Department of Civil

&
Environmental Engineering

L1 –Surveying Instruments
CENG 231
Surveying
Surveying Definition

Surveying, which is also

interchangeably called
geomatics, has traditionally
been defined as:
The science, art, and
technology of determining
the relative positions of
points above, on, or
beneath the Earth’s surface,
or of establishing such
points.
 History of Surveying
The oldest historical records in
existence today that bear directly
on the subject of surveying state
that this science began in Egypt.
Herodotus recorded that
Sesostris (about 1400 B.C.)
divided the land of Egypt into
plots for the purpose of taxation.
These early surveyors were
called rope-stretchers, since their
measurements were made with
ropes having markers at unit
distances.
As a consequence of this work, early Greek thinkers developed the science
of geometry. Their advance, however, was chiefly along the lines of pure science.
Heron stands out prominently for applying science to surveying in about
120 B.C.
 Purpose of Surveying
Purpose:
1) Determine horizontal position of points
2) Determine vertical position of points
3) Determine the length of lines
4) Determine the directions of lines
5) Determine the position of lines
6) Determine areas of tracks
7) Determine configuration of the earth
8) Planning of measurement of construction works
9) Production of maps, charts and reports
10)Positioning and monitoring physical features and engineering works
 Importance of Surveying
Surveying continues to play an extremely important role in many branches
of engineering.
For example, surveys are required to plan, construct, and maintain highways, railroads, rapid-
transit systems, buildings, bridges, missile ranges, launching sites, tracking stations, tunnels,
canals, irrigation ditches, dams, drainage works, urban land subdivisions, water supply and
sewage systems, pipelines, and mine shafts.

All engineers must know the limits of accuracy possible in construction ,plant
design and layout, and manufacturing processes, even though someone else
may do the actual surveying.
 Classification of Surveying
Two general classifications of surveys are geodetic and plane.
They differ principally in the assumptions on which the computations are based,
although field measurements for geodetic surveys are usually performed to a higher
order of accuracy than those for plane surveys.

A. Plane Surveying:
It is used when we neglect the ellipsoidal shape of
earth.
All elevations are referenced to the mean level of
the sea.
It is used when very high accuracy isn’t needed.
B. Geodetic Surveying:
It is used when we consider the ellipsoidal shape of
the earth.
It is used for very precise and large surveys.
 Types of Surveying
1) Property surveys:
establish property lines and property corner markers.
2) Control surveys:
surveys establish a network of horizontal and vertical monuments that serve as a
reference framework for initiating other surveys.
3) Construction surveys:
provide line, grade, control elevations, horizontal positions, dimensions, and
configurations for construction operation.
4) Topographic surveys:
determine locations of natural and artificial features and elevations used in map
making
 Types of Surveying
5) Hydrographic surveys:
surveys define shorelines and depths of lakes, streams, oceans, reservoirs, and
other bodies of water.
6) Photogrammetric surveys:
uses cameras that are carried usually in airplanes to obtain images.
7) Route surveying:
made to plan, design, and construct highways, rail roads, pipelines, and other
linear projects.
8) As-built surveys:
document the precise final locations and layouts of engineering works, and
record any design changes that may have been incorporated into the
construction.
 Used Tools
Instruments used in surveying:
Tape (Chain):
A tape is a graduated flexible ribbon made
of various types of material. It is used for
measuring distances.

Chaining Pin:
A Chain pin is steel composed.
It is used for temporarily marking points on
the ground.
Plumb bob:
It is a pointed metallic weight that hangs by
a string.
It is used for the vertical projection of a
point on one level to another level.
 Used Tools
Engineering level:
It is a telescope that rotates about a vertical axis.
It has a spilled leveling tube attached to it.
By using it we will be able to find the difference in elevation between
points. It is mounted on a pole and is used it with a leveling rod.
Leveling Rod:
It is a graduated rod usually it is around 4
to 5 meters in length.
It is graduated in cm and made of wood
and aluminum.
We use it in conjunction with the
engineering level to determine the
difference in the elevation of two points.

Range Pole:
It is a steel or wooden or aluminum rod.
It is painted in bands of white and red.
It is used as a sighting rod in angular
measurement
and distance measurement.(2m high)
 Used Tools
Theodolite:
It is a telescope that rotates around a vertical axis.
It is used ideally for measuring horizontal and
vertical angles and sometimes for distances.

Total station:
A very modern theodolite.
It combines in it an electronic theodolite where it
measures the angles electronically.
It has an EDM (electronic distance measurement)
which measures the distances electronically by a
press of a button.
It can measure distances.
It has a microprocessor that will do all the calculation
for us.
 Distance Measurements
(Horizontal Distances)
Pacing:
Walking and counting the steps.
Error: 1/50 to 1/100

Odometer: It is when we can convert the number of revolutions of the wheel to a

distance.
One disadvantage it only reads surface distances.
Error: 1/200

Tachometry (Stadia):
When we measure distances using a theodolite.
Error: 1/500
2m
Sub tense Bar
Tan (a)= 1/ L AB
When we know α we directly get AB LAB ?
Error: 1/3000
a
Theodolite
 Distance Measurements
(Horizontal Distances)
Taping/ Chaining:
When we use chain/tape to measure the distances.
Accuracy increases, Error 1/1000
Laser Measures:
Usually they are Used for internal measures.
EDM (electronic distance measurement):
Most advanced.
Most accurate.
We use this device to send signals to reflector prism and consider temperature
and pressure.
It determines time of signal to go to prism and comes back.
 Distance Measurements
(Horizontal Distances)
Example:
We do chaining with a steep slope to measure the horizontal distance.
We do it in steps in small distances line stairs to get AB’.
This Method is called Breaking Tape
AB’

H=LAB’ cos (θ)

θ
 Distance Measurements
(Horizontal Distances)
Example: Slope Measurements
Measure L and θ Example:
d= L cos (θ) L=290.43 ft
or Elevation of A = 865.2 ft
d= 𝐿2 − 𝐻2 Elevation of B = 981.4 ft
Then d=266.171 ft

θ
A
d