GEO 2217-1 INTRODUCTION

TO LAND SURVEYING
DEFINITION OF SURVEY
It is science of determining the relative positions of
objects or points on the earth's surface. These
points may be any physical thing: a highway,
culvert, ditch, storm drain inlet, or property corner.
Distances and directions determine the horizontal
positions of these points.
• Land surveying is a professional service that
involves measuring and mapping a piece of land.
• It provides accurate information about a property's
boundaries, dimensions, and characteristics.
 Categories of survey
Plane Surveying
Plane surveying deals with areas of limited extent and
it is assumed that the earth’s surface is a plane and
therefore no corrections necessary for the earth’s
curvature.

Geodetic Surveying
Geodetic surveying is concerned with determining the
size and shape of the earth and it also provides a high-
accuracy framework for the control of lower order
surveys.
Branches of Survey
 Topographic Surveys are concerned with the
measurement and mapping of the physical features of
the earth. These features are all natural and manmade
features.
 Engineering Surveys cover surveys carried out as part
of the preparation for, and carrying out of, engineering
works, including roads, railways, pipelines, drainage
etc.
 Cadastral Surveys are concerned with the
measurement, definition and mapping and recording of
property boundaries.
Hydrographic Surveys are those made for determining
the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbours and
oceans. They also include the measurement of the flow
of water in streams and the estimation of water
resources.
Aerial Surveys are made from an aeroplane, and for the
purpose of mapping the terrain. The control for such a
map is obtained from ground surveys, but the details
are obtained from aerial photographs. This includes
making measurements and interpretations from aerial
photographs.
 Astronomic Surveys are surveys made to determine
the latitude, longitude and azimuth from observations
to the stars.
 Mining Surveys are those made to determine survey
control for the development of both surface and
underground mines within the mining industry, and
the determination of volumes in mine production.
 Computing is a specialized area of surveying where
complex computer programs are used to solve
problems within the surveying industry.
Consulting is another specialized area of surveying
where specialist surveyors are hired for a short period
of time to advise on the requirements for a specific task
or to perform the specific task.
Location Survey- Similar to a boundary survey, a
location survey provides additional information on the
location of interior improvements. This type of survey
is most commonly used to fulfill the requirements of a
zoning permit or loan application.
Site Planning Survey Often a requirement for
development permit applications, a site planning
survey combines the elements of boundary and
topographic surveys for site planning. This survey is
used to plan design improvements and developments
before construction begins.
Site planning surveys are frequently used for designing
house lots, subdivisions, stores, playgrounds, commercial
& industrial sites, and streets and highways.
HISTORY OF SURVEYING
• Archaeological records show the use of length
standards earlier than 2000 BC. An Egyptian wall
painting (c. 1400 BC) depicts workmen measuring
with a knotted line similar to a modern
surveyors chain.
Construction of Pyramids J. H. Cole (1925)
• North 0 2 30 W of true N
• East 0 1 57 N of true E
• South 0 5 30 W of true N
• West 0 2 28 N of true E
• Error
• North 230,253 mm 6 mm at either end
• East 230,391 mm 6 mm at either end
• South 230,454 mm 10 mm at West, 30 mm at East
• West 230,357 mm 30 mm at either end
• Average 230,364 mm
 Plane vs Geodetic surveying
No. Plain Surveying Geodetic Surveying

1 The earth surface is considered The earth surface is considered as

as plain Surface. Curved Surface.
2 The Curvature of the earth is The curvature of earth is taken into
ignored account.
3 Line joining any two stations is The line joining any two stations is
considered to be straight considered as spherical.
4 The triangle formed by any The Triangle formed by any three
three points is considered as points is considered as spherical.
plain
5 The angles of triangle are The angles of the triangle are
considered as plain angles. considered as spherical angles.
6 Carried out for a small area < Carried out for a small area > 250 km2
250 km2
THE VERY EARLY DAYS OF SURVEYING1400 B.C.
1400 B.C.
• The Egyptians first used surveying to
accurately divide land into plots for the purpose
of taxation.
120 B.C.
• Greeks developed the science of geometry and
were using it for precise land division.
• Greeks standardized procedures for conducting
surveys.
• Greeks developed the first piece of surveying
equipment (Diopter).
1800 A.D. Beginning of the industrial revolution.
The importance of exact boundaries and the
demand for public improvements (i.e. railroads,
canals, roads) brought surveying into a prominent
position.
• Science of Geodetic and Plane surveying were
developed.
• More accurate instruments were developed.
• Compass Capable or determining directions and
rudimentary angles.
• Transit Capable of turning both horizontal and
vertical angles and directions precisely.
• Chain Capable of measuring precise distances
 Surveying today
• Today surveying affects most everything in our
daily lives. A few of the areas where surveying
is being used are
• To map the earth above and below the sea.
• Prepare navigational maps (land, air, sea).
• Establish boundaries of public and private lands.
• Develop data bases for natural resource
management.
• Development of engineering data for
• Bridge construction Roads Buildings Land
development
• Equipment have become substantially more precise.
• Total Station
• Can measure angles to 1 second and distances to 3
mm 3ppm
• GPS Receivers
• Determine 3 dimensional positions to under 1
centimeter
• Laser Scanner
• Can collect tens of thousands of positions to in
fraction of time compared to traditional
surveying methods with no reduction in accuracy.
 Elements/methods of surveying

