DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

P R E P ARE D B Y : E N G R . S H E N A K R I S T EL R . DE AL I NO
 INTRODUCTION
Distance measurement is regarded as the most fundamental of all surveying observations.

Early measurements were made in terms of the dimensions of the body.

➢Cubits - the distance between the tip of

your middle finger to the elbow

➢Fathom - distance between the tips of your middle

finger when your arms are outstretched (~6 feet)
DIFFERENT METHOD OF DISTANCE
MEASUREMENT
1. Pacing
2. Taping
3. Odometer Readings
4. Tacheometry (Stadia and Substense Bar)
5. Optical Rangefinders
6. Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM)
7. Satellite System
UNIT OF DISTANCE
English Units:
1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in)
1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft)
1 rod = 16.5 feet (ft) = 5.5 yards (yd)
1 mile (mi) = 5280 feet (ft) = 1760 yards (yd) = 320 rods
1 square mile (sq.mi.) = 640 acre
S.I. Units:
1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm)
1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m)
1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 square meter (sq.m.)
1 acre = 100 square meter (sq.m.)
1 meter = 1.094 yards (yd) = 3.281 feet (ft) = 100 centimeters (cm)
1 miles (mi.) = 1.609 kilometer (km)
PACING
Pacing is the simplest and easiest method for
measuring distance. Pacing is the process of
walking the distance and counting the number
of steps “paces” to cover the distance.
The distance is determined by multiplying
the number of steps taken between two points
by one’s pace factor.
1 pace = 1step
1 stride = 2 paces
Pace Factor = Length of known distance
Average number of paces
Relative Precision = CL – PL
CL
TAPING
Taping is the linear measurement of the horizontal
distance between two points using a surveyor’s tape.
Observation of horizontal distances by taping consists
of applying the known length of a graduated tape
directly to line a number of times.

TAPING EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

TAPING EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES
➢Metric tapes have standard lengths of 10, 20, 30, 50, 60 ,100 m. All can either be
wound on a reel (a) or done up in loops .
➢Invar tapes are made of special steel to reduce length variations caused by
differences in temperature.
➢Cloth (metallic) tapes are actually made of high-grade linen, wide with fine
copper wires running lengthwise to give additional strength and prevent
excessive elongation.
➢Chaining pins (taping pins) are used to mark tape lengths .Most taping pins
made of sharply pointed at one end, have a round loop at the other end, and
are painted with alternate red and white bands.
➢The hand level is a simple instrument used to keep tape ends at equal
elevations when observing over rough terrain
TAPING EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES
➢Tension handles facilitate the application of desired standard or known tension.
➢A pocket thermometer permits reading data for making temperature
corrections.
➢Range poles (lining rods ) made of wood, steel or aluminum. The main utility of
range poles is to mark the line being measured so that the tape’s alignment can
be maintained
➢Plump bobs are used in taping to permit the surveyor to hold the tape horizontal
when the ground is sloping. A graduation mark on the horizontal tape can be
transferred down to a point on the ground using the plumb bob string. Also, a
plumb bobs can be used to provide precise theodolite and total station
sightings.
Taping may be done on:
➢TAPING ON LEVEL GROUND ➢ TAPING ON THE SLOPE GROUND
In many instances, it is easiest to simply If the ground is not level, one or both
measure the horizontal distance by surveyors must use a plumb bob.
keeping both ends of the chain (steel Normally, the only occasion when both
tape) at the same elevation. This is not surveyors have to use plumb bobs is when
difficult if there is not over long distance the ground rises or obstacles exist
or so of elevation change between between two surveyors.
points.
Breaking Tapes
➢On steeper slopes where the length of the tape
cannot be held horizontally, shorter distances are
measured and accumulated to total of a full tape
length. This procedure is known as breaking tape.
SLOPE TAPING
➢Where the distance along the slope is measured, the slope rate is determined,
and the horizontal distance calculated.
SOURCE OF ERROR IN TAPING
a) Instrumental errors : A tape may differ in actual length from its
nominal graduates length because of a defect in manufacture or
repair, or as a result of kinks.
b) Natural errors: The horizontal distance between end graduations
of tape varies because of the effects of temperature, wind, and
weight of tape itself.
c) Personal errors: Tape person setting pins, reading the tape, or
manipulating the equipment.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CORRECTIONS:
1. CORRECTION DUE TO INCORRECT TAPE LENGTH
◦
TAPE MEASURE LAY-OUT
CL = ML – ML(e)
Too Long + -
TL
Too Short - +

