CE2204 - Surveying I Question Bank

Anna University, Chennai

SURVEYING-I
Question Bank

UNIT-I
INTRODUCTION AND CHAIN SURVEYING
1. Define surveying.
2. State two primary divisions of surveying.
3. Enumerate the fundamental parameters of surveying measurement?
4. State the basic principles of surveying.
5. State the basic assumptions of plane surveying.
6. Differentiate between plan and map.
7. Enumerate the essential elements of a map.
8. What are the classifications of survey?
9. What do you understand by measurement in surveying practice?
10. Define significant figures and rounding off of a measurement.
Explain their relevance in surveying.
11. List the different types of errors in survey measurement and state
their significance
12. Describe how you would range a survey line between two stations
which are not intervisible?
13. What do you mean by limiting length of off set in chain surveying?
14. What are the equipments used to measure right angle in the chain
surveying?
15. Enumerate the instruments used for measurement of lengths of
survey lines
16. Distinguish between perpendicular offset and oblique offset, with
neat sketches.
17. Which of the following scale is the smallest and largest
respectively:

(i) 1 cm = 10 meter. (ii) 1: 10,000. (iii) R.F=1/100, 000 (iii) 1cm=1000

Km
18. The distance between two stations were repeated 10 times and
observed to be as follows: 500.335m, 500.360m; 501.345m, 500.395m,
500.420m, 500.355m, 500.315m,
500.360m, 500.415m, and 500.325m. Justify, if there is any observation
having gross error.
19. Illustrate with neat sketches, various types of obstacles
encountered in chain surveying.
20. A survey line PQ intersects a pond. To overcome these obstacle two
stations A and B were taken on either side of the pond. A line AC, 90 m
long was laid down on the left of AB, and a second line AD, 130 m long
was laid down on the right of AB. If points C, B and D are on the same
straight line and CB = 75 m and BD = 78 m, determine the length AB.

UNIT-II
COMPASS SURVEYING AND PLANE TABLE SURVEYING
1. Tabulate the differences between different types of meridians along
with differences in their utilities.
2. What is magnetic declination?
3. What do you understand by plane table survey? What are the
advantages and dis-advantages of Plane Tabling? List the different
accessories used in plane tabling along with their uses.
4. Describe the steps involved in setting up of a Plane Table.
5. Explain the different operation involved in temporary adjustment of
plane table surveying.
6. Enumerate the different types of plane tabling and highlight the
topographical conditions under each is generally used.
7. Describe the method of orientation of plane table by Backsight
method.
8. Define "three point problem" in Plane Tabling.
9. What do you understand by "Trial and Error" method of solving Three
point problem?
10. Explain the basic Lehmann's Rule for reducing the number of trials.
Further, state the additional rules for special cases.

11. Define Bearing.

12. Define Dip and Declination
13. Define local attraction
14. Define W.C.B.
15. What is the use of plane table Survey?
16. Draw and explain the prismatic compass.
17. Write merits and demerits of the plane table.
18. Explain the instruments used in plane table surveying
19. Explain two point problem with diagram
20. Explain Bessels method with diagram.
21. Define bearing of lines and true meridian in compass surveying.
22. What is orienting the table in plane table surveys?
23. What do you understand by quadrantal bearing of a line?
24. What is plane table surveying? When is it preferred?
25. A survey line AB crosses a river obliquely. P and Q are two points
selected on the line one at each end of the river. Another line EPF is run
parallel to the centre line of the river and point E is such that angle QEP
is right angle and EP = PF = 100 m.
A third point G is set at a distance of 150 m from P such that angle GFP
is also right angle. Compute the distance PQ.
26. The magnetic bearing of a line was found to be N 60 30' W in 1992,
when the declination was 5 10' E. find its present magnetic bearing, if
declination is 3 W.
27. The bearing taken for two lines are as follows:
CHENNAI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Line

Fore Bearing

Back Bearing

AB

S 37 30' E

322 30' (WCB)

BC

223 15' (WCB)

N 44 15' E

Compute the interior angle at B.

28. Following are the observed magnetic bearings of the traverse legs:

Line

PQ

QR

RS

SP

FB

74 20'

107 20'

224 50'

200 15'

BB

256 00'

286 20'

44 50'

126 00'

29. At what stations local attraction is suspected? Determine the

correct bearings of the traverse legs and also calculate the included
angles.
30. What are the precautions to be adopted in using the Compass?
31. The bearings of the sides of a traverse ABCDE are as follows : Side
Fore bearing Back bearing
AB 107 15' 287 15'
BC 22 0' 202 0' CD 281 30' 101 30' DE 189 15' 9 15' EA 124 45'
304 45' Compute the interior angles of the traverse.

