UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA.
LAND SURVEYING AND GIS DIVISION
PLANE SURVEYING 1
Lecturer: Mr. Alvin Clarke CLS, M.Sc. B.E., BSc. SGIS
(Hons.)
UNIT 5:
UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS AND ACCURACY
AND PRECISION
IMPERIAL UNITS- LINEAR
In past surveys the Gunter’s chain was used to measure distances.
1 chain = 66 feet = 100 links
1 link = 0.66 feet
10 sq. chains = 100,000 sq. links = 1 acre
IMPERIAL UNITS- LINEAR
1 foot = 12 inches (base unit)
1 yard = 3 feet
1 mile = 5280 feet = 1760 yards = 80 chains
IMPERIAL UNITS- AREA
1 Acre = 10 sq.chains
1 Acre = 43,560 sq.ft.
1 Acre = 4 Roods
1 Rood = 40 Perches
METRIC UNITS (INTERNATIONAL)- LINEAR
The International System of Units (SI)
1 cm = 10 mm
1 dm = 10 cm
1m = 100 cm (base unit)
1 km = 1000 m
METRIC UNITS (INTERNATIONAL)- LINEAR
The International System of Units (SI)
1 dm = 0.1 m
1 cm = 0.01 m
1 mm = 0.001 m
1 micormetre (µm) = 0.001 mm = 10-6 m
1 nanometre (nm) = 0.001µm = 10-9 m
METRIC UNITS - AREA
1 Hectare = 10,000 square metres
1 sq.km = 1,000,000 square metres = 100 hectares
FOOT TO METRIC CONVERSION
1 ft. = 0.3048 (exactly)
1 km = 0.62137
1 sq.metre = 10.7639 sq.ft
1 hectare (ha) = 2.471 acres
1 sq.km = 247.1 acres
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Significant figures (s.f.) are the digits in a value that are known with
some degree of confidence.
This is a function primarily of the least count or graduation of the
measuring equipment.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
All non-zero digits are significant.
Example: 549 = 3 s.f.
1.892 = 4 s.f.
Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
Example: 4023 = 4 s.f.
50014 = 5 s.f.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.
Example: 0.0034 = 2 s.f.
0.01111 = 4 s.f.
Trailing zeros (the right most zeros) are significant when there is a decimal
point in the number
Example: 2.00 = 3 s.f.
0.050 = 2 s.f.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Trailing zeros are not significant in numbers without decimal points.
Example: 890,000 = 2 s.f.
765,000 = 3 s.f.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS
In addition, and subtraction, the result is rounded off to the last
common digit occurring furthest to the right in all components.
For example: 100 3 s.f.
+ 23.643 5 s.f.
= 123.643
Rounded to 124 (3 s.f.)
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS
In multiplication and division, the result should be rounded off so as to have
the same number of significant figures as in the component with the least
number of significant figures.
For example: 3.0 2 s.f.
x 12.60 4 s.f.
= 37.8000
Rounded off to 38 (2 s.f.)
ROUNDING NUMBERS
When rounding numbers, individuals normally round up or round down.
Example : 65.625 rounded up to 65.63
65.622 rounded down to 65.62
Both process can create a systematic bias and should be avoided.
ROUNDING NUMBERS
As surveyors it is normally suggested that you round to the nearest
even number, to produce more representative mean values.
Example: 489.715 rounded to 489.72
489.765 rounded to 489.76
REFERENCE
Kavanagh, Barry et al. Surveying-Principles and Application
(2000) 5th Edition Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
