LAB EXERCISE NO.

1
Name: . Date: .
GROUP - BCE 211/F (1385)
PROBLEM : PACING
OBJECTIVES: a) To determine individual pace factor.
b) To measure distance by pacing.

A.) INSTRUMENTS & ACCESSORIES:

Range Poles, Steel tape, Pins
B.) PROCEDURE

1. Determine Pace Factor.

a) Select a straight and level course and on both ends establish markers at least 60 meters apart.
Designate these endpoints as A and B.
b) Walk over the course at a natural pace or gait starting with either heel or toe over point A and
count the number of paces to reach point B.
c) For succeeding trials, walks from B to A, then A to B until 5 trials are completed, and the number
of paces is recorded accordingly.
d) Refer to the accompanying sample format for the recording of observed field data
TRIAL LINE TAPED DIST NUMBER OF MEAN OF PACE FATOR
(m) PACES NO. OF (m/pace)
PACES
1 AB
2 BA
3 AB
4 BA
5 AB
2. Measuring Distance by Pacing.
a. Define or establish the endpoints of another level course whose length is to be determined by
pacing. Designate these endpoints as C (A) and D.
b. For the first trial, walk over the course from C to D at a natural pace and record the number of
paces. Then, walk from D to C and again record the number of paces.
c. Repeat the above procedure until all five trials are completed.

d. After the field data is recorded, make an actual taping of the course CD to determine the taped
distance.

e. Refer to the accompanying sample format for the recording of observed field data

TRIAL LINE NO. OF MEAN PACED TAPED RELATIVE

PACES DIST DIST PRECISION
1 CD
2 DC
3 CD
4 DC
5 CD
COMPUTATIONS
1. Computing Pace Factor (PF)

a) Get the sum of the number of paces for the five trials performed on course AB then
compute the mean number of paces.
b) Divide the known or taped length of course AB by the mean number of paces for AB to
determine the pace factor.
2. Computing Paced Distance (PD)
a) Get the sum of the number of paces for the five trials performed on course CD and compute
the mean number of paces.
b) Multiply the mean number of paces for CD by the pace factor to obtain the paced distance.

3. Computing Relative Precision (RP)

a) Determine the difference between the taped distance of the CD and the paced distance
of the CD
b) Divide the difference by the taped distance of the CD and reduce the numerator to unity
to determine the relative precision.

REMARKS, HINTS & PRECAUTIONS :

1. The ends of the assigned courses should be marked with either hubs, marking pins, or by chalk
marks if on pavement.
2. Range Poles are set or held behind the end points to serve guides or markers during actual
pacing.
3. A steel tape should be used in laying or in measuring the actual lengths of courses assigned for
pacing.
4. When taping, two measurements should be made for any line and the mean recorded as its
actual length.
5.The length of a single step is termed a pace. It may be measured from heel to heel or from toe to
toe. Also, each two paces or a double step is called a stride.

6. Pacing consists of counting the number of steps in a required distance and is best done by
walking with natural steps.
7. Pacing is used only when approximate results are satisfactory such as for estimating distances
used for sketching and in reconnaissance surveys. Pacing is also used as a means of checking
distances measured by more accurate methods.
8. To keep one on the line while pacing, it is a good practice to fix one's eyes on a distant object
on the range behind the pole at the farther end of the line being paced.
9. A partial pace at the end of the line should be figured out to the nearest one-fourth pace.
10. The accepted precision for measuring distance by pacing usually varies from 1/200 to 1/500.
11. Reject measurements that vary from the mean by more than three percent.
12. If the computed relative precision of the set of measurements is greater than one part in two
hundred, the measurements should be repeated.