CORRECTIONS IN TAPING

with Engr. Cyril L. Leccio

MEASURING TAPES
Measuring tapes are made in a variety of lengths, materials, and weights. They are also graduated
in several ways. Graduation marks and numbers are either etched, stamped, or printed on the tape. The
following are some of the commonly used types of measuring tapes:

1. Steel Tape
2. Metallic Tape
3. Non-Metallic Tape
4. Invar Tape
5. Lovar Tape
6. Fiberglass Tape
7. Wires
8. Builder’s Tape
9. Phosphor-Bronze Tape
10. Nylon-coated Steel Tape
TAPING ACCESSORIES
The following are the different accessories used in taping work:

RANGEPOLE TAPECLAMPINGHANDLES CHAININGPINS

TENSIONHANDLE PLUMBBOB WOODENSTAKEOR HUB

TAPING ACCESSORIES
The following are the different accessories used in taping work:

LEATHERTHONGS HANDLEVELAND
CLINOMETER

TAPEREPAIRKIT CRAYONS
COMPOSITION OF TAPING PARTY
Taping- is the process of directly measuring distances with the use of a graduated tape. When the
measurement is undertaken in fairly level ground in an open field, the taping party usually consists of the
following individuals:

HEADTAPEMAN– the person responsible for the accuracy and speed of all linear measurements with the tape.
He determines and directs the marking of points or stations, orders the clearing out of obstructions
along lines to be measured, and is the person who carries the zero end of the tape ahead.

RECORDER– keeps a record of all measurements, sketches, and observations taken during the process of
measurement. He also checks by pacing all measurements made by the tapemen for possible errors,
mistakes, and blunders.

FLAGMAN– the person whose duty is to hold the range pole (or flagpole) at selected points. He also helps the
tapemen in making measurements and assists in clearing out obstructions along the line to be
measured.

REARTAPEMAN– the person whose duty is to assist the head tapeman during a taping operation. He is the one
who holds the 30-meter end or any intermediate meter mark of the tape during a measurement.
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING
True Distance
= $
= ± =% & $
= '

Corrections in Taping:
Substandard Tape Length Correction: Pull or Tension Correction:

−
= × = × =

Thermal Correction: Sag Correction:

=∝ − =−

Slope Correction: Mean Sea Level Correction:

"
=− =− ( − ) =− =− −
" "+
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING
Substandard Tape Length Correction: Thermal Correction:

= × = × =∝ −
To be added or subtracted To be added or subtracted
= ' & ( & & = ' &
= ) ∝= ))' ' ) ' * '
= &' For Steel Tape:
897
=% & &' ∝= . 7 ×
℃
897
∝= 7. ; ×
℉
= =( > & ' )
? =? & & , ) 8℃ 7A℉
=% & $ ) '
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING

Pull or Tension Correction: Sag Correction:

−
= =−
To be added or subtracted To be subtracted only
= ' & ? = ' & $
= ' & & ' $ = ' '$ ) $
? =? & & ' , ) ;8 B =% & $ ( & '
=% & $ ) ' = ' ' &
= − ' )
=% & ) ' ' C ) '
CORRECTIONS IN TAPING
Slope Correction: Mean Sea Level Correction:

"
=− =− ( − ) =− =− −
" "+

=% & &' h= ' & ) ( > '

= $ ( & = & &' ' &
&' & 'D ' "= &' ) E (7 88 E )

&'

& " "

COMPOSITION OF TAPING PARTY
Measuring tapes are calibrated at controlled conditions. Surveyors need to consider environmental
factors when measuring distances using these instruments. The errors are relatively small for short
distances but they accumulate and become significant when measuring long distances.
Consider two fixed points 15 cmapart (true distance). If the conditions during the observation
matches the standard conditions, we should be able to read an exact 15 cmon the tape measure.

FGHIJ KLGMNO (15 RS TKTUN)

VNTMJTUJ WIMXNℎ ZTKI

ZTKI NLL OℎLUN, [UULU = − 1 RS

ZTKI NLL \LMX, [UULU = + 1 RS

 FGHIJ KLGMNO (15 RS TKTUN)

VNTMJTUJ WIMXNℎ ZTKI

ZTKI NLL OℎLUN, [UULU = − 1 RS

ZTKI NLL \LMX, [UULU = + 1 RS

Consider two fixed points 15 cmapart (true distance). If the conditions during the observation
matches the standard conditions, we should be able to read an exact 15 cmon the tape measure.
Illustrative Problem1:
A field engineer measured a distance
between two building control points
and recorded it to be 75 meters. If the
30-meter chain was found to be too
short by 0.015 meters, what is the 75 S
correct distance?

Wa
gh = I ×
W
Wa = 75 S
W ]^_` = Wa ± geiehj
I = 0.015 S (NLL OℎLUN)
W = 30 S Wa
W ]^_` = Wa ± I ×
W
We^_` = ?
75
W ]^_` = 75 − 0.015
30

W ]^_` = 74.963 S
Illustrative Problem2:
A chain 100-feet long is laid on
ground sloping 4%. What is the
horizontal distance if the slope tan o = 4%
distance is 300.23 feet?
tan o = 0.04

θ = NTM9r (0.04)
θ = 2.291°

J = 300.23 cos (2.291°)

J = 299.99 wN
o

J
Illustrative Problem3:
Determine the reading to produce a
horizontal distance of 22.86 m.
between two pegs, one being 0.56 m. We^_` = (22.86){ +(0.56){
above the other. The tape used was
20 m. and too long by 0.05 m. We^_` = 22.867 S

