SURVEYING (LEC & LAB)

(ARS 131 & ARS 131.1)

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

(University of the City of Manila)
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

[ARS 131 & ARS 131.1] SURVEYING (LEC & LAB)

 Meeting No. 02

INTRODUCTION TO
SURVEYING
Definition of Surveying
Specialized Types of Surveying
Surveying Instruments
Surveying Measurements
Field Notebook

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 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. (Rayner and Schmidt)
Surveying is the art of measuring horizontal and vertical distances between objects,
of measuring angles between lines, of determining the direction of lines, and of
establishing points by predetermined angular and linear measurements. (Davis,
Foote, Anderson, and Mikhail)
Surveying is the art and science of determining angular and linear measurements to
establish the form, extent, and relative to the position of points, lines, and areas on
or near the surface of the earth or on other extraterrestrial bodies through applied
mathematics and the use of specialized equipment and techniques. (La Putt)

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 SURVEYING

One of the oldest arts practiced by man

Trains the students to visualize and think logically, to plan, to work carefully and
accurately, and to arrange the product of these efforts in a neat and orderly manner
for record or presentation.
It develops one’s habit of accuracy, industry, and reliability.
Surveys are divided into two general classification:
Plane Surveying
Geodetic Surveying

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 SURVEYOR

The surveyor’s professional tasks may involve one or more of the following activities,
which may occur either on, above, or below the surface of the land or the sea and
may be carried out in association with other professionals.
The determination of the size and shape of the earth and the measurements of all
data needed to define the size, position, shape and contour of any part of the
earth and monitoring any change therein.
The positioning of objects in space and time as well as the positioning and
monitoring of physical features, structures and engineering works on, above or
below the surface of the earth.
The development, testing and calibration of sensors, instruments and systems for
the above-mentioned purposes and for other surveying purposes.
The acquisition and use of spatial information from close range, aerial and
satellite imagery and the automation of these processes.

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 SURVEYOR

The surveyor’s professional tasks may involve one or more of the following activities,
which may occur either on, above, or below the surface of the land or the sea and
may be carried out in association with other professionals.
The determination of the position of the boundaries of public or private land,
including national and international boundaries, and the registration of those
lands with the appropriate authorities.
The design, establishment, and administration of geographic information systems
(GIS), and the collection, storage, analysis, management, display and
dissemination of data.
The analysis, interpretation, and integration of spatial objects and phenomena in
GIS, including the visualization and communication of such data in maps, models
and mobile digital devices.

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 SURVEYOR

The surveyor’s professional tasks may involve one or more of the following activities,
which may occur either on, above, or below the surface of the land or the sea and
may be carried out in association with other professionals.
The study of the natural and social environment, the measurement of land and
marine resources and the use of such data in the planning of development in
urban, rural, and regional areas.
The planning, development and redevelopment of property, whether urban or
rural and whether land or buildings.
The assessment of value and the management of property, whether urban or
rural and whether land or buildings.
The planning, measurement and management of construction works, including
the estimation of costs.

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 GEODETIC AND PLANE SURVEYS

Two general classifications of surveys are geodetic and plane. They differ principally
in the assumptions on which the computations are based, although field
measurements for geodetic surveys are usually performed to a higher order of
accuracy than those for plane surveys.
In geodetic surveying, the curved surface of the Earth is considered by
performing the computations on an ellipsoid (curved surface approximating the
size and shape of the Earth). The calculations involve solving equations derived
from solid geometry and calculus. Geodetic methods are employed to determine
relative positions of widely spaced monuments and to compute lengths and
directions of the long lines between them. These monuments serve as the basis
for referencing other subordinate surveys of lesser extents.

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 GEODETIC AND PLANE SURVEYS

Two general classifications of surveys are geodetic and plane. They differ principally
in the assumptions on which the computations are based, although field
measurements for geodetic surveys are usually performed to a higher order of
accuracy than those for plane surveys.
In plane surveying, except for leveling, the reference base for fieldwork and
computations is assumed to be a flat horizontal surface. The direction of a plumb
line (and thus gravity) is considered parallel throughout the survey region, and all
observed angles are presumed to be plane angles. For areas of limited size, the
surface of our vast ellipsoid is actually nearly flat. On a line 5 mi long, the
ellipsoid arc and chord lengths differ by only about 0.02 ft. Therefore, it is
evident that except in surveys covering extensive areas, the Earth’s surface can be
approximated as a plane, thus simplifying computations and techniques. In
general, algebra, plane and analytical geometry, and plane trigonometry are used
in plane-surveying calculations.

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 IMPORTANCE OF SURVEYING

Surveying is one of the world’s oldest and most important arts because, as noted
previously, from the earliest times it has been necessary to mark boundaries and
divide land. Surveying has now become indispensable to our modern way of life. The
results of today’s surveys are used to:
map the Earth above and below sea level;
prepare navigational charts for use in the air, on land, and at sea;
establish property boundaries of private and public lands;
develop data banks of land use and natural resource information that aid in
managing our environment;
determine facts on the size, shape, gravity, and magnetic fields of the Earth; and
prepare charts of our moon and planets.

