Surveying –I

Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction

Pradeep Pd bhatta
Chapter: 1 - Introduction
Surveying is the art of determination of relative position of points on above or below the surface
of earth by means of linear and angular measurement. (Distance, elevation and direction). The
process of surveying completes in three stages namely taking a general view, observation and
measurement and presentation of data.

Objective of surveying

 To prepare a map to show the relative positions of the objects on the earth surface.
 Map is drawn to some suitable scale.
 Shows the natural features such as towns, village, roads, railways, river etc.

History

 Human civilization (property ownership)

 Egyptian - Construction of pyramid
 Roman- series of engineering project
 About 5000 years ago.
 In ancient Egypt when Nile River overflowed its banks and washed out farms boundaries,
boundaries were re-established by a rope stretcher, or surveyor, through the application of
simple geometry.
 The nearly perfect squareness and north-south orientation of the Great Pyramid of Giza,
built 2700 BC, affirm the Egyptians' command of surveying.
 The Egyptian lands register (3000 BC).
 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte divided land in parcels.
 In 1780's William Roy began the principle of triangulation of Britain.
 The main development took place in 19th century after invention of telescope.
 Now-a-day magnetic compass, leveling instrument, theodolite, EDM, GPS, total station
etc.

Uses of surveying

 To prepare a topographical maps.

 To prepared a cadastral map showing the boundaries of fields, houses and other
properties.
 To prepare an engineering maps which shows engineering works such as roads, railways,
reservoirs, irrigation canal etc.
 To prepare military map.
 To prepare contour map.
 To prepare a geological map to determine areas including underground resources.

Page 1 of 4
 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Pradeep Pd bhatta
 To prepare an archeological map.

Principle of surveying

General principle of surveying

1) Working from the whole to the part

 Main idea of working from whole to part is to prevent the accumulation of error with less
precision method.
 Sufficient number of points with high degree.
 Localize these errors within the frame work.

2) Location of point by measurement from two control points.

 At first two control points are selected and distances between them is measured
accurately.

Page 2 of 4
 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Pradeep Pd bhatta
 Then the location of the other control points can be made from given control points.
 Here P & R - control points.
 Q - Finding out point.

3) Independent check
4) Consistency
5) Accuracy
6) Safe guarding
7) Scientific instrument handling.

SOME TRUE FACTS:

 Oblate spheroid shape of earth

 12 km long arc lying on earth surface is only 1 cm greater than the subtended chord.
 ∑
∑

Classification of surveying:

A) Primary classification
B) Secondary classification

A. Primary classification.
1) Plane surveying.
2) Geodetic surveying.

1) Plane surveying
 Spheroid shape of earth neglected. Earth surface is assumed plane.
 Lines joining any two points is considered to be straight and angle between these lines is
taken as plane angle.
 Covers area only less than 260 km2 ( In some text 250 km2)
 Used for layouts of highways, railways, canal, boundary, bridge, factory etc.
 Simple trigonometry is used.

2) Geodetic surveying
 Curvature of earth is taken into account.
 The line joining any two points is considered as curved line.
 Higher degree of precision
 Covers area larger than 260 km2 (some text > 250 km2)

Page 3 of 4
 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Pradeep Pd bhatta
 Angles between any two line is spherical angles and to solve problems spherical
trigonometry is used.
 Conducted by survey department.

B. Secondary classification.
i) Based on instruments
a. Chain surveying
b. Compass surveying
c. Plane table surveying
d. Theodolite surveying
e. Tachometric surveying
f. Photographic surveying

ii) Based on methods

a. Triangulation surveying
b. Traverse surveying

iii) Based on object

a. Geological surveying
b. Mine surveying
c. Archaeological surveying
d. Military surveying
e. Engineering surveying

iv) Based on nature of field

a. Land surveying
 Topographical survey
 Cadastral survey
 City survey
b. Marine surveying
 Prediction of tides
 Determination of mean sea level
 Topographical map of shores
c. Astronomical surveying
 Used for determining absolute location i.e. latitudes of different places on
the surface of earth by making observations to heavenly bodies
 Stars and sun

Page 4 of 4