Surveying, which has recently also been interchangeably called geomatics,

has traditionally been defined as the art and science of determining angular
and linear measurements to establish the form, extent, and relative position
of points, lines and areas on or near the surface of the earth or on other
extraterrestrial bodies through applied mathematics and the use of
specialized equipment and techniques.
1.2 Geomatics
The principal reason cited for making the name change is that the manner and
scope of practice in surveying have changed dramatically in recent years. This has
occurred in part because of recent technological developments that have provided
surveyors with new tools for measuring and/or collecting information, for
computing, and for displaying and disseminating information. It has also been
driven by increasing concerns about the environment locally, regionally, and
globally, which have greatly exacerbated efforts in monitoring, managing and
regulating the use of our land, water, air, and other natural resources. These
circumstances, and others, have brought about a vast increase in demands for
spatially related information.
1.3 Classification of Surveys

 Plane Surveying – It is a type of surveying in which the earth is considered to be

a flat surface, and where distances are areas involved are of limited extent that
the exact shape of the earth is disregarded.

 Geodetic Surveying - These are surveys of wide extent which take into account
the spheroidal shape of the earth.
1.4 Types of Surveys
1. Cadastral survey. These are usually closed surveys which are undertaken in
urban and rural locations for the purpose of determining and defining property
lines and boundaries, corners, and areas.

2. City surveys. These are surveys of the areas in and near a city for the purpose of
planning expansions or improvements, locating property lines, fixing reference
monuments, determining the physical features and configuration of land and
preparing maps.
1.4 Types of Surveys
3. Construction surveys. These are surveys which are undertaken at a construction
site to provide data regarding grades, reference lines, dimensions, ground
configuration, and the location and elevation of structures which are of concern to
engineers, architects and builders.

4. Forestry surveys. This type of survey is executed in connection with forest

management and mensuration, and the production and conservation of forest
land.
1.4 Types of Surveys
5.Hydrographic surveys. It refers to surveying streams, lakes, reservoirs, harbors,
oceans and other bodies of water.

6. Industrial surveys. It is sometimes know as optical tooling. It refers to the use of

surveying techniques in ship building, construction and assembly of aircrafts, lay-
out and installation of heavy and complex machinery, and other industries where
very accurate dimensional layouts are required.
1.4 Types of Surveys
7. Mines surveys. They are surveys which are performed to determine the position
of all underground excavations and surface mine structures, to fix surface
boundaries of mining claims, determine geological formations, to calculate
excavated volumes, and establish lines and grades for other related mining work.

8. Photogrammetric surveys. These are a type of surveys which make use of

photographs taken with specially designed cameras either from airplanes or
ground stations.
1.4 Types of Surveys
9. Route surveys. These involve the determination of alignment, grade, earthwork
quantities, location of natural and artificial objects in connection with the
planning, design, and construction of highways, railroads, pipelines, canals,
transmission lines, and other linear projects.

10.Topographic surveys. They are surveys made for determining the shape of the
ground, and the location and elevation of natural and artificial features.
1.5 Development of Surveying Instruments
1. Groma 11. Telescope
2. Libella 12. Transit
3. Chorobates 13. Theodolite
4. Quadrans 14. Plane Table
5. Astrolabe 15. Compass
6. Cross Staff 16. Semicircumferentor
7. Merchet 17. Dumpy Level
8. Water Level 18. Electronic total station instruments
9. A-frame 19. Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)
10. Gunter’s chain 20. Global positioning system (GPS)
1.6 Importance of Surveying
The results of today’s surveys are used to:
1. Map the Earth above and below sea level;
2. Prepare navigational charts for use in the air, on land and at sea;
3. Establish property boundaries or private and public lands;
4. Develop data banks of land-use and natural resource information that aid in
managing our environment;
5. Determine facts on the size, shape, gravity, and magnetic fields of the Earth;
6. Prepare charts of our moon and planets.
- End of Slides

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