KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND BUILDING
ENGINEERING

LINEAR SURVEY
REPORT
SUBJECT CODE

SUBJECT ENGINEERING SURVEYING FIELDWORK

DATE 16 NOVEMBER, 2021

GROUP NUMBER
SECTION

LUKYAMUZI COLLINE. P. 20/U/ODC/8241/PE

LECTURER

MARKS

REMARKS

ENDORSEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENT

NO. CONTENT PAGE NUMBER

i) INTRODUCTION

ii) METHODOLOGY

iii) DEVICES/EQUIPMENT

DISCUSSION AND
iv)
ANALYSIS

v) CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
The objective of the survey we carried out is the production of a scaled drawing of the piece of land
between the Civil and Environment Engineering block and Peace park located in Kyambogo
University and also measure the lines constructed and represent on an A2 paper. The method we
used was linear surveying which is mainly used on small sites, in which we mainly measure lines
along the control stations and major features at the site.

METHODOLOGY

We started by doing a reconnaissance survey of the area where stations, A B C D E and F were
positioned from these we made our survey lines by ranging out while using ranging rods in-between
the stations to form straight lines which were the survey lines. (chaining)

We made use of the principles of geometry, triangles to be specific to calculate the angles and
distances of points and structures from the survey lines. In this case we were using offsets mainly for
trees, trenches and distances from the road. and trilateration when we would make ties from a point
or points on buildings to the survey lines. This helped us form out building and other object positions
on the survey lines.

We followed the work from whole to part system that is why we started with marking out the survey
lines between the stations then going to the location of points and objects.

We did all this while making a sketch drawing of the lines on paper to later be used to make proper
drawings to scale.

EQUIPMENT

Ranging rods were used when setting the control stations and the same equipment was used when
ranging out.

For taking measurements we used a 100m measuring tape to take measurements along the control
stations and also the positions along the survey lines and of objects’ distances from survey lines to
objects and also make tie lines as well.

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

After the survey we carried out we were able to sit down as a group, discuss and analyse a few
things we noticed.

We noticed that the methods used during this survey that we were once taught in theory and
understood them a little deeper, the likes of offsetting, use of triangles to locate find out and bring
out features and points at the area and eventually be able to put them on paper. Despite all this skill
we learnt with the exercise, we faced a few challenges while at it. This is also something we had
learnt and discussed during the theory classes some of these issues were unavoidable others were
due to our lack of experience.

Some challenges were like when it started to rain and this clearly affected the way in which we were
doing our work leading to a few errors, another was the uneven surface which would also lead to
errors in the values we got, also the large number in the groups we were in caused a lot of challenge
in coordination, clumsiness and carelessness. Also, some of the equipment like the ranging rods
were a bit aged so they weren’t that easy to work with. Despite these challenges we tried to
overcome some of them using a few methods for example the uneven surface we practiced chaining
to try and overcome it, double taking of values to be surer and eliminate some of the errors through
clumsiness and carelessness. At the end of the exercise we believe we managed to learn a lot about
linear surveying and chainage and managed to record and despite having a few errors we managed
to locate points and features on the piece of land.

CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION

We can conclude that the field work that we conducted as a group was successful because we
managed to mark out all the important features like the trees, buildings, roads, manholes, just to
mention but a few and we managed to improve practical skills because we got hands-on with the
equipment and exercise in general. Yes, we faced a few problems while conducting the survey as we
mentioned in the discussion and analysis bit, some we managed to control but others were
unavoidable. So as a result, some of our values may not be accurate enough but we believe we were
precise with the values.

The few recommendations we can pass by are; the exercise deserved not so many people to be
carrying out at once, at least groups of 5-10 would have been a fair number as some students didn’t
get the full experience. Also, some of the equipment like the ranging rods had aged a bit and
deserved to be replaced in order for future practical’s to be carried out better.

After conducting a fieldwork, we have learnt techniques of measuring survey lines and other
features on ground. We also noted that the trilateration method was easy to use for accuracy and
the offsets required a more accurate method to be measured.