USING APPROPRIATE EXAMPLES, DEFINE ENGINEERING SURVEY IN DETAIL [5]

1. Engineering survey is a means of making relatively large scale accurate measurements of the
earth’s surface it includes the determination of the measurement data the reduction and
interpretation of the data to usable form and conversely, the establishment of relative position and
size according to given measurement requirements? thus surveying has two similar but opposite
functions :
 The determination of existing relative horizontal and vertical position such as that used for the
process of mapping , and the establishment of marks to control construction or to indicate land
boundaries.
 Engineering survey can also be defined as the set of technical and economic tests made on a
construction area to collect the initial data necessary for the development of the most expedient
technical and economic decisions during construction, planning and the redesigning of buildings
and structures .engineering survey precedes all types of construction (industrial, housing ,civil
hydraulic-engineering ,tranpotatio,road and so on) the nature of engineering survey depends on
the type of construction and extent to which the region under investigation has already been
studied.
2. State the challenges encountered when carrying out engineering survey and explain how they can
be overcome [10]
I. Weather constraints :these are caused by different weather conditions in which the survey
is being carried out ;for example when they is mist ,this means that they is shorter visual
distance so it makes it difficult to take staff readings .
Moreover when they are high temperatures during the day, the tape will expand therefore
measuring a longer distance over a shorter distance
The solution to this is to avoid taking measuring when they is a bad weather forecast
especially windy and rainy days, and for the tape we can use steel tapes .
II. Systematic errors; these are due to faulty instruments the reading obtained will be
inaccurate. The solution to that is to correct the errors mathematically, replace the faulty
equipment or maintain them regularly.
III. Natural challenges there is curvature and refraction their effects over minimised by
equal observation distance to back sight and fore sight at each setup, e.g. readings more
than 0.5m the stuff difficult to hold in a steady position. Precise levelling tools are used
instead. Some calculations like curvature calculation are applied to apply certain
correction to the results recorded.
IV. Observation challenges in levelling involve vertical measurements relative to a
horizontal plane so it is important to ensure that the staffs are held strictly vertical.
There may be challenges in ready the stuff, particularly when using a tilt level which
gives an inverted image. These challenges may result from inexperience, poor
observation condition or overlay sights to counter this; we have to limit the length of
sight to about 25-30m to ensure the graduates clearly defined.

MENAGIO T MUZADZI
ND CIVIL ENGINEERING
 V. Human errors or environmental conditions limiting clear vision of the observer target
which lead to pointing errors, this can done overcame by repeating the observation
several times and using the average
VI. Temperature is a challenge id direct can heat one side of the instruments enough to
cause expansion, this might lead to the occurrence of small errors. To overcome this
errors an average of the readings should be taken and recorded

3) how engineering surveying can be applied in civil engineering

 Engineering surveying can be applied inn road construction, for the good road to
be constructed it must be leveled
 Investigation the land due to constructed, using measurement tools and
geographic knowledge, to work out the best position to build tunnels and roads.
 Production of up to date plans which form the basis of a project.
 Setting out of site to be constructed.
 Control points for the development, and future developments are necessary.
 Used in vertical alignment of buildings.
 Used in measuring width of rivers ,for construction of bridges.
 Used to plan and execute every forum of construction.

MENAGIO T MUZADZI
ND CIVIL ENGINEERING