UNIT II – Lecture 2

Measurement of Distances

1
 01 Types of error

Outline 02 Correction of errors

03 Numerical
Types of Errors

1. Compensating Error

2. Cumulative Error
 ➢Are those errors which can possibly
occur in both the directions and
tend to compensate.

➢Are caused during the following

situations.
1. Compensating
Error ✓Incorrect holding of the chain.
✓The chain is not uniformly
calibrated throughout its length.
✓Refinement is not made in
plumbing during stepping method.
Types of Errors

1. Compensating Error

2. Cumulative Error
 ➢Are those errors which occur in the
same direction and tend to
accumulate. Such errors makes the
reading either too long or too short.
a. Positive cumulative error
➢It is an error which makes the measured
2. Cumulative length more than the actual length.
➢Are caused due to the length of the chain
Error or tape being shorter than its standard
length
a. Bending of the links.
b. Knots in the connecting links.
c. Clogging of rings with mud and etc.
 b. N egativecumulativeerror

➢ It is an error which makes the measured length

less than the actual length.
➢ Are caused due to
2. Cumulative ✓ The length of the chain or tape being shorter
Error than its standard length.
a. Flattening of the connecting rings.
b. Opening of the ring joints.
c. The field temperature being higher than the
calibrated temperature.
❖Both the cumulative and compensating errors are proportional to the
length of the line.

❖Cumulative error though large can be corrected by applying the

required corrections.

❖Compensating errors though small cannot be corrected by applying the

required corrections.
 Source of errors and precautions

Sources of cumulative errors:

1. Non-standard pull applied

2. Higher temperature from the standardized limit
3. No slope correction applied
4. No sagging correction applied
5. Disturbance from the wind

What PRECAUTIONS can we apply to eliminate

errors??
 Correction of tape measurement

Following corrections have to be applied based on the surveyor’s judgement and

environmental conditions in which the taping is done. They are:

1. Correction for absolute length (Cab)

2. Temperature Correction (Ct)
3. Pull Correction (Cp)
4. Slope Correction (Ch)
5. Sag Correction (Cs)
 1. Correction for absolute length (Cab)
➢Is applied when the absolute length of the tape is different than that of the
designated length.

Cab = (LC)/ l

Cab = Correction for absolute length

L = Measured length of a line
C = Correction of a tape (+ or -)
l = Nominal or designated length of a tape
 2. Temperature Correction (Ct)

• The length of the tape is influenced by temperature as it is made up of

materials with specific thermal expansion or contraction coefficient.

Ct=α( Tm- To) x L

Can be + or – depending on Tm and To
Ct= corrections for the temperature
α = coefficient of thermal expansion (Example: 11*10-6/◦c for steel tape)
Tm = temperature during measurement in Celsius
To = standardized temperature of tape
L = length of tape in meters
 3. Pull Correction (Cp)

• When applied pull is not the same as standardized one, additional strain will
produced.

Cp={( Pm- Po)x L/(Ax E)}

Always +
Cp= pull corrections in meters
Pm = pull applied during measurement in kg
Po = standardized pull of tape in kg
L = length of tape in meters
A = cross-sectional area of tape
E = modulus of elasticity (2.1*106 kg/cm2)
 4. Slope Correction (Cv)

Ch=L- 𝑳𝟐 − 𝑯𝟐

Ch=L(1-cosθ)
✓ Always negative in nature

Ch = Correction for slope in m

H = Difference in elevation in m
L = Length of tape
θ = Angle of slope
 5. Sag Correction (Cs)

✓Correction is done when the tape is in suspension.

Cs=(ωL)2x L/(24n2 x P2m) ✓ When unit weight is given

✓ When Total weight is given

Cs=(LxW2/(24n2 x P2m)
Always -
L = length of tape in meters
ω = weight of tape per unit length, kg/m
W = total weight of tape, kg
n = number of spans
Pm = pull applied during measurement, kg
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)

Q1
What is the correct length of a line which is measured as 350m with a 20m tape, 10cm
too long?

