Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

INTRODUCTION
Quantity surveying is one of the most important professions in the world. The fundamental of
drawing and surveying is the one of the most important module in quantity surveying. This
subject gives clear identification of chain surveying and leveling.
Surveying is basic to engineering. Before any engineering work can be started we must prepare a
plan or map of the area showing topographical details. This involves both horizontal and vertical
measurements.
Engineering surveying is defined as those activities involved in the planning and execution of
surveys for the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of civil and other
engineering projects. The surveying activities are:
1. Preparation of surveys and related mapping specifications.
2. Execution of photogrammetric and field surveys for the collection of required data
including topographic and hydrographic data.
3. Calculation, reduction and plotting of survey data for use in engineering design.
4. Design and provision of horizontal and vertical control survey network.
5. Provision of line and grade and other layout work for construction and mining activities.
This assignment was done according to the case study. Here in the first task I describe about the
Surveying instruments and their appropriate details.
Theodolite set up method and temporary adjustments.
Then in the second task the following details had given:
How the traverse surveying is carried out
All the calculations & measurements
Plot the details of all the works
This is an individual assignment and I have completed this assignment by gatherings information
from lectures, reference books and from my own knowledge. I hope this assignment will provide
the essential information about surveying and those who read this assignment will gain lot of
knowledge about this subject.

Task 03

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 1

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

(a) Explain clearly traverse surveying practical work done in the class step by step along with
the instrument used and the records obtained.

Traverse (surveying)
Traverse is a method in the field of surveying to establish control networks. Traverse networks
involved placing the survey stations along a line or path of travel, and then using the previously
surveyed points as a base for observing the next point. Traverse networks have many advantages
of other systems, including:
There are many different types of traverse:

Link traverse.
Polygonal/Loop traverse.

Open/Free traverse.

Close traverse: it is starts and finishes on either the same point or known points.

Field Work of Theodolite Surveying

First we visited one of site to measure surveying

We have to adjust the tripod head until nearly horizontal it can be judged by eye. Then
fixed any two legs of tripod tightly into the ground and adjust the third legs until the main
bubble is around in the centre.

Instrument was set out at station and an angle was taken as follows.
a) Tripod was placed horizontally and approximately chest level / height. By using
tightening screw of the tripod. At the mean time tripod was placed firmly on the
ground
b) After that the theodolite was placed on the tripod head and by observing point P1
through lance theodolite was adjusted and approximately fixed.
c) Theodolite was set out horizontally by adjusted three foot screws. (2 foot screws
adjusting sat for 90 telescope see bubble comes to center, turn for 90 telescope
and adjust for remaining foot screw and see coming to bubble center. Do again)

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 2

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

d) Again looked the point (S1) and point comes to center point adjust the theodolit
and fixed it
e) Than poles were placed at S2 and S4 stations.
f) Upper plate was tighted and angle was taken (S1 - S2)
g) After that the upper plate released and the angle S1 S2 taken
h) Same procedures were repeated for all 4 Stations (S2, S3 & S4)

Sketch

Figure No: 27

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 3

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

(b)

British College of Applied Studies

Leveling

We can find relative heights and depths of the objects on the surface of the earth by leveling.
It is the part of surveying which deals with measurement in vertical plane.
Leveling is help to an engineer for the purposes of planning, designing and executing for various
engineering projects such as roads, railways, cannels, dams, water supply and sanitary schemes.
Level surface is a surface which is at all points normal to the direction of gravity
Level
The survey level is the instrument designed to give horizontal line of sight. It consists essentially
of the bubble tube attached to the telescope, axis of the bubble tube and line of collimation is
parallel to each.
The instrument is provide with leveling screws by which the bubble is centered and the line of
collimation brought in to horizontal plane.
In general levels may be classified in to two types
1. Dumpy level
2. Engineering level (Tilting level)

Recording and calculating the level

Recording and calculating the levels can be done by the following two methods,
01. Rise and fall method
02. Height of collimation method

Rise and fall method

In this method, the difference of level between two consecutive points for
each setting of the instrument is obtained comparing their staff reading.

