CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 1/8

Surveying Review Distance Measurement

♦ Distance is one of the most basic engineering

♦ A quick review of topics covered in CIVL 1101
measurements
♦ Measuring distance

♦ Measuring elevations using differential leveling ♦ The four techniques we use are:
♦ Conducting a topographic surveying
♦ Pacing
♦ Developing a contour map/model ♦ Measuring wheel
♦ Taping or chaining
♦ Electronic distance measuring (EDM) devices

Distance Measurement Distance Measurement

Pacing Measuring Wheels
♦ The ability to pace distance is very useful

♦ A person can determine their pace by counting the

number of paces necessary to walk a distance that
has been previously measured

♦ A pace is defined as one step

♦ A stride is consider two steps

Distance Measurement Distance Measurement

Taping or Chaining Taping or Chaining
♦ For centuries engineers have measured distances with
♦ Tapes are available in lengths up to 1000 feet;
ropes, lines, or cords precision of 1/1000 to 1/5000 are commonly
obtained
♦ The term chaining is a carry–over from
the time when the Gunter chain
was used (1600’s)

♦ The 66 foot chain is made of 100 7.92

inch links
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 2/8

Distance Measurement Distance Measurement

Electronic Distance Measurements (EDM) Electronic Distance Measurements (EDM)

♦ EDMs are very useful in measuring distances that ♦ EDMs measure the time required for a light wave
are difficult to access or long distances to sent to a target and reflected back

Distance Measurement Distance Measurement

Taping over Sloping Ground
Pacing 1/50 to 1/200 Reconnaissance
♦ If the taping is done
over sloping ground
Odometer 1/200 Reconnaissance
where there is no
underbrush, the
Taping 1/1000 to 1/5000 Land surveys taping must be done
in sections, referred
EDM ±0.04 to 1/300,000 All types of to as:
surveying breaking the tape

Distance Measurement Differential Leveling

Definitions
Taping over Sloping Ground

Hold the tape level

Use a plumb bob to locate
the point BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft
Height less than Point B
5 feet

Point A
Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
40 feet 30 feet 35 feet (elevation 100.00 ft)
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 3/8

Differential Leveling Differential Leveling

Definitions Definitions
♦ Bench mark (BM) - relatively permanent point of ♦ Backsight (BS) - a sight taken to the level rod held at a
known elevation point of known elevation
(either a BM or TP)

BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft

Point B Point B

Point A Point A
Elevation = 103.22 ft Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point Starting point

(elevation 100.00 ft) (elevation 100.00 ft)

Differential Leveling Differential Leveling

Definitions Definitions
♦ Height of instrument (HI) - the elevation of the ♦ Foresight (FS) - a sight taken on any point to
line of sight of the telescope determine its elevation

BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft

Point B Point B

Point A Point A
Elevation = 103.22 ft Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point Starting point

(elevation 100.00 ft) (elevation 100.00 ft)

Differential Leveling Differential Leveling

Level Instrument Computation of Elevations

BS
12.64

BM1
BS + Elevation = HI
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 4/8

Differential Leveling Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations Computation of Elevations

BS
BS FS BS FS 10.88
12.64 3.11 12.64 3.11

BM1 BM1
TP1 HI - FS = Elevation TP1
Elevation 100.00 Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation Point BS HI FS Elevation

BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00 BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 3.11 109.53 TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53

Differential Leveling Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations Computation of Elevations
BS
9.72
BS FS BS FS
BS FS 10.88 2.56 BS FS 10.88 2.56
12.64 3.11 12.64 3.11

BM1 TP2 BM1 TP2

TP1 TP1
Elevation 100.00 Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation Point BS HI FS Elevation

BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00 BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53 TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 2.56 117.85 TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85

Differential Leveling Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations Computation of Elevations
BS FS BS FS
9.72 3.10 9.72 3.10
BS FS BS FS
BS FS 10.88 2.56 BS FS 10.88 2.56
12.64 3.11 BM2 12.64 3.11 BM2

BM1 TP2 BM1 TP2

TP1 TP1
Elevation 100.00 Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation Point BS HI FS Elevation

BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00 BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53 TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85 TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85
BM2 3.10 124.47 BM2 3.10 124.47
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 5/8

