Surveying I.

Lecture 1.

Sz. Rózsa: Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Introduction

Lecturer:

Lectures
ENG.NAGIIB AHMED
Department of civil engineering,
University Of Hargeisa.

E-mail:nagib.jama@gmail.com
Phone:063-4402603

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Introduction

Course details:
• First part of a two-semester-course

• 3 hours/week (divided between lectures and practicals)

Communication:
• Activities involve lectures, practicals, tutorials and a field
practice

• Lectures - provide the theoretical background of the topics

• Practicals - practical sessions, in which You’ll carry out field

surveying and process them.

• Tutorials - if there’s a need for additional guidance in the

preparation for assessments. Please note that You have to
arrange an appointment in due time.

• Field practice - intensive course after the course Surveying

II.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Introduction

Attendance:

• Please attend all scheduled lectures, seminars and

practicals

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Introduction

Classroom tests:

• Altogether 4 classroom assessments:

• Practicals 1-4 (10 points)
• Using a theodolite – must pass
• Practicals 10-11 (10 points)
•Class tests 20 points
• Theory (involving the topics of the lectures) – 60
points

Course Evaluation:
Excellent (5) 87-99
good (4) 75-87
satisfactory (3) 62-74
pass (2) 50-61
fail (1) 0-49

You’re required to achieve a minimum of 50% in each classrom

test to pass the course.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Introduction

Learning resources:

• There is no required textbook for this course. You will

receive handouts during the semester and will be expected
to have read them by the required time

•Handout materials will supplement lectures. Bring all the

required materials listed below to all Lectures and Labs.

• You’ll be suplied with computational sheets, field notes

etc. during the course.

• Textbook:

A. elementary surveying
• an introduction to geomatics CHARLES D.GHILANI

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Academic Honesty-
• I assume everyone is honest regarding every element of the
course. I do not intend to scrutinize your every moment, but if I
should suspect cheating in any form on any activity, the
procedures outlined by the University within the ‘Students
Rights and Responsibilities’ regarding this topic will be
followed.
• Please ask questions, initiate discussion, and participate in class.
Also, please have the courtesy to listen to the instructor and
your classmates. If you are not interested in the lecture topic,
please do not distract others by talking. Do not come to class to
read the paper or sleep, you will be asked to leave if you do so.
 Outline

Introduction
Historical Surveying
Surveying - Science and Profession
Methods of height determination
Levelling
The surveyors’ level

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Historical Surveying

What is Surveying?
The art of making measurements of the relative positions of
natural and man-made features on the Earth’s surface, and
the presentation of this information either graphically or
numerically.

Since when?
The first surveying works date back to the antiquity, the
Greek provided the first account of surveying techniques.
Euclid founded the theoretical background for surveying by
the development of his geometry.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

Historical Surveying

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

Historical Surveying

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Outline

Introduction
Historical Surveying
Surveying - Science and Profession
Methods of height determination
Levelling
The surveyors’ level

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Surveying - Science and Profession

Surveying vs. Geodesy

• in most languages there are no distinctions between

the terms
• in English (according to Vanicek - Krakiwsky):
• Surveying: the practice of positioning
• Geodesy: the theoretical foundation of surveying

Geodesy is the scientific background of Surveying as a

profession.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Surveying - Science and Profession

Surveying:
The art of making measurements of the relative positions of
natural and man-made features on the Earth’s surface, and
the presentation of this information either graphically or
numerically.

Geodesy:

Geodesy is the discipline that deals with the measurements

and representation of the Earth, including its gravity field, in
a three-dimensional time varying space.

Geodesy focus on the Earth and neglect any man-made

features on it (e.g. buildings, public utilities, etc.), while
surveying use the results of geodesy for positioning and
mapping of these features.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Basic principles of Surveying

Recall the definition of Surveying:

The art of making measurements of the relative The positioning is usually
positions of natural and man-made features on separated
the Earth’sinto horizontal (2D)
and vertical
surface, and the presentation of this information either (1D) positioning.
graphically or numerically.
Nowadays 3D positioning can
be achieved using satellite
How to achieve this? techniques, too.

Let’s determine the position (XP, YP) of point P!

Absolute vs Relative positioning
XP
Y
dBP
P Control points
(known coords;
dAP B marked on the field)
YP (XB,YB)

A
(XA,YA)
l AB
X

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Basic principles of Surveying

Let’s determine the position of a third, unknown point (C).

We have two unknowns: XP, YP

We need two measurements: 


• two distances

Y • one distance and an angle

P
• two angles

dBP

dAP
dAP 
B
(XB,YB)


A
(XA,YA)
X

NagiibSz.
Ahmed
Rózsa:
: Surveying
Surveying I.
I. –– Lecture
Lecture 11
 Classification of Surveying
According to the space involved:
Plane Surveying

• relatively small areas Note: The two radii can supposed to be

parallel, when the l(A,B) is small.
• surface of earth can supposed to be flat
• measurements plotted represent a
horizontal projection of the actual field
measurements

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Classification of Surveying
Geodetic Surveying

Don’t forget! Size does matter!

