Lecture Notes

Lecture 1
of
Surveying and Geomatics (CEE213)
Module I: Introduction to surveying
Topic: Principles, Linear, angular and graphical methods
By
Dr. Madhuri Kumari
Professor

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

AMITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH, NOIDA
 INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING

Definition:

Surveying is defined as the act of making measurement of the relative (/absolute)

position of natural and manmade features on Earth’’s surface.

Surveying is used to determine the boundaries, size, position, quantity of any land,
building, townships, road, mines etc. by observation and measurement. This covers the
work of the land surveyor , the building surveyor, valuation surveyor, the quantity
surveyor, the mining surveyor and other related works.

The process of surveying is covered in three stages: (a) Observations & Preliminary study
(b) Measurement (c) Calculation & Presentation of data

Observation & Preliminary Study: This is the first stage of surveying to obtain an
overall picture for listing the requirement before any type of survey work is undertaken.

Measurement: This is the second stage of any survey, which constitutes the
measurement to determine the relative position and sizes of natural and artificial
features on the land.

Calculation & Presentation of Data: The data collected in any survey must be presented
in a form which allows the information to be clearly interpreted and understood by the
users. This presentation may take the form of written report, bills of quantities,
datasheets, drawings and in land surveying maps and plan showing the features on the
land.

Importance of Surveying for Civil Engineers

The planning and design of all Civil Engineering projects such as construction of
highways, bridges, tunnels, dams etc are based upon surveying measurements.

Moreover, during execution, project of any magnitude is constructed along the lines and
points established by surveying.

Thus, surveying is a basic requirement for all Civil Engineering projects.

Other principal works in which surveying is primarily utilised are

• to fix the national and state boundaries;

• to chart coastlines, navigable streams and lakes;

• to establish control points;

• to execute hydrographic and oceanographic charting and mapping; and

• to prepare topographic map of land surface of the earth.

Objectives of Surveying

• To collect field data;

• To prepare plan or map of the area surveyed;

• To analyse and to calculate the field parameters for setting out operation of actual
engineering works.

• To set out field parameters at the site for further engineering works.

Types of Surveying

On the basis of whether the curvature of the earth is taken into account or not, surveying
can be divided into two main categories:

Plane surveying: The type of surveying where the mean surface of the earth is
considered as a plane. All angles are considered to be plane angles. For small areas less
than 200 km2 plane surveying can safely be used. For most engineering projects such as
canal, railway, highway, building, pipeline, etc constructions, this type of surveying is
used.

Geodetic surveying: It is that branch of surveying, which takes into account the true
shape of the earth (spheroid). This type of surveying is being carried out for highly precise
work and is adopted for surveying of large area.
Classifications of Surveying

Based on the purpose (for which surveying is being conducted), Surveying has been
classified into:

• Control surveying : To establish horizontal and vertical positions of control points.

• Land surveying : To determine the boundaries and areas of parcels of land, also known
as property survey, boundary survey or cadastral survey.

• Topographic survey : To prepare a plan/ map of a region which includes natural as well
as and man-made features including elevation.

• Engineering survey : To collect requisite data for planning, design and execution of
engineering projects. Three broad steps are

1) Reconnaissance survey : To explore site conditions and availability of infrastructures.

2) Preliminary survey : To collect adequate data to prepare plan / map of area to be used
for planning and design.

3) Location survey : To set out work on the ground for actual construction / execution of
the project.

• Route survey : To plan, design, and laying out of route such as highways, railways,
canals, pipelines, and other linear projects.

• Construction surveys : Surveys which are required for establishment of points, lines,
grades, and for staking out engineering works (after the plans have been prepared and
the structural design has been done).

• Astronomic surveys : To determine the latitude, longitude (of the observation station)
and azimuth (of a line through observation station) from astronomical observation.

• Mine surveys : To carry out surveying specific for opencast and underground mining
purposes.

Principles of Surveying

The fundamental principles upon which the surveying is being carried out are

- Working from whole to part.

- After deciding the position of any point, its reference must be kept from at least
two permanent objects or stations whose position have already been well defined.

Working from whole to part

It is very essential to establish first a system of control points and to fix them with higher
precision. Minor control points can be established by less precise methods and the details
can be located using these minor control points by running minor traverses.

The purpose of working from whole to part is

- to localise the errors and

- to control the accumulation of errors.

Location of a point by measurement from two points of reference

According to this principle, the relative position of a point to be surveyed should be
located by measurement from at least two points of reference, the positions of which have
already been fixed.

If P and Q are the two reference points on the ground, any other point, such as R, can be
located by any of the direct methods shown in the above figures. But, although a single
method is sufficient to locate the relative position of ‘R’ with respect to reference points
P and Q, it is necessary to adopt at least any two methods to fix the position of point ‘R’.

Method 1 (Fig a):

Distance between ‘PR’ and ‘QR’ is measured then point ‘R’ can be located by swinging arcs
from ‘P’ and ‘Q’ of the respective distance. This principle is used in Chain Surveying.

Method 2 (Fig b):

A perpendicular ‘SR’ can be dropped on the reference line ‘PQ’. Length of ‘PS’ and ‘SR’ is
measured. Thus point ‘R’ is plotted using a set square. This principle is used for defining
details.

Method 3 (Fig c):

Distance between ‘PR’ and angle between ‘QPR’ or distance between ‘QR’ and angle
between ‘PQR’ is measured then point ‘R’ can be located by using protractor or applying
rules of trigonometry. This principle is used in traversing.

Method 4 (Fig d):

The angle ‘PQR’ and angle ‘QPR’ is measured using angle measuring instrument such as
clinometer and point ‘R’ is located using protractor or using triangle formulas. This
principle is used in triangulation.

Method 5 (Fig d):

The angle ‘RPQ’ and distance ‘PR’ is measured. Point ‘R’ can be located using swinging an
angle arc from ‘Q’ and distance arc from ‘P’.