AGF 105

(Fundamentals of Surveying and Mapping)

GLAIZA J. VISITACION, ABE

Assistant Professor I
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Explain the basic concepts of
surveying, different kinds of
measurements, common errors, and
their minimization.
 http://www.civilsiteengineering.com/civil-
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– the art and science of determining

measurements to establish the form and relative
position of points, lines, and areas on or near the
surface of the earth and other extra-terrestrial
bodies.
(La Putt, 1987)
▪ determination of the relative spatial location of points on or
near the surface of the earth.
▪ art of measuring horizontal and vertical distances between
objects, measuring angles between lines, determining the
direction of lines, and establishing points by predetermined
angular and linear measurements.
▪ with mathematical calculations.
▪ determine distances, angles, directions, locations,
elevations, areas, and volumes from survey data.
▪ construction of maps, profiles, cross-sections, and
diagrams.
1. PLANE SURVEYING
– the earth is considered to
be a flat surface; the exact
shape of the earth is
disregarded.
2. GEODETIC SURVEYING
– the spheroidal shape of
the earth is taken into
account and has a very
high precision
1. CADASTRAL SURVEYS
– define property lines,
boundaries, corners, and areas.

2. CITY SURVEYS
– surveys in and near a city for
land use planning, fixing reference
monuments, determining physical
features, and mapping.
3. CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS
– undertaken at a construction site to
determine grade, reference lines,
dimensions, ground configurations,
location and elevation.

4. FORESTRY SURVEYS
– executed in connection with forest
management and mensuration, and
the production and conservation of
forest lands.
5. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS
– Used to map shorelines, chart the shape
of areas underlying water surfaces, and
measure the flow of streams.

6. INDUSTRIAL SURVEYS –use of

surveying techniques in ship building,
construction and assembly of aircraft,
layout and installation of heavy and
complex machinery, and in other
industries where very accurate
dimensional layouts are required.
7. MINE SURVEYS – determine the
positions of all underground excavations
and surface mine structures, fix
boundaries of mining claims, determine
geological formations, calculate
excavated volumes and other related
mining works

8. PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEY – use

of specially designed cameras to
capture an aerial shot from an aircraft.
9. ROUTE SURVEYS
– for planning, design, and
construction of railroads,
highways, canals, and other
linear projects.

10. TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY

– to determine the shape of the
ground and the location and
elevation of its features.
1.MEASURING TAPE - used to measure
distances, made of steel, coated linen,
or synthetic material
2.MEASURING WHEEL – designed to be
pushed along by surveyors to measure
specific distances
3. PLUMB BOB - used to check
if objects are vertical

4. RANGE POLES - used to

mark areas and to set out
straight lines on the field; to
mark points which must be seen
from a distance, with a flag
attached to improve the visibility
5. THEODOLITE – a precision
instrument for measuring angles in
the horizontal and vertical planes;
used to determine horizontal
distances and elevations

6. TRIPOD – provides strong,

balanced location on which to place
certain types of survey tools.
7. STADIA ROD – measure distance between two
points in conjunction with other survey tools
8. COMPASS – determines the direction of a
line; points to the magnetic north pole
9. GLOBA POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
– measure electronic distances; picks up satellite
signals to determine coordinates of points
MEASUREMENT
- The process of determining the extent, size, or dimensions
of a quantity

TYPES OF MEASUREMENT:
1. DIRECT – result is obtained by the actual measurement
itself.
2. INDIRECT – result is obtained by determining its
relationship with other values.
- International unit of linear: 1/10,000,000 of the earth’s
meridional quadrant (1789)
- Iron meter bar standardized in Paris (1799)
- Length equal to 1, 650, 763. 73 wavelengths of the
orange-red light produced by burning the element
krypton (1960)
1. Linear, Area, and Volume Measurements

Length: kilometer, meter, centimeter, millimeter

Area: Square meter, square centimeters, ares (100
sq m), hectare (10 000 sq m or 100 ares)
Volume: cubic meter, cubic centimeter, liter,
milliliter
2. Angular Measurements

Radian- for plane angles, 2 rad = 360

Steradian – supplementary unit of a solid angle

a. Sexagesimal Units – degree, minute, second

b. Centesimal Units – grad (angular unit), circumference
of a circle is divided into 400 grads; grad is divided into
100 centesimal units or 0.9 
- digits necessary to express the results of a
measurement to the precision with which it was made.
State the number of significant figures in
each of the following measurements.
a) 230 cm: a)2 s.f.
b) 34.0 L: b)3 s.f.
c) 0.625 g: c)3 s.f.
d) 0.0055 mL: d)2 s.f.
e) 5050. m³: e)4 s.f.
- Process of dropping one or more of the final digits so
that the value contains only the significant figures
required for further computation or for portraying the final
results.

