Sample Problem: Measurement of of paces for each trial are taken as shown

Horizontal Distances in the accompanying tabulation.

A surveying instructor sent all the 40

students in his class out to measure a
distance between two points marked on
the runway. The students working in
groups of 4 came up with 10 different
measurements as follows: 920.45, 921.05,
921.65, 920.25, 920.15, 921.85, 921.95,
920.45, 921.15, and 921.35 meters. Assume
these values are equally reliable and
variations result only from accidental A. Determine the surveyor’s pace
errors. factor. 0.865
A. What is the most probable value? B. If the surveyor then took 771, 770,
921.03 768, 770, 772 and 769 paces in
B. What is the probable error of the walking an unknown distance CD,
mean measurement? +-0.144 m what is the length of the line? 666.1
C. What is the relative precision? m
1/6400 C. Assuming that the taped length of
line CD is 667.0m, determine the
Four measurements of a distance were relative precision of the
recorded as 284.18, 284.19, 284.22, and measurement performed. 1/700
284.2 meters and given weights of 1, 3, 2,
and 4 respectively. Determine the
weighted mean. 2841.99 m Slope distances AB and BC measures
330.49 m and 660.97 m, respectively. The
The three sides of a triangular-shaped difference in elevation are 12.22 m for
tract of land are given by the following points A and B, and 10.85 m for points B
measurements and corresponding and C. Using the approximate slope
probable errors: a=162.54 ± 0.03m, b = correction formula for gentle slopes,
234.26 ± 0.05m, and c=195.70 ± 0.04m. determine the horizontal length of line
Determine the probable error of the sum ABC. Assume that line AB has a rising
and the most probable value of the slope and BC a falling slope. 991.14 m
perimeter. +-0.07

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. Determine
the area of the lot and the probable error
A steel tape with a coefficient of linear
in the resulting calculation. +-42.58m2
expansion of 0.000116/°C is known to be
50 m long at 20°C. The tape was used to
In five trials of walking along a 90-meter
measure a line which was found to be
course on fairly level ground, a pacer for
532.28 meters long when the temperature
a survey party counted 51, 52.5, 51.5, 52.5,
was 35°C. Determine the following:
and 51.5 strides, respectively. He then
started walking an unknown distance XY
A. Temperature correction per tape
in four trials, which were recorded as
length +0.0087 m
follows: 88.5, 89, 88, and 87 strides.
B. Temperature correction for the
Determine the following.
measured line +0.0926 m
A. Pace factor of the Pacer
C. Correct length of the line 532.37 m
0.869m/pace
B. Length of line XY 153.2 m
A heavy 50-m tape having a cross
C. Percent of error in the
section-sectional area of 0.05 sq. cm, has
measurement if the taped length of
been standardized at a tension of 5.5 k. If
XY is 150.5 meters 1.79%
E = 2.1x10^6 kg/sq. cm, determine the
elongation of the tape if a pull of 12 kg is
A 45m course, AB, on level ground was
applied. 0.003 m
paced by a surveyor for the purpose of
determining his pace factor. The number
A 30-m tape is supported only at its end A measurement is made along a line that
and under a steady pull of 8 kg. If the tape is inclined by a vertical angle of 15
weighs 0.91 kg, determine the sag degrees 25’ as measured using a hand
correction and the correct distance level and clinometer. The slope
between the ends of the tape. 29.9838 m measurement is 756.52m. What is the
corresponding horizontal distance?
729.298m

