CE 101-2

SURVEYING
CE 101-2 Surveying 1
Lecture 2

Apply principles and theories of

surveying on determining
measurements of distances.
(MO11)
CE 101-2 Surveying 1
Lecture 2
2. Surveying Measurements
a. Errors & Mistakes
Types of Errors
Sources of Errors
b. Accuracy & Precision
c. Theory of Probability
d. Most Probable Value
e. Relative Precision
f. Weighted Observations
 Surveying Measurements
► SI
the International System of
Units (abbreviated SI from French
Le Système International d'Unités) is the
modern form of the metric system and is
the world's most widely used system of
measurement, used in both
everyday commerce and science.
 Surveying Measurements
► Rounding off numbers
Measurement of Distances
Errors & Mistakes
► Error
▪ er·ror
▪ noun \ˈer-ər, ˈe-rər\: something that is not
correct : a wrong action or statement
► Mistakes
▪ mis·take
▪ verb \mə-ˈstāk\: to understand (something or
someone) incorrectly
▪ : to make a wrong judgment about (something)
 Types of Errors
► Systematic Errors
▪ This type is one which will always have same
sign and magnitudes long as field conditions
remain constant and unchanged.
► Accidental Errors
▪ These error are purely accidental in character,
cause by factors beyond the control of the
surveyor and are present in all surveying
measurements.
 Sources of Errors

► Instrumental Errors
► Natural Errors
► Personal Errors
 Sources of Errors
►Instrumental Errors
▪ Errors due to imperfections in the
instrument used, either from faults in
their construction or from improper
adjustment between the different
parts prior to their use.
 Sources of Errors
►Natural Errors
▪ These errors are caused by variations
in phenomena of the nature such
changes in magnetic declination,
temperature, humidity, wind,
refraction, gravity and curvature of
the earth
 Sources of Errors
►Personal Errors
▪ These errors arise principally from
limitations of the senses of sight,
touch and hearing of human
observer which are likely to be
erroneous or inaccurate.
 Accuracy & Precision

►Accuracy
▪ Accuracy is how close a measured value is
to the actual (true) value.
►Precision
▪ Precision is how close the measured
values are to each other.
Accuracy & Precision
Relative (Error) Precision
► isexpress by a fraction having a magnitude of
the error in the numerator and the magnitude
of a measured quantity in the denominator.
▪ For example, if a distance of 500m were
measured with a closure of 0.25m, we can say
that the relative accuracy of that particular survey
is 0.25/500, or 1/2000. This is also written as
1:2000. This means basically that for every 2000
m measured, there is an error of 1m.
Relative (Error) Precision
▪ For example, if a distance of 500m were measured with a closure of
0.25m, we can say that the relative accuracy of that particular survey is
0.25/500, or 1/2000. This is also written as 1:2000. This means basically
that for every 2000 m measured, there is an error of 1m.

𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
RP =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒/𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡

0.25
RP =
500

0.25/0.25 1
RP = =
500/0.25 2000

0.25 1
RP = =
500 2000
Most Probable Value (sample problem 1)

►A surveying instructor sent out five groups

of students to measure a distance between
two points marked on the ground. The
students came up with the following five
different values: 348.42, 348.90, 348.00,
349.04, and 347.92 meters. Assuming these
values are equally reliable and that
variations result from accidental errors,
determine the most probable value of the
distance measured.
 Most Probable Value (sample problem 1)
► A surveying instructor sent out five groups of students to measure a distance between
two points marked on the ground. The students came up with the following six different
values: 348.42, 348.90, 348.00, 349.04, and 347.92 meters. Assuming these values are
equally reliable and that variations result from accidental errors, determine the most
probable value of the distance measured.

sum of all measurements

MPV =
total number of measurements

348.42+348.90+348.00+349.04+347.92
MPV =
5

1742.28
MPV =
5

MPV = 348.456 m
 Most Probable Value (sample problem 2)

►The observed interior angle of

a triangle are A = 35o14’ 37’’,
B = 96 30’ 09’’ and
o

C = 48 15’05’’. Determine the

o

discrepancy for the given

observation and the most
probable value of each angle.
 Most Probable Value (sample problem 2)
► The observed interior angle of a triangle are A = 35o14’ 37’’, B = 96o 30’ 09’’ and C = 48o15’05’’.
Determine the discrepancy for the given observation and the most probable value of each angle.

Angle Value Discrepancy MVP

A 35o14’ 37’’ + 0o0’3’’ 35o14’ 40’’

B 96o 30’ 09’’ + 0o0’3’’ 96o 30’ 12’’

C 48o15’05’’ + 0o0’3’’ 48o15’08’’

TOTAL 179o59’51’’ 0o0’9’’ 180o00’00’’

Interior Angle = (n-2)*180 Interior Angle = (3-2)*180 =180o

Int.A – Sum of the value 180 – 179o59’51’’
Discrepancy = =
n 3
0o0’09’’
Discrepancy = = 0o0’3’’
3
Weighted Measurements (Sample problem 3)

► Thefollowing data shows the difference in

elevation between A and B.
TRIAL Difference in NO. OF
Elevation MEASUREMENTS
1 189.97 m 3
2 190.22 m 1
3 189.98 m 6
4 190.07 m 5
▪ Determine the most probable difference in
elevation of the point.
Weighted Measurements (Sample problem 3)
► The following data shows the difference in elevation between A and B.
TRIAL Difference in Elevation NO. OF MEASUREMENTS

1 189.97 m 3
2 190.22 m 1
3 189.98 m 6
4 190.07 m 5

▪ Determine the most probable difference in elevation of the point.

𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ((𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣)∗(# 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠))

MPV =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠
189.97∗3 + 190.22∗1 + 189.98∗6 +(190.07∗5)
MPV = =190.024 m
3+1+6+5
Weighted Measurements (Sample problem 4)

► The following interior angles of a triangle

traverse were measured with the same
precision.
STATION VALUES IN NO. OF
DEGREES MEASUREMENTS
A 𝟑𝟗°12’ 3
B 𝟔𝟓°27’ 4
C 𝟕𝟔°39’ 2
▪ Determine the most probable value of each
angle.
Weighted Measurements (Sample problem 4)
► The following interior angles of a triangle traverse were measured with the same precision.
STATION VALUES IN NO. OF MEASUREMENTS
DEGREES
A 𝟑𝟗°12’ 3
B 𝟔𝟓°27’ 4
C 𝟕𝟔°39’ 2

▪ Determine the most probable value of each angle.

STATIO VALUES IN NO. OF LCM Weighted WE MVP

N DEGREES MEASUR error
EMENTS
A 𝟑𝟗°12’ 3 𝟏𝟐 𝟒 𝟎°24′00" 𝟑𝟖°48’
=𝟒 ∗ 𝟏°𝟏8’
𝟑 𝟏𝟑

B 𝟔𝟓°27’ 4 𝟏𝟐 𝟑 𝟎°18′ 00" 𝟔𝟓°09’

=𝟑 ∗ 𝟏°𝟏8’
𝟒 𝟏𝟑

C 𝟕𝟔°39’ 2 𝟏𝟐 𝟔 0°36′ 0" 𝟕𝟔°03’

=𝟔 ∗ 𝟏°𝟏8’
𝟐 𝟏𝟑

total 181°𝟏8’ 𝟏°𝟏𝟖’ 𝟏𝟖𝟎°𝟎𝟎’

► End of lecture 2