INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING PRECISION – refers to the degree of refinement and consistency of measurement.

And
indicates how close measurements to each other.
ERRORS
THEORY OF PROBABILITY
- Difference between true value and a measured value of quantity
- Deviation of an observation or calculation from the true value PROBABILITY

- Number of times something will probably occur over the range of possible
Error = True Value – Measured Value
occurrences
MISTAKES - Refers only to accidental errors and that all mistakes and systematic errors have
been eliminated
- Inaccuracies in measurements because of carelessness, inattention, poor
judgment, and improper execution MOST PROBABLE VALUE
- Sometimes called gross errors
- Average of a series of measurements made under similar conditions
TYPES OF ERRORS
Mpv =
1. SYSTEMATIC ERRORS
- Will always have the same sign and magnitude as long as field conditions remain RESIDUAL
constant and unchanged
- Deviation; difference between any measured quantity and its most probable value
- Also called cumulative error; will repeat itself in other measurements
R = X – mpv
2. ACCIDENTAL ERRORS
- Occurrence is matter of chance and are likely to be both positive and negative and PROBABLE ERROR
may tend to compensate for each other - Quantity which, when added to and subtracted from mpv, defines a range within
- Caused by factors beyond the control of the surveyor and are present in all which there is a 50% chance that th true value of the measure quantity lies inside
surveying measurements the limits set
SOURCES OF ERRORS

1. INSTRUMENTAL ERRORS – due to imperfections of the instruments

2. NATURAL ERRORS – caused by nature and beyond the control of man
3. PERSONAL ERRORS – caused by human limitations

ACCURACY VS PRECISION RELATIVE (ERROR) PRECISION

ACCURACY – indicates how close a given measurement to the absolute or true value - Expressed by a fraction having the magnitude of the error in the numerator and
the magnitude of a measured quantity in the denominator
Accuracy = True value – Most probable value
WEIGHTED OBSERVATIONS

- Many surveying measurements are made under different circumstances and

conditions and therefore have different degrees of reliability

INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ERRORS

- To determine how final result is affected by quantities subjected to accidental

errors

1. SUMMATION OF ERRORS

2. PRODUCT OF ERRORS

HORIZONTAL DISANCE MEASUREMENT

- Purpose of the measurement

- Required precision
- Cost

DISTANCE