Republic of the Philippines

Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City

Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING
Introduction

CSU Vision Surveying has been with us for several thousand years. It is the science of determining the dimensions
and contour (or three-dimensional characteristics) of the earth’s surface by measurement of distances,
Transforming lives by directions, and elevations. (McCormac Et al., Surveying p.1). One of the oldest arts practiced by man is
Educating for the
BEST. surveying. From the earliest times it has always been necessary to mark boundaries and divide tracts of land.
Through the centuries, the uses of surveying have expanded such that today, it is difficult to undertake any type
of engineeing construction that does not involve some type of surveying. Planning and design are based on the
results of surveys, and construction is controlled by surveying. Professionals in the different fields of engineering
CSU Mission
as well as geologist, architects, foresters, agriculturist and geographers are concerned with surveying as a
CSU is committed to
means of planning and executing their respective projects. (La Putt, Elementary Surveying 3rd edition p.4)
transform the lives of
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development, Learning Outcomes
production and extension.

At the end of the session, learners of this program are expected to:

a. Identify the different classifications and types of surveys.

b. Measure horizontal distances by pacing.
c. Measure horizontal distances by tachymetry (Stadia Method).

Lesson Proper/ Discussion

SURVEYING– is the art and science of determining angular and linear measurements to establish the
form, extent and relative precision of points, lines and areas on or near the surface of the earth through applied
mathematics and the use of specialized equipments and technique.(La Putt, Elementary Surveying p.5)

Two General Classification of Surveys

1. Plane Surveying - is that type of surveying in which the earth is considered to be a flat surface. The
distances and areas involved are of limited extent. The exact shape of the earth is disregarded.

2. Geodetic Surveying- are surveys of wide extent which take into account the spheroidal shape of the
earth.

Types of Surveys

1. Cadastral Surveys - Are usually closed surveys which are undertaken in urban and rural locations for
the purpose of determining and defining property lines and boundaries, corners and areas. These
surveys are also made to fix the boundaries of municipalities, towns and provincial jurisdictions.
 

2. City Surveys - are surveys of the areas in and near a city for the purpose of planning expansions or
improvements, locating property lines, fixing reference monuments and determining the physical
features and configuration of the land and preparing maps.

3. Construction Surveys - these are surveys which are undertaken at a construction site to provide data
regarding grades, reference lines, dimensions, ground configuration and the location and elevation of
structures which are of concern to engineers, architects and builders.

4. Forestry Surveys- a type of survey executed in connection with forest management and mensuration,
and the production and conservation of forest lands.

1|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

5.  Hydrographic Surveys - refer to surveying of streams, lakes, harbors, oceans and other bodies of
water. These surveys are made to map shorelines, chart the shape and areas underlying water surfaces
and measure the flow of streams. They are of general importance in connection with navigation,
development of water supply and resources, flood control, irrigation, production of hydro-electric power,
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subaquaeus constructions and recreation.
Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST.
6. Industrial Surveys- sometimes known as optical tooling. It refers to the use of surveying techniques
in ship building, construction and assembly of aircraft, layout and installation of heavy and complex
machinery and in other industries where very accurate dimensional layouts are required.
CSU Mission

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of 7. Mine Surveys- are surveys which are performed to determine the position of all underground
people and communities
through high quality excavations and surface mine structures, to fix surface boundaries of mining claims, determine
instruction and innovative
research, development, geological formations, to calculate excavated volumes, and establish lines and grades for other related
production and extension.
mining work.

8. Photogrammetric Surveys a type of survey which makes use of photographs taken with specially
designed cameras either from airplanes or ground stations. Measurements are obtained from the
photographs which are used in conjunction with limited ground surveys.

9.  Route Surveys- involves the determination of alignment, grades, earthwork quantities, location of
natural and artificial objects in connection with the planning, design, and construction of highways,
railroads, pipelines, canals, transmission lines, and other linear projects.

10. Topographic Surveys- are those surveys made for determining the shape of the ground, and the
location and elevation of natural and artificial features upon it.

Measurement of Horizontal Distances

Basic Survey Measurements

Distance By Pacing.

Pacing consists of counting the number of steps or paces in a required distance.

Pace is defined as the length of a step in walking. It may be measured from toe to toe or heel
to heel.
Pace Factor is the determination of a constant or getting the number of mean step in a given
distance.

