangay areas, municipalities or
group of municipalities.
d 3 CLASSES OF PROJECT CONTROL SURVEYS
PRIMARY CONTROL
The azimuth of primary control shall be determined to the nearest one second of the arc, and the distances
shall be measured twice to the nearest millimeter, considering the temperature, sag, pull, grade and sea
11 level correction when using a survey tape.

SECONDARY CONTROL
The azimuth of secondary control shall be determined to the nearest 15 seconds of arc or less and the
distances shall be measured once to the nearest millimeter, considering the temperature, sag, pull, grade
and sea level correction when using a survey tape.

TERTIARY CONTROL
The azimuth of tertiary control shall be determined to the nearest one minute of arc or less and the
distances shall be measured once to the nearest centimeter, considering the temperature, pull, sea level and
sag corrections when using a survey tape.
 12

SURVEY
ORDER
PROJECT AREA LMS
LMS - DENR

PROJECT
CONTROL SURVEY
RECOMMENDATION: RTD FOR VERIFIED BY: LMS
LANDS APPROVED BY: RTD FOR
ISSUED BY: RED GEODETIC ENGINEER/ LANDS
SURVEY PARTY
SUBMITTAL OF PROJECT
EXECUTION OF PROJECT CONTROL SURVEY
CONTROL SURVEY RETURNS
d

13

CONTROL STATIONS
d CONTROL STATIONS
Control stations are usually small marks set immovably into the ground such
that the instrument or optical target can be set up above it, to an accuracy of
about 1mm in the horizontal plane.
14 These would include the horizontal control points (latitude/longitude or plane
coordinates), vertical control points (orthometric or ellipsoidal heights), gravity
values, and in some but rare cases, crustal motion values (movement of
points).
A control point may have one or more of these values attached to it.
d CONTROL STATIONS
In the past, benchmarks (vertical control
points) and horizontal control points are
separately and independently established, but
15 today’s common practice in creating control
networks demands establishment of points
with known horizontal and vertical
measurements. Control points in the survey
must be consistent with all other points in the
geodetic control and not just within that
particular survey.
d

16

LOCATION OF CONTROL STATIONS

d LOCATION OF
CONTROL STATIONS
Control stations are not usually
positioned in an exactly predetermined
17 position. The normal process is to
choose a location where a control
station would be useful and is secured
from being disturbed or moved. After
putting up the station, precise
measurements are then taken to
determine exactly where it has been
placed.
d Factors that influence the positioning of the
control stations:
1. If used for setting out, or for determination monitoring,
then it should be placed where all relevant places and features can be easily seen,
18
without the line of sight passing close to another object such as a building or
hillside. If the station is to be used in a conjunction with other similar stations for
these purposes, then the different lines of sight from the stations should form a
well-conditioned shape, so that the positions of the observed points will be found
to be the greatest possible accuracy.
d Factors that influence the positioning of the
control stations:

2. If the exact position of a new control station is to be fixed by conventional

19
means,
then it must be visible from at least two other control stations (and preferably
from more). Sometimes, additional control stations are introduced into a network
simply because they will be visible to several ‘useful’ stations and will therefore
improve the accuracy to which the positions of those stations are known.
d Factors that influence the positioning of the
control stations:
3. If the station is to be used for GPS,
then a large area of sky should be visible at the station (particularly towards the
20 equator), and there should not be any high walls nearby which might reflect
satellite signals towards the receiver.

4. If an instrument is to be left unattended at a station,

then the station must be in a secure place such that the instrument cannot be
stolen or disturbed while the surveyor is elsewhere.
d Factors that influence the positioning of the
control stations:
As far as possible, a station should be sited in a place where it will be easy
and safe to use, far away from noise, vibration or traffic, and unlikely to be
21 disturbed or destroyed during its anticipated useful life. Stations sited near
roads or on tarmac pathways are always at risk of being covered over, and lost
without trace. Stations in the middle of building sites are at risk of being dug up,
or run by heavy construction traffic. The latter may not be destroy a station, but
it could move it slightly – and thus cause all subsequent observations involving
the station to be subtly inconsistent with those made beforehand.
d

22

APPEARANCE OF CONTROL STATIONS

d APPEARANCE OF
CONTROL STATIONS
The type and/or appearance of marker used vary with the following factors:

23
Type of soil Degree of Cost of Precision
or material permanence replacement requirements
at the required
marker site.
d

24

PROCESSES OF CONTROL SURVEY

d PROCESSES OF CONTROL SURVEY
(1) Doing Reconnaissance:
Reconnaissance is the examination of a project area to assess the
overall feasibility of the fieldwork portion of a project. The following
are some of the many goals to be determined in the preliminary
25 survey:
To assess accessibility of the project area and possibility of
alternative project routes
To assess the conditions of existing project control and possibility
of alternative project points
To assess feasibility of field methods and alternative techniques
To assess limitations in the environmental conditions
d PROCESSES OF CONTROL SURVEY
(2) Laying the Stations: The following are some of the many goals to be
determined in the laying of the station markers:
To assess the appropriate type of survey markers to use  To
assess the intervisibility of desired project points
26
To assess the sky visibility at desired project points in case
astronomic observations or GNSS will be used in positioning

(3) Distance Measurement: Various techniques are used in measuring

lengths and distances, from taping to EDM’s, and more recently
through satellite technology techniques. (read chapter on distance
measurement)
d PROCESSES OF CONTROL SURVEY

(4) Direction Establishment: Bearing and angle measurements are

essential measurements in surveying. From using astro-geodetic
27 methods of positioning to using Greco-Roman instruments, establishing
direction has been employed for various survey operations.