Wa
W ]^_` = Wa ±I×
W
y Wa
22.867 = Wa + 0.05
0.56 S 20
x
Wa = 22.810 S

22.86
Illustrative Problem4: 15.75 S
The foundation of the building is
to be 10.5 m by 15.75 m. If an old
15 meter metallic tape known to
be 15.025 m. long is used in

10.5 S
setting its corners, what
measurement must we make?

ZU|I }T\|I = 15 S €I•|GUIJ ‚GSIMOGLM = 10.5 × 15.75 S

~•OIU}IJ }T\|I = 15.025 S Wa ƒa
We^_` = Wa ± I ƒe^_` = ƒa ± I
I = ~•OIU}IJ }T\|I − ZU|I }T\|I W ƒ
Wa
I = 15.025 − 15 10.5 = Wa + 0.025 ƒa
15 15.75 = ƒa + 0.025
I = 0.025 S 15
Wa = 10.483 S
ƒa = 15. 724 S

10.483 × 15. 724 m must be the measurement if

we are to use the same substandard tape.
Illustrative Problem5:
It is required to lay out a rectangular
building 25 meters wide by 40 meters W ]^_` = 25 S I = ~•OIU}IJ ŒT\|I − ZU|I ŒT\|I
long. If the 30-meter steel chain being ƒ]^_` = 40 S I = 29.994 − 30 = − 0.006 S (NLL OℎLUN)
used is 29.994 meters long, what
distance should be laid out?

Wa ƒa
We^_` = Wa ±I ƒe^_` = ƒa ± I
W ƒ
40 S
Wa ƒa
25 = Wa − 0.006 40 = ƒa − 0.006
30 30

Wa = 25.005 S ƒa = 40.008 S

25 S
Illustrative Problem6: Wa
A 100-foot steel chain known to be gh = I
W
99.93 feet was used to measure two
147.44
building points. A distance of 147.44 gh = −0.07
100
feet was recorded at a temperature of
43℉. What is the distance after gh = − 0.103 wN
correcting for temperature and chain
length error?
g] =∝ Za − Z• Wa

g] = (6.45 × 109Ž ) 43 − 68 (147.44)

g] = − 0.024 wN

I = ~•OIU}IJ ŒT\|I − ZU|I ŒT\|I

I = 99.93 − 100 = −0.07 wN (NLL OℎLUN) W ]^_` = Wa ± geiehj
Wa = 147.44 wN
W ]^_` = 147.44 − 0.103 − 0.024

W ]^_` = 147.313 wN
 Illustrative Problem7: tan o = 7%
A distance measuring 250 feet to a tan o = 0.07
proposed pier is to be laid out on a
bridge project. This terrain fromthe θ = NTM9r (0.07)
control point to the pier is sloping θ = 4.004°
at a 7% grade down into the river 250
cos 4.004° =
valley. The temperature of the o W ]^_`
chain at the time of the W ]^_` = 250.612 wN
measurement is 45℉. The chain
250 wN
used is known to be 100.01 when
compared to a standard at 68℉. g] =∝ Za − Z• Wa
What is the distance that must be
g] = (6.45 × 109Ž ) 45 − 68 (Wa )
laid out in the field to obtain the
desired distance to the pier? Wa
gh = I × W ]^_` = Wa ± geiehj
W
Wa Wa
gh = +0.01 250.612 = Wa + 0.01 + (6.45 × 109Ž ) 45 − 68 (Wa )
100 100

Wa = 250.624 wN Inclined Measurement

I = ~•OIU}IJ ŒT\|I − ZU|I ŒT\|I
I = 100.01 − 100 = + 0.01 wN (NLL \LMX)
Illustrative Problem8: 100 S
A 100-meter-tape is suspended at
the ends under a pull of 12 kg. It is 0 20 75 100
also supported at 20 m. and 75 m.
mark. If the tape weighs 2.4 kg,
what is the correct length of the
tape? ‘ { \’
g• = −
24•{

•a = 12 •X (0.024){ (20)’
g•r =− = − 0.0013 S
ƒ = 2.4 •X 24(12){

W = 100 S (0.024){ (55)’

g•{ =− = − 0.0277 S
24(12){
2.4 •X
‘= (0.024){ (25)’
100 S g•’ =− = − 0.0026 S
24(12){
‘ = 0.024 •X/S
W ]^_` = Wa ± geiehj
W ]^_` = 100 − 0.0013 − 0.0277 − 0.0026

W ]^_` = 99.968 S
Illustrative Problem9: W
What pull (normal tension) is required in
order that the effect of sag will be
eliminated when the tape is supported at
end points only? The tape has a standard
pull of 8 kg. The tape’s cross-sectional
area is 0.05RS { , weight equal to 2.2 kg •a − •• W ‘ { \’
and the modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa. g— = g• =
x[ 24•{

•” = 8 •X
‘ { \’ •a − •• W
ƒ = 2.2 •X =
24•{ x[
x = 0.05 RS { = 5 SS {
[ = 200 ••T = 200,000 –•T 2.2 •X { ’ ˜
W • − 8 •X (9.81 )W
W •X
=
24•{ ˜
(5 SS{ )(200,000 )
SS{

• = 30.337 •X
Illustrative Problem10: š = 520 S
A baseline measures 25 kmat an W = 25,000 S
elevation 520 meters. If the average € = 6,400,000 S
radius of curvature is 6400 km,
compute the sea-level distance. šW (520)(25,000)
ga•j = = = − 2.031 S
€ 6,400,000

€ 6,400,000
ga•j = W 1 − = 25,000 1 − = − 2.031 S
€+š 6,400,000 + 520
&'

Wa•j = W + ga•j
™ ™ Wa•j = 25,000 − 2.031

Wa•j = 24,997.27 S
" "