Engineering Surveying.

1 (CE 304)
Chapter.2
Introduction to Measurements

Fraidoon Alkozai
CED, EF/KU
Spring Semester 1393

Surveying, 5/E by Jack McCormac Copyright © 2004

by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Lesson Objectives
1. Introduction to Measurements
2. Accuracy and Precision
3. Errors and Mistakes
4. Field Notes
5. Office Work
6. Planning
Introduction to Measurement
 Measurement
 Is the principle concern of a surveyor.
 No measurement is exact.
 With better equipment one can estimate
an answer that is closer to the exact
value,but will never be able to determine
the absolutely.
 So no measurement is exact and true
value of the quantity being measured is
never known.
 Introduction to Measurement

Figure 2.1 (p. 16)

Surveying in the country.

Surveying, 5/E by Jack McCormac Copyright © 2004

by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction to Measurement
 Necessity for Accurate Surveys
 The surveyor must have the skill and
judgment necessary to make accurate
measurements.
 As today, land prices in most areas are
very high, and is sold by so many dollars
per square meter; therefore the surveyor
must be able to perform excellent jobs.
 Accuracy is very important in construction
projects such as bridges, tall buildings,
etc.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Accuracy and Precision
 Accuracy refers to the degree of
perfection obtained in measurements.
 Precision or apparent accuracy is the
degree of refinement (Improvement of
manner) with which a given quantity is
measured.
 Precision is defined as the ratio of the
error of the measurement to the distance
measured.
 Introduction to Measurement
Or Simply :
Accuracy denotes how close a given
measurement is to the true value of the
quantity.

Precision is the closeness of one

measurement to another.
 Introduction to Measurement

Figure 2.2 (p. 17)

Accuracy and precision.
 Introduction to Measurement

Figure 2.2 (p. 17)

Accuracy and precision.
Introduction to Measurement
 Accuracy and Precision
 It does not necessarily follow that better
precision means better accuracy.
 It is possible for the surveyor to obtain
both accuracy and precision by exercising
care, and using good instruments and
procedures.
 The objective of the surveyor is to make
measurements that are both precise and
accurate.
Introduction to Measurement
 Errors and Mistakes
 There is no one whose sense are
perfect to measure any quantity
exactly and there are no perfect
instruments.
 The major concern in surveying is the
Precision of the work
Introduction to Measurement
 Errors and Mistakes
 A mistake is a difference from a true
value caused by the inattention of the
surveyor ( may read 6 as 9, or may record the
wrong quantities).
 The mistakes can be eliminated by careful
checking.
 An error is a difference from a true value
caused by the shortcoming of a person’s
sense, equipment, or by weather effects.
 Errors can not be eliminated but they can
be minimized by careful work.
Introduction to Measurement
 Sources of Errors
 There are three sources of errors: 1.
People, 2. Iinstruments, and 3. Nature.
 So, an error can be personal,
instrumental, natural or due to
combination of factors.
 e.g.
 (P.E)Estimating the fractional part of a scale.
 (I.E)The manufacturer can not make a perfect
scale.
 (N.E) On a summer day a steel tape may
increase in length.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Types of Errors
1. Systematic
 For constant condition remains the same sign
and magnitude.
 Using a 1cm longer tape than its actual length
 Such errors can be calculated.
2. Accidental (Random)
 Magnitude and direction is just an accident.
 When a person read a tape, he can not read it perfectly. One
time he will read a value that is too large and next time will
read a value that is too small, they tend to a certain degree to
cancel or compensate each other.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Discussion of Accidental or Random
Errors

 When a quantity such as distance is being

measured, random errors occur due to
imperfections of the observer's senses and
the equipment used.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Discussion of Accidental and Random
Errors:
 The quality of a measurement can be expressed
by stating a relative error.
 For example a distance may be expressed as
835.82 , the probable error can either be
plus or minus
 The term probable or 50% error is sometimes used in
discussing surveying measurements. If we say a certain
distance measurement has a 50% error of ft, we
mean there is a 50% chance of error or less and
50% chance that contain larger errors.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Discussion of Accidental and Random
Errors:
 How many client will be happy if you told them
that you have measured a distance for them
50% chance with ft? the answer is not very
many. In fact they will ask for 100%
measurement with 0% chance of error. (There
is no such a thing as 100% error, as there is
always some chance that a measurement
contains an error larger than any given value)
 Introduction to Measurement
 Discussion of Accidental and Random
Errors:
 We can refer to errors as being 60% errors,
68.3% errors, 90% errors and so on.
 If we were saying a given measurement is
632.34 ft and there is 90% errors of (+-0.09 ft),
we are saying that there is 90% chance that the
error is (+-0.09 ft) or less and a 10% chance
that is larger.
 If we provide our client with 90% or 95%
errors, he would probably be a little happier
than with a 50% error.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Occurrence of Accidental or Random
Errors:
 If a coin is flipped 100 times, the probability is
that there will be 50 heads and 50 tails.
 Each time there is an equal chance of it being
heads or tails.
 It is apparent that more times the coin is
flipped, the more likely it will be that the total
number of heads will equal the total number of
tails.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Occurrence of Accidental or Random
Errors:
 For discussion it’s assumed that a distance was
measured 28 times, with the results shown in
Table 2-1. Number of Residual
Frequency of or
each deviatio
Measurement measurement n
96.90 1 -0.04
96.91 2 -0.03
96.92 3 -0.02
96.93 5 -0.01
96.94 6 0.00
96.95 5 0.01
96.96 3 0.02
96.97 2 0.03
96.98 1 0.04

