CHAPTER THREE

3.0 METHODOLOGY
This is the method or organizing principle underlying surveying work.

Surveying requires data acquisition from field which will later be processed
to

produce plan(s)

Ground survey technique was employed in the execution of the project.

The methods adopted comprises of the following survey operations ;

reconnaissance (office & field), location of starting and closing controls and

controls check, selection of stations, test of instruments, data acquisition

includes third order theodolite traversing, leveling (profile and cross section),

detailing by the use of tacheometry, field astronomy, data processing and

information presentation (plan).

3.1 RECONNAISSANCE

This aspect in any survey operation can not be overlooked. It forms the
frame in

which the procedure of executing any survey project emanates. It is

that the surveyor covers the site to obtain the clear picture of the study area

while deciding on the most suitable wat to carry out the work economically.

Reconnaissance survey helps to minimize any delay or changes in the

observing schedule. There are many unnecessary loss of work days if one
goes

to the project site without adequate and sufficient reconnaissance which is

needed to arrange for logistic and description for locating survey marks. For
this
project, it was carried out in two ways namely;

 Office planning

 Field reconnaissance

3.1.1 OFFICE PLANNING

This is a type of reconnaissance done in the office. Office planning involves

knowing the type of survey instrument to be used, purpose of the job,

specification and accuracy required for the survey to be carried out, the
amount

of man power and time required. These lead to the choice making of
appropriate

method to be employed. The evaluation of the cost for the survey operation
also

took place in the office.

During the office planning, the coordinates of the starting and closing

control points for the project were collected using mobile topographer. The

decision on the best wat to carry out the project was made after receiving
series

of instructions from the supervisor.

Table 3.1 COORDINATES OF EXISTING GROUND CONTROLS USED

FOR ORIENTATION OF THE PROJECT

STATIONS NORTHINGS(m) EASTING(m) DISTANCE

P/R17/18 P4 720363.980 541526.979 284.566

HND2 AP1 720357.362 541509.396 280.229

3.1.2 FIELD RECONNAISSANCE

During field reconnaissance, the project site was visited in order to have a
good

examination and overall picture of the site. i.e to determine the terrain of the

project site before commencement of actual work.

The following activities were carried out during the field reconnaissance:

 Location of the existing controls used for the project.

 Establishment of boundary mark.

 Ensuring inter-visibility and accessibility between boundaru marks.

 Sketching of the recce diagram which shows the pictorial

of the project area. (fig. 3.1)

*sketch to be inserted here

3.2 MONNUMENTATION

While carrying out the survey, stations were selected along the given route
at

places where they would not no be easily disturbed. They were placed

accordingly by using pegs driven to standard height beneath the earth

and while the top of pegs were covered with bottle corks and nails.

3.3 EQUIPMENTS USED

The instruments used for the execution of the project are listed below;

 One digital theodolite (sokkia DT740, serial no R10218) and its tripod.

 One level dumpy and its tripods

 Leveling staff
 One linen tape

 Nails and bottle corks

3.4 TEST OF INSTRUMENTS

Before the execution of any survey project, there must be a proper test on
the

instrument to be used to carry out the project, because the accuracy of the

project will be determined by the accuracy of the instrument used.

test was observed to ascertain the working condition of the instrument

from the department store. The collimation errors were thoroughly checked
to

ensure that none exists.

3.4.1 THEODOLITE TEST

The theodolite was mounted on its tripod with the circular bubble

approximately leveled. All temporary adjustments i.e leveling, centering, and

removal of parallax were carried out.

After that, a well defined target was sighted with the center of cross hairs,

and then the horizontal circle graduation of face lift was taken to the target.

The telescope was transited and the target was observed on face right with

horizontal and vertical circle readings recorded as shown below; The

between face left and face right were considered to be within allowable limit

(10”).

TABLE 3.2 THE RESULT OF THE THEODOLITE TEST

STN SIGHT FACE H.C.R MEAN

V.C.R MEAN

ANGLE

P/R

17/18

SUGO2YCT

P4

L 218

39 40

076

54 00

SUG02YCT

R 038

39 20

180 00 20 283 05 20 359 59 20

Horizontal collimation error: 180

00’ 20” - 180

= 00

00’ 20”/2 = 00

°
 00’

10”

Vertical collimation Error = 360 - 359

59’ 20”

= 00

00’ 40” =2

= 00

00’ 20”

The result above shows the theodolite is in a perfect working condition

3.4.2 LEVEL INSTRUMENT TEST (TWO PEG TEST)

The two peg test was also adopted to test for collimation error in the leveling

instrument. In this case, two leveling staffs were held vertically in position on

two fairly leveled ground marks “A” and “B” at about 30 meters away from

each other, while the level was set up midway (15m) between point “A” and

“B” on a fairly level ground. The temporary adjustment was then carried out

which includes leveling and focusing.

*insert fig. 3.4

3.4 TWO PEG TEST

Fig 3.4 TWO PEG TEST

H1 = 1.692 – 1.142 = 0.550m

Therefore, the level instrument was moved and set up at a point 20m away
from

the levelling staff. A back sight reading was taken to staff A, and recorded

while a foresight was taken to staff B and was also recorded. The difference
in

height was also obtained.

The difference between the first difference in height (AH1) and the second

height (AH1) was done as written below

Thus, difference in height (

Therefore collimation error is = 0.002m

From the value obtained above, the error was quite negligible; hence the

instrument was confirmed to be in perfect working condition for the project.

3.5 CONTROL CHECK

The purpose of carrying out control check on controls to be used to carry out

the project is to ascertain the reliability of the control. This check involves
both

the angular and linear measurement using the theodolite and linear tape

respectively.

As shown in the diagram below, the instrument was set up on P/R 17/18 P4
and

the back and fore target were set up on SUG 02 YCT and HND2 AP1

respectively. All temporary adjustments were carried out (centering, levelling

and focusing).
The telescope of the instrument was turned to face back station target and

horizontal circle readings were recorded.

The instrument was rotated in a clockwise motion to face the fore station
target

and bisected with telescope on the same face and reading was recorded.

Thereafter, the face of the theodolite was changed by transiting the

and the fore target was bisected and the reading taken was recorded. The
back

target was also re-bisected at face right and also the horizontal circle reading

was recorded.