F U N D A M E N TA L S

OF SURVEYING
CE010

E.G. Escondo
COURSE TOPICS (PRELIM)
I. Introduction to the Course
II. Types of Surveying
III.Measurement of Distance, Errors in measurement
IV. Pacing
V. Measurement of Directions and Angles
VI.Bearing and Azimuth
VII.Magnetic Declination
Image Sources: https://www.geotrek.com.ph/
DEFINITION OF SURVEYING
“Surveying is the art of determining the positions of points on or near the earth’s surface by
means of measurements in the three elements of space; namely, distance, direction, and
elevation.” – Rayne and Schmidt

“Surveying is the branch of applied mathematics which teaches the art of determining the
area of any portion of the earth’s surface, the length and directions of the boundary lines,
the contour of the surface, and of accurately delineating the whole on the paper.” – Webster.
W H AT I S S U R V E Y I N G
Planning and design are based on the results of surveys, and construction is controlled by surveying.

Surveys cover a wide range in scope and complexity, from the staking out of simple structures or
the surveying of small parcels of land to the extensive and difficult surveys required in the construction
of subdivisions, bridges, highways, canals, dams, railroads, wharves, missile and rocket launching sites,
drainage and irrigation system.

Professionals in the different fields of engineering as well as geologists, architects, foresters,

agriculturists, and geographers are concerned with surveying as a means of planning and executing
their respective projects.
PLANE AND GEODETIC
SURVEYING
1. Plane Surveying – is a specific type of surveying where the surface of the
earth is considered as plane and the curvature of the earth is not taken into
account.

2. Geodetic Surveying – is the type of surveying in which the curvature of the

earth is taken into account and a very high standard of accuracy is maintained.
DIFFERENCES OF PLANE AND
GEODETIC SURVEYING
PLANE SURVEYING GEODETIC SURVEYING
• Curvature of earth is not taken into • Curvature of earth is taken into account.
account.

• The line joining any two points is

• The line joining any two points is treated
treated as a straight line. as the arc of the circle.

• Length up to 12KM is treated as • Length more than 12KM is treated as

plane surveying.
geodetic surveying.
DIFFERENCES OF PLANE AND
GEODETIC SURVEYING
PLANE SURVEYING GEODETIC SURVEYING
• Knowledge of plane trigonometry is • Knowledge of spherical trigonometry is
required. required.

• Less accurate. • More accurate.

• Used in general civil engineering • Used for the precise location of a widely
survey project work distant area.
TYPES OF SURVEYING
 CADASTRAL
SURVEYS

Cadastral surveying is the sub-field of cadastre and 

surveying that specialises in the establishment and re-
establishment of real property boundaries.

Image Source: https://jocepsurvey.com/land-survey/

 CITY SURVEYS
City Surveys 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 the
land and preparing maps.

Image Source: DPWH

CONSTRUCTION
SURVEYS

Construction surveys are surveys which are

undertaken at a construction site to provide data
regarding grades, reference lines, dimensions,
ground configuration, and location and elevation of
structures which are of concern to engineers,
architects, and builders.

Image Source: https://designworkssurveys.com/services/construction-survey

 FORESTRY
SURVEYS
Forestry Surveys a type of survey executed in connection
with forest management and mensuration, and the
production and conservation of lands.

Image Source:
http://www.timmons.com/what/land-surveying/
HYDROGRAPHIC
SURVEYS
Hydrographic Surveys refers to surveying
streams, lakes, reservoirs, harbors, oceans,
and other bodies of water. These surveys are
made to map shore lines, chart the shape of
areas underlying water surfaces, and measure
the flow of streams.

.
Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrographic_survey
 INDUSTRIAL
SURVEYS
Industrial Surveys refer to the use of surveying techniques
in ship building, construction and assembly of aircraft, lay-
out and installation of heavy and complex machinery, and in
other industries where very accurate dimensional layouts are
required.

Image Source:
http://www.survalign.com.au/industrial-alignment
 MINE SURVEYS
Mine Surveys 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.

Image Source:
http://prashantedla.blogspot.com/2018/03/mine-surveying-2.html
.
 PHOTOGRAMMETRI
C SURVEYS
Photogrammetric Surveys  is the branch of surveying in
which maps are prepared from photographs taken from ground
or air stations.

Image Source:
https://www.gisresources.com/basic-of-photogrammetry_2/
ROUTE SURVEYS
Route surveys supplies the data necessary to
determine alignment, grading, and earthwork
quantities for the design and construction of
various engineering projects such as roads,
railroads, pipelines, and utilities. When
accuracy matters, your choice of
land surveying companies matters

Image Source: https://jocepsurvey.com/construction-survey/

.
 TOPOGRAPHIC
SURVEYS
Topographic surveys shows the height, depth, size and
location of any manmade or natural features on a given parcel
of land, as well as the changes or contours in elevation
throughout the parcel. While boundary surveys focus on
horizontal measurements, topographic surveys are about
elevation.

Image Source:
https://theconstructor.org/surveying/topographic-surveying-and
-mapping/5435/
FOR THIS
COURSE, WE
W I L L O N LY
FOCUS ON THE
BASICS OF
SURVEYING.