Chain Surveying

 Chain Triangulation or Chain Surveying:

It is the system of surveying in which the sides of the various
triangles are measured directly in the field and no angular
measurements are taken. The simplest kind of surveying is the chain
surveying.
 What is done in Chain Surveying?
In Chain Surveying, only linear measurements are made i.e. no
angular measurements are made. Triangle is the only figure that
can be plotted with only measurement of sides to enclose an area.
Hence, in chain survey area to be plotted should be covered with
a network of triangles. Therefore, chain surveying is also known
as Triangulation. Chain survey is the simplest method of surveying.
In this survey only measurements are taken in the field, and the
rest work, such as plotting calculation etc. are done in the office.
This is most suitable adapted to small plane areas with very few
details. If carefully done, it gives quite accurate results.
 The principle of chain is triangulation.
 This method of surveying desires its name from the fact the
principal item of the equipment used in the measurement is
chain. In this method the distance is more accurately
measured with a chain. For the work of ordinary precision a
metallic chain is used but where greater accuracy is required
a steel tape is used. The term chaining is used to denote the
measuring distance with either the chain or tape.
Suitable cases
 Area to be surveyed is
comparatively small.
 Ground is fairly level.
 Area is open.
 Details to be filled up are
simple and less.
Non-Suitable cases
 Area to be surveyed is large.
 Ground is quite uneven.
 Area is crowded.
 Details to be shown are too
many.
 Chaining
It is the method of measuring distance with a chain
or tape. Of the various methods of determining
distance, chaining is the most accurate and common
method. For work of ordinary precision, a chain is
used. But, where great accuracy is required, a steel
tape is invariably used.
 Instruments used in Chain survey Instruments used
for measuring distances
1. Chain
2. Tape

 Instruments used for marking survey stations

1. Ranging rod
2. Offset rod
3. Laths and whites
4. Pegs
Instruments used for setting right angles
1. Cross staff
2. Optical square

Other instruments:
1. Arrow
2. Plumb bob
 Requirements for a Chain Survey
 Chain
 Measuring tape
 Ranging rod
 Arrows
 Cross Staff
 Pegs
 Field book
 Plumb bob
 Technical terms used
 STATION- It is a point of importance at the beginning or at
the end of a survey line.

 MAIN STATION- These are the stations at the beginning or

at the end of lines forming main skeleton.

 SUBSIDIARY OR TIE STATIONS- These are the stations

selected on main lines to run auxiliary/secondary lines for
the purpose of locating interior details.
 BASE LINE- It is the most important line and is the longest
line. Main framework of survey lines are built on it.

 DETAIL LINE- If the important objects are far away from the
main lines, the offset readings are too large, which results
into inaccuracies and time-consuming in the field work. In
such cases the secondary lines are run by selecting stations on
main lines.

 CHECK LINES- These are the lines connecting main station

to a subsidiary station on the opposite side or connecting two
subsidiary stations on the sides of main lines. These lines are
also known as PROOF LINES.
 Selection of Stations
 A station selected should be visible from at least two more
stations.
 If possible should have one or two base lines which run on
level ground and through the middle of the area.
 Main frame should have as few lines as possible.
 All triangles should be well-conditioned.
 Each triangle should have at least one check line.
 Subsidiary stations should be selected such that offsets to
main objects from subsidiary lines are as short as possible.
 Avoid obstacles to ranging and chaining.

 As far as possible survey lines should be on the level ground.

 Sides of the larger triangles pass as close to boundary lines as

possible. They should be almost parallel to the boundary.

 Trespassing and frequent crossing of the roads should be

avoided.
 Conventional Colours

 Roads- Burnt Sienna/Brown.

 Buildings- Light Grey.
 Compound wall- Indigo.
 Water- Borders edged with Prussian blue.
 Trees- Green.
Conventional Symbols
Traversing with chain and tape only
 Though triangulation is the basic principle of chain
surveying, it is possible to go for traversing using only chain
and tape.
 Traversing is the survey which is conducted along desired
lines by measuring the length and the direction of survey
lines.
 CLOSED TRAVERSE- When the lines form a circuit which
starts from a line and after covering an area ends at starting
point.
 OPEN TRAVERSE- If the starting point of survey and
ending point are different.
 Closed traverse- lakes and building surveys.
 Open traverse- road and canal surveys.
 PROBLEMS ON CHAIN AND TAPE
CORRECTIONS
Problem:1: The distance between two points,
measured with a 20 m chain, was recorded as 327 m.
It was afterwards found that the chain was 3 cm too
long. What was the true distance between the points?

Problem:2: The distance between two stations was

1,200 m when measured with a 20 m chain. The
same distance when measured with a 30 m chain was
found to be 1,195 m. If the 20 m chain was 0.05 m
too long, what was the error in the 30 m chain?