Linear Measurements

DIRECT MEASUREMENTS

The various methods of measuring the distances directly are as follows

1. Pacing·

2. Taping

3. Measurement with passometer

4. Measurement with pedometer

5. Measurement by odometer and speedometer

6. Chaining.

(1) Pacing. Pacing consists of counting the number of steps or paces in a required distance. A pace is defined as the length of a step
walking. It may be measured from heel to heel or from toe to toe. In surveying, pacing means moving with measured steps; and if the steps are
counted, distances can be determined if the length of a step is known. Counting strides instead of paces is sometimes preferred by surveyors.
A stride is equivalent to two paces or a double step. Because of its many practical applications, it is one of the most valuable things learned in
surveying.

(2) Taping. The use of a graduated tape is probably the most common method of measuring and laying out horizontal distances.
Taping consists of stretching a calibrated tape between two points and reading the distance indicated on the tape. It is a form of direct
measurement which is widely used in the construction of buildings, dams, bridges, canals, and many other engineering as well as non-
engineering activities.

(3) Passometer. Passometer is an instrument shaped like a watch and is carried in pocket or attached to one leg. The mechanism of
the instrument is operated by motion of the body and it automatically registers the number of paces, thus avoiding the monotony and strain
of counting the paces, by the surveyor. The number of paces registered by the passometer can then be multiplied by the average length of the
pace to get the distance.

(4) Pedometer. Pedometer is a device similar to the passometer except that, adjusted to the length of the pace of the person carrying
it, it registers the total distance covered by any number of paces.

(5) Odometer and Speedometer. The odometer is an instrument for registering the number of revolutions of a wheel. The well-known
speedometer works on this principle. The odometer is fitted to a wheel which is rolled along the line whose length is required. The number of
revolutions registered by the odometer can then be multiplied by the circumference of the wheel to get the distance. Since the instrument
registers the length of the surface actually passed over, its readings obtained on undulating ground are Inaccurate. If the route is smooth, the
speedometer of an automobile can be used to measure the distance approximately.

(6) Chaining. Chaining is a term which is used to denote measuring distance either with the help of a chain or a tape and is the most
accurate method of making direct measurements. For work of ordinary precision, a chain can be used, but for higher precision a tape or special
bar can be used. The distances determined by chaining form the basis of all surveying. No matter how accurately angles may be measured, the
survey can be no more precise than the chaining.

CORRECTIONS APPLIED DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

1. Temperature Correction (add or subtract)

𝐶𝑡 = 𝑘(𝑇𝑜 − 𝑇𝑠 )𝐿
Where k = 0.0000116 /°C
2. Correction due to Pull (add or subtract)
(𝑃𝑜 − 𝑃𝑠) 𝐿
𝐶𝑝 =
𝐴𝐸
3. Correction due to Sag (to be subtracted only)
𝜔2 𝐿3
𝐶𝑠 =
24𝑃2
𝜔
Where: ω – weight per tape length =
𝐿
4. Correction due to Slope (to be subtracted only)
ℎ2
𝐶𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = ; 𝐻 = 𝑆 − 𝐶𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒
2𝑆
Note: You should also use trigonometry for corrections due to slope.
 5. Normal Tension – the pull used to compensate the correction due to sag.
0.204𝑊√𝐴𝐸
𝐶𝑠𝑎𝑔 = 𝐶𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙; 𝑃𝑁 =
√𝑃𝑁 − 𝑃1
6. Sea Level Correction
ℎ
𝐿𝑐 = 𝐿 (1 − )
𝑅
Corrections to taping are applied by the use of the following rules:

1st RULE: When a line is measured with a tape that is “too long”, the corrections are applied to the observed length by adding.

2nd RULE: When specified or required length is to be laid out with a tape that is “too long”, the corrections are subtracted from the known
length to determine the corrected length to be laid out.

3rd RULE: When measuring or laying out lengths with a tape that is “too short”, the corrections are applied opposite to the stated in the first
two rules.

Problem 1. A 45-m course, AB, on level ground was paced by a surveyor for the purpose of determining his pace factor. The number of paces
for each trial taken are shown in the accompanying tabulation.

REQUIREMENTS.

a. Determine his pace factor. (0.865 m/pace)

b. If the surveyor then took 771, 770, 768, 770, 772, and 769 paces in walking an unknown distance CD, what is the length of the line?
(666.1 m)
c. Assuming that the taped length of the line CD is 667.0 m, determine the relative precision of the measurement performed. (1/741 or
1/700)

Problem 2. A line was measured to have 5 tallies, 6 marking pins, and 63.5 links. How long is the line? (5663.50 ft)

Problem 3. A building 38 m x 45 m is to be laid out with a 50-m long metallic tape. If during standardization the tape is found to be only 49.950
m, determine the following:

a. Dimensions to be laid out, using this tape, in order that the building shall have the desired dimensions. (38.038 m x 45.045 m)
b. Using the same tape what should the diagonals read? (58.957 m)

Problem 4. A steel tape is 100 m. long at a temp. of 20°C and a pull of 10 kg. It was used to measure a distance of 624.95 m at a temp. of 32°C
with an applied pull of 15 kg. during measurement with the tape supported at both ends. Coefficient of thermal expansion is 0.0000116 /°C
and a modulus of elasticity of 2 x 106 kg/cm2. Weight of tape is 0.04 kg/m and a cross-sectional area of 0.06 cm2.

a. Compute the sag correction. (1.782 too short)

b. Compute the total correction for tension, sag and temperature. (-1.669)
c. Compute the corrected length of the line by applying the combined corrections for tension, sag and temperature. (623.281)

Problem 5. 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 end points. The steel tape is 30 m. long and weighs 0.84 kg when supported throughtout its length
under a standard pull of 5.6 kg, with the modulus of elasticity is 2 x 10 6 kg/cm2 and area of 0.06 cm2. (17.34 kg)

Problem 6. The length of a survey line was measured with a 20 m chain and was found to be equal to 1200 meters. As a check, the length was
again measured with a 25-m chain and was found to be 1212 m. On comparing the 20-m chain with the test gauge, it was found to be 1
decimeter too long. Find the actual length of the 25-m chain used. (24.88 m)

Problem 7. The area of the plan of an old survey plotted to a scale of 10 meters to 1 cm measures now as 100.2 sq.cm as found by planimeter.
The plan is found to have shrunk so that a line originally 10 cm long now measures 9.7 cm only. There was also a note on the plan that the 20-
m chain used was 8 cm too short. Find the true area of the survey. (10564.7 sq.m)