UNIT-III
LEVELLING AND APPLICATIONS
1. Why levels are usually called as spirit level?
2. Explain the importance of level tube in a leveling instrument.
3. Explain the chief feature of a digital level.
4. State the differences in the temporary adjustment of a dumpy level
and an IOP level.
5. State the difference between a dumpy level and a digital level.
6. Enumerate the order in which the permanent adjustment of a tilting
level are carried out.
7. Describe the two peg method of permanent adjustment of a dumpy
level
State and explain the basic principle of leveling.
8. Enumerate the difference between rise and fall method (of reduction
of level) and height of instrument method.
9. Enlist the classification of levelling.
10. What are the special features of precise system of levelling?

11. What are the uses of contours?

12. How do you compute the reservoir volume?
13. Define sensitivity of a bubble tube. State any two factors affecting
the same.
14. Distinguish between differential levelling and reciprocal leveling
15. What do you understand by reciprocal leveling
16. What are the different types of levelling instruments used in
leveling.
17. In the two-peg test of a level, the following observations are taken:
Instrument at
M

Staff reading on A

3.612 m

1.862 m

Staff reading on B

3.248 m

0.946

M is equidistant from A and B, P is 40 m from A and 240 m from B. What

is the true difference in elevation between the two points? With the
level in the same position at P, to what staff reading on B should the
line of sight be adjusted? What is the corresponding staff reading on A
for a horizontal line of sight? Check these two staff readings against the
true difference in elevation, previously determined.
18. Data from a differential leveling have been found in the order of
B.S., F.S..... etc. starting with the initial reading on B.M. (elevation
150.485 m) are as follows : 1.205, 1.860, 0.125,
1.915, 0.395, 2.615, 0.880, 1.760, 1.960, 0.920, 2.595, 0.915, 2.255,
0.515, 2.305, 1.170. The final reading closes on B.M.. Put the data in a
complete field note form and carry out reduction of level by Height of
instrument method. All units are in meters.
19. The following reciprocal levels were taken on two stations P and Q:
Instrument
station

Average near
readings, meter

Average distant,
readings, meter
R.L of P = 101.345 m

2.165

3.810

Distance, PQ = 1645 K

2.335

0.910

Determine the elevation of Q and the error due to refraction when the
collimation error is 0.003m downward per 100m.
20. A surveyor standing on seashore can just see the top of a ship
through the telescope of a levelling instrument. The height of the line
of sight at instrument location is 1.65 meter above msl and the top of
ship is 50 meter above sea level. How far is the ship from the surveyor?
21. The following notes refer to the reciprocal levels taken with one
level:
Instrument Station
Staff Readings on Remarks
Near Station Further station
P 1.03 1.630 Distance PQ = 800 m
Q 2.74 0.950 R.L. of P = 450 m
Find (i) the true R.L. of Q;
combined correction for curvature and refraction
the error in collimation adjustment of the instrument.
22. The areas enclosed by contours on the upstream face of dam in a
hydro-electric project as
Contour (m)

800

790

780

770

760

750

740

Area (hectares)

31.41

26.74

24.89

22.23

19.37

17.74

12.91

The lowest draw down level is 733 m. compute the full reservoir
capacity
23. In levelling between two points A and B on opposite banks of a river,
the level was set up near A and the staff readings on A and B were 1.60
m and 2.44 m respectively. The level was then moved and set up near B,
and the respective readings on A and B were
0.70 and 1.26. Find the true difference of level between A and B.
24. Explain profile levelling with suitable example.
25. Enlist and explain the types of errors in leveling.
26. The following perpendicular offsets were taken from a chain line to
a hedge :

Chainage in m

10

20

40

Offset in m

6.10

7.63

4.58

5.49

Calculate the area between the chain line and the hedge using
Simpsons method.
27. Write about the Prismoidal Correction to be applied to volume
computation.

