MISTAKES AND

ERRORS
LESSON 2
ERROR is the difference between a measured quantity and its true value.

Causes of Errors:
1. Instrumental error
2. Personal error
3. Natural causes.

Types of Error

1. Systematic Error
Also referred to as mechanical errors or cumulative errors. Repetitive errors that are
caused by imperfections in the surveying equipment, by the specific method of observation, or
by certain environmental factors. These errors are constant in magnitude and direction or sign
(either plus or minus). They usually have no tendency to cancel, and if corrections are not
made, they can accumulate to cause significant difference between the measured and actual
or true quantities.
2. Accidental Error or Random Error
the difference between a true quantity and the measurement of that quantity that is
free from blunders or systematic error. It always occurs in every measurement. They
are the relatively small, unavoidable errors in observation that are generally beyond
the control of the surveyor. These errors are not constant in magnitude or direction.

MISTAKES

are inaccuracies in measurements which occur because some aspect of a surveying

operation is performed by the surveyor with carelessness, inattention, poor
judgment, and improper execution.
 Frequently committed mistakes:

1. Reading wrong graduation on the tape

2. Omitting a whole length of tape

3. Transposition of figures

4. Reading a scale backward

5. Misplacing a decimal point

6. Incorrect recording of field notes

7. Adding a row or column of numbers

BLUNDERS - a significant mistake caused by human error. It may also be called gross error.
ACCURACY indicates how close a given measurement is to the absolute or true value of
the quantity measured.
PRECESION refers to the degree of refinement and consistency with which any physical
measurement is made.
MOST PROBABLE VALUE refers to a quantity which based on available data has more
chances of being correct than has any other.

mpv or X = X/n = (X1 + X2 + X3 +…….. + Xn)/n

RESIDUAL sometimes referred to as the deviation is the difference between any measured
value of a quantity and its most probable value
v=x–x
where: v – the residual in any measurement
x – measurement made of a particular quantity
x – most probable value of the quantity measured
Probable Error – a quantity which when added to and subtracted from the most probable value
defines a range within which there is a 50 percent chance that the true value of the measured
quantity lies inside (or outside) the limits thus set.

The 9O PERCENT ERROR or E90 is a usual criterion for rating survey methods. It is
sometimes called the maximum anticipated error.
 PEs = ± 0.6745

PEm = ± 0.6745

where: PEs = probable error of any single measurement of a series

PEm = probable error of the mean
v2 = summation of the squares of the residuals
n = number of observations
 E90 = 1.645

Sample Problem 1

A Civil Engineer measures the distance of points A and B and the following values were
recorded in a series of measurement.
Trials Number of Measurements
1 200.58
2 200.40
3 200.38
4 200.46

1. Determine the average value (mean)

2. Determine the probable error of mean
3. Determine the precision of the measurements
Solution

1. Average Mean Value = = 200.455

2. Probable Error of the Mean

Length V V2
200.58 200.58 - 200.455 = +0.125 0.015625
200.40 200.40 - 200.455 = -0.055 0.003025
200.38 200.38 - 200.455 = -0.075 0.005625
200.46 200.46 - 200.455 = +0.005 0.000025
∑V2 = 0.0243

PEm = 0.6745 = 0.6745 = ± 0.03

3. Precision of the measurement = 0.03/200.455 = 1/6681.83
Sample Problem 2

From the measured values of distance AB, the following trials were recorded
TRIALS DISTANCE
1 120.68
2 120.84
3 120.76
4 120.64

1. Find the probable error

2. Find the standard deviation
3. Find the standard error
Solution
1. Mean Value = = 120.73

Residual V V2
120.68 - 120.73 = -0.05 0.0025
120.84 - 120.73 = +0.11 0.0121
120.76 - 120.73 = +0.03 0.0009
120.64 - 120.73 = - 0.09 0.0081
∑V2 = 0.0236

PEm = 0.6745 = 0.6745 = ± 0.0299

2. Standard Deviation

SD = = = ± 0.0887

3. Standard Error

SE = = = ± 0.0443
Sample Problem 3

The following shows the difference in elevation between A and B.

Trial Difference in Elevation No, of Measurements

1 520.14 m 1
2 520.20 m 3
3 520.18 m 6
4 520.24 m 8

1. Compute the probable weight of trial 3

2. Determine the most probable diff. in elevation
3. Compute the elevation of B if elevation of A is 1000 with B higher than A
Solution
1. Weight of trial 3 = 6

2. Probable diff in elev.

Total weight = 18
Weighted Values
520.14(1) = 520.14
520.20(3) = 1560.60
520.18(6) = 3121.08
520.24(8) = 4161.92
Sum = 9363.74

Probable value of diff. in elev. = = 520.21

3. Elevation of B = 1000 + 520.21 = 1520.21

Sample Problem 4

A distance was measured five times as follows: 75.3, 76.2, 75.7, 75.5 and 75.8 m.
Compute the most probable distance and the 90% error of that procedure.
Mean = 75.7 m

(75.3 - 75.7)2 = 0.16

(76.2 - 75.7)2 = 0.25
(75.7 - 75.7)2 = 0
(75.5 - 75.7)2 = 0.04
(75.8 - 75.7)2 = 0.01
∑V2 = 0.46
Solution

E90 = = = ± 0.15 m
RESIDUAL sometimes referred to as the deviation is the
difference between any measured value of a quantity and
its most probable value