C.K.

Pithawala college of engineering &

technology

PLANE TABLE SURVEYING

Group Member:-

1. Anajwala Parth A. 160093106001

160093106002
2. Bhagat Harsh G. 160093106005
160093106010
3. Kotak Jeet L. 160093106014
4. Sapariya Kuldeep K.
 PLANE TABLE SURVEYING
i. Plane tabling is a graphical method of
survey in which the field observations and
plotting are done simultaneously.
ii. It is simple and cheaper than the theodolite
survey. It is most suitable for small scale
maps.
Equipment and accessories for plane tabling
 
(a)Equipments:
1)Plane table
2)tripod
3)alidade
(b)Accessories:
1)Trough compass
2)Spirit level
3)U-fork with plumb bob
4)Water proof cover
5)Drawing paper
6)Pins
7)Drawing accessories
(1)Plane table:

The drawing board is made from well-

seasoned wood with its upper surface
exactly plane.
It is normally rectangular in shape with 75
cm*60 cm.
(i)Simple plane table
(ii)Johnson plane table
(iii)Coast survey plane table
(2)Tripod:

The plane table is mounted on a tripod.

The tripod is generally of open frame.
(3)Alidade:

Alidade is used for draw straight line in the

direction of lie of sight and for ordinary work.
By telescopic alidade angle can be measured
in a vertical plane.
Two types of alidade
(i)Simple alidade
(ii)Telescopic alidade
(3)U-fork with plumb bob:
U-fork plumb bob is used for centering the
table over the point or station occupied by the
plane table.

(4)Water proof cover:

An umbrella is used to
protect the drawing paper
from rain.

(5)Drawing paper:
Drawing paper is used for plotting
the ground details.
Equipment/Accessories used in plane tabling:
1)Plane table: Drawing paper is fixed on the plane
table for plotting details.it provides horizontal
plane.
2)Tripod: It is used to support the plane table.
3)Alidade: to draw straight line in the direction of line of
sight.
4) Trough compass: To establish magnetic north on the
drawing paper and to orient the table in the direction of
magnetic meridian.
5) Spirit level: to level the plane table.
6)U-fork with plumb bob: for centering the table over the
point.
7) Drawing accessories: for plotting details on the
drawing paper.
 ADVANTAGES
1.The plan is drawn by surveyor himself while the area to be
surveyed is before his eyes. Therefore, there is no possibility of
omitting the necessary measurements.
2.The surveyor can compare the plotted work with actual
featuresof the area.
3.It is simple and cheaper then the theodolite survey.
4.It is most suitable for small scale maps.
5.No great skill is required to produce a satisfactory map and the
work may be entrusted to a subordinate.
6.It is useful in magnetic areas where compass may not be used.
7.The mistakes in writing field books are eliminated.
8.It is the most rapid method of surveying.
9.Inaccessible points can be easily located by intersection.
 DISADVANTAGES

1.It is not intended for very accurate work.

2.It is not suitable in monsoon.
3.It is essentially a tropical instrument.
4.Due to heaviness, it is inconvenient to
transport.
5.Since there are so many accessories, there is
likelihood of these being lost.
 PRINCIPLE OF PLAN TABLE SURVEY

•“All the lines drawn on the drawing sheet are

parallel to the corresponding lines on the
ground, if the table is in properly oriented
position”
 MOTHOD OF SETTING UP THE PLANE TABLE

The following processes are involved in setting up

the plane table over the station.

•Fixing the plane table on the tripod

•Levelling
•Centering
•Marking the north line
•orientation
 1. Fixing the plane table on the tripod
The legs of the tripod should be spread well apart and firmly fixed into
the ground. The table should be set up at a convenient height for working on
the board ,say about 1.2m,depending upon the height of he surveyor.