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 IMPORTANCE OF SURVEYING

All engineers must know the limits of accuracy possible in construction, plant design
and layout, and manufacturing processes, even though someone else may do the
actual surveying. In particular, surveyors and civil engineers who are called on to
design and plan surveys must have a thorough understanding of the methods and
instruments used, including their capabilities and limitations.
This knowledge is best obtained by making observations with the kinds of equipment
used in practice to get a true concept of the theory of errors and the small but
recognizable differences that occur in observed quantities.
In addition to stressing the need for reasonable limits of accuracy, surveying
emphasizes the value of significant figures. Surveyors and engineers must know
when to work to hundredths of a foot instead of to tenths or thousandths, or
perhaps the nearest foot, and what precision in field data is necessary to justify
carrying out computations to the desired number of decimal places. With experience,
they learn how available equipment and personnel govern procedures and results.

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 SPECIALIZED TYPES OF SURVEYING

CONTROL SURVEYS
It establishes a network of horizontal and vertical monuments that serve as a
reference framework for initiating other surveys. Many control surveys performed
today are done using techniques with GNSS instruments.
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS
It determines locations of natural and artificial features and elevations used in
map making.
HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS
It defines shorelines and depths of lakes, streams, oceans, reservoirs, and other
bodies of water. Sea surveying is associated with port and offshore industries and
the marine environment, including measurements and marine investigations
made by shipborne personnel.

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 SPECIALIZED TYPES OF SURVEYING

LAND, BOUNDARY, AND CADASTRAL SURVEYS

It establishes property lines and property corner markers.
The term cadastral is now generally applied to surveys of the public lands
systems. There are three major categories:
original surveys to establish new section corners in unsurveyed areas that still
exist;
retracement surveys to recover previously established boundary lines; and
subdivision surveys to establish monuments and delineate new parcels of
ownership.
Condominium surveys, which provide a legal record of ownership, are a type of
boundary survey.

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 SPECIALIZED TYPES OF SURVEYING

ALIGNMENT SURVEYS
These are made to plan, design, and construct highways, railroads, pipelines, and
other linear projects. They normally begin at one control point and progress to
another in the most direct manner permitted by field conditions.
CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS
It provide line, grade, control elevations, horizontal positions, dimensions, and
configurations for construction operations. They also secure essential data for
computing construction pay quantities.
AS-BUILT SURVEYS
These document the precise final locations and layouts of engineering works, and
record any design changes that may have been incorporated into the
construction. These are particularly important when underground facilities are
constructed, so that their locations can be accurately known for maintenance
purposes, and unexpected damage to them can be avoided during later
installation of other underground utilities.
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 SPECIALIZED TYPES OF SURVEYING

MINE SURVEYS
These are performed above and below ground to guide tunneling and other
operations associated with mining. This classification also includes geophysical
surveys for mineral and energy resource exploration.
SOLAR SURVEYS
It maps property boundaries, solar easements, obstructions according to sun
angles and meet other requirements of zoning boards and title insurance
companies.
OPTICAL TOOLING (ALSO REFERRED TO AS INDUSTRIAL SURVEYING OR
OPTICAL ALIGNMENT)
It is a method of making extremely accurate measurements for manufacturing
processes where small tolerances are required.

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 SPECIALIZED TYPES OF SURVEYING

Except for control surveys, most other types described are usually performed using
plane-surveying procedures, but geodetic methods may be employed on the others if
a survey covers an extensive area or requires extreme accuracy.
GROUND, AERIAL, AND SATELLITE SURVEYS
Ground surveys utilize measurements made with ground-based equipment such
as automatic levels and total station instruments.
Aerial surveys are accomplished using either photogrammetry or remote sensing.
Photogrammetry uses cameras that are carried usually in airplanes to obtain
images, whereas remote sensing employs cameras and other types of sensors that
can be transported in either aircraft or satellites. Aerial methods have been used
in all the specialized types of surveys listed, except for optical tooling, and in this
area terrestrial (ground-based) photographs are often used.
Satellite surveys include the determination of ground locations from
measurements made to satellites using GNSS receivers, or the use of satellite
images for mapping and monitoring large regions of the Earth.
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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

MEASURING TAPE
A tape measure or measuring tape is a
flexible ruler used to measure size or
distance.
It is a common measuring tool that comes
in different lengths and can consists of a
ribbon of cloth, plastic, fiber glass, or
metal strip with linear-measurement
markings.
Typical lengths available are 30-m, 50-m,
and 100-m length.
The 0- mark may be indicated in the tape.
In some type, the 0-mark is coinciding
with the chain at the end.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Marking Pins
A Marking pin or Chaining Pin (also
called a taping arrow) is a metal pin
about 1 ft long. It has a circular eye
at one end and a point for pushing it
into the ground at the other end.
Pins used to mark the intervals of
several meters, which are dependent
on the length to be measured. These
are very useful in making sure that
the line being laid out is straight.
1 set = 10 pieces