The difference between their staff readings indicates a rise, if the back staff
reading is more than the fore sight.

The difference between their staff readings indicates a falls, if the fore sight
reading is more than the back sight staff.

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 4

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

The rise and falls worked out for all the points give the vertical distance of
each point relative to the proceeding one.

If the reduced level of the back staff point is known, then the reduced level of
the following point may be obtained by adding its rise or subtracting its fall
from the reduced level of proceeding point as the case may be.

Height of collimation method

In the method, height of the instrument (H.I) is calculated for each setting of the instrument by
adding the back sight to the elevation of the B.M.
The reduced level of the first station is obtained by subtracting its fore sight from the instrument
height.

For the second setting of the instrument, the height of the instrument is
calculated by adding the back sight taken on the first station to its level.

The reduced level of the last point is obtained by subtracting the fore sight of
the last point from the height of instrument at the last setting.

If an intermediate sight is observed to an intermediate station, its reduced level is obtained by

subtracting its fore sight from the height of the instrument for its setting.

(i)
Height of collimation method
station
A
B
C
D
E
F
A

Back
sight
1.200

Inter
sight

Fore
sight

Height of
instrument
101.200

1.480
0.670
1.212

1.081
1.002
0.480

2.412
check

Mohammed Thilsath

1.328
2.409
2.412
0.003
Page 5

101.331

Reduce
level
100.000
99.720
100.530
100.119
100.329
100.851
100.003
100.003
100.000
0.003

Remarks
T.B.M. (entrance of the car
park)
Car park basement
Top of small slab
TP1, on road concrete paving
Top of 2nd step in cad building
Middle of the road entrance
T.B.M
Checked

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

Rise and fall method

station Back
sight
A
1.200

Inter
sight

1.480

0.670

1.212

Fore
sight

Rise

Fall

0.280
0.810
1.081

0.411

Reduce
level
100.000
99.720

Top of small slab

100.119

TP1, on road concrete

paving
Top of 2nd step in cad
building
Middle of the road entrance

1.002

0.210

100.329

0.480

0.522

100.851

2.412
Check

Rise

T.B.M. (entrance of the car

park)
Car park basement

100.530

Remarks

1.328

0.848 100.003

2.409
2.412
0.003

1.542 1.539 100.003

1.542 100.000
Rise 0.003 000.003

T.B.M
checked

(ii)
We did this practical in a cements land so that we couldnt mount the tripod legs properly.
Staff holders did not hold the staff firmly thats why every students get
different type error.
It waves disturbed us to get the occurred measurements.
Some students shake the tripods legs in that situation the bubble went out
the centre.

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 6

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

Errors in leveling
Main source of error in leveling
1. Instrumental errors
2. Errors of manipulation
3. Errors due to settlement of level and staff
4. Common mistakes in leveling
5. Errors due to natural causes
Instrumental errors

Imperfect adjustment
Defective level tube
Shaky tripod
Incorrect graduation of staff
Wear of staff

Errors of manipulation

Careless leveling of instrument

Careless handling of instrument
The staff not being held vertically
The parallax not be removed properly

Errors due to settlement of level and staff

Settlement of level
Settlement of staff
Displacement of staff
Common mistakes in leveling

The leveling staff not being fully extended

The staff held upside down
Reading the staff in the wrong direction
Reading against stadia hairs instead of central hair
Omitting an entry
Entering a reading in wrong column
Making a with digit interchange (reading wrong number of meters and decimeters)

Errors due to natural causes

Wind
sun
Mohammed Thilsath

Page 7

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

(iii)
Compute the error..
We did 2 setups
Correction = (Ending ele beginning ele)
Setup +1
=

(100.003 100.000)
2+1
=

0.003
3
= 0.001

Station :- 01
1x 0.001 + H.I =
0.001 + 101. 200 = 101.201
101.201 B.S = 100.001

Station :- 02, 03
100.001 1.480 = 98.521
100.001 0.670 = 99.331

Station :- 04
2x0.001 = 0.002
101.331 0.002 = 101.329
101.329 1.212 = 100.117
Mohammed Thilsath

