CESURV2L EXERCISE 1

FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING - FIELDWORK

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EXERCISE 1
DISTANCE MEASUREMENT BY PACING

RELATED DEFINITIONS:

PACE – the length of a single step

PACING – consists of counting the number of steps in
a required distance
STRIDE – two paces or double step
PACE FACTOR – a value determined by dividing the
measured or known length of a line by the
mean number of paces taken to walk or
traverse the line
PACED DISTANCE – the length of a course as determined by
pacing
TAPING – the process of measuring the length of a
line or course with a tape
DISCREPANCY – the difference between any two
measurements involving the same line or
course
RELATIVE PRECISION
OF MEASUREMENT – a value determined by dividing the
discrepancy by the mean measured length,
and where the numerator is reduced to
unity or one

OBJECTIVES:

1. To determine the individual pace factor.

2. To measure distance by pacing.

INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES:

Chalk, Range Poles, Tape Measure

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CESURV2L EXERCISE 1
FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING - FIELDWORK
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PROCEDURE:

A. Determining the Pace Factor

1. Select a straight and level course and on both ends establish markers at about
30 meters apart. Designate these end points as A and B and mark these points
with a chalk.
2. Place range poles behind points A and B. These poles will serve as guides
when you tread the distance AB and distance BA for successive trials.
3. Walk over the course at a natural pace or gait starting with either heel or toe
over point A and count the number of paces to reach point B.
4. For succeeding trials, walk from B to A, then A to B, until 5 trials are
completed, and the number of paces recorded accordingly.
5. Determine the mean number of paces of line AB and compute for the Pace
Factor.
6. Record your measured data on your field book following the format below.
TRIAL LINE TAPED NUMBER MEAN OF NO. PACE FACTOR
DISTANCE (m) OF PACES OF PACES (m/pace)
1 AB
2 BA
3 AB 30
4 BA
5 AB

B. Measuring Distance by Pacing

1. Establish a new line with any distance of another level course whose length is
to be determined by pacing. Designate the points as C and D and mark these
points with a chalk.
2. For the first trial, walk over the course from C to D at a natural pace and again
record the number of paces.
3. Repeat the above procedure until all 5 trials are completed.
4. After the field data is recorded, make an actual taping of the line CD to
determine the taped distance.
5. Determine the mean of the number of paces of line CD and compute the Paced
Distance and Relative Precision. If the relative precision computed is not
within 1/200 to 1/500, repeat steps 2 and 3.

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CESURV2L EXERCISE 1
FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING - FIELDWORK
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6. Refer to the accompanying sample format for the recording of observed field
data.
NO. OF MEAN PACED DIST TAPED DIST RELATIVE
TRIAL LINE PACES PACES (m) (m) PRECISION

1 CD
2 DC
3 CD
4 DC
5 CD

COMPUTATIONS:

A. Computing the Pace Factor (PF)

1. Get the sum of the number of paces for the 5 trials performed on course AB
and then compute the mean number of paces.
2. Divide the known or taped length of course AB by the mean number of paces
for AB to determine the pace factor.

B. Computing the Paced Distance (PD)

1. Get the sum of the number of paces for the 5 trials performed on course CD
and then compute the mean number of paces.
2. Multiply the mean number of paces for CD by the pace factor to obtain the
paced distance.

C. Computing Relative Precision (RP)

1. Determine the difference between the taped distance of CD and the paced
distance of CD.
2. Divide the difference by the taped distance of CD and reduce the numerator
to unity to determine the relative precision. Relative precision is expressed in
fractional form and the denominator is rounded to the nearest hundredth.
The accepted precision for measuring distance by pacing usually varies from
1/200 to 1/500.

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