2. CORRECTION DUE TO SLOPE (ALWAYS NEGATIVE)

For any slope classification, the horizontal distance (d) is determined by
subtracting the slope correction Ch from the measured slope distance (s).
d = s − Ch slope % =h/d(100%)
CORRECTION DUE TO SLOPE (ALWAYS NEGATIVE)
3.CORRECTION DUE TO TEMPERATURE VARIATION
Steel tapes lengthen with rising temperature and shorten with falling ones.
The coefficient of linear expansion for steel tapes is 0.0000065 per degree
Fahrenheit and 0.0000116 per degree Celsius.
4.CORRECTION DUE TO PULL/TENSION
If the pull applied at the end of the tape during measurement in the field is different from the
standard tension at which the tape was calibrated, a correction of pull is required .
5.CORRECTION DUE TO SAG
A tape is supported at two ends, it takes the shape of a catenary. The correction
for sag should be applied as the horizontal chord. Length is always shorter than
the curved length.

When the ends of the tape are at the same level, the sag correction is given by :
CORRECTION DUE TO SAG
where:
Cs = total correction due to sag
P = pull applied during measurement
L = unsupported length
w = weight per meter length
θ = angle of slope from the horizontal
6. CORRECTION FOR HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT
There are three possibilities under this:
A. Bad Ranging or Misalignment Error
Stretching the tape out of line results in greater distance value. The correction is
therefore negative. As shown in figure below, AB is the measured length and AC
is the correct alignment. Hence, the correction is given by:

Ch = d2/2L
6. CORRECTION FOR HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT
There are three possibilities under this:
B. Deformation of the Tape in Horizontal Plane
When the tape is not pulled straight, the length L1 of the tape stands out of the
line by an amount ‘d’. Then the correction is given by,

Ch = (d^2/2L1) + (d^2/2L2)
6. CORRECTION FOR HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT
There are three possibilities under this:
B. Broken Base
Due to some obstructions, it won’t be possible to set out the base in a single
continuous line. Such a base is called a broken base.
7.REDUCTION TO SEA LEVEL
The horizontal distance measured must be reduced to the distance at sea level.
This distance is called as geodetic distance.

Where:
L= Measured Horizontal Distance
D = Geodetic MSL
h = mean the equivalent of the baseline above
the mean sea level
R=Radius of the earth
Note: An angle is subtended at the center
of the earth.
Odometer Reading
➢An odometer converts the number of
revolutions of a wheel of known circumference
to a distance.
➢The device which attached with the wheel of
any vehicle and records the number of
revolutions of the wheel
Tacheometry (Stadia and Subtense Bar)
➢Sometimes called Tachymetry which
means swift measurements.
➢This is a surveying method used to quickly
determine the horizontal distance to, and
elevation of, a point.
➢This method requires the use of a telescope with
two horizontal hairs called stadia hairs and
a graduated rod called stadia rod.
➢Stadia was introduced in 1771 by James Watt.
 Tacheometry (Stadia)
This method employs the use of the following instruments:
▪ Stadia rod / Leveling rod
▪ Telescope / Theodolite

Its precision depends upon the following factors:

▪ Refinement of the instrument
▪ Skill of the observer
▪ Length of the measurement
▪ Effect of refraction
Tacheometry (Stadia)

where : D = distance from telescope to the rod

D = Ks + C K= stadia interval factor if not given = 100
s = stadia intercept
C = stadia constant if not given automatic zero
For Inclined