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Clinometer
a small handy instrument which is
somewhat like a telescope, and which
has a crosshair in the middle of the
viewfinder.
It is used in finding the angle of an
inclined line by getting one’s height
of line of sight on the level rod.
By placing the level rod on the top of
the inclined plane, knowing the
angle, and by measuring its
hypotenuse, one can get the distance
of the level length using
trigonometric methods.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Plumb Bob
is a sharp heavy object which
hangs from a string and is
used to point out the exact
positions of the start and end
points.
The plumb bob is extremely
useful when accurate
measurements are to be taken.
It indicates the center of the
instrument on the ground.
It is following the vertical or
plumb line.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Range Pole
It is a surveying instrument
used for marking the position
of stations, and for sightings of
those stations, as well as for
ranging straight lines.
Initially these were made of
light, thin and straight bamboo,
or of well seasoned wood such
as teak, pine or deodar.
But modern poles are now
made of galvanized iron for
sturdiness and latest are
aluminum for its lightness.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Stadia Rod or Leveling Rod

It is a graduated pole with
a movable marker, held
upright and used with a
surveying instrument to
measure differences in
elevation.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Bruton Compass with Tripod

It is an instrument used for
navigation and orientation
that shows direction relative
to the geographic cardinal
directions (or points).
Usually, a diagram called a
compass rose shows the
directions north, south,
east, and west on the
compass face as abbreviated
initials.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Engineer’s Level or Automatic Level

An automatic level, self-levelling level, or builder's auto
level is a professional leveling tool used by Contractors,
Builders, Land Surveying Professionals, or the Engineer
who demands accurate leveling every time.
It includes an internal compensator mechanism (a
swinging prism) that, when set close to level,
automatically removes any remaining variation.
It is a device used for establishing a horizontal plane. It
is fixed horizontally in a wooden or metal block with a
smooth lower surface.
This reduces the need to set the instrument base truly
level, and it set up fast, are easy to use, and save time
and money on every job.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Engineer’s Transit
is often called the universal survey instrument
because of its uses.
It is an instrument designed for measuring
horizontal angles and directions, vertical angles, and
differences in elevations; for prolonging straight
lines; and for measuring distances by stadia.
Although transits of various manufacturers differ in
appearance, they are alike in their essential parts
and operations for measuring horizontal and vertical
angles.
The lower plate carries the graduated circle and the
upper plate carries the verniers for reading the
angles on this circle.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Total Station
It is an electronic/optical
instrument used for surveying
and building construction.
It is an electronic transit
integrated with electronic
distance measurement (EDM)
to measure both vertical and
horizontal angles and the slope
distance from the instrument
to a particular point, and an
on-board computer to collect
data and perform triangulation
calculations.

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 SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

Tripod with Triangle Guide

Set-up tripod with the
wooden triangular guide in a
paved and concrete flooring
to prevent each leg from
sliding causing the
instrument to fall and get
damage.
Compass for Total Station
indicates the north direction.

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 SURVEYING MEASUREMENTS

It is the process of determining the extent, size, or dimensions of a particular

quantity in comparison to a given standard.
It usually involves angles, elevations, times, lines, areas, and volumes.
It is always subject to the imperfections of the instrument used and the different
errors inherent in the process of obtaining the measurement.
Direct Measurements
It is a comparison of the measured quantity with a standard measuring unit or
units employed for measuring a quantity of that kind.
Indirect Measurements
It is made when it is not possible to apply a measuring instrument directly to a
quantity of measurement.

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 SURVEYING MEASUREMENTS

DATA GATHERING
Involved in the measurement of distance and angles:
To determine horizontal positions of arbitrary points on the earth’s surface
To determine the elevations of arbitrary points above or below a reference
surface, such as mean sea level
To determine the configuration of the ground
To determine the direction of lines
To determine the lengths of lines
To determine the positions of boundary lines
To determine the areas of tracts bounded by given lines
LAYOUT
Required to lay off distances, angles and grade lines to locate construction lines
for buildings, bridges, highways, and other engineering works, and to establish
the positions boundary lines on the ground
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 UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS

Linear, Area, and Volume Measurements

Metric System and International System of Units
English System and Imperial and US customary Units
Angular Measurements
Sexagesimal Units
Centesimal Units

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 FIELD NOTEBOOK

Types of Notes
Sketches
Tabulations
Explanatory Notes
Computations
Combination of Notes
Information
Title of Work/Project
Time of the Day and Date
Weather Conditions
Names pf Group Members and their Designation
List of Equipment

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 LEARNING RESOURCES
TEXTBOOK
Surveying: Theory and Practice by James M. Anderson and Edward M. Mikhail, (7th
Edition), 2002
REFERENCES
Kavanagh, Barry F., Surveying: Principles and Applications (8th Edition), 2008
Kavanagh, Barry F., Surveying with Construction Applications (7th Edition), 2009
Ghilani, C.D., and Wolf, P.R., Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics (13th
Edition), 2011
Schofield W. and M. Breach, Engineering Surveying, (6th Edition), 2007
La Putt, J.P., Elementary Surveying (3rd Edition) 2013 Reprint
La Putt, J.P., Higher Surveying (2nd Edition) 2013 Reprint.

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