Page 8

British College of Applied Studies

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

Station :- 04
101.201 100.117 = 1.084 ( fore sight)

Station :- 05 , 06
101.329 1.002 = 100.327
101.329 0.480 = 100.849

Station :- 01 / (again)
101.329 1.328 = 100.001

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 9

British College of Applied Studies

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

station

Back
sight

1.200

Inter
sight

Fore
sight

British College of Applied Studies

Height of
instrument

Reduce
level

Remarks

101.201

100.001

T.B.M. (entrance of the car park)

1.480

98.521

Car park basement

0.670

99.331

Top of small slab

1.212

1.084

101.329

100.117

TP1, on road concrete paving

1.002

100.327

Top of 2nd step in cad building

0.480

100.849

Middle of the road entrance

1.328

100.001

T.B.M

2.412
2.412

100.003
100.000

0.003

0.003

A
2.412
check

(c)

Checked

Chain surveying

Chain surveying is the branch of surveying in which the distances are measured a chain
and tape the operation is called chaining. All the distances measured should be horizontal
however if measured on slopes the measurements are to be subsequently reduced to horizontal
equivalents. In our field we did the chain surveying with traverse method.
In our surveying operation on existing ground features in the land of BCAS building, we
used the chain surveying techniques. Because of, only the linear measurements are wanted to
make, economical and suitable for small extended area like BCAS ground.

Field Work of Chain Surveying

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 10

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

1.

Make a preliminary survey by walking around the site, deciding where to put stations
and where the main survey lines should be arranged. Stations should be selected so that
they are indivisible and the lines laid out so that obstacles are avoided.

2.

Make a sketch of the site in the field book (prospecting diagram)it is shown the
principle features of BCAS building

3.

We were selected four main survey station near all four corners of the area. Longest
length of survey line is base line and each triangle should be provided with a check line
,according to the point, we had selected for main station

4.

Set the range poles, chain the triangle sides and record the distances

5.

Measure the perpendicular offsets from the chain lines to the details of the site.

6.

Record the measurements in the field book each page should record offsets along one
chain line. Entries start from the bottom of the page and details are entered to the left or
right of the center column where distances along the chain line are noted.

7.

Sometimes it is more accurate and convenient to use pairs of inclined offsets which
together with a portion of the chain form acute-angled triangles. .

8.

After then we plotted the BCAS building

Conclusion
Chain is an important instrument of chain surveying. Chain is a more accurate than tape. When
we are measure the measurement was difficult. So when we are done the chain surveying was
difficult
The grid of lines is set out on the site .the distance between the Grids lines depends upon the
nature of the slope. Contour surveying carried out some methods
In our calculation, I used Rise and falls method for find the reduce level.
More intermediate readings involved in a leveling we can use Collimation method for find the
reduce level. Because it is quicker method than other method
Thats why I used that method.
I have described briefly in this assignment about chain surveying, errors in the chaining,
find out the reduce level, contour surveying and field works of chain surveying, leveling and
Mohammed Thilsath

Page 11

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

theodolite. Every surveying field workers should be known about it. Therefore this report gives
some details.
I have received sufficient knowledge with regard to land surveying.

References

Reference from books

Roy,S,K,(2004)fundamentals of surveying. 3rd ed., published by:ashok,k.
Duggal,S,K.(2002)Surveying Vo.I.3rd ed., Tata MCGraw.
Pumia,B,C, Dr.(1994)Surveying.13th ed.Laxmi publication.
Wirshing James,R. and Wirshing Roy,H.(2004) Introductory Surveying.hill edition
2004.,Tata MCGraw
Duggal,S,K.(1997)Surveying Vo.I.2nd ed., Tata MCGraw

Reference from web sites

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 12

Fundamentals of drawing & surveying

British College of Applied Studies

http//Volumes From Contours.htm

http//Coordinates.htm
Reference from lecture notes
Indika Pussella (2009) BCAS hand for whole syllabus of Fundamentals of drawing and
surveying

Mohammed Thilsath

Page 13