ST.

JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Welcome Aboard! This course covers an understanding of surveying conducted

in actual field works and applications of the theory and practices being
demonstrated, as well as the adjustments and corrections of errors from the
actual field data gathered. Different types of surveying will be discussed to give
an initial idea of how it is done in practice. Throughout this course, you will be
able to grasp the work of a Geodetic Engineer and will be able to appreciate the
significance of surveying in the marketplace. Full understanding of the
concepts and processes in this course is its ultimate goal for this is the
foundation of all the surveying courses you are going to take.

SCP-TOPICS: PRELIM PERIOD TOPICS

Week 1
Introduction to Surveying, the Instruments and Fieldwork
Lesson Title
Operations
Understand the concept of surveying and fieldwork
Learning Outcome(s) operations, and familiarize the different instruments and field
notes.
Time Frame

At SJPIICD, I Matter!

LEARNING INTENT!
Terms to Ponder
This section is where you can have a better understanding of the definition of
terminologies used in this topic and throughout the simplified course pack of
General Surveying 1. You may refer to this section in case of difficulties in
understanding the content of the course pack. I suggest you also take these
terms by heart to store the definitions in your long-term memory and use them
in the next courses that you will take.

Surveying is the art of determining the positions of points on or near the

using measurements in the three elements of space. (Rayner
and Schmidt)

Plane surveying is that type of surveying in which the earth is considered to

be a flat surface, and where distances and areas involved are of a limited extent
that the exact shape of the earth is disregarded.

Geodetic Surveying is the type of surveying of a wide extent that takes into
account the spheroidal shape of the earth.

Direct measurement is a comparison of the measured quantity with a

standard measuring unit or units employed for measuring a quantity of that
kind.

Indirect measurement is made when it is not possible to apply a measuring

instrument directly to a quantity to be measured.

Essential Content
WHAT IS SURVEYING?

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

One of the oldest arts practiced by man is surveying. From the earliest times, it
has always been necessary to mark boundaries and divide tracts of land.

According to the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM),

determine the relative position of points or physical and cultural details above,
on, or beneath the surface of the Earth, and to depict them in a usable form, or to
establish the pos

Surveying is a varied and exciting career that requires students to learn and
use design skills, scientific measurement skills, and interpersonal and
management skills as well as the ability to transform data collected in the field
into information that can be used in land management and planning.

TWO GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF SURVEYING

Plane Surveying
is of wide scope and application
employed in various surveys undertaken in engineering,
scientific, commercial, architectural, geographic,
navigational, and exploratory work
applicable to areas of come thousands of square kilometers

Geodetic Surveying
employ principles of geodesy
are of high precisions
related calculations involve the solving of equations derived
from advanced mathematics particularly spherical
trigonometry, calculus, and some applications of the theory
of least squares.

COMMON TYPES OF SURVEYS

Control Surveys provide horizontal and vertical positions of points to

which supplementary surveys are adjusted
Cadastral Surveys usually closed surveys which are undertaken in
urban and rural locations to determine and define property lines and
boundaries, corners, and areas
Topographic Surveys made for determining the shape of the ground,
and the location and elevation of natural and artificial features upon it
Hydrographic Surveys surveying streams, lakes, reservoirs, harbors,
ocean, and other bodies of water
Mine Surveys performed to determine the position of all underground
excavations and surface mine structures, to fix surface boundaries of
mining claims, determine geological formations, calculate excavated
volumes, and establish lines and grades for other related mining work
Photogrammetric Surveys (Aerial Surveys) makes use of photographs
taken with specially designed cameras either from airplanes or ground
stations
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) carried out using remote sensors
and light reflected by lasers to measure distances

TYPES OF SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

A land surveyor uses instruments to make a precise measurement of the

s surface. From determining property boundaries to preparing
construction sites, surveyors depend on certain equipment to do their
professions properly.

Below are some of the surveying instruments and their uses.