(5) Position Determination: Determination of coordinates [plane(x, y, z)

or map (E, N, elevation) or geographic (latitude, longitude, height)].
d

28

HORIZONTAL CONTROL
d
HORIZONTAL CONTROL
Horizontal control is provided by two or more points on the
ground, permanently or semi-permanently monumented, and
29 precisely fixed in position horizontally by distance and direction, or
coordinates.
Horizontal control can be established by the traditional ground
surveying methods of precise traversing, triangulation, trilateration,
and a combination of these basic approaches, or by the more
modern methods like GPS.
In addition, astronomical observations have been used to determine
azimuth, latitude and longitude.
Rigorous photogrammetric techniques have also been used to
densify the control in an area.
d
HORIZONTAL CONTROL
Until recently, triangulation and trilateration were the most
economical procedures available for establishing basic control for
30
mapping projects extending over large areas like for regions and
states. These techniques have now given way to GPS, which has not
only proven to be highly accurate, but also more efficient.
Monuments whose positions have been established through higher-
order control surveys and referenced in the state plane coordinate
systems, are used to initiate surveys for all types, but unfortunately
more are needed in most areas.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

1. TRAVERSING
Traversing is a method of establishing control networks, generally finds utility
in the field of surveying and geodesy.
In this method, survey stations are
31
placed along a path, in the
direction in which the survey is to
proceed. The point which is to be
surveyed uses a previously
surveyed point as a reference or
base point.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

1. TRAVERSING
The two types of traversing are:
1. Open traverse - a type traverse in which the surveyed points do not form
32 a closed-loop and remain as an opened one.
2. Closed traverse - a type of traverse in which the surveyed points form a
closed-loop
Compass traversing, chain traversing, theodolite traversing, and plane table
traversing are the four different methods for traversing.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

2. TRIANGULATION
Triangulation is a surveying technique that is used to measure the angles in a
triangle formed with the help of three control points.
The unknown lengths of the sides of the triangle are measured using
33
trigonometry if one side of the triangle is known. The shape of the triangle
plays a vital role in this method, a triangle with a base angle of 45 degrees is
suitable for this method. The Baseline is the only measured distance while the
other sides of the triangles are calculated with the help of known angles and
baseline.
Areas with undulating surfaces such as hills are surveyed using triangulation to
establish survey stations with proper intervisibility.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

2. TRIANGULATION
There are certain conditions to be fulfilled geometrically to conduct triangulation,
1. The sum of interior angles should be (2n-4) x 90° so that the accuracy of
triangulation values can be increased, where n = number of sides of the
34 polygon.
2. If all the angles are measured at
a station, their sum should be 360°.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

3. TRILATERATION
Trilateration is a method in which the sides of a triangle are measured using
Electronic Distance Measurement Instruments (EDMIs) to increase accuracy
35 and with this information, the angles are computed.
This method is also used in GPS surveys.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

4. GPS
GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is a
radio navigation system.
GPS uses accurate time, satellite signals, and refined
36
calculations to generate distances to triangulate
positions anywhere on earth. It uses earth-orbiting
satellites to collect the data. It uses earth-orbiting
satellites to collect the data.
The GPS provides accurate, continuous, worldwide,
three-dimensional position and velocity information to
users with the appropriate receiving information.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

4. GPS
The GPS is comprised of three segments,
satellite constellation (space segment),
ground control/monitoring network
37 (operational control segment), and the user
receiving equipment (user equipment
segment).
It allows accurate determination of a location
and it is known for its accuracy.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR HORIZONTAL CONTROL

5. PHOTOGRAMMETERY
Photogrammetric surveying or photogrammetry
is a type of surveying in which maps are
38 generated from photographs of a particular
place of interest.
There are two types of Photogrammetry survey,
1. aerial photogrammetry - photographs are taken
with help of moving airplanes
2. terrestrial photogrammetry - photographs are
taken with a camera handheld or on a tripod.
d

39

VERTICAL CONTROL
d
VERTICAL CONTROL
Vertical control is provided by benchmarks in or near the track to
be surveyed, and it becomes the foundation for correctly portraying
40 relief on topographic maps.
Vertical control is usually established by running lines of
differential levels starting from and closing on established
benchmarks.
Project or temporary benchmarks are established in strategic
locations, normally located near and around the project area, and
their elevations are determined by including them as turning points
in differential leveling lines.
d
VERTICAL CONTROL
With the rapidly growing popularity of total stations, trigonometric
leveling has become practical, and is now frequently used to
41
establish vertical control for mapping, especially in rugged areas.
GPS surveying may also be suitable for establishing vertical control
but the ellipsoidal heights determined must first be converted to
orthometric height to become useful.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR VERTICAL CONTROL

