AUWC Surveying handout 2022
Chapter one
1.1 Introduction
What is surveying?
Surveying: - is defined as the science and art of determining the Absolute and Relative position of
different features on, above or beneath the surface of the earth by means of direct and indirect
measurement. Absolute location helps to determine the location of a place with respect to certain
coordinates that themselves have a fixed reference. The Relative position of a place is determined in
reference to certain landmarks or known locations. The absolute location of point is determined with the
help of longitude and latitude lines.
In a more general sense, however, surveying can be regarded as a discipline which encompasses all
methods for measuring and collecting information about the physical earth and our environment,
processing that information, and disseminating a variety of resulting products to a wide range of clients.
The Art and science of surveying
Surveying Engineering is an art, because it is depends upon the skill, judgment and experience of
the surveyor.
Surveying may also be considered to be an applied science, because field and office procedure rely
upon a systematic body of knowledge, related primarily to mathematics and physics.
1.2. Primary divisions of surveying
Basically surveying is divided into two broad classes as geodetic and plane surveying
1. Plane Surveying:
A type of surveying in which the curvature of the earth is considered and relatively small areas are under
considers and, assumed that the earth’s surface is flat, i.e. it gives a horizontal plane. Measurements
plotted will represent the projection on the horizontal plane of the actual field measurements
Plane surveying can safely be used when one is concerned with small portions of the earth’s surface and
the areas involved are less than 250 sq. km or so
2. Geodetic surveying:
The study of size and shape of the earth and its gravity field is known as geodesy. Therefore, geodetic
surveying is a type of surveying in which the curvature of the earth is considered. Large areas of the
earth’s surface are involved and it requires high degree of precisions. Satellite positioning system, which
can obtain the three-dimensional coordinates of any point, is considered in this method.
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AUWC Surveying handout 2022
1.3. Importance of Surveying,
Surveying plays an essential role in the planning, design, layout, and construction of our physical
environment and infrastructure. The term infrastructure is commonly used to represent all the constructed
facilities and systems which allow human communities to function and thrive productively. Surveying is
the link between design and construction. Roads, bridges, buildings, water supply, sewerage, drainage
systems, and many other essential public works projects could never be built without surveying
technology.
In addition to its customary applications in construction and land–use projects, surveying is playing an
increasingly important role in modern industrial technology. Some activities that would be nearly
impossible without accurate surveying methods include testing and installing accelerators for nuclear
research and development, industrial laser equipment, and other sensitive precision instruments for
manufacturing or research, The precise construction of rocket launching equipment and guiding devices is
also dependent on modern surveying.
Without surveying procedures, no self-propelled missile could be built to the accuracy necessary for its
operation; its guiding devices could not be accurately installed; its launching equipment could not be
constructed; it could not be placed in position or oriented on the pad; and its flight could not be measured
for test or control. Moreover, its launching position and the position of its target would be a matter of
conjecture. Surveying is an integral part of every project of importance that requires actual construction.
1.4 Surveying Application
Surveying have different application in different field of study. Some of them are as below:
1. In Civil Engineering
To establish Ground control point
To collect any necessary data for design
For preparation of topographic map
To plan and execute engineering project like bridge, building, irrigation, highway,
railway, pipeline and etc
To layout any engineering design and etc
2. In Agriculture:
To construct an agriculture house (poultry, cattle, barn etc...)
To level any landscape
To measure the area of certain farms
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AUWC Surveying handout 2022
For crop management
Helps to identify the soil and terrain as well as pinpointing the irrigation system and source
of water better suited to certain crops.
Monitoring of water flow, mapping of landscaping situations and over all better farming
3. In mine survey for exploring mineral wealth
4. In Astronomical survey for the study of movement of planet and for calculating local and standard
time
5. In geology to determine different strata in the earth crust
6. In natural resource management to analyze, organize, manage and monitor natural hazard
7. For preparing a military map showing different strategic points important for the defense of a
country
1.5 Functional classifications of surveying
Based on the purpose for which they are conducted, surveying may be classified in to the following types:
1. Control surveying: It consists of establishing the horizontal and vertical positions of widely spaced
control points using the principles of geodetic surveying.
2 Land surveying: Land surveys are conducted to determine the boundaries and areas of tracts of land.
These are the oldest types, as land surveys have been used since the early civilization. These are also
known as property surveys, boundary surveys or cadastral surveys. These surveys are also used to
provide data for making a plan of the area.
3 City surveys: These surveys are conducted within the limits of a city for urban planning. These are
required for the purpose of layout of streets, buildings, sewers, pips, etc.
4 Topographical surveys: Topography is defined as the shape or configuration of the earth’s surface.
These surveys are required to establish horizontal locations of the various points as well as their
vertical locations. Information pertaining to relief and undulations on the earth’s surface is generally
shown in the form of contours of equal elevations.
5 Route surveying: These surveys are special types of surveys conducted along a proposed route for
highway, railway, sewer line etc. Route survey is done along a wide strip. In general, route surveying
also includes the staking out and calculation of the earthwork.
6 Mine surveys: These surveys are conducted to determine the relative positions and elevations of
mines, shafts, bore holes etc for underground works. Mine surveys are useful to plan the working of
mines and to compute volumes of materials in mines.
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AUWC Surveying handout 2022
7 Hydro graphic surveys: These surveys are conducted on or near the body of water, such as lakes,
rivers, bays
8 Engineering surveys: Engineering surveys are conducted to collect data for the designing and
planning of engineering works such as building, roads, bridges, dams, reservoirs, sewers and water
supply lines. These surveys generally include surveys discussed above.
9 Astronomic surveys: These surveys are conducted for the determination of latitudes, Azimuths, local
time etc. for various places on the earth by observing heavenly bodies (the sun or stars).
10 Satellite surveys: These surveys are conducted to obtain intercontinental, interdatum and interisland
geodetic ties the entire world over by artificial earth’s satellites.
11 Geological surveys: Geological surveys are conducted to obtain information about different strata of
the earth’s surface for geological studies.
12 Construction surveys: All the above-mentioned surveys are conducted to obtain information required
for preparation of maps, plans, and sections etcs. After the plans have been prepared and the structures
designed, the construction survey is conducted. The points and lines are established on the ground,
and the layout plan of the structure is marked on the ground.
Classification of survey based on instruments used
Based on the instruments used, the surveys can be classified as under:
Chain surveying: This is the simplest type of surveying in which only linear measurements are
taken with a chain or tape.
Compass surveying: In compass surveying, the horizontal angles are measured with the help of a
magnetic compass, in addition to the linear measurements with a chain or a tape.
Levelling: This is a type of survey in which a levelling instrument is used for determination of
relative elevations (levels) of various points in the vertical plane.
Plane table surveys: In plane table surveys, a map is prepared in the field while viewing the
terrain after determining the directions of various lines and taking the linear measurements with
telescopic alidade.
Theodolite surveys: A theodolite is a very precise instrument for measuring horizontal and
vertical angles. The theodolite surveys can be broadly classified in two types:
(1) Traverse, (2) Triangulation.
Tacheometric surveys: A tachometer is a special type of theodolite that is fitted with a stadia
diaphragm having two horizontal cross hairs in addition to the central horizontal hair. In
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AUWC Surveying handout 2022
tacheometric surveying horizontal angles, horizontal distances and elevations are measured with a
tachometer.
EDM Surveys: Trilateration is a type of triangulation in which all the three sides of each triangle
are measured accurately with EDM instruments. The angles are computed indirectly from the
known sides of the triangles. Thus, all the sides and angles are determined
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