HORIZONTAL

CORRECTIONS
LESSON 4
A. Corrections Due to Incorrect Tape Length
Corr. = TL – NL
where: TL – true or actual length of tape
NL – nominal length of tape

C1 = corr.
CL = ML ± C1

where: C1 = total correction to be applied to the measured length

CL = corrected length of the line to be measured or laid out
Correction to taping is applied by the use of the following rules

Rule 1: When a line is measured with tape the is “too long”, the corrections are applied to the
observed length by adding
Rule 2: When a specific or required length is to be laid out with a tape which is “too long”, the
corrections are subtracted from the known length to determine the corrected length to be laid
out.
Rule 3: When measuring or laying out lengths with a tape that is “too short”. the corrections
are applied opposite to that state in the first two rules.

Sample Problem 1

The length of line AB measured with a 50-m tape is 465.285 m. When the tape is compared
with a standardized invar tape it is found to be 0.016 m too long. Determine the correct length
of AB.
Given:
NL = 50 m
ML = 465.285 m
Corr. = 0.016 m (correction per tape length, too long)
Solution

C1 = corr. = (0.016) = 0.149 m (total correction to be applied to measure length of line AB

CL = ML + C1 = 465.285 + 0.149 = 465.434 m (correct length of AB)

Sample problem 2
A rectangular lot was measured using 50-m steel tape which was found to be 0.025 m too
short. If the recorded length and width of the lot are 180.455 m and 127.062 m, respectively,
determine the following:
a. Actual dimension of the lot
b. Error in area introduced due to the erroneous length of tape
Given:
NL = 50 m
corr.= 0.025 (too short)
W = 127.062 m
L = 180.455 m
Solution
a. Cw = corr() = 0.025() = 0.064 m (total correction to width)
CL = corr() = 0.025() = 0.090 m (total correction to length
W’ = W – Cw = 127.062 – 0.064 = 126.998 m correct width)
L’ = L – CL = 180.455 – 0.090 = 180.365 m (correct length)

b. Area = L x W = 180.455 x 127.062 = 22,928.973 sq. m

Corrected Area = 126.988x180.365 = 22,905.924 sq. m
Error in Area = 22928.973 – 22905.924 = 23.049 sq. m
B. Correction Due to Slope

When distances are measured along the slope, the equivalent horizontal distance may
correspondingly be determined by applying an approximate slope correction.

where s - measured slope

h – difference in elevation
d – equivalent horizontal distance
Ch – slope correction or C = s - d
 1. Gentle Slopes (less than 20%)
Ch =

2. Steep Slopes (between 20 to 30%)

Ch = +

3. Very Steep Slopes

Ch = s (1 – cos )

Sample Problem

Slope distances AB and BC measure 330.49 m and 660.97 m respectively. The difference in
elevation is 12.22 for points A and B and 10.85 for points B and C. Using the approximate slope
correction formula for gentle slope, determine the horizontal length of line ABC. Assume that
line AB has a rising slope and BC a falling slope.
Given

s1 = 330.49 (slope length of AB)

h1 = 12.22 m (diff, in elev. between A and B)
s2 = 550.97 m (slope length of BC)
h2 = 10.85 m (diff. in elev. between B and C)
Solution

d1 = s1 - = 330.49 - = 330.49 – 0.23 = 330.26 m (hor. length of AB)

d2 = s2 - = 660.97 - = 660.97 – 0.09 = 660.88 m (hor. length of BC)

d = d1 + d2 = 330.26 + 660.99 = 991.14 m (hor. length of ABC)

C. Correction Due to Alignment. The correction due to incorrect alignment, C a, can be
calculated by employing the slope correction formula. The only difference is that both hands
are in horizontal plane, where h is the distance the tape is off line and s is the length of tape
used.
D. Correction Due to Temperature
The tape lengthens as the temperature rises and shortens as the temperature falls. Any
change in the length of a tape due to variations in temperature is critical when undertaking
precise measurements. In ordinary taping of short distances it is not usually considered since
the amount involved is usually small and negligible.
Ct = CL (T – Ts)

where: C = coefficient of linear expansion

L = length of tape or length of line measured
T = observed temperature of the tape at the time of measurement
Ts = temperature at which the tape was standardized
Sample Problem:

A steel tape with a coefficient of linear expansion of 0.0000116/ oC is known to be 50 m long at

