CHAPTER-1: INTRODUCTION

Definition of surveying: surveying is the art of making measurements to determine the relative positions
of points on the surface of the earth in order that the shape of any portion of the earth’s surface may be
ascertained and can be shown by a map or a plan.

Object of survey: The primary object of survey is to prepare a map or a plan. The representation of a
survey work is called a map if the scale is small, whereas it is called a plan if the scale is large.

Primary division of surveying: The primary divisions of surveying are

a. Geodetic surveying: It is also called trigonometrical surveying. In this type of

surveying, the curvature of earth is taken into account.
b. Plane surveying: In this type of surveying, the curvature of earth is not taken into
account and instead, the surface is considered to be plane. As a rough estimate, a
surveying can be considered to be plane if the area to be surveyed is less than 250
Km2.

Other classification of surveying: Surveying may be classified in different ways.

1. Classification based on nature of the field of survey

a. Land survey
b. Marine or navigation survey
c. Astronomical survey.
2. Classification based on object of survey
a. Archaeological survey
b. Geological survey
c. Mine survey
d. Military survey
3. Classification based on methods employed in survey
a. Triangulation survey
b. Traverse survey
4. Classification based on instrument employed
a. Chain survey
b. Compass survey
c. Theodolite survey
d. Plane table survey
e. Tacheometric survey etc.

Note: Land surveys may be further sub-divided as

a. Topographical survey – To determine the natural features of a country such as hills, valleys,
rivers, woods etc.
b. Cadastral survey – To determine additional details such as boundaries of fields, house etc.
 c. City survey - For laying out plots and constructing streets, water supply systems, sewers etc.
d. Engineering survey –For collecting data for the design of engineering works such as roads,
railways, reservoirs etc.

Engineering surveys may be further sub-divided into

a. Reconnaissance survey
b. Preliminary survey
c. Location survey

Principle of survey: The two fundamental principles of survey are

a. To work from whole to part.
b. To fix a new station by at least two independent process.

Factors to be considered by a surveyor before commencing of a work for precision in

surveying
 The purpose of the survey.
 The degree of precision required for that purpose.
 The nature and extent of the country
 The sources of error.
 The time available for both field and office work.
 The cost of the survey

Work of a surveyor:

 Field work: The field work consist of

 Measuring distances and angles
 Locating the details
 Recording the field notes
 Determining the relative altitudes of points
 Setting out boundaries, buildings, roads, culverts, bridge etc.
 Office work: The office work consist of
 The preparation of plans and sections from the data collected in the field
 Computations of areas and volumes
 Design of structures
  Care and adjustment of instruments: The surveying instruments have to handle with
great care in order that the various parts may not become loose or strained. Different
nstruments have different operation procedure and so, the surveyor must have to know that
before going to use a particular instrument.

Scales:

 Small scale: While we are going to draw a map of a district or City etc, we must have to
consider a scale in such a way that a small line on the map will represent a very long distance
in field.
eg. 1:1000000, Here, 1 cm of the map will represent 1000000 cm on the field.

So, we can conclude that a representation is called a map if the scale is small.

 Large scale: The scale which we are going to use for plotting a plan is known as large
scale.
eg. A representation is said to be a plan if the scale is large. Plan of a building.
 CHAPTER 2: MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCES

There are two methods of measuring distances

A. Direct method
B. Computative method

Direct method
 Pacing: Here the no of paces are counted and by multiplying it by the average length
of one pace, we can get the required distances.
 Passometer: This is the same method as no. 1, but the only difference is that, here the
no of paces are recorded by instrument, instead of by a man himself.
 Pedometer: This instrument registers the distance traversed by the person carrying it.
 Odometer: This is an instrument which is fitted to the wheel of any vehicle and it
register the number of revolutions of the wheel. Now by multiplying it by the
circumference, we can get the distance.
 Speedometer:The speedometer of an automobile may be used to measure distances
approximately.
 Perambulator: This instrument resembles to a single wheel provided with fork and a
handle. It is wheeled along a line and the distance traversed is automatically registered
on the dials.
 Chaining: Here the distance is measured with the help of a chain or a tape.

Measurement of distance by chain

A chain is a mild steel wire 4mm in diameter and consist of 100/150 numbers of links. A metric chain is
either 20 m or 30 m in length.
Other than metric chain, following are the different types of chain used in different countries.

 Gunter’s chain: It is 66 ft long and is divided into 100 links. It is very convenient for measuring
distances in miles, furlong etc.
 Revenue chain: It is 33 ft long and is divided into 16 links. It is commonly used for measuring
fields in cadastral survey.
 Engineer’s chain: It is 100ft long and divided into 100 nos of links. It is used in all engineering
survey.

Testing of chain: The length of a chain is tested by comparing it with

a. A chain having standard length.
b. With a steel tape

Adjustment of chain: Due to repeated use of a chain, it may be too long or too short.
If the chain is too long, then it may be adjusted

a. By closing up the joints of the connecting rings that may have opened out.
b. By hammering back to shape the elongated rings
c. By replacing some of the worn rings by new ones
d. By removing one or more of the small rings, if required.
e. By the adjustable links at the handles.

If the chain is too short, then it may be corrected

a. By straightening any bent links.

b. By flattening some of the small connecting rings.
c. By replacing a few of the rings by those of the larger size.
d. By means of the adjustable links at the handles.
e. By inserting new rings as required.

Note: The adjustment of the chain should be as far as possible, be effected symmetrically on either side of
the middle point so that the position of the central tag remains unaltered.