Taping on level and on uneven ground

Table of contents
Introduction

-------------------------------------- 2

Objectives and instruments ------------------------------ 3

Procedure and Computation ----------------------------- 4
Questions and problems -------------------------------- 7
Preliminary data sheet ---------------------------------- 8
Final data sheet ---------------------------------------- 9
Research and discussions ------------------------------- 10
Conclusion --------------------------------------------- 11

Introduction
The common method in measuring the distance is by direct
measurement with a tape. The distance measured with a steel
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Taping on level and on uneven ground

tape is much more precise than the distance obtained by pacing.
The precision obtained depends upon the degree of refinement
with which the measurements are taken. Ordinarily, taping over
flat, smooth ground with a steel tape or chain, divided in
hundredths of a foot, provides a
precision of one in three thousand to one
in five thousand.
When the ground is fairly smooth and
the ground cover vegetation is light and
low, the effort required to measure the
distance between two points or to set a
point ahead of some required distance is
very minimal. If the ground is not too
rough and hilly and in general
considered as gently rolling, the taping
procedure required would be slightly
more difficult than that required for
taping on flat ground.

In this field work report, the reader will

learn techniques and principles as well
as some considerations to be made
when taping a leveled ground and
uneven ground. Some exercises and problems with solutions are
included in this report for the reader to better understand the
difference of taping a leveled ground and uneven ground.

Objectives:
1. To develop the skills of taping the distance on a level
ground where the tape is fully supported by the ground.
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Taping on level and on uneven ground

2. To acquire the skills of taping the distance on an uneven
ground where the tape is only supported at the ends.

Instruments:
2 range poles

Chalk

straight round stalks, 3 to 4 cm thick

And about 2 m long. They are made
of wood or metal. They are used to
mark areas and to set out straight lines
on the field. They are also used to mark
points which must be seen from a
distance, in which case a flag may be
a soft, white, porous
sedimentary
attached to improve the visibility.
carbonate rock, a
form of
limestone
composed of the
mineral calcite.
2 plumb bobs
meter tape

used to vertically
linen, or synthetic
project a point and may be
available in lengths
used at one or both ends of
Centimetres,
the tape to keep the
metres are usually

50

Made of steel, coated

material. They are
of 20, 30 and 50 m.
decimetres and
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Taping on level and on uneven ground

tape horizontal.
tape.

indicated on the

Procedures:
A. Taping on a Plain Level Ground
1. The professor assigns the accessible and unobstructed
course to be measured by the student on a level
ground by about 50 paces.
2. The Chief of Party marks the end points by a chalk if it
is on pavement or by a 3 common wire nail (c.w. nail)
if it is on soft ground and designates it as end points A
and B.
3. A range pole man holds the pole vertically and
steadily during the entire taping procedure at B to
keep the complete taping process aligned and
straightened.
4. A 10m tape is stretched out on the ground on the
straight path
along A to B where the 0-end is held ahead. (Note: 0end is nearer B that A.). The rear tape man is
responsible for giving the signal to the front tape man
if his path is straight while the front tape man is
responsible to pull the tape taut once the tape is
aligned already.
5. The front tape man gets a pin and sticks it vertically in
the ground exactly opposite the 0-meter mark of tape.
6. Rear tape man holds 1 pin and the rest of the pins (10
pins) are held by front tape man.
7. Both the front and the rear tape man lift
simultaneously the tape and move forward along the
line AB to measure the next tape length. By now the
rear tape man holds 1 marking pin which signifies one
tape length.
8. The procedure 4-6 is repeated to complete the next
tape length measurement. Make sure that the rear
tape man pulls the pin before lifting the tape to move
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Taping on level and on uneven ground

on to the next tape length. The rear tape man holds 2
marking pins to connote 2 tape lengths have been
measured.
9. Repeat the same process until all the pins being held
by the front tape man have been used up which
signifies one tally (1 tally = 10 tape lengths). After a
tally has been accomplished, the rear tape man
returns all the 10 pins to the front tape man to
proceed in measuring the length of the course.
NOTE: One round is when all the ten pins are now being
held by the rear tape man.
10.
Repeat the same procedure if more than one tally
is needed. Upon reaching point B the partial length
must be measured accurately up to centimeters by
the rear tape man while the front tape man is holding
the 0-mark at B and both of them are holding the tape
taut.
11.
The number of small pebbles in the rear tape
mans pocket now indicates the number of tallies
made and the number of pins in his possession
indicates the number of additional tape lengths. This
is recorded in the field computation sheet provided.
12.
The course is measured back and forth to
complete the number of trials required by the
professor.
TAPING ON UNLEVEL GROUND

Taping on level and on uneven ground

1. The same course is
measured but this time 10m
tape length will be
unsupported by the ground
and must be held an eyelevel distance above the
ground.
2. Both the rear and the front
tape man hold a plumb line
over the center of the hub.
3. The front tape man must
hold his plumb line an arm
length away from his body
for the rear tape man to
clearly see if it is aligned in
the range pole at B.
4. Once the rear tape man approves the alignment, the
rear tape man holding the 0-mark pulls the tape taut
and drops this plumb bob on the ground. This will mark
the ground with a dent to guide the front tape man
where he must place his marking pin.
5. This is to be done
continuously until point B is
reached. Note that the
partial length must also be
measured as in procedure A.
6. The course is measured back
and forth to complete the
number of trials required by
the professor.

COMPUTATIONS:

Taping on level and on uneven ground

A. Computation of an Unknown Distance
The number of tallies is equivalent to the number of pebbles
being held by the rear tape man, and the number of pins is
the number of tape lengths. Multiply the number of tallies by
ten (10) and add it to the number of pins. The sum is then
multiplied by the length of one tape length and then added
to the last partial tape length of the course AB.

No. tallies = No. of pebbles

No. tape lengths = (No. of tallies) * 10 + No. of pins

Length of the Course AB = (No. of tape lengths) x (Length of the tape length) + Partial
Length of Tape

Questions and problems:

1. What are the different sources of taping errors?
The common sources of taping errors are length other than
standard, error due to temperature, error due to tension or
pull, error due to sag, poor alignment, tape not horizontal,
improper plumbing, faulty marking and incorrect reading or
interpolation.
2. Discuss the different ways to lessen them or fully eliminate
taping errors.
Errors due to correction on tape length that may be caused
by temperature, pulling or tension or sag have formulas to
be calculated for correction. You should determine first the
factors or problems that you will encounter before start
measuring. During measurement, one common problem is
alignment. Proper usage of tools such as poles and plumb
bob is required and practice also is needed.
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Taping on level and on uneven ground

3. What is the length of the course XY if the rear tape man

holds exactly holds 9 pebbles and 3 pins after measuring the
course XY assume that one tape length is equivalent to 30m.
Length of the Course AB = (No. of tape lengths) x (Length of the tape
length) + Partial Length of Tape
Length of the Course XY = [(9 pebbles)*10 + 3 pins] x (30m) + 0
Length of the Course XY = 93 tallies x 30m
Length of the Course XY = 2790 m

Taping on level and on uneven ground

Taping on level and on uneven ground

Research and discussions

The term breaking tape is used to describe procedure for
measuring directly horizontal; distance on sloping ground, or
through obstacles that do not permit the use of a full tape length.
Generally, you will start breaking tape when the slope of the
existing ground exceeds 5 percent. In this field work, we used
breaking tape in measuring unleveled distance to get its
horizontal distance by stretching the tape measure by 2.5m in an
eye leveled position of the rear tape man keeping it horizontal by
adjusting the height of the tape by the front tape man. You
should always keep the tape horizontal and leveled or you will get
errors. This may be a large source of error and in rough or
deceptive terrain, a hand level may eliminate the error.
Error is defined as the difference between the true value and the
measured
value of a quantity. Errors result from instrument imperfections,
personal
limitations, and natural conditions affecting the measurement. An
error is
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Taping on level and on uneven ground

systematic or random.
1. Poor alignment of the tape. Both chainmen are required to
be constantly aware of the condition of the tape as they
move along the line. The instrument operator also helps
ensure that the tape is on line over the entire length from
point to point.
2. The tape is not the standard length. This results in
systematic error which may be eliminated by standardizing
the tape or comparing the true length of the tape with some
permanent standard of length.
3. Tape not horizontal. This error produces an effect similar to
that due to poor alignment.
4. Variations in temperature. Materials expand as the
temperature rises and contract when the temperature falls.
5. Variations in tension. A steel tape is elastic and stretches
when tension is applied. The amount of pull is most
important and is required to be known to make the tape the
right length.
6. Tape Sag. Error due to sag in the tape is significant if the
tape is relatively heavy and unsupported over the length of
the tape. This may be a very important consideration when
both rear and head chainmen are plumbing over rough
ground.

Conclusion:
All measurements in plane surveying are taken to be horizontal.
This can be achieved using either the tape is held horizontally
while the measurements are taken, or the tape is held along the
ground. Based on our field work, measuring the distance on a
leveled ground by taping along the ground is more convenient
than taping while the tape is held above the ground horizontally
due to unleveled ground. However, taping along the ground can
only be used if the ground is leveled though some errors might
occur but more accurate than holding the tape level.

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Taping on level and on uneven ground

Errors always happened in every field work but as long as you
know it, you can take it in considerations. In measuring distance,
always keep it in a straight path. Keeping the line of measurement
straight requires both rear tape man and pole mans attention
especially if the when the tape is being held in a certain level due
to unleveled ground. Plumb bob is used to keep the path straight
to the direction of the pole on the end of the path. Errors will
occur if the tape is not leveled or not pulled properly or is sag.
Properly mark where the tip of the plumb bob points to assure
accuracy and less errors.
On the two methods of measuring linear distance, taping method
is more accurate than pacing but pacing is more convenient if you
want a quick measurement. Using either of them, learning the
principles and correct procedures on how to perform each
methods of measurement is for us, engineering students, to be
practiced and bear in mind to have accuracy in any measurement
to be made, either leveled or uneven ground.

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