SURVEYING
What is Surveying?
➢ Surveying is the art of determining the relative positions of
different objects on the surface and below the surface of the
earth by measuring the horizontal and vertical distances
between them and by preparing a map to any suitable scale.
➢ To prepare a topographical map which shows the hills,
valleys, rivers, villages, towns, forests etc. of a country.
➢ To prepare an engineering map showing details of
engineering works such as roads, railways, reservoirs,
irrigation canals, etc.
Principle of Surveying
To work from the whole to
the part, and
To locate a new station by
at least two measurements
(linear or angular) from
fixed reference points.
TYPES OF SURVEYING
(a) PLANE SURVEYING is a process of
surveying in which the portion of the earth
being surveyed is considered a plane.
(b) GEODETIC SURVEYING is a process
of surveying in which the shape and size of
the earth are considered
TYPES OF
SURVEYING
According to the use of Instrument surveying is
classified as follows:-
1. Chain Survey.
2. Compass Survey.
3, Plane Table Survey.
4. Level Survey
5. Theodolite Survey.
6. Tacheometric Survey.
7. Photographic Survey
8. Aerial Survey.
Theodolite Survey
Theodolite is a measurement
tool used in surveying to
calculate horizontal and
vertical angles with the help of
a small, mobile low telescope.
Tacheometric Survey.
Tacheometry is a fast-surveying method
using optical tools.
Measures both horizontal and vertical
distances without tape or chain.
Useful in difficult terrains (e.g., steep
slopes, ravines, water bodies).
Helps create detailed maps with
horizontal and vertical control.
Can verify measurements taken with a
tape on precise surveys.
Photographic Survey
It is also known as photogrammetry
it is a method of surveying in which
plan or maps are prepared from
photograph taken at suitable camera
station.
Aerial Survey.
Chain Surveying
Chain survey is the simplest method of surveying,
involving only linear measurements in the field.
All other work (e.g., plotting, calculations) is done in the
office.
Best suited for small, flat areas with few details.
If done carefully, it can provide accurate results.
Equipment used: chain, tape, ranging rods, arrows, and
sometimes cross staff.
The principle of triangulation is used, dividing the area
into small, well-conditioned triangles for measurement.
Metric Chain
- Metric chains are the most used chain in India.
- These types of chains come in many lengths such as
5, 10, 20 and 30 meters.
- Most used is 20m chain. Tallies are provided at
every 2m of the chain for quick reading.
- Every link of this type of chain is 0.2m.
- The total length of the chain is marked on the brass
handle at the ends.
- It also consists 100 links, each equal to 3 decimeter.
- 10 cm = 1 decimeter.
Engineer’s chain
- This chain comes in 100 ft length i.e.
each link is equal to 1 foot.
- It consist of 100 links each link being
1ft long.
- At every 10 links a brass ring or tags
are provided for indication of 10 links.
- Readings are taken in feet and decimal.
- This gives more accurate result than
other two.
Gunter chain
Gunter chain comes in standard 66ft.
This chain consists of 100links, each link being
0.66ft or 7.92inches.
The length 66ft is selected because it is convenient
in land measurements.
It is lighter than engineer's chain.
It is specially suited for land measurement where
unit of measurement is in acres.
It also bears direct relations with mile , which are
as follows
10 square Gunter’s chains = 1 Acre
10 Gunter chains = 1 Furlong
80 Gunter chains = 1 mile
Steel band / Band chain
This chain is a steel strip, 12–16
mm wide and 0.3–0.6 mm thick,
marked every 20 cm with brass
studs or engraved centimeter
markings.
Revenue chain
The standard size of this
type of chain is 33ft.
The number of links are
16, each link being 2 ft.
This chain is commonly
used in cadastral surveys.
Tape
Tapes are used for extra
measurements in the field.
Common types include steel or
linen tapes, with metric tapes
typically 30 meters long.
Instrument used for marking (Arrows)
Arrows are 30–45 cm
long tools used to mark
chain lengths during
chaining.
They have a pointed end
for inserting into the
ground and a ringed end
for easy carrying.
2. Ranging rod
Ranging rods are 2-meter-
long round rods, usually
made of wood or bamboo,
painted black and white.
They are used to mark
stations and align chain
lines, with a steel cone at
the bottom for fixing into
the ground.
3. Ranging pole
Ranging ensures a straight chain line between two
stations for accurate measurement. If the distance
exceeds one chain length, intermediate stations are set
using ranging rods to maintain alignment.
Types of Ranging:
1. Direct Ranging: Used when both stations are clearly
visible. The alignment is done by guiding a person to
place a pole directly on the line between the two
stations.
2. Indirect Ranging: Used when visibility is obstructed
(details not provided in this excerpt).
4. Cross - Staff
A cross-staff is used to mark right angles in
the field.
It has four arms attached to a hollow cone
that fits onto a wooden rod.
To set perpendicular lines, one pair of
arms aligns with the chain line, and the
other pair ensures the perpendicular
direction.
It is mainly used for setting offsets and
marking contour lines.
5. Plumb bob
A plumb bob is a heavy, pointed tool
hanging from a string. It is used in
surveying to find a straight vertical line.
Surveyors use it to mark points on the
ground from higher levels or to align tools
accurately.
A field book is used to record measurements taken
Field Book during a chain survey.
The size of the field book is 20x6 cm.
It has two lines in the center, 2 cm apart, running
parallel to each other.
Measurements are typically recorded on one page for
distances between two stations.
The right and left spaces are used for noting
important features and recording offsets taken along
the chain line.
Error During Chain survey
The chain may be shorter or longer than the standard length.
The chain may not be fully pulled when measuring longer distances.
"Sag" may occur in the chain on grassy land, causing a downward curve in the
middle, which depends on the strength of the person pulling the chain and ground
conditions.
Incorrect ranging may result in longer measured distances than actual, affecting
the location of objects fixed by offsets, leading to errors in angles and distances
when plotting on the map.