20oC. The tape was used to measure a line which was found to be 532.28 meters long when the
temperature was 35oC. Determine the following”
a. Temperature correction per tape length
b. Temperature correction for the measure line
c. Correct length of the line

Solution
a. Ct = CL (T – Ts) = (0.0000116)(50)35-20) = +0.0087 m

b. Ct = CL (T – Ts) = (0.0000116)(532.28)(35-20) = +0.0926 m

c. L’ = L + Ct = 532.28 + 0.0926 = 532.3726 m

E. Correction Due to Tension

During calibration (or standardization) a tape is subjected to a certain amount of standard pull
or tension on its end. When used in the field during taping, it is elongated or shortened
accordingly, depending on the amount of pull applied on it. If the pull is greater than that for
which it was calibrated, the tape elongates and becomes too long when insufficient pull is
applied, thus making it too short. An error in measurement results whenever the pull applied is
different from the standard tension used in calibration. This correction for pull is a function of
the difference between the applied pull and the standard pull, the measured length, the cross-
sectional area of the tape and the modulus of elasticity of the tape material.
The tape stretches in an elastic manner and since the modulus of elasticity of a material can
be expressed as the ratio of unit stress to unit elongation, the rate of change in length can be
determined as follows:
A= =
Cp =
where: Cp = total elongation in tape length due to pull (m)
Pm = pull applied to the tape during measurement (kg)
Ps = standard pull for the tape (kg)
L = measured length of line (m)
A = cross-sectional area of the tape (sq cm)
E = modulus of elasticity of the tape material (kg/cm2)
L’ = corrected length of the measured line (m

Sample Problem

A 30-m steel tape weighing 1.45 kg is of standard length under a pull of 5 kg, supported for
full length. The tape was used in measuring a line 938.55 m long on smooth level ground
under a steady pull of 10 kg. Assuming E = 2.0 X 10 6 kg/cm2 and the unit weight of steel to
be 7.9 x 10-3 kg/cm3, determine the following:
a. cross sectional area of the tape
b. correction for increase in tension
c. correct length of the line measured
Solution

a. A = = = 0.06 cm2

b. Cp = = = +0.00125 m (corr. per tape length).

Cp = (938.55) = +0.04 (total correction for measured line)

F. Correction Due to Sag

A tape attains its correct length when it is fully supported and subjected to the pull for which it
was standardized. If the support is only at its ends of the two points measured, it will sag even
if the standard pull is maintained because of its own weight. The tape takes the form of a
catenary when it sags between points of support just as an electric or telephone wire which
hangs and swing loosely between the posts

Cs =
since W = L or W2 = 2L2
Cs =

where: Cs = correction due to sag or the difference bet. the tape reading and the
horizontal distance between supports (m).
 = weight of tape per unit length (kg/m)
W = total weight of tape between supports (kg)
L = interval bet. supports or the unsupported length of tape (m)
P = tension or pull applied on the tape (kg)
Sample Problem
A 50 m steel tape weighs 0.04 kg/m and is supported at its endpoints and at the 8-m and 25-
m marks. If a pull of 6 kg is applied, determine the following:
a. Correction due to sag between the 0-m and 8-m marks, 8-m and 25-m marks and
the 25-m and 50-m marks
b. Correction due to sag for one tape length
c. Correct distance between the ends of the tape

Given
L = 50 m (total length of tape)
L1 = 8 m (length of 1st span)
L2 = 17 m (length of 2nd span)
L3 = 25 m (length of 3rd span)
P = 6 kg
 = 0.04 kg/m (unit weight of tape)
Solution
a. Correction due to sag for each span
Cs1 = = = 0.0009 m (correction on 1st span)
Cs2 = = = 0.0091 (correction on the 2nd span)
Cs3 = = = 0.0289 (correction on the 3rd span)
b. Determining total sag correction for one tape length
Cs = Cs1 + Cs2 + Cs3
Cs = 0.0009 + 0.0091 + 0.0289 = 0.0389 m
c. Determining correct distance between tape ends
L’ = L – Cs = 50 – 0.0389 = 49.9611 m

G. Correction Due to Wind – Do not undertake any taping work during windy days but if
cannot be avoided and the measurement has to be done, efforts should be taken to support
the tape from being affected by the blowing wind.