Name: Date:

Course/Yr: Weather:
Group No.: Time/Temp:
Fundamentals of Surveying Location:

Laboratory Fieldwork No: __

MEASURING DISTANCES ON LEVEL AND SLOPING SURFACES WITH A TAPE

A. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this fieldwork, you will be able to:
1. Determine the distance between two points on a level surface.
2. Determine the distance between two points on a sloping surface.

B. LEARNING CONTENT

Most frequently, surveyors deal with

measuring level and sloping or uneven
surfaces. On this laboratory fieldwork
you will learn how to properly measure
horizontal and sloping distances.

COMPOSITION OF THE TAPING PARTY

Taping is the process of measuring directly the distance between two points
using a measuring tape. The measurement is undertaken on fairly level ground
surfaces in an open field and is usually done by a taping party which consists of the
following individual.
1. Head Tapeman. The person who leads the taping party. He makes sure the area
is clear for any obstructions, and usually the one who carries the zero end of the
measuring tape.
2. Recorder. The person who keep records of all the measurement undertaken by
the taping party.
3. Flagman. The person who assists carrying out the measurement of a line by
holding range poles to guide the tapeman.
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 4. Rear Tapeman. The person who assist the head tapeman in any measuring
operation undertaken and usually holds the other end of the measuring tape and
reads the final measure of the line being measured.

C. APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT
Measuring tape, range pole, marking pin

D. SAFETY GEAR
Hard hat, safety vest, safety shoes

E. PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. How do you measure the distance between two points using measuring tools?
2. How is the slope of a sloping ground expressed?

F. PROCEDURE

Level Surface
1. Choose an open area with a level surface and establish line AB. Locate the first
point and mark this as point A.
2. Locate the second point and mark this as point B. The flagman holds the range
pole at this point.
3. The head tapeman holds the tape on the zero mark. The rear tapeman station
himself at the first point and the head tapeman pulls the tape towards the second
point.
4. The recorder writes down the reading on the rear tapeman’s end.
5. Repeat the procedure heading on the opposite direction BA.
6. Tabulate the result.

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 Table 2-1
TRIAL LINE DISTANCE DIFFERENCE MEAN RELATIVE
(m) (𝑥̅ ) PRECISION
(𝑅𝑃)

1 AB

2 BA

Sloping Surface
1. Choose an open area with a sloping surface and establish line AB. Locate the
first point and mark this as point A.
2. Locate the second point and mark this as point B. The flagman holds the range
pole at this point.
3. Breaking tape is applied in a sloping surface so as to minimize effect of slope
in pulling the tape horizontally. See accompanying illustration to apply
breaking tape.
4. The head tapeman holds the tape on the zero mark. The rear tapeman station
himself at the first point and the head tapeman pulls the tape towards the second
point.
5. The recorder writes down the reading on the rear tapeman’s end.
6. Repeat the procedure heading on the opposite direction BA.
7. Tabulate the result.
Table 2-2

TRIAL LINE DISTANCE DIFFERENCE MEAN RELATIVE

(m) (𝑥̅ ) PRECISION
(𝑅𝑃)

1 AB

2 BA

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 𝐿1 𝐿2 𝐿3
A Tape

Tape
Horizontal line

Tape

Plumb line
B

𝐿
Figure 2.1 Sloping
Surface

G. COMPUTATION
Level Surface
1. The difference is computed by subtracting the second measurement with the
second measurement.

𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓. = 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵𝐴
2. The mean of the measured line is computed by adding the two measurements
and dividing it by 2.
𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵𝐴
𝑥̅ =
2
3. The Relative Precision is computed by dividing the difference by the mean
value. Multiply by 100% to express in per cent.
𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓.
𝑅𝑃 =
𝑥̅
Sloping Surface
For sloping surface, breaking tape is applied. Measurement is done in partial
and each line will be added to be able to get the total length of line AB as shown in
figure 1.
1. The difference is computed by subtracting the second measurement with the
second measurement.

𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓. = 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵𝐴
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2. The mean of the measured line is computed by adding the two measurements
and dividing it by 2.
𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵𝐴
𝑥̅ =
2
3. The Relative Precision is computed by dividing the difference by the mean
value. Multiply by 100% to express in per cent.
𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓.
𝑅𝑃 =
𝑥̅

Slope Taping
Tape measurements may be made directly along the slopes if the ground
surface is uniformly inclined. Horizontal distance can be computed by applying
trigonometric formulas. It is more accurate compared to breaking the tape.

