Survey Technique

Arch-3103
Fahmida Nusrat
Asstt. Professor,
Department of Architecture
 Lecture: 01

Content
Definition of Surveying
Physical and Socio-economic Survey

Objects of Surveying
Uses of surveying
 Definition of Surveying:

examine and record the area and features of (an area of land) so as
to construct a map, plan, or description.

Physical and Socio-economic Survey

Demographic Survey
Engineering Survey Consumer and Product Survey

Land Use Survey Health and Biological Survey

Area Specification Environmental Survey

Area Specification Transportation Survey

Definition (more of Engineering Survey):
Surveying is the science and art of determining the
relative positions of various points or stations above, on, or
beneath the earth’s surface by measuring the horizontal and
vertical distances, angles and locating the points in the field.
By taking the details of these points then to prepare a map
or plan to any scale.

Measurements taken in Horizontal and Vertical Planes

Those activities involved in Planning and execution of
surveys are for the location, Design, Construction,
Operation and Maintenance of Civil and other engineering
Projects
 Object of Surveying
The primary object of survey is the preparation of plan of estate or
buildings roads, railways, pipelines, canals, etc. Or to measure area of
field, state, nation.

Object of geodetic surveying is to determine precise positions on the

surface of the earth of widely distant points.
 Uses of Surveying

To prepare a Topographical map which shows the hills, valley, rivers,

forests, villages, town, etc of a country.

To prepare a Cadastral map which shows the boundaries of fields,

plots, houses, and other properties.

To prepare an Engineering map to show the properties of

engineering works details; like buildings, roads, railways, dams,
canals, etc.
 Uses of Surveying
To prepare Military map showing roads and railways, communication
with different parts of country.

To prepare Contour map to know the topography of any area to

determine capacity of reservoirs, canals and to find the best possible
site for any routes; like roads, railways, bridges etc.

To prepare Archeological map including places where ancient relics

exist.

To prepare Geological map to about places where to get natural

resources and minerals.
Topographical Map
Cadastral Map
Engineering Map
Engineering Map
Contour Map
Contour Map
Geological Map
Geological Map
Geological Map
Geological Map
Archeological Map
Archeological Map
Military Map
Military Map
Syria & Aleppo
 Lecture: 02

Content
Definition of Surveying
Physical and Socio-economic Survey

Objects of Surveying
Uses of surveying
Phases of Surveying
Brief History of Surveying
 The work of the surveyor
consists of 5 phases:
1. Decision Making – selecting method, equipment and final point
locations.
2. Fieldwork & Data Collection – making measurements and
recording data in the field.
3. Computing & Data Processing – preparing calculations based
upon the recorded data to determine locations in a useable form.
4. Mapping or Data Representation – plotting data to produce a
map, plot, or chart in the proper form.
5. Stakeout – locating and establishing monuments or stakes in the
proper locations in the field.
 Brief History of Surveying

1. Surveying had it’s beginning in Egypt about 1400 BC

Land along the Nile River was divided for taxation.
Divisions were washed away by annual floods.
“ROPE-STRETCHERS” Egyptian surveyors were created to
relocate the land divisions (measurements were made with
ropes having knots at unit distances).

Extensive use of surveying in building of Egyptian monuments

 Brief History of Surveying

2. Greeks: expanded Egyptian work and developed Geometry.

Developed one of the earliest surveying
instruments–Diopter (a form of level).
 Brief History of Surveying
3. Romans: developed surveying into a science to create the
Roman roads, aqueducts, and land division systems.
Surveyors held great power, had schools and a professional
organization
Developed several instruments:
• Groma – cross instrument used to determine lines and right angles
• Libella – “A” frame with a plumb bob used for leveling
• Chorobates – 20’ straight edge with oil in notch for leveling
Brief History of Surveying
• Libella – “A” frame with a plumb bob used for leveling
• Chorobates – 20’ straight edge with oil in notch for leveling
 Brief History of Surveying

4. Middle Ages: Land division of Romans continued in Europe.

Quadrans – square brass frame capable of turning angles up to
90° and has a graduated scale developed by an Italian named
Von Piso.
 Brief History of Surveying

5. 18th & 19th Century in the New World:

the need for mapping and marking land claims caused extensive
surveying, especially by the English.

1785: United Stated began extensive surveys of public lands into

one mile square sections
• 30 states surveyed under the U.S. Public Land System
(also called the Rectangular System)

1807: United States Geological Survey founded to establish an

accurate control network and mapping

Famous American Surveyors: George Washington, Thomas

Jefferson, George Rogers Clark, Abe Lincoln and many more.
 Brief History of Surveying

6. 20th Century and Beyond:

As technology advanced, population increased, and land value
caused development of licensure for surveyors in all states.

