Wachemo University

Engineering and Technology College

Department of Geomatics Engineering

Topographic survey

Complied by Aster .Ch

 Chapter one
definition

 Topographic survey is type of survey conducted to determine the configuration of the ground.

 Itis a method of determining the three-dimensional positions, on the surface of the earth, of
the manmade and natural features.

 in other word A 3-D representation of land in a 2-D product is shown by a topographical

survey.

 purpose of a topographic survey

 to find the necessary data for the graphical portrayal (plotting) of topographic features (i.e.,
hills, valleys, building and roads) and contour lines.

 The topographic features and contour lines, plotted in a certain scale, on topographic map.
 This map shows the horizontal distances between the features and their elevations above a
given datum.

 The topographic maps are used for the planning of a building complex, an industrial plant, a
railway or a highway project as well as for irrigation projects.

 Bridges, tunnels and dams are also planned and designed after the preparation of a
topographic map.

 The user of the map should be able to interpret the map as a model of the ground.

 Topographic surveying and the preparation of topo map is always necessary before the
engineering and architectural design of any project. Topographic surveying and the
preparation of a topographic map of the terrain is therefore generally the first step in the
planning and designing of a major civil engineering project.
 Definition of terms

• Topography: The shape, configuration, relief, roughness, or three-dimensional

characteristics of the earth's surface.

• Topographic Maps: Show topography together with natural and artificial features such as
streams, lakes, buildings, highways, etc.

• Topographic Surveys: Surveys made to determine the configuration of the earth’s surface
and to locate natural and cultural features on it.

• There are two types of topographic survey

 Area survey

Route survey
 Area survey has appreciable width as well as length.

 Route surveys provide strip maps for the location of railroads, highways, pipelines,
transmission lines, canals, etc.
Application of topography maps
A topographic map is a detailed and accurate two-dimensional representation of natural
and human-made features on the Earth's surface. These maps are used for:
 fishing,
 urban planning,
 Analyzing change detection
 resource management, and
 Surveying
• The most distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is that the three
dimensional shape of the Earth's surface is modeled by the use of contour
lines.
Uses of Topographic Maps
• Topographic maps are used by a variety of professions from engineers, architects, foresters,
geologists, etc.

• the most common use of topographic maps is in the planning stages of projects to help
design the layout and location of buildings, roads, dams, pipelines, landscapes, fire control
routes, trails, etc.

• in general for planning and design of most engineering project.

 • General Methods for Topographic Maps
• Generally two methods are applied to gather the necessary data for the subsequent preparation of a
topographic map:

1. photogrammetric

2. terrestrial method:

photogrammetric method also can divide into two: aerial that by aerial photography and also from satellite
image. terrestrial method also by stadia or plane table

Aerial (photogrammetric): Using aerial photographs to determine distances, elevations, areas, etc. for
topographic mapping.

Transit-Stadia: Distance, elevation, and location measurements are taken in the field, recorded in the
field book, and then plotted on paper in the office.
Plane Table: Similar to transit-stadia method except that the data is plotted in the field on paper attached to a
drawing board mounted on a tripod (plane table)

• Terrestrial method/ ground method

 The collection of the data is done by means of total station or theodolite (stadia tachometer), as well as with
levels, tapes and plane table. This method is economic and suitable for relative small areas.

• Photogrammetric method

• Aerial photographs are used to gather the necessary ground data. It is an economic method for larger areas and
projects and it overcomes difficult access to the area to be mapped. The accuracy of photogrammetry mainly
depends upon the scale of the aerial photographs.

• The terrestrial (ground) work is only limited to establishing horizontal and vertical ground control point (e.g.
through traversing and leveling) that must be clearly defined and well distributed over the target area and a final
terrestrial field check.

• .
• The aerial photographs are measured stereoscopically (three- dimensionally) by means of a special
instrument called stereo plotter. With the help of such stereo plotters the contour lines and positions of
all topographic features can be determined.

• Scale of the map

 Scale of a map is the ratio of the distance marked on the map to the corresponding distance on
the ground. A map is a scaled graphic representation of a portion of the earth's surface. The
scale of the map permits the user to convert distance on the map to distance on the ground or
vice versa.

 The ability to determine distance on a map, as well as on the earth's surface, is an important
factor.
• The scale of a map should be selected according to the purpose of the map. For the
first planning stage of a civil engineering project (e.g. a big bridge) a small-scale map
might be adequate,

• but for detailed planning (e.g. for the wing wall of the bridge), large-scale maps
would be required. The scale is usually selected before commencing the fieldwork.