ℎ (𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)

𝜃
𝐴
𝐶 (ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒)
𝑑

Figure 2.2 Slope Taping

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Formulas:
ℎ
sin 𝜃 =
𝑠
𝑑
cos 𝜃 =
𝑠
ℎ
tan 𝜃 =
𝑑
𝑠 2 = ℎ2 + 𝑑 2

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H. OBSERVATION
Record your observations below.

I. CONCLUSION
Formulate your conclusion below.

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J. LEARNING ASSESSMENT
1. Calculate the horizontal distance of a sloping line having an angle of elevation
of 15° and a slope distance of 150 m.
2. Determine the horizontal distance of a line having a slope of 1:20 if the slope
distance is 300 m.

K. POST LAB QUESTIONS

1. Describe in detail how you will measure the length of a line between two
points?
2. What mathematical formulas are used in solving horizontal distances along
sloping surfaces?
L. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT (SE) EFFECTIVE QUESTIONING

Two succeeding sloping lines are connected.

The first line AB, 25 m in length has a slope of 1:3,
and the second line BC, 40 m in length has a slope 1:4.
What is the horizontal distance from A to C?

M. SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENT LEARNING

Classroom Assessment Technique (CAT) 3-2-1

Three things you learned:

1.
2.
3.
Two things that you would like to learn more about:
1.
2.
One question you still have:
1.

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N. KEY TO CORRECTIONS
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_-hhXF_nqXPmF0NxKZW-
fpeFNstLiNRX/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115374429614406160589&rtpof=true&s
d=true

Scan to access link.

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 O. FIELD WORK RUBRIC
Category 4 3 2 1
1. Safety Field work is carried Field work is Field work is carried Safety procedures
out with full attention generally carried out out with some were ignored and/or
to relevant safety with attention to attention to relevant some aspect of the
procedures. The set- relevant safety safety procedures. field work posed a
up and execution procedures. The set- The set-up and threat to the safety of
posed no safety up and execution execution posed no the student or others.
threat to any posed no safety safety threat to any
individual. threat to any individual, but
individual, but one several safety
safety procedure procedures need to
needs to be reviewed. be reviewed.
2. Teamwork All members of the Most member of the Only a few students Most students were
group actively group participated. were participating. not involved and
participated and The instructor had to The instructor had to were not
helped each other speak to the team speak to the group 2- cooperating. The
out. Any differences once about team 3 times about team instructor had to
were resolved on work. work. speak to the group
their own. The more than 3 times
instructor did not about team work.
have to speak to the
group at all about
team work.
3. Time Used time well in the Used time pretty Did the field work Field work was not
field work and well. Stayed focused but much time spent. finished on time.
focused attention on on the work most of Focus was lost on Field work was
the work. the time. several occasions. incomplete.
Field work
completed.
4. Calculations All calculations are Some calculations Some calculations No calculations are
shown and the results are shown and the are shown and the shown OR results
are correct and results are correct results labeled are inaccurate or
labeled appropriately. and labeled appropriately. mislabeled.
appropriately.
5. Data Professional looking Accurate Accurate Data are not shown
and accurate representation of the representation of the OR are inaccurate.
representation of the data in tables and/or data in written form,
data in tables and/or graphs. Graphs and but no graphs or
graphs. Graphs and tables are labeled and tables are presented.
tables are labeled and titled.
titled.
6. Neatness and The work is The work is The work is The work appears
Organization presented in a neat, presented in a neat presented in an sloppy and
clear, organized and organized organized fashion but unorganized. It is
fashion that is easy to fashion that is may be hard to hard to know what
understand. usually easy to understand at times. information goes
understand. together.
7. Strategy/ Typically, uses an Typically, uses an Sometimes uses an Rarely uses an
Procedures efficient and effective strategy to effective strategy to effective strategy to
effective strategy to solve the problem(s). solve problems, but solve problems.
solve the problem(s). does not do it
consistently.

NOTE: Maximum Score = 28 points

𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑥 100%
28

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