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Chains and Compass Clinometer Level

Tapes used to used to can be used to
used to determine the measure the read an
measure linear direction of angle or elevation and
lines and in elevation of determine
distance in
differences in
surveying calculating slopes
elevation
angles between between two
lines points

Transit Theodolite Total Station

measures horizontal its uses are the electronic theodolite
and vertical angles, same with the used for more
approximate transit though accurate angle and
distances, theodolite is distance
differences in recognized as the measurement, and
elevation by direct more accurate of the coordinate
leveling, and two measurements
direction by the
built-in compass
box

Prisms and Poles, Tripods, and

Reflectors
used to secure control
points at a comfortable
and accessible height
for pinpoint accuracy
Mounts
used for all kinds of
surveying equipment,
including prisms, laser,
and levels, to ensure
solid, stable readings

SURVEYING MEASUREMENTS

According to Britannica, measurement is the process of associating numbers

with physical quantities and phenomena. Measurement is fundamental to the
sciences; to engineering, construction, and other technical fields; and to almost
all everyday activities.

In surveying, angles, elevations, times, lines, areas, and volumes are the
measurements being focused on. Also, measurements in surveying may be

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

made directly or indirectly. But just as how imperfect the world is, any kind of
measurement, even surveying measurements, is bound to limitations of
instruments and errors inherent in the measuring process.

The first thing you should learn in taking up this course and aspiring to
become a Geodetic Engineer in the future is that there is no such thing as
exact or true measurement and the true value of a measured quantity is never
known. Whether you conduct a survey with the utmost care and attention,
measurements are and will always be imperfect. Nonetheless, having inevitable
errors in the measurements will not make you less of a surveyor. In fact,
according to La Putt, the best surveyor is not the one who makes the accurate
and precise measurements, but the one who can choose and apply the required
or appropriate degree of precision.

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Linear, Area, and Volume Measurements

a. Length: kilometer, meter, centimeter, millimeter, etc.

b. Area: square meter, hectare, acre, etc.
c. Volume: cubic meter, liter, milliliter

Angular Measurements

a. Sexagesimal units: degree, minute, second

b. Centesimal unit: grads

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Rules for Significant Figures

1. All non-zero numbers are significant. The number 33.2 has three significant
figures because all of the digits present are non-zero.
2. Zeros between two non-zero digits are significant. 2051 has four significant
figures. The zero is between a 2 and a 5.
3. Leading zeros are not significant. They're nothing more than "placeholders."
The number 0.54 has only two significant figures. 0.0032 also has two
significant figures. All of the zeros are leading.
4. Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal is significant. There are four
significant figures in 92.00.
92.00 is different from 92: a scientist who measures 92.00 milliliters knows his value to the
nearest 1/100th milliliter; meanwhile, his colleague who measured 92 milliliters only knows his
value to the nearest 1 milliliter. It's important to understand that "zero" does not mean "nothing."
Zero denotes actual information, just like any other number. You cannot tag on zeros that aren't
certain to belong there.

5. Trailing zeros in a whole number with the decimal shown is significant.

Placing a decimal at the end of a number is usually not done. By
convention, however, this decimal indicates a significant zero. For example,
"540." indicates that the trailing zero is significant; there are three
significant figures in this value.
6. Trailing zeros in a whole number with no decimal shown is not significant.
Writing just "540" indicates that the zero is not significant, and there are
only two significant figures in this value.
7. Exact numbers have an infinite number of significant figures. This rule
applies to numbers that are definitions. For example, 1 meter = 1.00 meters
= 1.0000 meters = 1.0000000000000000000 meters, etc.
8. For a number in scientific notation: N x 10x, all digits comprising N are
significant by the first 6 rules; "10" and "x" are not significant. 5.02 x 104
has three significant figures: "5.02." "10 and "4" are not significant.
Rule 8 provides the opportunity to change the number of significant figures in a value by
manipulating its form. For example, let's try writing 1100 with THREE significant figures. By rule

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

6, 1100 has TWO significant figures; its two trailing zeros are not significant. If we add a decimal
to the end, we have 1100., with FOUR significant figures (by rule 5.) But by writing it in scientific
notation: 1.10 x 103, we create a THREE-significant-figure value.

