MODULE 01: UNIT 2: INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING

This module will explain the basic concepts and principles of surveying, sources
of survey information, kinds of surveys and proper use and care of Instruments.

ENGAGE
Pre-assessment: Site atleast three instances in real life scenario wherein mistakes,
accuracy, and precision applies especially in measurement. Explain the details wherein
these 3 principles acquired.

EXPLORE

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 EXPLAIN

THEORY of PROBABILITY. Probability is defined as the number of times something

will probably occur over the range of possible occurences. The theory of probability is
useful in indicating the precision of results only in so far as they are affected by
accidental errors. It does not, however, in any way determine the magnitude of
systematic errors which may also be present.

A. MOST PROBABLE VALUE (mpv)

The most probable value (mvp) of a group of repeated measurements made under
similar conditions is the arithmetic mean or the average. It refers to a quantity which,
based on available data, has more chances of being correct than has any other.

mpv= ΣX/n= (X1+X2+X3+.....+Xn)/ n

Illustrative Problems.
1. A surveying instructor sent out six groups of students to measure a distance
between two points marked on the ground. The students came up with the
following six different values: 250.25, 250.15, 249.90, 251.04, 250.50, and 251.22
meters. Assuming these values are equally reliable and that variations result from
accidental errors, determine the most probable value of the distance measured.

Solutions:

mpv= ΣX/n= (X1+X2+X3+.....+Xn)/ n

mpv= (250.25+ 250.15+ 249.90+ 251.04+ 250.50+ 251.22)/6

mpv= 250.51m (the most probable value of of the distance measured)

2. The angles about a point Q have the following observed values. 130°15’20”,
142°37’30”, and 87°07’40”. Determine the most probable value of each angle.

Solutions:

a) Determining the correction to be applied.

Sum= θ1+θ2+ θ3= 130°15’20”+ 142°37’30”+ 87°07’40”
= 360°00’30’’ (sum of the angles observed about point Q)
Disc= 360- 360°00’30’’
= -30” (discrepancy in the observation)

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 b) Determining the most probable values.
correction= Discrepancy/ n= -30”/3= -10”
corrected θ1= 130°15’20” + (-10”)= 130°15’10’’
corrected θ2= 142°37’30” + (-10”)= 142°37’20’’
corrected θ3= 87°07’40” + (-10”)= 87°07’30”

c) Solution Check.
130°15’10’’+142°37’20’’+ 87°07’30”= 360°
B. RESIDUAL (v)

Sometimes referred to as the deviation, is defined as the difference between any

measured value of a quantity and its most probable value or

v= X- 𝑿

v is the residual in any measurement, X is a measurement made of a particular

quantity, and 𝑿 is the most probable value of the quantity measured.

C. PROBABLE ERROR (PE)

The probable error is a quantity which, when added to and subtracted from the
most probable value, defines a range within which there is a 50 percent chance
that the true value of the measured quantity lies inside (or outside) the limits thus sets.

∑𝒗𝟐
PES = ±0.6745 𝒏−𝟏

∑𝒗𝟐
PEm = ±0.6745 𝒏(𝒏−𝟏)

PEs = probable error of any single measurement of series

PEm= probable error of the mean

n = number of observations

D. RELATIVE (ERROR) PRECISION (RP)

Relative error, sometimes called relative precision, is expressed by a fraction having

the magnitude of the error in the numerator and the magnitude of the measured
quantity in the denominator. The relative precision (RP) would be expressed as
0.10/235.50 or 1/2355, also written as 1:2355.

E. WEIGHTED OBSERVATIONS

It is usually based upon the judgment of the surveyor, the number of measurements
taken for a particular quantity, and by assuming that the weights are inversely
proportional to the square of the probable errors

F. INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ERRORS

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 In some instances it is required to determine how the final results is affected when
computation involves quantities that are subject to accidental error. Two commonly
applied principles of the theory of errors involve the summation of errors and the
product of errors.
F.1. Summation of Errors

PEs= ± 𝑷𝑬𝟏 𝟐 + 𝑷𝑬𝟐 𝟐 + … + 𝑷𝑬𝒏𝟐

PEs is the probable error of the sum and 𝑷𝑬𝟏 𝟐 + 𝑷𝑬𝟐 𝟐 + … + 𝑷𝑬𝒏 𝟐 are the probable
error of each measurement.

F.2. Product of Errors

PEp= ± (𝑸𝟏 𝒙𝑷𝑬𝟐 )𝟐 + (𝑸𝟐 𝒙𝑷𝑬𝟏 )𝟐

PEp is the probable error of the product, Q1 and Q2 are the measured quantities, and
PE1 and PE2 are the probable error corresponding to each quantity measured.

Illustrative Problems.

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 ELABORATE
Four measurements of a distance were recorded as 284.18, 284.19, 284.22, and 284.20
meters and given weights of 1, 3, 2, and 4 respectively. Determine the weighted mean.

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 EVALUATE
The length of a line was measured repeatedly on three different occasions and
probable error of each mean value was computed with the following results:

1st set of measurements = 1201.50± 0.02m

2nd set of measurements= 1201.45± 0.04m

3rd set of measurements = 1201.62± 0.05m

Determine the weighted mean of the three sets of measurements.

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