UNIT-IV
THEODOLITE SURVEYING
1. Enumereate the different parts of a vernier theodolite and explain
their function.
2. Differentiate between Clamp screw and Tangent screw.
3. What do you mean by temporary 'adjustment' of a theodolite ?
4. Describe in breif the steps of temporary adjustment in proper order.
5. Enumerate the fundamental lines of a theodolite instrument and
state their relationship in a permanently adjusted instrument
6. Explain the use of Bowditchs rule in traverse computation.
7. Name the different cases of omitted measurements in theodolite
surveying.
8. How is a simple curve set out by using one theodolite and one chain?
9. Name the two methods of measuring horizontal angles using a
theodolite.
10. What is an anallatic lens?
11. In order to reduce the error in measurement of vertical angle a set
of measurements are taken and find the average angle as 9 02' 05?
form a height of instrument as
1.565m to a target height 2.165m. If the elevation of the instrument
station is 189.250m above mean sea level, find the elevation of staff
station. Assume any data, if required.
12. Calculate the independent coordinates of the stations from the
following observation of a traverse assuming independent coordinates
of station A as (10000, 10000):

Line

AB

BC

CD

DE

EA

Length (m)

89.31

219.76

151.18

159.10

232.26

WCB

45 10'

72 05'

161 52'

228 43'

300 42

Use Bowditch Rule for adjustment of errors.

13. In a traverse ABCDEFG, the line BA is taken as the reference
meredian, the coordinates of the sides AB, BC, CD, DE and EF are
Line

AB

BC

CD

DE

EF

Northing
(m)

1190.9

565.3

590.5

606.9

101

Easting

736.4

796.8

-468.0

370.4

If the bearing of FG is 284 13' and its length is 896.0m, find the length
and bearing of GA.
14. In a closed traverse ABCDE running anti-clockwise, calculate the
missing data:
Line

Length (m)

W.C.B.

AB

343.56

245 18'

BC

371.08

CD

113 37'

DE

417.66

37 25'

EA

457.25

321 42'

15. State and explain omitted measurements in theodolite surveying.

16. The interior angles of a closed traverse ABCDEF are as follows : ,
60 40'; , 201 38'; , 93 19'; , 69 48'; , 210 13' and
, 84 22'. Compute the deflection angles of the traverse. UNIT-V
ENGINEERING SURVEYS
1. Briefly explain reverse curves and shift of a transition curve

2. .State the relationship between the radius of a curve and the degree
of the curve.
3. What are transition curves?
4. A railway curve is to be tangential to each of the following lines:
7. Length
5. Lines 6. W.C.B. (m)
8. AB 9. 0 10. 11. BC 12. 90 13. 220
14. CD 15. 140 16. Determine the salient parameters of the simple circular curve.
17. Two straights AB and BC meet in an inaccessible point B and are to
be connected by a simple curve of 600 m radius. Two points P and Q
were selected on AB and BC respectively and the following data were
obtained.
R APQ = 150, R CQP = 160, PQ = 150.0 m
18. Calculate the salient elements of the simple circular curve.
Considering the chainage of point P to be 1000 m.
19. Two tangents intersect at chainage 2380 m, the deflection angle
being 50 30'.
Compute the necessary data for setting out a 5.7 curve to connect the
two tangents if it is intended to set out the curve by Rankine's Method
of tangential angles. Take the length of the normal chord as 30 m. Also,
tabulate the values of the deflection angles for setting out with a
theodolite having least count of 20".
20. Two straights AB and BC meet at an inaccessible point B. They are
to be connected by a simple circular curve of 500 m radius. Two points P
and Q are selected on AB and BC respectively, and the following data
are obtained: RAPQ = 157 22' ;
RCQP = 164 38' ; PQ = 200 m.
21. Calculate the necessary data for setting out the curve by the
method of deflection angle. The nominal length of chord is 30 m.
Assume any data missing.
22. A transition curve of length 230 m joins a straight to a circular curve
of radius 800 m.

What is the angle turned by the transition curve and what is the
necessary shift?. Find the length of offset to the transition at a distance
150 m from the short along the tangent.
23. Two straights AB and BC intersect at chainage 1000 m, the
deflection angle being
40. It is proposed to insert a right-handed circular curve 400 m radius
with a cubic parabola of 90 m length at each end. The circular curve is
to be set out with pegs at
20 m intervals and the transition curves at 10 m intervals. Find the
24. Chainage at the begining and end of the combined curve
25. Chainages at the junction of the transition curve with circular
curves
26. tangential angles for the first two points on the first transition
curve
27. tangential angles for the first two points on the circular curves
28. Enumerate the classification of curves in Engineering surveys.
29. Two straights intersect at a deflection angle of 80? and are
connected by a circular curve of radius 10 chains. Find the length of
each end tangent, the curve, and the long chord, the Apex distance;
the Mid ordinate of the curve and the Degree of the curve.