1. GEODETIC LEVELING
According to National Geodetic Survey, geodetic leveling
is used to establish vertical control points.
From these points, the height of other points of interest
42
is measured using other supplementary methods.
The mean sea-level surface used as a vertical datum is
established by averaging the hourly water heights for a
specified period at specified tide gauges.
Differential, trigonometric, and barometric leveling are
the three different types of leveling under geodetic
leveling.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR VERTICAL CONTROL

A. Differential Leveling
Differential leveling is the
process of measuring
vertical distances from a
43 known elevation point to
determine elevations of
unknown points.
Surveyors use this technique
to determine point
elevations, cross-sections,
and control benchmarks.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR VERTICAL CONTROL

B. Trigonometric Leveling
Trigonometric leveling is the
process of determining the
different elevation of station
44
from observed vertical angle
and known distance.
The vertical angle are
measured by means of
theodolite.
The horizontal distance may
either measured or computed.
d CONTROL SURVEYS FOR VERTICAL CONTROL

C. Barometric Leveling
In barometric leveling,
differences in height are
determined by measuring
45
the differences in
atmospheric pressure at
various elevations.
Air pressure is measured
by mercurial or aneroid
barometer, or a boiling
point thermometer.
d

46

ACCURACY STANDARDS
AND SPECIFICATIONS
d ACCURACY STANDARDS
AND SPECIFICATIONS
Accuracy standards and
specifications are required
47 accuracy for a control
Type and Condition Field Procedure
survey depends primarily on
of Accuracy
the purpose. These are
normally established or
created by a government
agency related to surveying
and/or mapping. The major
factors that affect accuracy Importance of
include the following: Standards
Capabilities of
Survey PersonneL
d ACCURACY STANDARDS
AND SPECIFICATIONS

Accuracy standards are used to

48 provide a uniform set of standards
specifying minimum acceptable
accuracies of control survey for
various purposes. These would also
establish specifications for
instruments, field procedures, and
misclosure checks to ensure that the
intended level of accuracy is
achieved.
d

49

REFERENCE DATUM
d REFERENCE DATUM

Horizontal and vertical datums

50
consist of a network of control
monuments and benchmarks whose
horizontal positions and/or
elevations have been determined by
precise geodetic control surveys.
These monuments serve as
reference points for originating
subordinate surveys of all types.
d PHILIPPINE
HORIZONTAL DATUM
In the Philippines, the national horizontal
datum is the Luzon Datum. The Luzon
51
datum was established using two
reference points in the province of
Marinduque, which is considered as the
geometric central island of the country.
These two points, namely the Balanacan
and Baltazar control points, comprise the
initial baseline for the entire triangulation
network with the Balanacan point in
Marinduque as the starting point with
known geographic coordinates.
d
PHILIPPINE HORIZONTAL DATUM
With a known azimuth and distance of 38 km away from Balanacan, the
52 geographic coordinate of Baltazar had been calculated. A series of
polygons were then established to create the triangulation network and
establish the triangulation stations all over the Philippines.
Hydrographic surveys were then tied to the triangulation stations.
d PHILIPPINE
VERTICAL DATUM

The vertical datum was established by

53 continuous observations of the
fluctuations of tides during a period of
about 18 to 19 years, which is equal to
one complete tidal cycle.
The greatest elevation of water achieved
for one day is termed as HIGH TIDE. On
the other hand, the greatest depression
of waters in a given day is referred to as
LOW TIDE.
d
PHILIPPINE VERTICAL DATUM
The HIGH WATER is the maximum height to which the water
surface rises above the standard datum plane during a given period.
54 When several observations of high water are averaged, it is referred
to as the MEAN HIGH WATER, the mean of all high waters.
For ground elevation measurements, the mean sea level (MSL),
which is the average elevation of the water at all tidal stages, is
used.
For hydrographic depth measurements, the Mean Lower Low
Waters (MLLW), which is the cyclical average elevation of the lower
of the two low tides, is employed
d

55

CONTEXT AND APPLICATIONS

d CONTEXT AND APPLICATONS

Control survey is a significant topic in the field

of geodesy and construction. The topic has an
56 important role in the following fields of
engineering.
Bachelors of Technology in Civil
Engineering
Masters of Technology in Civil Engineering
Bachelors of Technology in Surveying
Engineering
Masters of Technology in Surveying
Engineering
d
REFERENCES
Abatayo, B. B. (2017, March 23). GE 122 lecture 2 (Project control survey). Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/BroddettAbatayo/ge-122-lecture-2-project-control-survey-by-
broddett-bello-abatayo
57
Control survey and geodetic reductions. (2021, December 10). Retrieved from
https://www.bartleby.com/subject/engineering/civil-engineering/concepts/control-survey-and-
geodetic-reductions

Control surveys – Hamilton & Olsen surveys Ltd. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://hosurveys.com/control-services/

Dimal, M. L. (n.d.). Introduction to control surveying. Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/10750910/Introduction_to_Control_Surveying
d CONTROL SURVEYS

That would
58 be all.
Thank You!