D = Kscosθ+ C where: D = inclined distance

K = stadia interval factor
s = stadia interval
θ = angle from the horizontal
C = stadia constant
Tacheometry (Stadia) (Additional Information)
Additional Notes:
K = 100 if not given
D = Ks + C S = upper hair reading – lower hair
reading
C = 0.3m for externally focusing
D = Kscosθ+ C
instrument & 0m for internally focusing
instrument
Assume internal focusing if not given.
Subtense Bar
This indirect distance measuring
procedure involves using a theodolite to
read the
horizontal angle subtended by two
targets precisely spaced at a fixed
distance.
▪ The length between the two targets is
commonly 2 meters.
▪ By using trigonometry, the following
formula can be derived:
Subtense Bar
The bar is set up on a tripod at one The horizontal angle between the
end of a line, centered on and two targets is measured with the
perpendicular to it. At the other transit/theodolite,
end is a transit or theodolite
D=
Optical Rangefinders
An optical rangefinder is
operated by looking through the
lens, adjusting the focus until a
distant object viewed is focused,
whereupon the distance to that
object is obtained.
It is important to point the
rangefinders at the pin and
focus with care. The accuracy
depends on how precisely you
focus the instruments.
Electronic Distance Measurement
Electronic distance measurement
(EDM) is a method of determining the
length between two points using
electromagnetic waves. EDM is
commonly carried out with digital
instruments called theodolites.
EDM instruments are highly reliable
and convenient pieces of surveying
equipment and can be used to
measure distances of up to 100
kilometers.
Satellite System
A satellite system is a set of
gravitationally bound objects
in orbit around a planetary
mass object .
Sample Problem
1. An individual paces a 200.0 ft distance three times and counts 62, 60, and 64
paces. What is the person’s pace factor (PF)?

Solution: To determine a pace factor, divide the measured distance by the

average number of paces.
The average number of steps (x¯) is: x¯ = 62 + 60 + 64 /3 = 62 and the pace factor
is:
PF = 200 ft / 62 paces = 3.225 ... or 3.2 ft /pace
CE Board November 1998
2. A stadia intercept of 3.60m was measured on a stadia rod by a transit with
stadia constant and stadia interval factor of 0.3m and 100, respectively. If
the line of sight was inclined at an angle of 3°30’ with the horizonal,
determine the horizontal distance from the transit to the rod.
Solution:
▪ D = Kscosθ + C
▪ D = 100 x3.6 cos 3°30′ + 0.3
▪ D = 359.6285m
▪ HD = Dcosθ
▪ HD = 359.6285 cos 3°30′
▪ HD = 358.9577m
▪ CE Board November 1994
3. Using a 50m tape that is 0.02m too long, the measured distance
from A to B is 160.42m.
What is the correct distance from A and B?
Solution:
4. To measure a line AB, a theodolite was set up at A and a
subtense bar of length 2 m was set up at B. The horizontal angle
measured at A for the subtense bar targets was 4°02′26.4″.
Solution :

D= = 2/2 = 28.348 m
tan (4°02′26.4”/2)
5. A 30m tape which is of standard length at a temperature of 20°C is used to measure a line
with a measured distance of 412m. During measurement, the temperature was 52°C. If
the coefficient of thermal expansion of the tape is 0.0000116/°C, determine the correct
length of the line.
6. A horizontal distance of 325.75m. Is to be established along a line
that slopes at a vertical angle 13°06’. What slope distance should
be layout
Solution:
D=Scos θ
S= 325.75/ cos 13°06’
= 334.45m. (Ans)
7. A rectangular lot was measured using a 50m steel tape which found to be
0.025m. too short. If the recorded length and width of the lot are 180.455 m. and
127.062m, respectively determine the following:
A. Actual dimensions of the lot
B. Error in area introduced due to the erroneous length of tape.
Solution:
Cl= Correction(Length/NL) = 0.025(180.455/50) = 0.090m.
Cw = Correction(Width/NL) = 0.025(127.062/50) = 0.064m
L’ = L+ Cl = 180.455 – 0.090 = 180.365m.
W’ = W+ Cw = 127.062 – 0.064 = 126.998m.
B. Determine Error in Area
Area = L x W = 180.455 x 127.062 = 22,928.973 sq.m
Area ‘ = L’ x W’ = 180.365 x 126.998 = 22, 905.994 sq.m
Error = Area – Area’
= 22,928.973 – 22, 905.994
= 22.979 sq.m (Ans)