University of Cebu (UC)

College of Engineering (COE)

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE)

“CE 211 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING”

“MEASURMENT OF DISTANCES”

CORRECTION APPLIED FOR MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCES:

1. Temperature Correction (CT): to be added or subtracted

CT = α (∆T) L1
α = 11.6 x 10-6 / 0C (steel)
2. Pull Correction (Cp): to be added or subtracted
( )( )
Cp =

3. Sag Correction (Cs): to be subtracted ONLY

Cs =

Where: w – linear density

4. Slope Correction (Csl): to be subtracted ONLY

Csl = ; H = S – Cslope

5. Sea level Correction

L’ = L ( 1 – h/R ) ; Note: the average radius of the earth is roughly 6,400km

6. Normal Tension – the necessary pull to compensate the correction due to sag.

Csag = Cpull

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

To measure a base line, a steel tape 30m long, standardized at 150C with a pull of 80N was
used. Find the correction per tape length, if the temperature at the time of measurement is 25
0
C and the pull exerted is 150N. Take young’s modulus of 2x105 N/mm2 and coefficient of
thermal expansion of 11.2x10-6/0C. Cross-sectional area of tape is 8mm2.

A student was asked to make a 345.43m long line using a 25m tape that is 0.0021m too long.
What is the required measurement?
The baseline of the triangulation survey was measured to be 1800m at a place having an
altitude of 8km above sea level. Compute the sea level correction of the baseline.

SITUATION: A 30m steel tape is 2mm too long at 200C with a pull of 55N. A rectangle is
measured with this tape. The sides are recorded as 144.95m and 113.00m. The average
temperature during the measurement is 300C with a pull of 55N. Use coefficient of expansion
of steel tape as a 0.0000116/0C.

a. Compute the actual length of tape during measurement

b. What is the true area

c. What is the error in area in sq. m.

SITUATION: A 50m tape was standardized and was found to be 0.0042m too long than the
standard length at an observed temperature of 580C and a pull of 15Kilos. The same tape was
used to measure a certain distance and was recorded to be 673.92m long at an observed
temperature of 680C and a pull of 15kilos. Coefficient of linear expansion is 0.0000116/0C.

a. Determine the standard temperature

b. Determine the total correction

c. Determine the true length of the line

SITUATION: A line is recorded as 472.90m long. It is measured with a 0.65kg tape which is
30.005m long at 20 0C under a 50N pull supported at both ends. During measurement, the
temperature is 5 0C and the tape is suspended under a 75N pull. The line is measured on 3%
grade. E = 200GPa, cross sectional area of tape is 3mm2 and the coefficient of linear expansion
is 0.0000116/0C.

a. Compute the actual length of tape during measurement

b. Compute the total error to be corrected for the inclined distance.

c. What is the true horizontal distance?

ERRORS AND MISTAKES

ERRORS – is defined as the difference between the true value and the measured value of the
quantity.

MISTAKES – are inaccuracies in measurements which occur because some aspects of a

surveying operation is performed by the Geodetic Engineer with carelessness, poor judgments
and improper execution.

TYPES OF ERRORS:
1. Systematic Error – one which will always have the same sign and magnitude as long as the
field conditions remain constant and unchanged.

2. Accidental Error – purely accidental. The occurrence is matters of chance as they are likely
to be positive or negative. May tend in part to compensate or average out, according laws of
probability.

SOURCES OF ERRORS:

1. Instrumental Error

2. Nature Error

3. Personal Error

PROBABILITY – is defined as the number of times something will probably occur over the
range of possible occurrences.

PROBABLE ERROR, PE – defines the quantity which when added to or subtracted from the
most probable value, defines a range within there is a 50% chance that the true value of the
measured quantity lies inside (or outside) the limits thus set.

1. STANDARD DEVIATION / ERROR A SINGLE OBSERVATION::

∑( )
Sx = √

2. STANDARD ERROR / ERROR OF THE MEAN:

Sµ=
√

3. PROBABLE ERROR A SINGLE OBSERVATION:

PES = ±0.6745 Sx

4. PROBABLE ERROR OF THE MEAN:

PEM = ±0.6745 Sµ

INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ERRORS

Summation of errors: PESUM = ±√

Product of errors: PEPRODUCT = ±√( ) ( )

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
SITUATION: From the measured values of distance AB, the following trials were recorded.

TRIALS Distance (m)

1 120.68
2 120.84
3 120.76
4 120.64
a. Find the probable error

b. Find the standard deviation

c. Find the standard error

SITUATION: The following data shows the difference in elevation between A and B.

TRIAL DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION NO. OF MEASUREMENT

1 520.14m 2
2 520.20m 4
3 520.18m 8
4 520.24m 5

a. Determine the most probable value of the measurements

b. Calculate the standard deviation/error of any single observation

c. Calculate the standard deviation/error of the mean

d. Calculate the probable error of any single observation

e. Calculate the probable error of the mean.

