Plane Table

Surveying
Introduction
The plane table is an instrument used for
surveying by a graphical method in which the
field work and plotting are done
simultaneously. It is most suitable for small
scale maps. Plane table surveying is the fast
method of surveying. In case of PT survey
geometrical conditions of site are manuscript
in the map sheet using plane table and
alidade after topographical details are
arranged on the map.
Continued.......
The principle of plane table is parrallelism. It means
that the rays drawn from stations to object on the
paper are parallel to the lines from the stations to
the object on the ground. The relative positions of
the object on the ground are represented by their
potted position on the paper and lie on the
respective rays. Here, the field work and plotting are
done simultaneously and survey does not involve the
use of field book.
Continued......
Plane table is mainly suitable for filling
interior detail. Traversing is done by
theodolites. Sometimes traversing by PT may
also be done. But this survey is
recommended for the work where great
accuracy is not required. As the fitting and
fixing arrangement of this instrument is not
perfect, most accurate work cannot be
expected.
Types of plane table
There are three types of plane table :
1)Traverse Table (Simple PT)
2) Jhonsons PT
3) Coast Survey PT(most accurate)
1. Traverse table (simple PT)
Traverse table can be clamped on the tripod
using a clamping screw. This board can be
levelled using a plane table level by keeping
PT level in two perpendicular direction on
the board and by moving only one tripod
leg in two perpendicular direction.
Test and adjustments of PT
board:-
a) Brass plate of the board should be lightly
fitted with the board.
This can be checked by moving the board
after clamping the board on the tripod using
clamping screw. If the board moves, brass
plate is loosened otherwise tightened. If it is
loosed, use on screw driver to make it tight.
Continued......
b) The surface of the PT board should be
perfectly smooth.
This can be tested by keeping sight rule
in different direction on the board. If there is a
gap in between board and bottom of the sight ,
board is not perfectly smooth. It can be made
smooth by robbing the surface with a piece of
sand paper.
2) Jhonsons Table.