• large areas
• surface of the Earth can not supposed to be flat
• the curvature of the Earth is taken into account

Mostly used for establishing control networks, determining the size and shape
of the Earth and determining the gravity field of the Earth.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 How to create a countrywide coordinate system?
In order to use the relative positioning, a proper number of control points
are needed. These points:
• are coordinated points;
• are marked.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Control Networks
Why is it necessary to have a common countrywide coordinate
system?

Many engineering tasks cover a large area (highways, bridges,

tunnels, channels, land registry, etc.), where the common
coordinate system (reference system) should be available.

The Control Network provide us with control points given in the

same refence system (coordinate system).

Thus measuring the relative positions of unknown points using

these control points, the coordinates of the new points can be
computed in the same reference system.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 The role of Surveying in Civil Engineering Practice
Surveyors are needed:

• to maintain the geometric order during the

construction process

• to provide fundamental data for the design and

planning process

• to provide quantity control during the construction

process (for example: earthwork quantities)

• to monitor the structure after the construction

(subsidence, deformations, etc.)
What is this?

Wrong geometry
Laying them in–the
theappropriate
structure isgeometry,
not functional!
outstanding structures can be created!
Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1
The role of Surveying in Civil Engineering Practice

Surveying activities during the construction process

Before Construction Under construction After construction

Setting out on each Final (as-built)

Planning and
phase plan or map
data collection
of construction on the construction

Observations Field checks of Presenting

in the field construction documentation
to the client

Processing the Providing data Deformation

observations and services to Monitoring/
(office) the client Load Tests

Drawing maps,
plans or providing
numerical data

Presenting
documentation
to the client

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Outline

Introduction
Historical Surveying
Surveying - Science and Profession
Methods of height determination
Levelling
The surveyors’ level

Sz. Rózsa: Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Methods of height determination

Question 1:
What does the height (elevation) of a point mean?

Question 2:
What does it mean, when point B is at a higher elevation
than point A?

Answer 1:
The height of a point represents its energy level above a
reference level.

Answer 2:
For example water flows from point B to point A.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Methods of height determination

Definition of height systems:

• The potential energy of a point should be represented by the height of

a point. Hence water should flow from the higher elevation towards the
lower elevation.

• Should have metric unit.

What should be the reference of height determination? What

is the 0 level?

• Since the height systems should represent the potential energy level,
we need a reference surface, which is an equipotential surface of
Earth’s gravity field.

• The surface of calm water forms an equipotential surface

• Mean Sea Level – Kronstadt (Baltic Sea) is used in Hungary (formerly

Triest, Adriatic Sea).

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Methods of height determination

Equipotential surfaces

B
A HB
HA

MSL

equipotential surface

Gravity vector is always perpendicular to the equipotential surface.

Equipotential surface (=) horizontal surface

Gravity vector (=) vertical direction

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Methods of height determination

1D position determination - determining the height

We can not determine absolute heights above the reference level

Relative height determination - determining the height

differences

Levelling benchmarks are needed - control points for which the

elevation is known.
B

H BA  H B  H A

HB

HA

Reference level

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Methods of height determination

How can we determine the height difference?

Two solutions:
• setting a horizontal plane, and measuring the offset from this plane
• measuring the slope and slope distance between the points

Levelling
Trigonometrical height determination
B

l AB
H BA  H B  H A

A 

HB

HA

Reference level

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Outline

Introduction
Historical Surveying
Surveying - Science and Profession
Methods of height determination
Levelling
The surveyors’ level

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 The principle of levelling

Line of sight
A B
(lA) lA equipo
tential
surfac
e
A (lB)
lB
HAB

aphy
topogr
HAB=lA-lB=(lA)-A-(lB)+B B

When A=B (spherical approximation, equal distance to A and B)

HAB=(lA)-(lB)
Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1
 Levelling
Over short distances the horizontal line and level line coincide.
For a distance of 100m the effect of the curvature is less than 1 mm.

The levelling device (called level) must be set up so, that the line of sight is
perpendicular to the gravity vector (plumb line). -> the line of sight is horizontal.

Horizontal
line of sight

Graduated staff Level

Graduated staff

Difference
in height

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Levelling

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Outline

Introduction
Historical Surveying
Surveying - Science and Profession
Methods of height determination
Levelling
The surveyors’ level

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 The Surveyor’s level

Tilting level

Bubble tube
Diaphragm

Tilting screw
Circular bubble Tilting axis

Levelling head

Clamping screw - to fix the telescope in one vertical plane

Tangent screw (slow motion screw) - to finely rotate the telescope

along a vertical axis

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 Elements of Surveyor’s level

How to set the line of sight to be exactly horizontal?

More general: how to set anything to be exactly horizontal?

The bubble tube

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 The bubble tube

The radius determines the sensitivity of the bubble tube:

 

R2
R1

R1 greater than R2

Sensitivity: how much the bubble moves due to a given

amount of inclination. The more the bubble moves, the more
sensitive the bubble tube is.

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1

 The bubble tube

The determination of sensitivity:

 

R1 R1

l2  l1
  radians 
L


l1 l2  "   radians  206264.8

L L

Nagiib Ahmed : Surveying I. – Lecture 1