Pace Factor (PF)= Length of line/Mean number of paces

PF=L/Mn

and

Mn= sum of no. of steps in every trial / no. of trials

Paced Distance (PD) = PF x Mn

2|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Enrichment Activities:

1. Along a 100 m. length in a fairly level ground, an Engineering Student walks five times and gathered
the number of paces as follows: 137, 135, 136, 135, 137.
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Transforming lives by
Just after the activity, the student counted his paces at two points A and B on the ground and
Educating for the recorded an average of 76.50 paces. Find :
BEST.
a. Pace factor
b. Paced distance of line AB.

CSU Mission Solutions:

a. Mn= 137+135+136+135+137 /5
CSU is committed to
transform the lives of Mn=136 paces (p)
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development, PF= L / Mn
production and extension.
PF= 100 m / 136 p
PF=0.73 m/p Answer.

b. Paced Distance (PD) = PF x Mn

Mn= 76.50 p

PD= 0.73 m/p x 76.50 p (cancel p)

PD = 55.84 m Answer

2. A Surveyor counted his number of steps in an unknown distance. An average of 165.5 paces were
recorded. If his pace factor is 0.73 m/p., find the unknown distance.

Solution: Given: Mn= 165.5 paces

PF= 0.73 m/p
PD= Unknown

PD= PF x Mn
PD= 0.73m/p x 165.5 p (cancel p)
PD= 120.82 m. Answer

Distance by Tachymetry (or Tacheometry)

This is another procedure in obtaining horizontal distance. It is based on the optical geometry of
the instruments employed and is an indirect method of measurement.

Stadia Method. This method provides a rapid means of determining horizontal distance. The
precision of this method depends upon the following factors: refinement with which the instrument
was manufactured, the skill of the observer, the length of measurement and the effects of refraction
and parallax

3|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

CSU Vision

Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST.

CSU Mission

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development,
production and extension.

Stadia Method
D=Ks + C
Where:
D= the horizontal distance between the instrument and the stadia rod
K=stadia interval factor ( equal to 100 )
s= the difference between the upper and lower stadia readings
C= instrument constant ((approximately equal to 0)

Enrichment Activities:

1. A stadia rod held at a distant point B is sighted by an instrument set up at A. The upper and
lower stadia hair readings were observed as 1.300m and 0.900m respectively. If the stadia
interval factor (K) is 100 and the instrument constant (C) is zero, detemine the length of line
AB.

Solution:
Given: upper stadia reading= 1.300m
lower stadia reading=0.900m
K= 100
C= 0
s= upper stadia reading – lower stadia reading
s= 1.300m -0.900m
s= 0.40m

D=Ks + C
D= (100)( 0.40m) + 0
D= 40 meters Answer

4|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Self-Assessment Questions:

1. In walking along a 75-m course, the pacer of a field party counted 43.5, 44, 43.5, 43.75, 44.5, and
43.25 strides. Then 105.5, 106, 105.75 and 106.25 strides were counted in walking from one marker
CSU Vision
to another established along a straight and level course. Determine the distance between the two
Transforming lives by markers.
Educating for the
BEST.
2. A student paces a 50m length five times with the following results: 57.00, 56.75, 56.50, 58.00 and
56.25 paces. Determine how many paces must he step off in order to establish a distance of 450
CSU Mission meters on level ground.

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of 3. Determine the length of a line negotiated in 208 paces by a person whose pace is 0.76 meters long.
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development, 4. A farmer walks five times along the width of his parcel of land with the following number of paces:
production and extension.
152, 153, 151,154 and 153 while along its length : 425, 424, 423, 424, and 422. If the pace factor
of the farmer is 0.723 m/p, find the area of his land in hectares assuming that the parcel of land is
rectangular in shape. (Note 1 hectare=10,000 square meters)

5. An instrument was set at a point some distance away from a stadia rod whose upper and lower
stadia readings are 1.475m and 0.855m respectively. How far is the instrument to the stadia rod
assuming that the instrument constant is 0 and the stadia interval factor is 100?

References:
1. Elementary Surveying 3rd edition by Juny Pilapil La Putt
2. Surveying by Jack McCormac Et. Al.
3. Surveying Theory and Practice By R.E Davis, F. S. Foote
4. The principles and Practice of Surveying by C. B. Breed; G.L. Hosmer and A. J. Bone

5|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering