TOPOGRAPHIC

SURVEYING
Lesson 8

Lesson 8
 TOPOGRAPHY
• Can be variously defined as the shape, configuration,
roughness, or three-dimensional quality of earth’s
surface.
• Topographic maps are made to show this information,
together with the location of artificial and natural
features of the earth, including buildings, highways,
streams, lakes, forests, and so on.
• A detailed topographic map provides much definite
and exact information which can be used as a basis
for various purposes.
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

SPOT HEIGHTS / SPOT

ELEVATIONS
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

HACHURES
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

FORM LINES
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

CONTOUR LINES OR
ISOHYPES
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

RELIEF OR TERRAIN
MODELS
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

LAYER TINTING SYSTEM

 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

RIDGE & STREAM LINING

 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

SHADING
 DIFFERENT METHODS IN
REPRESENTING RELIEF

SUB-AQUEOUS
CONTOURS
CONTOURS
CONTOURS

Feathering
PLOTTING CONTOUR LINES
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING
HOW TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS ARE MADE…
• One way is to use a total station and a data collector.
• A rover will stand at points in the field, while the
operator at the tripod will collect points with the
total stations and save them on the data collector
• Maps consist of contour lines that show elevations,
and symbols that represent the other natural and
cultural features.
• These contour lines are determined by points that
are surveyed in the field.
Point Selection for Topographic Surveys

• Points density allows an accurate plot of contour

lines.
• Different conditions call different point densities.
• Points should also be chosen along hills or sharp
changes in elevation to make break lines.
• Point can also be used to show where monuments
are in the field.
Why do we use
Topographic Maps?
• Topographic Maps have many
applications that span several
disciplines.
1.Engineers and Planners: find
efficient locations for highways,
railroads, canals, pipelines,
transmission lines, reservoirs and
other facilities.
2.Foresters: locate access-road or
haul-roads, fire control routes,
observation towers.
3.Geologists: investigate mineral
oil, water, and other resources.
4.Archeologists, Geographers,
Scientists: numerous other uses.
LiDAR
How Does LiDAR Remote Sensing Work- Light Detection and
Ranging
 METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
• OBSOLETE METHODS
1. TRANSIT-STADIA or THEODOLITE-STADIA: the classical or historical method of
gathering topographic data, the necessary measurements were made in the
field, recorded in the field book, and then plotted on paper in the office.
Become obsolete due to modern equipment.

s - stadia interval
s = upper reading – lower
reading

Note:
f/ i = K (stadia interval factor) 100
(c + f) (stadia constant) (0.8 – 1.2
ft; average value of 1 ft.
(.18 – 0.43 m) – 0.3 m

𝐻= 𝐾𝑠+𝐶
 METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
The rod is to
• OBSOLETE METHODS the line of sight.
1. TRANSIT-STADIA or THEODOLITE-STADIA
𝑯 =(𝑲𝒔+ 𝑪)𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶
𝑽 =( 𝑲𝒔+ 𝑪) 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜶

The rod is vertically

aligned to the
𝑯 =𝑲𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐 𝜶 +𝑪 cos 𝜶 𝑯 =( 𝑲𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 + 𝑪 ) ( 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 ) ground.
𝟏
𝑽= 𝑲𝒔 ( 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐 𝜶)+ 𝑪 sin 𝛼 𝑽 =( 𝑲𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜶 + 𝑪 ) ( 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜶 )
𝟐
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
• OBSOLETE METHODS
1. TRANSIT-STADIA or THEODOLITE-STADIA
𝟏
𝑯 =𝑲𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐 𝜶 +𝑪 cos 𝜶 𝑽=
𝟐
𝑲𝒔 (𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜶)+ 𝑪 sin 𝛼

ROD VERTICAL ELEVATION HORIZONTAL ELEVATION

STA. AZIMUTH ANGLE DIFFERENCE DISTANCE
INTERCEPT (S) (α) (V) (H) On D

@ C1 Elevation = 207.30, HI = 4.7 BS on D (K=100, C = 0)

1 27° 08’ 1.45 -11° 05’ -27.35 ft 140 ft 179.95 ft
2 51° 56’ 2.60 -3° 06’ -14.04 ft 259 ft 193.26 ft
3 77° 05’ 1.30 -14° 20’ -31.18 ft 122 ft 176.12 ft
4 95° 00’ 1.70 -10° 50’ -31.38 ft 164 ft 175.92ft
5 127° 58’ 2.97 -3° 41’ -19.04 ft 296 ft 188.26 ft
6 161° 20’ 0.75 -4° 50’ -6.30 ft 74 ft 201.00 ft
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
1. TRANSIT-STADIA or THEODOLITE-STADIA
Example 1: A survey party proceeded to their job as follows. A transit with
horizontal line of sight is set up at A and the following data were observed. (C=0.3)
ROD READINGS
STA. STA. HORIZONTAL
OCC. OBS. DISTANCE (m) LOWER MIDDLE UPPER

B 60 0.385 0.690 0.990

A
C 100 0.190 0.695 1.197

Then the transit was moved to a point D and the observedROD

values were as follows:
READINGS
STA. STA. AZIMUTH VERTICAL
OCC. OBS. ANGLE LOWER MIDDLE UPPER

E 135° 3°30’ 0.375 1.330 2.280

D
F 196° -4°20’ 1.230 1.630 2.035

Compute the following:

2. Stadia interval factor (K) of the transit
3. Horizontal Distance, DE, DF, and EF
4. The difference in elevation between E & F.
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
ROD READINGS ROD READINGS
STA. STA. HORIZONTAL STA. STA.
AZIMUTH
VERTICAL
OCC. OBS. DISTANCE (m) LOWER MIDDLE UPPER OCC. OBS. ANGLE
LOWER MIDDLE UPPER

B 60 0.385 0.690 0.990 E 135° 3°30’ 0.375 1.330 2.280

A
C 100 0.190 0.695 1.197 D
F 196° -4°20’ 1.230 1.630 2.035

a. Stadia interval factor (K)

𝑯 =𝑲𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐 𝜶 +𝑪 cos 𝜶
b. Horizontal Distance
98.68

99.01

D
196°-135°=61°
m
4

18
79.1

7.
62
m

F
E
 METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY

c. Difference in elevation
ROD READINGS
STA. STA. AZIMUTH VERTICAL
OCC. OBS. ANGLE LOWER MIDDLE UPPER

E 135° 3°30’ 0.375 1.330 2.280

D
F 196° -4°20’ 1.230 1.630 2.035

𝟏
𝑽= 𝑲𝒔 (𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜶)+ 𝑪 sin 𝛼
𝟐
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
1. TRANSIT-STADIA or THEODOLITE-STADIA
Example 2:
a. A transit with a stadia constant equal to 0.30 is used to
determine the horizontal distance between point B and C, with
a stadia intercept reading of 1.85 m. the distance BC is equal to
182.87 m. Compute the stadia interval factor of the instrument.
b. Using the same instrument, it was used to determine the
difference in elevation between B and D having a stadia
intercept reading of 2.42 m. at D at a vertical angle of +6°30’.
Compute the difference in elevation of B and D.
c. Compute the horizontal distance between B and D.
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
a. Stadia interval factor (K)

b. Difference in elevation

c. Horizontal Distance
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
OBSOLETE METHODS
2. PLANE TABLE:
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
PLANE TABLE SURVEY
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
• MODERN METHODS
1. TOTAL STATION
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
• MODERN METHODS
2. PHOTOGRAMMETRY
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
• MODERN METHODS
3. GLOBAL POSITIONG SYSTEM
PROFILES FROM CONTOUR MAPS
Sample Problem #3:
The map distance between two benchmarks, A and
B, is 15cm and their elevations above sea level are
850.50m and 939.60m, respectively. Assuming
uniformity of slope between A and B, calculate the map
distance from A where each of the following contours
will cross the line between the two benchmarks: 860,
880, 900 and 920m.
Sample Problem #3:
Sample Problem #3:
a. Difference in Elevation:

b. Horizontal Distance of Contours from A

(map distance from A to contour 860)

Note: From the given data it can be seen that the desired contour
interval is 20m and that the uniform horizontal spacing between
contour lines on the map is (h2 –h1) = (h3 – h2) = (h4 – h3)= 3.4m
Sample Problem #4:
A transit with a stadia interval factor of 100.80
was set at C on the line between point A and B, and
the following stadia readings were observed. If the
stadia constant is 0.381m, determine (a) length of
line AB, and (b) difference in elevation between
points A and B.
Hair Readings
Position of Vertical
Rod Angle Upper (a) Middle (c) Lower (b)

Rod held at A + 150 35’ 1.330m 1.175m 1.020m

Rod held at B Lab
- 8=08’
0
53.05m;1.972
DEab= 12.26m
1.854 1.736
METHODS OF OBTAINING TOPOGRAPHY
Hair Readings
Position of Rod Vertical Angle
Upper (a) Middle (c) Lower (b)
Rod held at A + 150 35’ 1.330m 1.175m 1.020m
Rod held at B - 80 08’ 1.972 1.854 1.736

a. Horizontal Distance (length)

b. Vertical Distance
REMINDER:
Engr. ROSELLA C. ALGADO, CE
1/23/23 Engr. ROSELLA C. ALGADO, CE 43