FIELD WORK NO.

2
TAPING OVER SMOOTH AND LEVEL GROUND
I. INTRODUCTION:
One of the important subjects in Civil Engineering includes surveying in which we take survey on a
certain plot where the construction must be carried out. Knowing that without the process of surveying
before proceeding into the actual plan, the work cannot totally be done. Kiser (2008) defined
surveying as the science, art, and technology by which lines, distances, angles, and elevations are
established and measured on or beneath the Earth’s surface Recorded locations, directions, areas,
slopes, and volumes are determined from these measurements that is why it is a must that surveying
skills should be perfected with practice. Although, the required precision and accuracy of a survey
vary with its purpose, enough checks must be always applied to the fieldwork and in the preparation
of the plans to provide acceptable accuracy of the results and will not contribute to incidents that may
affect a lot of people. Designer and Rao (2010) also stated that surveying is the art of making suitable
measurements in horizontal or vertical planes and from that, they concluded two categories of
surveying processes: geodetic and plane. The primary difference between geodetic and plane
surveying is the reference that they use since geodetic surveying measures all elevations from a level
surface, while plane surveying assumes the Earth is flat and all elevations are measured from a flat
surface in which it get its term.
According to Kiser (2008), a horizontal length is the straight line distance measured in a horizontal
plane. With this, direct measurements can be executed by wheels, human pacing, and tapes of cloth,
metallic cloth, or steel. Among these is the use of chain surveying in which it only measures linear
measurements and not with angular. The principle of chain surveying was explained by the Civil
Knowledges (2017) stating that the process is to start in dividing the whole area into a number of
segments of suitable sides. With that, it is important to have a great care so that the process of chain
surveying becomes smooth.
Measuring smooth and level grounds are easy with the use of tapes. Lazo (2018) said that the
procedure of taping on smooth and level ground only asks for the surveyors to lay the tape on the
ground and measure. With this, the only parameter which can cause inaccuracy of results is the
alignment of the tape. In this laboratory exercise, the taping over level ground will be further explained
and be executed. Taping requires a minimum of two people. Using range poles, the line to be
measured should be marked at both ends, and at intermediate points where necessary, to ensure the
unobstructed sight lines. Therefore, the head tapeman is should be lined in by the rear tapeman and
also directions are given by vocal and signals.
II. OBJECTIVES
Determining direct measurements can easily be done with the use of the common method which is
taping. The main objective of this laboratory exercise is to measure a designated length that should
be precise than the distance obtained by the use of pacing. Moreover, the objective is also to
determine horizontal length of a line over smooth and level ground with the tape supported throughout
its length.
III. EQUIPMENT
According to Elementary Surveying Field: Measurement of Horizontal Distances (n.d., p. 20), taping
over smooth and level ground with a steel tape or chain, divided in hundredths of a foot, provides a
precision of one in three thousand to in five thousand. Therefore to be able to execute a precise and
accurate data, right usage of equipment should be used. In this laboratory exercise, the needed
equipment are the following:
1. Steel Tape (30-m or 100ft)
2. Chaining Pins
3. Range poles
4. Pegs
5. Chalk
6. Spring scale
IV. PROCEDURES
1. Using hubs mark both ends of the line (150 to 300 m long) to be measured. Place a range pole
behind each point and also establish intermediate points along the line to ensure unobstructed sight
lines. If the point to be marked is on a pavement, use chalk or marking crayons. Designate these
end points as A and B.
2. The rear tapeman with one pin stations himself at the point of beginning and the head tapeman
takes the zero end of the tape and advances towards the other end of the line to be measured.
3. When the head tapeman has gone nearly a full tape length, the rear tapeman calls “tape” to stop the
head tapeman. The rear tapeman now holds the 30-m (100ft) mark at the starting point and aligns
the other end of the tape held by the head tapeman on the range pole set by behind the end point or
on any of the intermediate points earlier established along the line.
4. With the 30-m mark on the starting point, and the head tapeman aligned, the rear tapeman calls “all-
right.” The head tapeman then pulls the tape taut and sticks a chaining pin in the ground to mark the
0-m end of the tape. If the measurement is done on pavement, a chalk or marking crayon is used to
mark the end of the tape.
5. The rear tapeman picks up his chaining pin and the head tapeman pulls the tape forward and the
process is repeated for the next full tape length.
6. When the end of the line is almost reached and the last full tape length has been measured, the
remaining partial length is then measured. The rear tapeman holds the tape until he has a full meter
(or foot) mark at his chaining pin while the head tapeman pulls the tape taut and takes note of the
fractional measurement read from the tape end.
7. After the measurement of the whole line is completed, a second measurement should be made along
the opposite direction. The mean of the two measurements is taken as the most probable value of
the length of the line.

V. DATA ANALYSIS:
Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying sample format
tabulation of data.

TRIAL LINE SEGMENT LENGTH TOTAL DIFFERENCE MEAN RELATIVE

LENGTH PRECISION
1 AB 1
2
3
4
2 BA 1

VI. COMPUTATION:
MEAN:
= (LENGTH 1 + LENGTH 2) / 2
DISCREPANCY:
= [LENGTH 1 – LENGTH 2]

RELATIVE PRECISION:
= DISCREPANCY / MEAN LENGTH

VII. PRACTICAL QUESTION:

1. What are the errors made in taping a smooth and level ground?
2. It designated length that should be precise than the distance obtained by the use of pacing.
VIII. CONCLUSION
IX. DOCUMENTATION:
FIELDWORK GROUPMATE ASSESSMENT Date:
Course/Year/Section

NAME:
TAPING OVER SMOOTH AND LEVEL GROUND Group No.:

Group mates:

1. Score:
2. Score:
3. Score:
4. Score:
5. Score:
6. Score:
7. Score:

CRITERIA EXCELLENT VERY GOOD FAIR POOR GROUPMATES

4 3 2 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Late for
Late at
Arrives at the Late at most 15 more
TIME most 30
time minutes than 30
ELEMENT minutes
minutes
Does
Knows what Needs not
exactly is to be Familiar with further know
PREPAREDN
done in the field the procedure explana- what is
ESS
tion to be
done

Performs Limited in
Does
assigned task perfor-
COOPERATI Performs only not
well and willing ming
VE- assigned task want to
to help group assigned
NESS help at
mates task
all
Computes for Compute
the required Compute the the Fails to
value accurately required value required comput
ACCURACY
in such a short with little value with e the
time assistance some required
assistance value

Performs Performs
OVERALL
efficiently a Performs the
CONTRIBUTI Does
very important important task secondary
ON ON THE nothing
task assigned load
GROUP
assigned
WORK