1. Digit is Less than 5. When the digit to be dropped is

less than 5, the number is written without the digit.
Ex. 24.2444 to the nearest hundredth = 24.24
2. Digit is Equal to 5. When the digit to be dropped is
exactly 5, the nearest even number is used for the
preceding digit.
Ex. 26.175 to the nearest hundredth = 26.18
156.285 is equal to 156.28

3. Digit is Greater than 5. When the digit to be dropped is

greater than 5, the number is written with the preceding
digit increased by 1.
Ex. 226.277 to the nearest hundredth = 226.28
1. Round off 75.52 to three significant figures.
Answer: 75.5
2. Round off 9.08352 to two decimal places.
Answer: 9.08
3. Round off 1345.54 to a whole number.
Answer:1346
4. Round off 7962400 to three significant figures.
Answer: To round off 7962400, use the first three significant figures. The
zeros must be maintained as placeholders. The answer is 7960000
5. Round off 0.000275 to two significant figures.
Answer: Round it off to the nearest even number. Round off upward to
0.00028
• the only reliable and permanent record of actual
work done in the field
• the quality of fieldwork is reflected directly in the
manner the field record is kept
• Official record of the survey
• Before any survey is made, the necessary data to
be collected should be considered carefully and in
the field, all such required data should be obtained
 • must be complete, legible,
concise and comprehensive,
and logically arranged according
to recognized practice
• should be intelligible to others
without verbal explanations
• field work observations should be recorded
directly in the notebook at the time observations
are made.
1. SKETCHES
– drawn freehand and of liberal size

2. TABULATIONS
– best show a series of numerical values observed in
the field; prevents mistakes, allows checking, saves
time, makes calculations legible to others, and
simplifies the work of the person checking the field
notes
3. EXPLANATORY NOTES
– provide a written description of what has been done in
the field; usually placed on the right-hand page in the
same line with the numerical data; if sketches are used,
they should be placed close to that which they explain.

4. COMPUTATIONS
– graphical solutions using accurately scaled drawings
can be used; should be clear and orderly that will be
easily understood by others
5. COMBINATION OF THE
ABOVE

➢ Table of contents must be

included in the beginning of
the field notebook

➢Fieldwork report shall be

submitted based on those
written in the field notebook
➢Field notes should include:
• Fieldwork No.
• Fieldwork Title
• Date and Time
• Weather Condition
• Survey Party
• Instruments Used
• Sketch
• Results (Tabular Values/
Computations)
➢Field reports should include:
Fieldwork No.
Fieldwork Title
Date and Time
Weather Condition
Survey Party
Instruments Used
Sketch
Results (Tabular Values/ Computations)
To execute a surveying activity, a group called the survey
party will be composed of the following members:

1. Chief of party – overall direction, supervision, and

operational control.
2. Assistant Chief of Party – assistance to the COP.
3. Instrument man/Technician – setting up, leveling and
operating of instruments
4. Recorder – keeps records of survey data and sketches
5. Computer – performs all computations during and
after the survey
6. Head tape man – responsible for the taping
operation
7. Rear tape man – assistance to the HTM
8. Flagman – holds the range pole at selected points
for taping activity.
9. Rodman – holds the stadia rod at selected points
for instrument readings
10. Pacer – checks linear measurements made by the
tape men.
11. Axeman/ Lineman – the person whose duty is to
clear the line of sight of trees, bushes, and other
obstructions; security and safety of the members
12. Aidman – provides first aid treatment to members
13. Utility men – assistance to the survey party
A. State the number of B. Round off each of the
significant figures in each of following numbers to three
the following measurements. significant figures.

1. 56.0030 g 1. 63.351
2. 83400 km 2. 0.0000004399
3.4200. mL 3. 10249000
4. 0.000 620 m 4. 555.50
5. 0.0004 g 5. 0.0020285
C. Perform the indicated mathematical operations in each of
the following. Round off the answers to the proper number of
significant figures.

1. 501.2 g + 32.346 g + 12.33 g

2. 14.25 cm - 2.234 cm
3. 75.5 m x 8.66 m x 44 m
4. 96.435 g/ 3.45 g
5. 2334 cm x 1.020 cm x 21.2 cm