SITUATION: The following data are the observed elevation of a point by running a line of levels
over four different routes.

ROUTE ELEVATION PROBABLE ERROR

1 521.22 ±0.01
2 520.80 ±0.02
3 521.36 ±0.03
4 521.32 ±0.06

a. Using the method of least squares, determine the weight of elevation taken from route 4.

b. Determine the corresponding relative weight of the elevation taken from route 2 if the
relative weight of route 4 is set as 1.0
c. Determine the most probable value of the elevation of the observed point.

SITUATION: The following interior angles of a triangular traverse were measured with the
same precision.

Angle Value No. of measurement

A 41 5
B 77 6
C 63 2
a. determine the error in angle A, in sexagesimal form.

b. Determine the most probable value of angle C in sexagesimal form.

SITUATION: From the following tabulated data, several lines of levels are run over different
routes from BM1 to BM2.

Route Distance (km) Difference in elevation

A 6.32 120.742m
B 8.46 120.825m
C 10.53 120.863m
a. Determine the weight of the data obtained using route B, relative to the data with the
smallest weight.

b. Determine the most probable value of the difference in elevation between BM1 and BM2.

PROBLEM: Assume that a line is measured in three sections, with errors in the individual parts
equal to ±0.012, ±0.028, ±0.020 feet respectively. Determine the anticipated error of the total
length.

SITUATION: The two sides of a rectangular lot were measured with certain estimated probable
errors as follows: W = 253.36±0.06m and L = 624.15±0.08m.

a. Determine the probable error in the area of the rectangle lot.

b. Determine the probable range where the true area may lie.

PREPARED BY: ENGR. DIOSFER L. LEDESMA

 PLATE NO. 1

(MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE)

1. A 50-m tape weighs 2kg and is supported at its end points and at the 8m and 25m marks. If
a pull of 6kg is applied, determine the following:

1.1. Correction due to sag for one tape length

1.2. Correct distance between the ends of the tape.

2. Compute the normal tension which will be applied to a tape supported over two supports in
order to make the tape equal to its nominal length when supported only at the end points. The
steel tape is 30m long and weighs 0.84kg when supported throughout its length under a
standard pull of 5.6kg with the modulus of elasticity is 2x106 kg/cm2 and area of 0.06cm2.

3. A distance was measured on an 8% slope and found to be 2620.30m. What is the horizontal
distance measured in meters?

4. The base and altitude of a triangular lot were measured to have certain probable errors of
341.60±0.16 and 92.60±0.14, compute the probable error of the resulting computation.

5. The following sides of a rectangle and its probable errors are 120.40±0.04 and 360.50±0.08
respectively. Compute the probable errors of the sum of the sides of the rectangle.

6. From the following data of a precise leveling from BM1 to BM2, compute the following:

Line Difference in elevation Weight

1 41.16 6
2 41.20 4
3 41.12 3
6.1. Compute the probable weighted mean value of the difference in elevation.

6.2. Compute the standard deviation

6.3. Compute the probable elevation BM2, assuming it is lower than BM1 whose elevation is
212.4m

7. The following data observed are the difference in between BM1 and BM2 by running a line
of levels over four different routes.

Route Difference in Elevation Probable Error

 1 340.22 ±02
2 340.30 ±04
3 340.26 ±06
4 340.32 ±08
7.1. What is the weight of route 2 assuming weight of route 1 is equal to 1.

7.2. Determine the most probable value of difference in elevation.

7.3. If the elevation of BM1 is 650.42m, what is the elevation of BM2, assuming it is higher
than BM1.

8. The following data shows the difference in elevation between A and B.

TRIAL DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION NO. OF MEASUREMENT

1 520.14m 1
2 520.20m 3
3 520.18m 6
4 520.24m 8
8.1. Compute the probable weight of trial 3

8.2. Determine the most probable difference in elevation

8.3. Compute the elevation of B if elevation A is 1000m with B higher than A.

9. A baseline measured with an invar tape, and with a steel tape as follows:

Invar Tape Steel Tape

571.185 571.193
571.186 571.190
571.179 571.185
571.180 571.189
571.183 571.182
9.1. What are the most probable value under each set?

9.2. What are the probable errors under each sets?

9.3. What is the most probable value of the two sets?

9.4.What is the probable error of the general mean?

10. From the following measured interior angles of a five sided figure, compute the following:

Station Angles No. of Measurement

A 110 2
B 98 3
C 108 4
D 120 6
E 105 4
10.1. Probable value of angle A

10.2. Probable value of angle C

10.3. Probable value of angle D

PREPARED BY: ENGR. DIOSFER L. LEDESMA