Educational requirements for licensure began in the early 1990’s

Capable of electronic distance measurement, positioning using
global positioning systems, construction machine control,
and lidar (scanning) mapping
Involvement in rebuilding of the infrastructure and geographic
information systems (GIS)
Shortage of licensed professionals is projected well into the 21st
century
 Lecture: 03

Content
Classifications/Divisions of Surveying
Primary Classifications
Secondary Classifications
Principles of Surveying
Classifications/Divisions of Surveying

Primary Division of Surveying

1. Plane surveying
2. Geodetic surveying

Secondary Division of Surveying

1. Based on Accuracy desired
2. Based on Instruments used
3. Based on Place of Survey
4. Based on Purpose of Surveying
5. Based on Methods of Survey
1. Plane surveying
The shape of the earth is spherical. Thus the surface is obviously curved. But in
plane surveying the curvature of earth is not taken into account.

Types of Surveying in which Earth surface is considered as a plane and the

curvature of the earth is ignored.

In such surveying the line joining any two stations is considered to be straight
1. Plane surveying
This is because plane surveying is carried out over a small area, so the surface of
the earth is considered as a plane.

The degree of accuracy required in

this type of surveying is completely
low.

Plane surveying is done on an area

of less than 250 sq.km.
1. Plane surveying

For most engineering projects such as canal, railway, highway, building, pipeline, etc
constructions, this type of surveying is used.

If the Earth was flat, the angles of a triangle would add up to 180 degrees.
2. Geodetic surveying
Type of Surveying in which the curvature of the earth is taken into consideration.
The line joining any two points considered as a curved line.

In geodetic surveying the curvature of the earth is taken into consideration.

It is extended over a large area greater than 250 sq.km.

Very refined methods and advanced instruments are used in this type of surveying. In
this method very high precision or accuracy is required.
2. Geodetic surveying
Difference Between Plane & Geodetic surveying
Geodetic survey reveals that the angles of the measures triangle exceed 180 degrees,
proving that the earth is curved. This is called the spherical excess.

For hundreds of years, surveyors

have painstakingly taken
measurements from point to point
and using geometry and
triangulation, have determined the
size of continents and shape of the
globe earth.
Difference between plane surveying and geodetic surveying are as follows:

Sl. No. Plain Surveying Geodetic Surveying

01. The earth Surface is considered as plain The Earth surface is considered as curved
surface surface
02. The curvature of Earth is ignored. The curvature of Earth is taken into account.

03. Line Joining any two stations is considered The line joining any two station is considered as
to be straight; It will be a line. spherical. It will be an arc.

04. The angles of triangle are considered as The angles of triangle are considered as
plain angles spherical angles
05. Knowledge of plane trigonometry is Knowledge of spherical trigonometry is
required. required.

06. Survey accuracy is low Survey accuracy is high

07. Carried out for a small area of ˂ 250 km² Carried out for a small area of ˃ 250 km²

08. Uses normal instruments like chain, Uses more precise instruments and modern
measuring tape, theodolite etc. technology like GPS

09. Used in general civil engineering survey Used for the precise location of a widely distant
projects on large scale such as bridges, area.
dam, highway etc.
Fundamental principles of Surveying

Two basic principles of surveying are:

• Always work from whole to the part, and

• To locate a new station by at least two measurements
( Linear or angular) from fixed reference points.
Fundamental principles of Surveying
 Principle : 01
Always work from whole to the part

• According to the first principle, the whole survey area is first enclosed by main stations
(i.e.. Control stations) and main survey lines.

The area is then divided into a number of divisions by forming well conditioned triangles.

• The main survey lines are measured very

accurately with precise survey instruments.
The remaining sides of the triangle are
measured.

The purpose of this method of working is to

control accumulation of errors.

During measurement, if there is any error,

then it will not affect the whole work, but if
the reverse process is followed then the
minor error in measurement will be
magnified.
 Principle : 01
Always work from whole to the part

In surveying large areas, a system of control points are

identified and they are located with high precision

Then secondary control points are located.

The details of the localized areas are measured and

plotted with respect to the secondary control points.

This is called working from whole to part.

This principle in surveying helps in localizing the errors.

If the surveying is carried out by adding localized areas,

errors accumulated and may become unacceptable
when large area is covered.
 Principle : 02
To locate a new station by at least two measurements ( Linear or angular) from fixed
reference points.

• According to the second principle the points are located by linear or angular
measurement or by both in surveying. If two control points are established first,
then a new station can be located by linear measurement. Let A & B are control
points, a new point C can be established.

• Following are the methods of locating point C from such reference points A & B.
• The distance AB can be measured accurately and the relative positions of the point
can be then plotted on the sheet to some scale.
• (a) Taking linear measurement from A and B for C.
• (b) Taking linear measurement of perpendicular from D to C.
• (c) Taking one linear measurement from B and one angular measurement as ∕ ABC

• Taking two angular measurement at A & B as angles / CAB and / ABC.

• Taking one angle at B as / ABC and one linear measurement from A as AC.
 Principle : 02
To locate a new station by at least two measurements ( Linear or angular) from fixed
reference points.

Fig: Locating point C w.r.t. points A & B