Average= 96.94 28
 Histogram or Frequency Distribution Diagram
7

6
6

5
5 5

3
3 3

2
2 2

1
1 1

0
-0.04 -0.03 -0.02 -0.01 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04

-1
Figure 2.3 (p. 20)
Histogram or frequency distribution diagram.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes
 Recording is an important phase of
surveying.
 For most of the surveyors field data were
hand printed in special field books.
 However, this procedure has dramatically
changed as automatic data collectors
interfaced with modern surveying
instruments have become available.
 The use of hand printed notes is still an
important topic and will probably remain
so for a good many more years.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes…
 Several kind of field notebooks available,
but the usual ones are, 4 5/8in x 7 1/4in.
 A general rule is that measure quantities
are shown on the left-hand pages, and
sketches and miscellaneous notes are
shown on the right-hand pages.
 Record all the information necessary
for others to understand the survey
clearly.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes Sample page:
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes…
 The following items are absolutely
necessary for the successful recording
of surveying information.
1. The name, address, and phone number of
the surveyor should be printed in India ink on
the inside and outside of the field-book
cover.
2. The title of the job, date, weather, and
location should be recorded.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes…
3. The names of the party members,
together with their assignments as
instrument man (π), rodman (Ø),
notekeeper (N), and so on should be
records.
 At least the first initial and full last name.
4. Generally standard forms are used.
5. Measurements must be recorded in the
field when taken.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes…
5. In case of copying information from other
sites the word “COPY” should be clearly
marked on each page with a note giving
the source.
6. Frequent sketches are used where needed
for clarity.
7. Field measurements must not be erased
when incorrect entries are made.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes…
7. A line should be drawn through the
incorrect number without destroying its
legibility and the corrected value written
above or below the old value.
8. Notes are printed with a sharp medium-
hard (3H or 4H) pencil so that the records
will be relatively permanent and will not
spread over the surface.
9. The type of instruments and its number
should be recorded with each day’s work.
Introduction to Measurement
 Field Notes…
10. Other requirements;
 Page number (upper right corner) for both the
right and left hand sides.
 Table of contents
 Direction of north (upper left)
 Clear separation of each day’s work by
starting on a clean page each day.
 Cross-references
 Finally, it is essential that notes be
checked before leaving the site of the
survey.
Introduction to Measurement
 Electronically Recorded Notes
 Data collectors make the notekeepers
work.
 Data collectors are about the size of pocket
calculators.
 Automatically display and record data.
 The data can be transferred to PCs.
 Less time is required.
 Can not sketch(disadvantage).
 Introduction to Measurement
 The surveyor uses a
key Board to enter
the usual Information
such as;
 Date and time
 Weather
 Instrument number
and so on.
Figure 2.6 (p. 31)
SDR-33 Electronic field book used
with total station equipment
which is discussed in Chapter 10.
(Courtesy Sokkia Corporation.)
 Introduction to Measurement
 Office Work and Digital Computers
 Field surveying measurements provide the
basis for large amount of office work.
 Precision computations.
 Preparation of property drawings.
 Preparation of topographic maps.
 Computation of earthworks, etc.
 A large percentage of these items are
commonly handled today with digital
computers.
Introduction to Measurement
 Planning

 If we are to perform accurate surveys, we

need to employ;

 Good equipment
 Good procedures and
 Good planning
 Introduction to Measurement
 Planning
 Accurate survey can made with old and out of
date equipment, but time and money can be
saved with modern equipments.
 Good planning is the most important item for
achieving economy and accuracy.
 The planning of a survey for a particular
project includes the selection of:

 Equipment and the method to be used.

 Selection of possible locations for surveying stations
and so on.
 Introduction to Measurement
 Planning
 The longer a construction project lasts, the
more expensive it becomes.
 Surveying is one of the many phases of a
construction project, need to be done as
quickly as possible for mentioned reason.
 The cost of accurate survey is 1% to 3% of
the over all cost of the construction project.
 If survey done poorly the percentage may
be many times these values.
Introduction to Measurement
 ASSIGNMET

 Chapter 2 problems
 From Chapter.III
Pacing
 Pacing may be used in preliminary
surveys.
 Precision 1/50 to 1/200

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 Pacing - Exercise
 Round 10 times a hundred-meter
distance.
 Record the number of paces each time.
 Divide the cumulative distance to the
number of paces.
 Determine your pace length.
 Practice as following instructions.

5/24/2014 57
Figure 3.1 (p. 38)
Field notes for staking a traverse.