MEASUREMENT OF

HORIZONTAL DISTANCES.
In plane surveying, the distance between two points
means the horizontal distance.
 Pacing
Accuracy : 1/100

Tacheometry / stadia
Accuracy : 1/100

Tapping
Accuracy (standard) : 1/5000

Electronic Distance Measurement

Accuracy (standard) : 1/100000 or better

Various methods to measure distances.

 PACING
■ Pacing is the process of walking the distance and counting the
number of steps “paces” to cover the distance.
■ Distance : Number of steps taken x one pace factor.
■ Advantage : It doesn’t require any specialized equipment.
Suitable for a field work when high accuracy is not required.
■ Disadvantage : It requires being able to walk the route.
■ The number of pace can be counted by the use of pedometer.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-0-387-
36915-0_12
 TACHEOMETRY/STADIA
■ Stadia works because of the trigonomic principle of similar
triangle.
■ Stadia readings can be taken with theodolites, transits, and
levels.

■ Distance (L) = 100 x l (accuracy : 1/100) ■ Distance (L) = 100 x l x cos2⍬v

https://engineering.purdue.edu/~asm215/topics/stadia.htm
l
 TAPPING
■ Applying a known length of tape to a line
■ Historical Tapping Equipment : Poles, Gunter’s chain,
engineer’s chain, wires.
■ Current Tapping Equipment : Surveyor’s and Engineer’s
Steel Tapes
■ Other Equipment : two plump bobs, line rods, taping
pins, hand level (for hilly ground)

https://engineering.purdue.edu/~asm215/topics/linemeas.
html
MEASURING HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
BY TAPE
■ For extreme precision, horizontal distances can be obtained by measuring along the
sloping ground and computing the horizontal distances
■ For moderate precision, tape can be stretched directly on the ground. In some
occasion, plumb bobs may be needed.
ERROR IN TAPPING
■ Systematic errors in experimental observations usually come from the measuring
instruments. This can be due to erroneous length, temperature, tension or pull, sag,
slope and wrong alignment.
■ Random Errors : human error
Electronic Distance Measurement
■ Electronic distance measuring instrument
is a surveying instrument for measuring
distance electronically between two
points through electromagnetic waves.
■ Waves microwaves, infrared waves and
visible light waves are useful for the
distance measurement
■ The time taken by the wave to travel this
2x distance may be measured and
knowing the velocity of wave, the distance
may be calculated

https://theconstructor.org/surveying/electronic-distance-
measurement-instrument/6576/
 s

⍬
H = s x cos ⍬
H
Reduction of Slopes by vertical angles