Surveying I
Ing. Negera Dinsa
Assoc. Dean of Academic Affairs
School of Engineering - SoE
Oct 2013
Outline:
Definition
Classification
• Primary Classification
• Secondary Classification
o Based on Instrument
o Based on purpose
Fundamental principles of Surveying
Object and Uses of Surveying
The role of Surveying in Civil Engineering
Definition of Surveying
Surveying is the science and art of determining
the relative positions of natural and man-made
features above, on, or beneath the earth’s
surface, and the presentation of this information
either graphically or numerically.
Why it is an art?
Why it is a Science?
Why relative positions?
Definition of Surveying
Why it is an art?
Because only a surveyor who possesses through
understanding of surveying techniques will be able to
determine the most efficient methods required to
obtain optimal results over a wide variety of surveying
problems.
Why it is a Science?
Because the use of mathematical techniques to
analyze field data, accuracy and reliability depends on
understanding scientific principles underlying and
affecting survey measurement.
Definition of Surveying
Why relative positions?
The primary aims of surveying are:
to measure the Horizontal Distance between points.
to measure the Vertical Elevation between points.
to find out the Relative Direction of lines by
measuring horizontal angles with reference to any
arbitrary/ fixed direction
These parameters are utilized to find out the relative
coordinates of a point /location.
Types of Surveying
Classification
• Primary Classification
• Secondary Classification
o Based on Instrument
o Based on purpose
Primary Classification
The approximate shape of the earth can best be
defined as imperfect sphere. But, most of the
civil engineering works, concern only with a small
portion of the earth which seems to be a plane
surface.
Thus, based upon the consideration of the shape
of the earth, surveying is broadly divided into
two types
Plane Surveying
Geodetic Surveying
Primary Classification: Plane Surveying
Fundamental assumptions in Plane surveying:
All distances and directions are horizontal;
The direction of the plumb line is same at all
points within the limits of the survey;
All angles (both horizontal and vertical) are
plane angles;
Elevations are with reference to a datum.
Primary Classification: Geodetic Surveying
In this branch of surveying, the true shape of
the earth is taken into consideration.
This type of surveying is being carried out for
highly precise work and is adopted for survey-
ing of large area.
Secondary Classification: Instrument
Chain Survey
Compass survey
Plane Table survey
Theodolite survey
Tacheometric Survey
Photographic survey
Some Surveying Instrument
Secondary Classification: Purpose
Based on the purpose (for which surveying is being
conducted), Surveying has been classified into:
Control surveying : To establish horizontal and
vertical positions of control points.
Land surveying : To determine the boundaries and
areas of parcels of land, also known as property survey,
boundary survey or cadastral survey.
Topographic survey : To prepare a plan/ map of a
region which includes natural as well as and man-made
features including elevation.
Secondary Classification: Purpose
Engineering survey : To collect requisite data for
planning, design and execution of engineering projects.
Three broad steps are:
o Reconnaissance survey : To explore site conditions and availability
of infrastructures.
o Preliminary survey : To collect adequate data to prepare plan / map
of area to be used for planning and design.
o Location survey : To set out work on the ground for actual
construction / execution of the project.
Secondary Classification: Purpose
Route survey: To plan, design, and laying out of route
such as highways, railways, canals, pipelines, and other
linear projects.
Construction surveys: Surveys which are required for
establishment of points, lines, grades, and for staking
out engineering works (after the plans have been
prepared and the structural design has been done).
Astronomic surveys: To determine the latitude,
longitude (of the observation station) and azimuth (of a
line through observation station) from astronomical
observation.
Mine surveys: To carry out surveying specific for
opencast and underground mining purposes.
Principles of Surveying
The fundamental principles upon which the sur-
veying is being carried out are:
Working from whole to part.
After deciding the position of any point, its ref-
erence must be kept from at least two per-
manent stations whose position have already
been well defined.
The purpose of working from whole to part is:
to localize the errors and
to control the accumulation of errors.
Object and Uses of Surveying
Object of surveying is to show relative positions of
various objects of an area on paper and produce plan or
map of that area. Various uses of surveying are listed
below:
Plans prepared to record property lines of private,
public and government lands help in avoiding
unnecessary controversies.
Maps prepared for marking boundaries of countries,
states, districts etc., avoid disputes.
Locality plans help in identifying location of houses
and offices in the area.
Object and Uses of Surveying
Road maps help travellers and tourist.
Topographic maps showing natural features like
rivers, streams, hills, forests help in planning irrigation
projects and flood control measures.
For planning and estimating project works like roads,
bridges, railways, airports, water supply and waste
water disposal surveying is required.
Marine and hydrographic survey helps in planning
navigation routes and harbours.
Object and Uses of Surveying
Military survey is required for strategic planning.
Mine surveys are required for exploring minearl wealth.
Geological surveys are necessary for determining
different strata in the earth crust so that proper location
is found for reservoirs.
Archeological surveys are useful for unearthing relics of
antiquity.
Astronomical survey helps in the study of movements
of planets and for calculating local and standard times.
The role of Surveying in Civil Engineering Practice
The planning and design of all Civil Engineering
projects such as:
construction of highways,
construction of highways,
bridges,
tunnels,
dams,
… etc are based upon surveying measurements.
The role of Surveying in Civil Engineering Practice
Thus, surveying is a basic requirement for all
Civil Engineering projects.
Other principal works in which surveying is
primarily utilised are:
to fix the national and state boundaries;
to chart coastlines, navigable streams and lakes;
to establish control points;
To collect field data;
To prepare plan or map of the area surveyed;
To analyse and to calculate the field parameters for
setting out operation of actual engineering works.
The role of Surveying in Civil Engineering Practice
Surveying activities during the construction process
Before Under construction After construction
Construction
Planning and Setting out on each Final (as-built)
data collection phase plan or map
of construction on the construction
Observations
in the field
Presenting
Processing the Field checks of documentation
observations construction to the client
(office)
Drawing maps,
plans or providing Deformation
Providing data
numerical data Monitoring/
and services to
the client Load Tests
Presenting
documentation
to the client
Q&A
? T h a n ks !
Reading Assignment:
History of Surveying