Jhonsons table carries a ball and socket

device with two thumb screws. These
screws are used to move the board
vertically and horizontally. Due to this,
device the board can be levelled easily.
3. Coast survey table.
This types of board is used for accurate
plane tabelling work. This table carries three
foot screw are used to level the board. It also
carries a tangent screw or slow motion
screw used for the slow horizontal
movement of the table. Due to the three
foot screws plane table board can be easily
made horizontal.
Accessories of plane table survey
1) The plane table :
The plane table is a drawing board of
750mm*600mm size made of well seasoned
wood like teak, pine etc. The top surface of
the plane table is well levelled. The bottom
surface consists of threaded circular plate for
fixing the table on the tripod stand by a wing
nut(butterfly screw).
Continued......
The plane table is meant for fixing a
drawing sheet over it. The position of the
objects are located on this sheet by drawing
rays and plotting to any suitable scale.
2) Alidade :
There are two types of alidade :
a) plane alidade : It consists of metal or
wooden ruler of length about 50 cm . One of
its edges is bevelled and is known as Fiducial
edge which are hanged with ruler. One is
known as object vane and carried a horse hair,
the other is called the sight vane and is
provided with a narrow slit.
b) Telescopic alidade :
It consists of telescope mounted for
inclined sight or sighting distant object clearly.
This alidade has no vanes at the ends , but is
provided with fiducial edge.
The function of the alidade is to sight
object. The ray should be drawn along the
fiducial edge.
3) The spirit level :
The spirit level is a small metal tube
containing a small bubble of spirit. The
bubble is visible on the top along a
graduated glass tube. The spirit is meant for
levelling the plane table.
4) The compass :
There are two types of compass :
a) Trough compass.
It is a rectangular box made of non-
magnetic needle pivoted at the center. This
compass consists of '0' mark at both ends to
locate North-South direction.
b) The circular box compass :
It carries a pivoted magnetic needle at the
centre. The circular box is fitted on the square
base plate.
Sometimes two bubble tubes are fixed at
right angles to each other on the base plate.
The compass is meant for making the north
direction of the map.
5) Plumbing fork with plumb bob ( U_fork) :
The U_ fork is metal strip bent in the
shape of a 'U' ( hair pin) having equal arm
length. The top arm is pointed the bottom
arm carries a hook for suspending a plumb
bob. It is meant for centering the table over
a station.
6) Drawing paper :
Drawing paper is types of paper for
plotting the details while carrying out PT
survey. The paper should be rigid, damp
proof and it should fit on the plane table.
7) Clinometer :
Clinometer is height measuring
instrument in plane table survey. It is
suitable for the preparation of map about
the scale of 1 : 10000. In clinometer
elevation is determined by reading the
tangent value DtanΘ. It consists of two vane
i.e. eye sight vane and object vane.
Checking and adjustment of plane
table.
Plane table should be in perfectly adjusted for
carrying out survey work in an accurate way. It
should satisfy the following conditions :
i) The surface of PT should be perfect plane.
ii) The fiducial edge of alidade should be in a straight
line.
iii)The surface of PT should be perpendicular to the
vertical axis.
iv) The sight vane of the alidade should
perpendicular to the base of alidade.
Continued......
v) The axis of the spirit level if mounted on the
alidade should be parallel to the base of the
alidade.
vi)The telescopic alidade if used should be in
perfect adjustment.
Adjustment:
If above mentioned conditions are not satisfied
then they need to be adjusted as follows:
i) The surface of PT should be perfect plane :
For this, place straight edge in different
condition. If there are no gaps between straight
edge base PT surface is perfect plane. If there are
gaps remove them.
ii) The surface of PT should be perpendicular to
vertical axis.
Place spirit level on plane table and center the
bubble by leg adjusted. Turn the PT through 180°. If
the surface of PT is perpendicular to vertical bubble
would remain central. If not it can be adjusted by
inserting a pacing or washer between the under side
the board and its support.
iii) The fiducial adge of alidade should be in a straight
line.
Draw fine line on the paper along the fiducial edge
of alidade. Reverse alidade end and place against end
for end of line. Draw a line again along the fiducial
edge is straight or not. Correct it by filling it. If two
lines coincide fiducial edge is straight. If not correct it
by filling it.
iv) The sight vane of the alidade should be
perpendicular to the base of alidade.
At first, level the plane table. Suspend plumb bob
5 to 10m away from PT. Direct sight vane on plumb
bob string sitting slit the direct vane hair and plumb
bob string should be in the vertical line. If not insert
some packing under the base of sight vane or fill the
base.
v) The axis of the spirit level if mounted on the alidade
should be parallel to the base of the alidade.
Place alidade on plane table and bring of one level
to the center of its run. Draw line against edge of rular.
Reverse the alidade end for ends. Place it against same
line. If bubble is central axis of level is parallel to the
base of alidade. If not bring bubble Half way back by
means of the capstan screw on the level table and
remaining half by levelling the plane table.
Preparations of PT sheet:
The PT sheet should be :
1) Smooth
2) Unbroken
3) Even thickness
4) Opaque
5) Easy to work
7) Consistent quality
8)Reasonable price
9) Dimensionally stable.
10) Strong and durable.
The drawing sheet should be of best quality to with sand
rubbing and to have minimum effect of changes in the
humidity of atmosphere. The changes in their humidity of
atmosphere produces expansion and contractions in different
direction and thus after the scale and distort the sheet. So, to
overcome this effect the drawing sheet should be moisture
proof and Hygroscopic. The PT sheet must be seasoned
previously before using it. Alternatively to a damp and dry
atmosphere. For work of high precision paper backed with
sheet aluminum are often used. These drawing sheet should
be well streched and held firmly on the board to prevent any
alidade. The sheet should be mounted on the board round
and margin lines drawn on the board.
Control net
Control net refers to the network of reference work
with known (horizontal, vertical) position which
covers a wide area and from which other survey
work can be carried out in an accurate way.
During establishment of control net accuracy
should considered, since the entire survey work
accuracy depends on these established control
points.
Control point should
i) meet certain accuracy standard.
ii) be clearly marked, referenced and recorded.
iii) be enough for safe during construction.
Auxiliary point:
Auxiliary point refers to those point that assist in
orientation of PT at other point near distance to it.
For eg, let A and B be the plotted position of PT. Let
C be the point to be plotted. For this we choose an
auxiliary point D near to C to assist the orientation at
C.