Q2
Ameasurement of 171.278m was recorded with a 30m tape that was only 29.996m
long under standard conditions. What is the corrected measurement?

Q3
The measured slope distance between two points is 615m. If the angle of slope
between the points is 7◦, what is the horizontal equivalent for the same?
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)

Q4.
At the end of survey of parcel of land, a tape of 30m length was found to be 10cm
short. The area of the plan drawn with the measurement taken using tape is found to
be 135cm2. If the scale of the plan is 1/1000, what is the true area of the field
assuming that the chain was exactly 30m at the commencement of the survey.

Q5
A line was measured with a steel tape which was exactly 30m at 25◦C at a pull of 10kg,
the measured length being 1700.00m. The field temperature measured using field
thermometer id 34◦C and the applied pull was 18kg. Compute the length of the line if
the cross-sectional area of the tape is 0.025cm2. Take α=3.5*10-6/◦C and
E=2.1*106kg/cm2 for the material which was used to make tape.
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)

Q6.
A steel tape of nominal length 30m was suspended between supports to measure the length
of a line. The measured length of the line along a slope of angle 3◦50’ is 29.859m. The mean
temperature during the measurement was 12 ◦C and the pull applied was 100 N. If standard
length of the tape is 30.005m at 20 ◦C, and the standard pull is 45.0 N, calculate the
corrected length of Horizontal length. Take the weight of the tape ω=0.15N/m , its cross-
sectional areaA=2.5mm2, α=1.15*10-5/◦ C and E= 2.0*105 N/mm2.

Q7
The length of a survey line measured with a 30 m chain was found to be 631.5 m. When the
chain was compared with a standard chain, it was found to be 0.10 m too long. Find the true
length of the survey line.
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)

Q8.
The area of a certain field was measured with a 30 m chain and found to be 5000 m2. It was
afterwards detected that the chain used was 10 cm too short. What is the true area of the
field?

Q9
The volume of an excavation was computed from the measurements taken by a 20 m chain
and found to be 5875000 m3. On the close of the work, it was detected that the chain used
was 5 cm too long, whereas it was correct at the commencement of the work. Calculate the
correct volume of the excavation.
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)

Q10
Atape 100m long , 6.35mm wide and 0.5mm thick was used to measure a line, the
apparent length of which was found to be 1986.96m. The tape was standardized
under a pull of 67.5 N, but after the line was measured, it was found that the pull
actually used during the measurement was 77.5 N. Calculate the true length of the
line. Take E= 2x105 N/mm2

Q11
A 50m tape having a cross sectional area of 0.05 square cm has been standardized at
a tension of 5.5 kg. Determine the elongation of the tape if a pull of 20 kg is applied.
E= 2.10x106 kg/cm2
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)
Q 12
Two points 100m apart are to be measured. The temperature during the measurement was
found to be 27°C. However, it was later known that the temperature during the
standardization was 20°C. Calculate the temperature correction. The coefficient of
expansion is 11.2x10-6 per °C

Q13.
A30m tape is suspended between its ends under a pull of 100 N. If the weight of the tape
is 7 N, find the correct length of the distance.

Q14. Calculate the horizontal length between two supports if the recorded length is 30.6m,
the tape weight is 15 N and applied tension is 20 N.
 Problem Solving (Tutorial Questions)
Q15
20 m chain was found to be 4 cm too long after chaining 1400 m. It was 8 cm too long at
the end of day’s work after chaining a total distance of 2420 m. If the chain was correct
before commencement of the work, find the true distance.

Q16
At the end of survey of a field, a 30 m chain was found to be 10 cm too long. The area of
the plan drawn with the measurements taken with this chain is found to be 125 cm2. If the
scale of the plan is 1 cm=10 m, what is the true area of the field? Assume that the chain was
exact 30 m at the commencement of the work.
Q17
Write down some precautions which must be taken while handling survey instruments.