Differential Leveling Topographic Survey

Computation of Elevations Introduction
♦ Check the summation of the backsight and the
foresight with the change in elevation
♦ Topography - defined as the
shape or configuration or
Point BS HI FS Elevation relief or three–dimensional
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00 quality of a surface
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85 ♦ Topography maps are very
BM2 3.10 124.47 useful for engineers when
+33.24 -8.77 planning and locating a
structure
Change in elevation = 33.24 -8.77 =24.47

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

♦ The most common method of representing the

topography of an area is to use contour lines

♦ A contour line is an
imaginary level line
that connects points
of equal elevation

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Characteristics of Contours
♦ Closely spaced contours indicate steep slopes

106.00
♦ Widely spaced contours indicate moderate slopes
105.00

♦ Contours should be labeled to the elevation value

104.00
103.00
102.00
101.00
100.00
99.00
98.00 ♦ Contours are not shown going through buildings
97.00
96.00
A
95.00 B

♦ Contour line do not cross

C
94.00 D
E
93.00 F
G
92.00 H
I
91.00 J
K
90.00 L
M
N
1 O
2 P
3 Q
4
5 R
6 S
7
T
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 6/8

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Characteristics of Contours
♦ Contour lines do begin or end on the plan
♦ Depression and hill look the same; note the contour
value to distinguish the terrain
♦ Important points can be further defined by including a
“spot” elevation
♦ Contour lines tend to parallel each other on uniform
slopes
Construction of Contours
♦ The first step in developing a contour map is measuring
the elevations of a group of points
♦ It will be easier for us to establish a rectangular grid
of points (marked with flags) and measure the elevation
♦ The location of the flag points can be established by
taping and checked by pacing or the odometer

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Construction of Contours ♦ Once your contour grid is established,
measure the elevation of each grid point
C C
N N
D D

A A
B B

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

98 102 106 112 Construction of Contours
D C ♦ The basic method for estimating contour is applied
101 108 109 111 to each grid cell individually

♦ Use linear interpolation to find the location of the

106 111 119 108 desired contour interval

A ♦ Let consider the cell in the upper left–hand corner

B - remember the contour interval is 5 ft
108 112 112 106

♦ We want a contour map on 5 ft intervals

♦ The grid is rectangular, the dimensions of the sides are
50 ft (north) and 100 ft (east)
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 7/8

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

♦ Let’s look at the top edge of the grid cell
Construction of Contours
100 100 100 102
♦ First see if a contour
98 102
interval exist between 98 100 102 98
F(x) = ax + b
nodes of the grid cell; so,
100 D estimate where along the D x
105
side the contour interval 102 − 98
would be located if a = slope =
100
101 108 101 108
♦ Apply simple linear b = intercept = 98
105 interpolation to each side
to locate the contour 2(100)
x = = 50ft 4
interval 100 = x + 98
4 100

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

♦ Let’s look at the bottom edge of the grid cell ♦ Let’s look at the left edge of the grid cell

105 108 100 101

98 100 102 101 98 100 102 98
F(x) = ax + b F(x) = ax + b

100
D x D x

108 − 101 100 101 − 98

a = slope = a = slope =
100 50
101 105 108 101 105 108

105 b = intercept = 101 b = intercept = 98

4(100) 7 2(50) 3
x = = 57ft 105 = x + 101 x = = 33ft 100 = x + 98
7 100 3 50

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

♦ Let’s look at the right edge of the grid cell
♦ Locate the contour intervals locations on the grid cell
105 108
98 100 102 102 98 100 102 ♦ Next, simply connect
F(x) = ax + b
points of equal contour
D x D intervals
105
105 105
100 108 − 102 100
a = slope =
50 ♦ One grid cell down,
101 105 108 101 105 108
eight to go . . .
b = intercept = 102

3(50) 6
x = = 25ft 105 = x + 102
6 50
CIVL 1112 Surveying - Review of CIVL 1101 8/8

Topographic Survey End of Surveying Review

♦ Repeating the linear interpolation for each of the Any Questions?
remaining grid cell gives:

98 102 106 112

D C
101 108 109 111

106 111 119 108

A
B
108 112 112 106