A line XYZ is measured on the slope in two

A baseline measures 25 km at elevation segments. The first segment XY measures
of 520 m. If the average radius of 82.45m and the second segment YZ
curvature is 6400 km, compute the sea measures 1244.38m. If the difference in
level distance. 24,997.97 m elevation between points X and Y is 4.25m
and that between Y and Z is 6.47m,
A Stadia rod held at a distant point B is determine the horizontal length of the
sighted by an instrument set up at A. The measured line. 2,068.858m
upper and lower Stadia hair readings were
observed as 1.300m and 0.900m, A 30m steel tape weighing 1.45kg is a
respectively. If the stadia interval factor standard length under a pull of 5kg,
(K) is 100, and instrument constant, C is supported for full length. The tape was
zero, determine the length of line AB. 40 used in measuring a line 938.55m long on
m smooth level ground under a steady pull
of 10kg. Assuming E = 2.0x106 kg/cm2 and
In determining stadia interval factor (K) the unit weight of steel to be 7.9 x 10-3
of a transit, a stadia rod was held kg/cm3, determine the following:
vertically at several points along A. Cross-sectional area of the tape
measured distances from the instrument 0.061 cm^2
(see accompanying figure), and the B. Correction for increase in tension
corresponding stadia hair readings were 0.0385m
observed. The distance and the observed C. Correct length of the line measured
readings were recorded as follows: 938.589m - corrected length of
Determine the stadia interval factor of horizontal distance
the instrument. Assume that the stadia
constant © is zero. 98.83 2. A 50m steel tape weighs 0.04 kg/m and
is supported at its and points and at the
8m and 25m marks. If a pull of 6kg is
applied, determine the following:
A. Correction due to sag between the
0.0m and 8m marks, 8m and 25m
marks, and the 25m and 50m
marks.
CS1 = 0.0009m
CS2 = 0.0090m
CS3 = 0.0289m
B. Correction due to sag for one tape
length. 0.0388m
A dumpy level with an internal focusing
C. Correct distance between the ends
telescope was set up on the left bank of
of the tape. 49.9612m
a river and the rod readings tabulated
below were taken on a stadia rod held
A 50m steel tape weighing 0.035 kg/m is
successively at the left and right water
constantly supported at mid-length and
edges. If the stadia interval factor of the
at its end points, and is used to measure
instrument is 100 determine the width of
a line AB with a steady pull of 6.5kg. If the
the river. 24.2 m
measured length of AB is 1268.256m,
determine the following:
a. Correction due to sag between
supports and for the whole tape
length. CS1 = 0.0189m CS2 =
0.0189m CS3 = 0.0378m
 b. Total sag correction for the whole throughout its length under a standard
length measured. 0.9588m pull of 6.0kg, and its modulus of elasticity
c. Correct length of line AB. is 2.0x106 kg/cm2
1267.2972 m
A line was found to be 2865.35m long
A line AB cannot be measured directly when measured with a 30m tape under a
because of an obstruction on line. steady pull of 6.5kg at a mean
Accordingly, the two lines AC and CB were temperature of 30oC. Determine the
measured as 2,400.850m and 1320.420m, correct length of the line if the tape used
respectively. Point C was set at a is of standard length at 20oC under a pull
perpendicular distance of 155m from of 5.5kg. Assume the cross-sectional area
point D on line AB. Using the approximate of tape to be 0.025cm2, elastic modulus
slope correction formula for steep slopes, as 2.10x106 kg/cm2, and coefficient of
determine the length AB 2395.841m thermal expansion to be 0.0000116/1oC.

A steel tape weighing 0.85kg has a cross- The sides of a triangle measure
sectional area of 0.05cm2. The tape 1063.55m,1840.33m, 1325.05m. Determine
measures exactly 30,0m when supported the three angles in the triangle.
throughout its length under a standard
pull of 5.5kg. If the modulus of elasticity A traverse line was measured in three
is 2.10x106 kg/cm2, determine the sections: 295.85m at slope 8o45’, 149.58m
tension required to make the tape equal at slope 4o29’ and 373.48m at slope 4o25’.
to its nominal length when supported Determine the horizontal length of the
only at the end points. line.

A steel tape having a cross-sectional area Sample Problem: Measurement of

of 0.06cm2 and a modulus of elastic of Vertical Distances
2.0x106 kg/cm2, weighs0.03kg/m. Its
length is 30.0m when standardized at a Determine the combined effects of the
pull of 5kg and supported throughout its earth’s curvature and atmospheric
length. Determine the tension at which refraction on sight distances of 60, 90,
the effect of sag will be eliminated by the 120, 150, and 500 meters.
elongation of the tape due to increased h’=0.0675K2
tension. H60 = 0.0675 (60/1000)2
= 0.000243
A steel tape weighing 0.85kg has a cross- H90 =0.000547
sectional area of 0.05 cm2. The tape H120=0.000972
measures exactly 30.0m when supported H150=0.00152
throughout its length under a standard H500=0.0169
pull of 5.5kg. If the modulus of elasticity Two points, A and B, are 525.85m apart. A
is 2.10x106kg/cm2, determine the tension level is set up on the line between A and
required to make the tape equal to its B and at a distance of 240.50m from A. If
nominal length when supported only at the rod reading on A is 3.455m and that
the end points. on B is 2.806m, determine the difference
in elevation between the two points,
A steel tape having a cross-sectional area taking into account the effects of
of 0.06cm2 and a modulus of elasticity of curvature and atmospheric refraction.
2.0x106 kg/cm2, weighs 0.03 kg/m. Its Diff (A-B) = 3.451 – 2.801 = 0.6501m
length is 30.0m when standardized at a A woman standing on a beach can just
pull of 5kg and supported throughout its see the top of a light house 24.140km
length. Determine the tension at which away. If her eye height above sea level is
the effect of sag will be eliminated by the 1.738m, determine the height of the
elongation of the tape due to increased lighthouse above sea level, H2=0.0675
tension. (19.066)2= 24.5371m
Sample Problem 1
Determine the normal tension required to a. A turning point along a profile level
make a tape exactly 30m between its route measures 126.44m beyond station
ends when used in an unsupported mode, 8+24.50. Determine the stationing of this
if the tape has a cross sectional area of turning point.
0.045cm2 and weighs 0.90kg. Assume that b. For the illustrated problem given above,
the tape is exactly 30.0m when supported determine the stationing of the turning
point if it is instead located 83.45m
before the given reference station.
c. Determine the distance between
station 33+45.02 and station 26+62.75.