One Two Three Four Five

Significant Significant Significant Significant Significant
Figure Figures Figures Figures Figures
100 24 365 7654 12345
9 0.020 12.3 0.00006712 300.00
0.001 3.6 100. 15.00 0.86740
8000 0.00065 61.0 0.8742 525540000
5x102 3.9x10-5 7.64x10-8 8.320x103 1.9567x10-4

SURVEYING FIELD NOTES

The only reliable and permanent record of the data gathered in the field is
found in the surveying field notes. Keeping field notes calls for more attention
and has great importance and use in the work of a surveyor. This is the basis
of the information a survey team can produce and be of use for specific
purposes. Unless written and recorded in a well-ordered way with complete and
correct data, field notes will be useless.

The information of surveying field notes is usually interpreted in the office and
is formed into useful presentations like maps, reports, or computations. These
are also kept for future reference in case of conflicts or confirmation of data
gathered. Just like how courts use pieces of evidence in the case they are into,
surveying notes serve that way.

Field notes have five common types that are kept in practice.

Sketches drawn freehand and of liberal size

Tabulations conveys the required information in a simple and definite
manner
Explanatory Notes provide a written description of what has been done in
the field
Computations usually made algebraically by the use of simple arithmetical
steps and trigonometric functions
Combination of all practice used in most extensive surveys is a
combination of all types of notes

Aside from the practice of indicating the above-mentioned notes in a field

some important information that should be found in it.

Title of the Field Work or Name of the Project

Time of Day and Date
Weather Conditions
Names of Group Members and Their Designations
List of Equipment

Indicating the above-listed information will be of big help in tracing and

determining the mistakes that might be encountered after the completion of
work, and in the process of interpreting and analyzing the data.

FIELD SURVEY PARTY

Any kind of work involves people to make a certain project operational. Survey
works also have a group of people, considered as a team, in conducting surveys
and should work hand-in-hand to produce an informational output may it be
for study or actual project purposes. The following are the composition, duties,
and responsibilities of a field survey party:

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 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

Chief of party responsible for the overall direction, supervision, and

operational control of the survey party
Assistant chief of party assists the chief of party
Instrumentman duty is to set up, level, and operate surveying instruments
Technician responsible for the use and operation of all electronic
instruments required in the fieldwork operation
Computer duty is to perform all computations of survey data and works
out necessary computational checks required
Recorder duty is to keep a record of all sketches, drawings,
measurements, and observations are taken or needed for a fieldwork
operation
Head tapeman responsible for the accuracy and speed of all linear
measurements with a tape
Rear tapeman assist the head tapeman
Flagman duty is to hold the flagpole or range pole at selected points as
directed by the instrumentman
Rodman duty is to hold the stadia or leveling rod when sights are to be
taken on it
Pacer duty is to check all linear measurements made by the tapeman
Axeman/Lineman duty is to clear the line of sight of trees, brush, and
other obstructions
Aidman duty is to render first aid treatment to members of the survey
party in case of snake and insect bites, accidents, and other cases involving
their health, safety, and well-being
Utilitymen duties are to render other forms of assistance needed by the
survey party

In the next lesson, we will focus on how to set up some surveying instruments
and will practice the basic things being done in field go deeper
with the concept of surveying particularly the horizontal and vertical
positioning and apply the necessary adjustments needed for the correction of
data gathered.

SELF-SUPPORT: You can click the URL Search Indicator below to help you further understand the lessons.

Search Indicator
Augustyn, A. (2019). Measurement. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/technology/measurement

Baseline Equipment Company. (2020). Types of Surveying Equipment & Their Uses.
Retrieved from https://www.baselineequipment.com/surveying-
equipment-types

Civil Simplified. (2016). What is Surveying? Retrieved from

https://www.civilsimplified.com/resources/what-is-surveying

Columbia University in the City of New York. Significant Figures. Retrieved from
https://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/mmt/frontiers/web/chapter_5/66
65.html

Engineer Supply. (2006). Transits, Theodolites, Total Stations, and Levels. Retrieved
from https://www.engineersupply.com/Transits-Theodolites-Total-
Stations-Levels.aspx

La Putt, J.P. (2013). Elementary surveying lab manual. Baguio Research and
Publishing Center.

SCP GE 100 | 9
 ST. JOHN PAUL II COLLEGE OF DAVAO
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Physically Detached Yet Academically Attached

La Putt, J.P. (2014). Elementary surveying 3rd edition. Baguio Research and
Publishing Center.

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