Chapter 3:

Curvature & Refraction

F U N D A M E N TA L S O F S U R V E Y I N G C H A P T E R 3
R E F E R E N C E M AT E R I A L : E L E M E N TA R Y S U R V E Y I N G ; A N I N T R O D U C T I O N TO G E O M AT I C S ( T H I R T E E N T H
EDITION)
B Y C H A R L E S D . G H I L A N I & PA U L R . W O L F
Prepared by: Engr. Enzo Castillo
Derivation
Derivation
Formulas

Note: Cm = ec= hc
 k

k
Line of Sight
hc
R
q R
Where:

R = Radius of Earth
k = horizontal distance
h = height of the object
 k

k
Line of Sight
hc
R
q R
hc =0.07848k2

hcr =0.0675k2
*note k is in kilometers
Formulas

Note: Rm = er=hr
Formulas

Note: hm = ecr = ecomb = hcr

Earth’s Curvature and Refraction

Example 1: Fundamental Problem

A woman standing on a beach can just see the top of a
lighthouse 24.140 km away. If her eye height above sea
level is 1.738m, determine the height of the lighthouse
above sea level. Assume the radius of the earth is 6371km.