Horizontal Distance

Measurement

Chapter 5
 Horizontal Distance Measurement
The purpose of surveying is essential to locate the positions of
points on or near the surface of the earth by making field
measurements of distances & angles. Often, these basic field
measurements are used to calculate other quantities of direct
interest such as areas & volumes.
In surveying horizontal distance means the
distance between two points in horizontal plane.
When slope distances are measured in the field,
these are always reduced to the equivalent
horizontal distances for preparation of map
In surveying, horizontal distance /linear
measurements have been obtained by many
different methods. These include:
Pacing
Odometer readings Approxite
Methods

Taping
chaining direct
methods

Optical method
EDM Indirect
 Approximate method
Pacing: consists of counting the number of
steps or paces in required distance
(Distance = Unit Pace × Number of Paces)
Odometer readings: An odometer converts
the number of revolutions of a wheel of known
circumference to a distance
Distance= Odometer Reading X Circumference
t e
e (ΠD)
of the Wheel
om
O d
r
 Direct methods
In the direct methods, the distance is
actually measured in the field using a
tape or Chains .
Tape: metallic, steel, fiber glass…
Chains: 1 chain = 20 m subdivide
 Taping accessories
In addition to a tape, the following accessories are required
for the determination of the length of a line.
1. Arrows : They are used to mark the position of the ends
of the tape on the ground.
2. Pegs: Wooden pegs are used to mark the position of the
survey stations or the end points of the survey line.
3. Ranging Rods: The process of locating a number of
points on a long survey line is called ranging. Ranging
rods are used to locate intermediate points
4. Plumb bobs: used for measuring distances on sloping
ground. As a freely suspended plumb bob always points
towards the gravity, it indicates the direction of the
vertical line.
The accessories, which are involved in
measuring a distance i.e. to make stations
 Indirect methods
 In the indirect methods, the distances are not directly
measured in the field.
 The distances are computed indirectly using stadia
tacheometry or trigonometric method. In the case of
horizontal line of sight, the horizontal distance
between the instrument at A and the staff at B
is
 Inclined line of sight

H = 100*S' cos2 
V= 100*S' sin(2)/2
Electronic Distance
Measurement
Electronic distance measurement (EDM),
introduced in the 1950s
EDM instruments are manufactured for use
with theodolites and as integral or modular
components of total station instruments.
The EDM equipments which are commonly
used are mainly electronic or microwave
systems and electro-optical instruments.
1) Electro optical instruments, which use light waves for
measurement of distance.
2) Microwave instruments, which use radio waves for
measurement of distance
Microwave systems (now largely outdated) use
a receiver/transmitter at both ends of the
measured line, whereas infrared and laser
systems utilize a transmitter at one end of the
measured line and a reflecting prism at the
other end.
 Principle of chaining
Measurement of horizontal distance by taping
consists of applying the known length of a
graduated tape directly to a line a number of
times.
When we measure the length of a line, which is
greater than the length of the tape, the following
principle should be followed. At least two persons
are needed in chaining i.e. with two chainmen.
Leader chainman (with ranging rod & peg),
Follower chainman
One who is recording measurements (optional)
 Measuring Short Distances
The following procedure is used when measuring a distance which

does not exceed the total length of the chain or the tape.
Step 1 Pegs are placed to mark the beginning and the end of the
distance to be measured.
Step 2 The back man holds the zero point of the chain (or tape) at the
centre of the starting peg.
The front man drags his end of the chain (or tape) in the direction of the
second peg. Before measuring, the chain (or tape) is pulled straight (see
Fig.).
Any knots in the tape or entangled links in the chain result
in errors in the measurement,
Step 3 When using a measuring tape, the distance between the
two pegs can be read directly on the tape by the front man.
When using a chain, the number of links between the two
pegs is counted. The total distance is equal to the number of
links multiplied by the length of one link (20 cm)
Distance = number of links x length of one link

EXAMPLE: Calculate the distance when given that 30 links

have been counted and the length of one link = 0.2 m.
ANSWER: Distance = number of links x length of one link
= 30 x 0.2 = 6 m
 Measuring Long Distances
Very often, the distance to be measured is longer than the length of the chain 01
the tape. The front man is then provided with short metal pins, called arrows. The
arrows are held together by a carrying ring. These arrows are used to mark the
position of the end of the chain (or tape) each time it is laid [Link] procedure
to follow when measuring long distances is:
Step 1 Pegs are placed (A and B) to mark the beginning and the end of the
distance to be measured, and ranging poles are set in line with A and B.
Step 2 The back man holds the zero point at the centre of the starting peg (A). The
front mar drags his end of the chain (or tape) in the direction of peg (B). Directed
by the back man, he stretches the chain, in line with the ranging poles. Then he
plants an arrow to mark the end of the chain (or tape).
Step 3 Both men move forward with the chain (or tape) and the procedure is
repeated, the back man starting this time from the arrow the front man has just
planted (see Fig.).
Step 4 The procedure is repeated until the remaining distance between the last
Step 5 The remaining distance between last arrow and peg is measured
using using tape described in short distance. The number of arrows used
during the procedure represents the number of times the full length of the
chain (or tape) has been laid out.
Therefore The total distance measured is then calculated by the formula:
EXAMPLE

The distance between two pegs (A) and (B) has been chained. When
reaching peg (B), the back man has used 7 arrows. 23 links have been
counted between the last arrow and peg (B), What is the total distance
between peg (A) and peg (B)?
Given
number of arrows used by the back man = 7
length of the chain = 20 m
number of links between the last arrow and peg (B) = 23
length of one link = 20 cm = 0.20 m
Answer
Distance between the last arrow and peg (B) = number of links x
length of one link = 23 x 0.2 = 4.6 m
Total distance = (number of used arrows x chain length) + (distance
between last arrow and peg B) = (7 x 20 m) + 4.6 m = 144.6 m
Horizontal measurement on uneven ground
 Measuring Horizontal and Vertical Distances in Steep Sloping Areas
When measuring distances in a field, reference is always made to horizontal distances. In flat
areas, these (horizontal) distances can be measured directly. In steep sloping areas, however, it is
Incorrect to assume that the distance measured over the ground surface is the horizontal distance.
Thus the horizontal and vertical distances have to be measured separately.
A measuring rod (see Section), a plumb bob (see Section) and a carpenter level (see Section 1.4)
are used to measure short horizontal and vertical distances in steep sloping areas for example
between peg 1 and peg 2 of Fig..
The procedure to follow is:
Step 1Two pegs (A and B) are driven into the soil in such a way that their tops are at the same
height above the ground level (see Fig.).
 Measuring Horizontal and Vertical Distances in Steep Sloping Areas
When measuring distances in a field, reference is always made to
horizontal distances. In flat areas, these (horizontal) distances can be
measured directly.
In steep sloping areas Thus the horizontal and vertical distances have to
be measured separately. A measuring rod (see Section), a plumb bob (see
Section) and a carpenter level (see Section 1.4) are used to measure short
horizontal and vertical distances in steep sloping areas. The procedure to
follow is:
Step 1 Two pegs A and B are driven into the soil in such a way that their
tops are at the same height above the ground level (see Fig.).
Step 2 The zero point of the rod is placed on top of peg A. A carpenter
level is placed on the rod; move the end of the rod up or down until the
bubble of the level is between the marks: the measuring rod is
horizontal.
Step 3 Hang a plumb bob just above the centre of peg B and read
the horizontal distance on the measuring rod (see Fig. ).
Step 4 The measuring rod is maintained horizontal. The vertical distance between peg A
and peg B is measured with a ruler or tape along the plumb bob, from the top of peg B to the
bottom of the rod (see Fig. ).

step 5 distance between the two pegs is longer than the length of the measuring rod. In this
case, intermediate pegs are. placed in line with A and B, at intervals of not more than one rod
length (see Fig. ).To measure the distances between all the intermediate pegs, steps 1 to 4 (see
above) are repeated
 General procedure for taping Distance measurement
 The start point and end point typically consist of pigs wooden stakes or chaining
pins erected at both end side.
 The intermediate points typically consist of wooden stakes or chaining pins erected
.For better accuracy, these intermediate points should be located roughly less than
unit meter apart.
 The distance between each intermediate point is measured.
 The total measured length is found by summing all intermediate distances.
 Repeat the measurements. In the field, the total length is re-measured by
performing the measurements in the opposite direction, using a different set of
intermediate points.
 If the summed distance is not less than allowable Error with the summed distance
found previously, the entire taping exercise must be repeated.
 Allowable Error = 0.004√d +o.1m
where d forward distance
 Errors in taping
Common types of errors in taping are given under the
following nine headings:
1. Incorrect length of tape.
2. Temperature other than standard.
3. Inconsistent pull.
4. Sag.
5. Poor alignment.
6. Tape not horizontal.
7. Improper plumbing.
8. Faulty marking.
9. Incorrect reading or interpolation.
 Correction applied to taping
Correction for standard
A steel tape will normally be provided with standardizing
data, for example it may be designated as 30m long under a
tension of 50N at temperature of 20 0C when laid on the flat.
With use the tape may stretch and it is imperative that the
tape is regularly checked against a reference tape kept
specifically for this purpose.
The correction for standardization in taping is required if the
absolute length or true length of tape is not equal to the
nominal length or the designated length
Correction per tape length (C) = l' – l Where, l = nominal
length of the tape L'= actual length of the tape
The correction is positive when the actual length (L') is
greater than the nominal length (L) and vice versa
Example: A distance is measured with a 50m
steel tape and is found to be 1357.40m. Later the
tape is standardized and is found to have an
actual length of 49.96m. What is the correct
distance measured?
Solution: Ca=true length-nominal length
= 49.96-50=-0.04/ tape length
 Correction for temperature
The length of the tape increases while the
temperature is increased and decreases if the
temperature is lowered.
If the field temperature is above the nominal
(standard) the correction is positive and it is
below the nominal the correction is negative.
Let L = measured length of a line
 t = mean temperature during
measurement in oc.
 ts = nominal temperature of
standardization.
 Ct = correction due to temperature
 =co-efficient of linear expansion
 Correction for tension:
 If the pull applied to the tape during measurements is more than it is
standardized its length increase and the measured distance become
less than the actual. Correction for tensions is there for positive and
vice versa.
Note: The sign of the correction takes that of quantity (P - Ps), If P >
Ps correction is positive (add) and vice versa.

Let P = the tension of pull at field (N).

 Ps = standardized tension. (N).
 L = length measured.
 A = Cross – sectional of steel band
 E = Yoong’s modulus of elasticity of the steel bond.
 Correction for slope:
The distance measured along the slope between two station is
always greater than the horizontal distance is known as slope
correction.
This is always negative.
The formula for the slope correction is devised as follows
 Examples 2
A steel tape is standardized at 200c under a tension of 44.5 N
when supported throughout its entire length and the distance
b/n the zero mark and the 30m mark is 30.014m. The tape
weighs 0.17N/m & has a x-sectional area of 2 mm2. In the field
this tape is used under 120N and is supported at the ends only
and temperature of the tape is recorded as 50c . The tape is
used to measure line AB and the measured length of the line is
[Link] difference in elevation b/n A & B is [Link] E
= 200kN/mm2 and α=0.0000112 / 0c, determine the corrected
 Solution
Correction for incorrect tape length, C = 29.872*(30.014 –
30) /30 = 0.014m
Correction for slope, Ch = - h2/2*s = -1.92 / (*29.872) = -
0.06m
Correction for temperature, Ct = Lα (T-Ts) = 29.872*
0.0000112*(5 -20) = -0.005m
Correction for tension, Cp = L*(P-Ps) /AE = 29.872* (120-
44.5) / (2*200,000) = 0.006m
Correction for sag, Cs =-nw2L3/24P2 =-1* 0.172 *
29.8723 / (24* 1202) = -0.002m
Thus, the corrected horizontal length of AB is:
HAB = 29.872 +0.014 -0.06 -0.005 +0.006 -0.002 =
29.824m
summery of Tape correction formulas
 OFFSET
In chain surveying the positions of details such as
boundaries, are located with respect to the chain
line by measuring their distance right or left of the
chain lines. Such lateral measurements are called
offset.
There are two kinds of offset.
 Perpendicular offsets.
 Oblique offsets.

Chain lines

Steel tape
stretched on {Perpendicular
ground offset}

Oblique offset
Building

Perpendicular
offset
Chain lines with
steel band
stretched
 Instruments for measuring right angles
Cross staff
Open cross staff
Adjustable cross staff.
Optical Square.
Prism squares.
 Field problems and their solution
To erect a perpendicular from the chair line to a
point (detail)

When G is accessible

G
5m
3m Chain lines
A
B 4m C

When G is not accessible

x y
D E
F

B C
L
Obstacles in Chaining
 Obstacles which obstruct ranging but not
of chaining
 Obstacles, which obstruct chaining but
not ranging
Chain line
A

L1
D

L1
A B

B C L1
L2

C L1
A L1 D
E D
L2
L2
A C
L1 F

E
 The End
of the unit Course