GdE 230

FUNDAMENTALS OF
SURVEYING

Prepared by:

Engr. John Ronald R. Fortuito

Instructor
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
Problem 1. A surveying student had recorded the following after repeated pacing:
First distance = 100 m Second distance = ?
No. of paces: 142, 145, 143, 146.5 No. of paces: 893.5, 896, 891.5, 897
Find the second distance in meters.
Solution:
Students pace factor = d / ave. pace = 100 / [(142+145+143+146.5)/4] = 0.694 m/pace
Students pace factor = second distance / ave. pace
Second distance = (students pace factor)(ave. pace)
Second distance = ( 0.694)([893.5+896+891.5+897]/4)
Second distance = ( 0.694)(894.5)
Second distance = 620 meters answer

Problem 2. A 100 m tape is suspended at the ends under a pull of 12 kg. It is also supported at 20 m
and 75 m marks. If the tape weighs 2.4 kg, determine the total correction due to sag.
Solution:
w = 2.4/100 = 0.024 0 75 100
20
( . ) ( ) ( . ) ( ) ( . ) ( )
Cs = = ( )
+ ( )
+ ( )
Cs = 1.33 x 10-3 + 0.028 + 2.604 x 10-3
Cs = 0.032 m answer
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
Problem 3. A 50 m tape was standardized and was found to be 0.0042 m too long than the
standard length at an observed temperature of 58°C and a pull of 15 kilos. Determine the standard
temperature. Coefficient of linear expansion is 0.0000116 m/°C.
Solution:
Ct = L (t1 – t0) k
+0.0042 = 50 (58 - t0)(0.0000116)
+0.0042 = 0.03364 – 0.00058 t0
t0 = 50.76°C answer

Problem 4. Rework Problem 3. The same tape was used to measure a certain distance and was
recorded to be 673.92 m long at an observed temp of 68°C and a pull of 15 kilos. Determine the true
length of the line.
Solution:
Ct = L (t1 – t0) k Ct = 50 (68 – 50.76)(0.0000116) = 0.01 (tape is too long)
+0.0042 = 50 (58 - t0)(0.0000116) total correction = (673.92)(0.01)/50 = 0.1348 m
+0.0042 = 0.03364 – 0.00058 t0 Corrected horizontal distance = 673.92 + 0.1348
t0 = 50.76°C Corrected horizontal distance = 674.055 answer
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
Problem 5. A distance measured with a 50 m steel tape is recorded as 696.41 m. The tape is known
to be 0.015 m too short. What is the correct length of the line?
Solution:
Total error = 0.015(696.41) / 50 = 0.2089 m
Correct length of line = 696.41 – 0.2089
Correct length of line = 696.2011 m answer

Problem 6. A rectangular field was measured using a 100 m tape which was actually 10 cm too
short. The recorded area was 2500 sq.m. What is the true area of the field?
Solution:
A = true area L’ = true length of tape
A’ = erroneous area L = erroneous length of tape
( )
=
( )
( . )
=
( )
A = 2495 sq.m. answer
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
Problem 7. The distance between two points is 36o m. If the line is to be laid out by 100 m tape
which is 0.02 m too long. Determine the correct length to be laid out.

Solution:
Correction = 0.02 (360/100)
Correction = 0.072 m
Correct length to be laid out = 360 – 0.072
Correct length to be laid out = 359.928 m answer

Problem 8. A distance was measured with a 100 m steel tape and found to be 632.40 m long. The
tape is then compared with a standard and discovered to be 0.08 m too short. Determine the true
length of the line.

Solution:
Total error = 0.08 (632.40 / 100 ) = 0.506 m
True length = 632.40 – 0.506
True length = 631.89 m. answer
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
Problem 9. A line was determined to be 2395.25 m when measured with a 30-m steel tape
supported throughout its length under a pull of 4 kg and at a mean temperature of 35°C. Determine
the correct length of the line, the tape used is of standard length at 20°C under a pull of 5 kg. The
cross-sectional area of the tape is 0.03 sq. cm, its coefficient of linear expansion is 0.0000116/1°C,
and the modulus of elasticity of steel is 2.0 x 106 kg/cm2.
Given:
L = 2395.25 m T = 35°C A = 0.03 cm2
NL = 30 m Ts = 20°C C = 0.0000116/1°C
Pm = 4 kg Ps = 5 kg E = 2.0 x 106 kg/cm2
Solution:
a) Ct = C L (T – Ts ) = 0.0000116 (2395.25) (35-20)
= + 0.42 m (correction for the measured length due to temperature. The positive
sign indicates that tape is too long)

b) Cp = =
2.0 x

= - 0.04 m (correction for the measured line due to tension. The negative sign
indicates that the tape is too short)
c) L’ = L ± Ct ± Cp = 2395.25 + 0.42 – 0.04
= 2395.63 m (Length of measured line corrected for effects of temperature and pull)
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
Problem 10. The angles about a point Q have the following observed values: 130°15’20”, 142°37’30”,
and 87°07’40”. Determine the most probable value of each angle.
Solution:
a) Determining the correction to be applied:
Sum = θ1 + θ2 + θ3 = 130°15’20” + 142°37’30” + 87°07’40”
Sum = 360°00’30” ( sum of the angles observed about point Q)
Disc = 360°- 360°00’30”
= - 30” (discrepancy in the observation)
Note: The sum of the angles observed about point Q is subtracted from 360° (the expected correct
sum) to determine the discrepancy.
Corr = Disc / n = -30” / 3
= - 10” (correction to be subtracted from each observed angles)
b) Determining the Most Probable Values: c) Solution Check:
θ'1 = θ1 ± Corr = 130°15’20” – 10” θ'1 + θ'2 + θ'3 = 360°00’00”
= 130°15’10” 130°15’10” + 142°37’20” + 87°07’30” = 360°00’00”
θ'2 = θ2 ± Corr = 142°37’30” – 10” 360°00’00” = 360°00’00”
= 142°37’20” (checks!)
θ'3 = θ3 ± Corr = 87°07’40” – 10” Note: since the two quantities are equal, the above
= 87°07’30” solution is assumed to be correct.