Surveying –I

Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction

Bhesh Kumar Karki
Chapter: 1 - Introduction
Surveying is the art of determination of relative position of points on
above or below the surface of earth by means of linear and angular
measurement. (Distance, elevation and direction). The process of
surveying completes in three stages namely taking a general view,
observation and measurement and presentation of data.
Objective of surveying
 To prepare a map to show the relative positions of the objects
on the earth surface.
 Map is drawn to some suitable scale.
 Shows the natural features such as towns, village, roads,
railways, river etc.
History
 Human civilization (property ownership)
 Egyptian - Construction of pyramid
 Roman- series of engineering project
 About 5000 years ago.
 In ancient Egypt when Nile River overflowed its banks and washed
out farms boundaries, boundaries were re-established by a rope
stretcher, or surveyor, through the application of simple geometry.
 The nearly perfect squareness and north-south orientation of the
Great Pyramid of Giza, built 2700 BC, affirm the Egyptians'
command of surveying.
 The Egyptian lands register (3000 BC).
 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte divided land in parcels.
 In 1780's William Roy began the principle of triangulation of
Britain.

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 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Bhesh Kumar Karki
 The main development took place in 19th century after invention
of telescope.
 Now-a-day magnetic compass, leveling instrument, theodolite,
EDM, GPS, total station etc.

Uses of surveying
 To prepare a topographical maps.
 To prepared a cadastral map showing the boundaries of fields,
houses and other properties.
 To prepare an engineering maps which shows engineering works
such as roads, railways, reservoirs, irrigation canal etc.
 To prepare military map.
 To prepare contour map.
 To prepare a geological map to determine areas including
underground resources.
 To prepare an archeological map.
Principle of surveying
General principle of surveying
1) Working from the whole to the part

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 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Bhesh Kumar Karki

 Main idea of working from whole to part is to prevent the

accumulation of error with less precision method.
 Sufficient number of points with high degree.
 Localize these errors within the frame work.

2) Location of point by measurement from two control points.

 At first two control points are selected and distances between them
is measured accurately.
 Then the location of the other control points can be made from
given control points.
 Here P & R - control points.

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 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Bhesh Kumar Karki
 Q - Finding out point.

3) Independent check
4) Consistency
5) Accuracy
6) Safe guarding
7) Scientific instrument handling.

SOME TRUE FACTS:

 Oblate spheroid shape of earth

 12 km long arc lying on earth surface is only 1 cm greater than the subtended chord.
 ∑ ℎ −∑ =
1 sec 195 ℎ

Classification of surveying:
A)Primary classification
B) Secondary classification

A. Primary classification.
1) Plane surveying.
2) Geodetic surveying.

1) Plane surveying
 Spheroid shape of earth neglected. Earth surface is assumed plane.
 Lines joining any two points is considered to be straight and angle
between these lines is taken as plane angle.
 Covers area only less than 260 km2 ( In some text 250 km2)
 Used for layouts of highways, railways, canal, boundary, bridge,
factory etc.
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 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Bhesh Kumar Karki
 Simple trigonometry is used.

2) Geodetic surveying
 Curvature of earth is taken into account.
 The line joining any two points is considered as curved line.
 Higher degree of precision
 Covers area larger than 260 km2 (some text > 250 km2)
 Angles between any two line is spherical angles and to solve
problems spherical trigonometry is used.
 Conducted by survey department.

B. Secondary classification.
i) Based on instruments
a. Chain surveying
b. Compass surveying
c. Plane table surveying
d. Theodolite surveying
e. Tachometric surveying
f. Photographic surveying

ii) Based on methods

a. Triangulation surveying
b. Traverse surveying

iii) Based on object

a. Geological surveying
b. Mine surveying
c. Archaeological surveying
d. Military surveying

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 Surveying –I
Lecture Notes: Chapter 1 - Introduction
Bhesh Kumar Karki
e. Engineering surveying

iv) Based on nature of field

a. Land surveying
 Topographical survey
 Cadastral survey
 City survey
b. Marine surveying
 Prediction of tides
 Determination of mean sea level
 Topographical map of shores
c. Astronomical surveying
 Used for determining absolute location i.e. latitudes of
different places on the surface of earth by making
observations to heavenly bodies
 Stars and sun

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