2. levelling

In a simple plane table , levelling is done by moving the tripod legs the
leveling is judged by eye.
3. centering

The process of setting up the plane table on the plotted position of the
ground station exactly over the station . Is known as centering. It is done
by U- fork and plumb bob.
4. Orientation
The process by which the positions occupied by the board at various
survey stations are kept parallel Is known as the Orientation .
 METHODS OF PLANE TABLING

There are four distinct methods of plane tabling:

1.Method of radiation
2.Method of Intersection
3.Method of Traversing
4.Method of Resection
 1.Method of radiation

This is the simplest method and it is useful only when the

whole traverse can be commanded from a single station .
•Set the table at ‘o’ and level it . Transfer point o , on to the
sheet by means of plumbing fork.
•Keep the alidade touching O and sight A. draw the ray along
the fiducial edge of the alidade .measure distance OA , on
ground and put this length to a suitable scale on paper which
will give point a on the paper.
•similarly, obtain point b , c , d and e on paper by drawing lines of sight for
stations B,C,D and E and measuring the distances, OB,OC,OD and OE on
ground respectively.
•Join a , b , c , d and e on paper.
•For checking the accuracy of work, measure the distance AB,BC,CD,DE and
EA and compare them with the lengths ab , bc , cd , de and ea respectively
on paper.
 2.Method of Intersection

•Set the plane table at A, level it and transfer the point

A on to the sheet by way of plumbing fork . clamp the
table.
•With the help of trough compass , mark the north
direction on the sheet.
•Pivoting the alidade about a , sight it to B . Measure
AB and plot it along the ray to get b. The base line ab
is thus draw corresponding rays .
•Pivoting the alidade, about a , sight the details C,D
ect . and draw corresponding rays .
•Shift the table at B and set it there orient the table by
back sighting A .
•Pivot the alidade about b ,sight the detail C,D ect.
And draw the corresponding ray to intersect the
previously drawn ray at c,d ect.
•Thus, the plot ABCD can be plotted on paper as
abcd .
 3.Method of Traversing

•This method resembles the work of a

compass survey and it is useful for the survey
work of roads, rivers ect.
•Set the plan table at A . use plumbing fork for
transferring A on to the sheet . Draw the
direction of magnetic with the help of trough
compass.
•With the alidade pivoted about a , sight it to
B and draw the ray measure AB and scale off
ab to some scale . Similarly draw a ray
towards E , measure AE and plot e.
•Shift the table to B and set it .orient the table
accurately.
 4.Method of Resection

TWO POINT PROBLEM

This method of resection by two-point problem is not very accurate

1.Select a suitable fourth point D as an auxiliary point

near C such that the angles CAD & CBD are not small
for good intersection at A & B . Set up the table at D &
level it. Orient the table approximately using a compass
or by placing ab parallel to AB by judgment and clamp it.
2.With the alidade pivoted at a ray is drawn through a.
similarly, with the alidade pivoted on b, B is sighted &
another ray is drawn through b. the intersection d of
these two rays is the approximate location of D as the
orientation of the plane table at D is only approximate.
Draw a ray to C by pivoting the alidade on d. by
estimating the distance DC, cut off dc1 to scale and c1
so obtained is the approximate position of C.
3.Now sift the place table to C, orient it by taking
backsight to D & Centre it with reference to c1. the
orientation is, thus, the same as it was at D.
POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND IN PLANE TABLING :

The following points should be kept in mind while doing plane table
survey.
1.Ground points shall be marked as A, B, C … etc. and plan. points
(on paper) shall be marked as a, b, c … etc.
2.The rays from survey stations to the objects shall be drawn by
dashed line.
3.The alidade should be properly pivoted while sighting the objects.
4.The first survey station and the scale of the map shall be so chosen
that the entire area can be plotted on the paper.
5. While establishing magnetic north on the paper using trough
compass, things causing local attraction shall be kept away of the
table.
6. The plane table should be clamped after centring and levelling. The
table should be rotated only at the time of orientation.
 ERRORS IN PLANE TABLING :

The various sources of errors may be

classified as :

1)Instrumental errors.
2)Errors in manipulation and sighting
(personal errors).
3)Errors in plotting.
 1) Instrumental errors.
•The top surface of drawing board is not perfectly plane.
•The edge of alidade is not straight .(fiducial edge)
•The object vane and sight vane are not perpendicular to the alidade.
•The edge of alidade is not parallel to the line of sight.
•The fixing clamp is not proper.
•The level tube is defective.
2) personal errors.
•Defective levelling
•Defective sighting
•Defective orientation
•Defective centring
•Movement of board between sights.
•The alidade may not correctly pivoted to the station point.

3) Errors in plotting.
•Defective scale of map.
•Wrongly intersecting the rays drawn from two different stations.
•Incorrect measurements from the scale.
THANK YOU…