FIELD WORK NO.

3
TAPING OVER UNEVEN AND SLOPING GROUND
I. INTRODUCTION:
For sloping ground or uneven ground, taping is handled
similarly to taping over level ground. The tape is held
horizontally but one or both tape men have to use plumb bobs.
Sometimes large elevation difference makes it impossible to
use an entire tape. Situations only part of the tape is. In such
used. The head tape man holds the zero end and the rear tape
man holds a convenient distance which will allow the selected
length of tape to be horizontal. All individual measurements
must be recorded.
In such used. The head tape man holds the zero end and the rear tape man holds a convenient
distance which will allow the selected length of tape to be horizontal. All individual measurements
must be recorded as shown in the figure.
Another procedure for measuring up or down a slope is called the "breaking tape” method. The rear
tape man holds the 30-m end of the tape over a point while the head tape man proceeds forward until
it becomes impossible to keep the tape horizontal, e.g., at the 25-m mark. The rear tape man then
moves up to the head tape man
and holds the tape at the 25-m
mark over the new point while the
head tape man proceeds until the
0-mark of the chain are reached at
which point the whole process is
repeated. Each 30-meter length of
tape must be recorded
individually.

II. OBJECTIVES
To determine the horizontal length of a line over uneven and sloping ground by the method of
breaking tape.

III. EQUIPMENT
According to Elementary Surveying Field: Measurement of Horizontal Distances (n.d., p. 20), taping
over uneven and sloping 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:
MEASURING UPHILL
1. On a designated uneven and sloping terrain, mark the ends of a line to be measured. Designate the
mark at the bottom of the slope as point A and at the mark at the upper portion to serve as markers,
or are set at intermediate points along the line to insure better alignment during taping.
2. Head tape-man unreels and spreads out the tape and pulls the zero mark uphill along the line from
point A. The rear tape-man raises the 30-m end of the tape breast high while the head tape-man
 moves back to a place on the line near a full meter mark where the ground surface is as high as the
other raised end of the tape. The head tape-man stays by the side of the line measured and holds a
chaining pin on the ground.
3. The rear tape-man temporarily releases end of tape and signals head tape-man to either move to
the right of left in order to align him. When the pin of the head tape-man is in line with the pole held
over point B, the head tape-man is then signaled to stick the pin vertically into the ground.
4. Rear tape-man plumbs from point A to the terminal mark of the tape with a plumb bob and maintains
this plumb bob steadily over A while head tape-man pulls the tape tight, and making sure that the
tape in on line by bringing one of its edges in contact with the previously aligned pin. The head tape-
man then moves the pin opposite the nearest full meter of the tape and he sticks it firmly into the
ground.
5. The rear tape-man leaves his end of the tape, move up the slope and gets hold of the tape at the
point previously held by the head tape-man. The next measurement is made horizontally from the
pin stuck in the ground by the head tape-man as done at point A.
6. The process is repeated until the whole tape length is used up thus finishing the measurement of
one tape length of horizontal distance.
7. From the pin marking the end of one tape length measurement, the horizontal measurement is
continued until point B is reached. The last partial tape length is measured with the rear tape-man
holding the tape until he has full meter mark at his end while the head tape-man pulls the tape tight
and takes note of the partial measurement. Then the number of tape lengths and the last partial
measurement are totaled to determine the horizontal length of the line measured.
MEASURING DOWNHILL
1. In measuring down the slope, the tape is reversed to bring its zero end forward in the direction of
point A along the line. Horizontal measurements start from B with the rear tape-man holding his
terminal meter mark of tape in level with B.
2. After the plumb bob of the head tape-man has been aligned with the range pole held at A, the head
tape-man drops the plumb bob causing it to leave a mark on the ground. He then sticks a pin at the
ground mark left by the plumb bob.
3. The next horizontal measurement starts from the pin until one whole tape length is measured. As in
measuring up the slope, the number of tape lengths plus the partial tape length at the end of the line
determines the total horizontal length of the line.
4. Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying sample format for
the tabulation of data.

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 over uneven and sloping 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 UNEVEN AND SLOPING 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
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COOPERATI Performs only not
well and willing ming
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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