(a) Chain or tape surveying

(b) Prismatic compass survey
(c) Plane table surveying
(d) Leveling technique
 The survey process
Reconnaissance / preliminary inspection/primary
surveying
Is the process of taking general view of the land to be
surveyed in order to get real picture of the work to be
done. It is done by visual observation of the area.
Importance of reconnaissance
(i) It helps to get the full picture of the survey to be
conducted
(ii) It helps for choosing the scale for map making
(iii) It makes survey for new coordinates and old
coordinate easier
Measurement and Marking (Actual Survey)
During the measurement and marking phase, the
surveyor will perform all the observations in the field
required to accurately determine the control points, as
well as placing and observing to any temporary points
such as wooden pegs. They would also perform any
calculations from the observations, such as angular and
linear misclose and area and volume calculations.
Plan Preparation (Mapping)
During the plan preparation phase, the calculations
that were performed from the field observations would
be further enhanced and used to produce the final
plans for the project.
Principles of surveying
 In general, surveying is based upon a number of
principles (or guidelines) which can be listed as
follows:
a. Working from Whole to Part
b. Location of Point by Measurement from Two Points
of Reference
c. Consistency of Work
d. Independent Check
e. Accuracy Required
 Fundamental Principles of Surveying
Always work from whole to the part:
• According to the first principle, the whole survey area is first
enclosed by main stations (i.e.. Control stations) and main survey
lines. The area is then divided into a number of divisions by forming
well conditioned triangles.
 when an area is to be surveyed, first of all, a system of control
points is established such that it covers the entire area with a
higher degree of precision. After this, the minor control points and
details are further established with a lesser degree of precision.
 The main idea of this principle is to prevent the undue
accumulation of errors and thereby control and localize the minor
errors.
 If the survey is carried out from part to whole, the magnitudes of
errors accumulated would be very high.
The main survey lines are measured very accurately with
precise survey instruments. The remaining sides of
measured. The purpose of this method of working the
triangle are is to control accumulation of errors. During
measurement, if there is any error, then it will not affect the
whole work, but if the reverse process is followed then the
minor error in measurement will be magnified.
To locate a new station by at least two measurements (
Linear or angular) from fixed reference points.
According to the second principle the points are located
by linear or angular measurement or by both in
surveying. If two control points are established first,
then a new station can be located by linear
measurement. Let A & B are control points, a new point
C can be established.
Following are the methods of locating point C from such
reference points A &B. • The distance AB can be
measured accurately and the relative positions of the
point can be then plotted on the sheet to some scale.
(a)Taking linear measurement from A and B for C.
(b)Taking linear measurement of perpendicular from D to
C.
(c) Taking one linear measurement from B and one angular
measurement as∕ABC.
Taking two angular measurement at A & Bas angles /
CAB and /ABC.
Taking one angle at B as / ABC and one linear
measurement from A as AC.
 Location of Point by Measurement From Two Points
of Reference
On the basis of this principle, the relative position of the
desired points to be surveyed must be located by taking
the measurement from at least two (preferably three)
points of reference, such that the position of the
reference points has already been fixed previously.
Let R be the point whose location is to be fixed and P
and Q be the two reference points whose positions
have already been fixed. The position of the point R can
be determined by any one of the above-shown methods
in the figure.
Consistency of Work
Another important principle of surveying is the
consistency of work.
It must be noted that keeping consistency in the
method, instrument, reading and noting observations,
etc helps to gain the desired level of accuracy.
Independent Check
According to this principle, every measurement that
is taken in the field must be re-checked by adopting a
suitable method of independent field tests and
observations so that any mistake if present is not
passed without notice.
 Accuracy Required
According to this principle of surveying; the proper
method and instrument must be used for the survey
work on the basis of the degree of accuracy required.
 End

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