Bataan Heroes College

1.1 What is surveying?

Surveying is the art of determining, with respect to one another, the positions of points on the
earth’s surface. This end is accomplished by measurements in the three dimensions of space:
distance, direction and elevation.

1.2 Types of Surveys

1. Topographic surveys are those which are made for the purpose of representing the three-
dimensional relations of the earth’s surface on maps or models.
2. Land surveys are those which are made incident to fixing of property lines, the calculation of
land areas, or the transfer of real property from one owner to another.
3. Route surveys are made for the purpose of the location and construction of engineering
projects which are built along fixed routes and gradients.
4. Hydrographic surveys comprise the operations necessary to map the shore lines of bodies of
water; to chart the bottom areas of streams, lakes, etc.; to measure the flow of streams
5. Mine surveys are made to determine the position of all underground workings and surface
structures of mines, to fix the position and directions of tunnels, shafts, etc.
6. Cadastral surveys are made to fix the boundaries of municipalities and of state jurisdictions.
7. Aerial surveys are those which make use of photographs taken from airplane.

1.3 Definition of terms

1. Level surface is a curved surface every element of which is normal to a plumb line.
2. Horizontal plane is a plane tangent to a level surface.
3. Horizontal line is a line tangent to a level surface.
4. Horizontal angle is an angle formed by the intersection of two lines in a horizontal plane.
5. Vertical line is a line perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
6. Vertical plane is a plane in which a vertical line is an element.
7. Vertical angle is an angle between two intersecting lines in a vertical plane.
8. Elevation of a point is the vertical distance above or below some arbitrarily assumed level
surface or datum.
9. Contour is an imaginary line of constant elevation on the ground surface.
10. Difference in elevation is the vertical distance between two points.
Fundamentals of Surveying: Module 1 Page 1 of 2
Engr. Edgardo L. Lintag, Jr.
 Bataan Heroes College
11. Grade or gradient of a line is its slope or rate of ascent or descent.

1.4 Methods of measuring distances

1. Pacing consists of counting the number of steps or paces in a required distance.
2. Odometer reading uses an odometer which converts the number of revolutions of a wheel of
known circumference to a distance.
3. Stadia method is used to quickly determine the horizontal distance to, and elevation of, a
point.
4. Subtense bar method is taking the horizontal angle subtended by two targets precisely spaced
at a fixed distance apart on a subtense bar.
5. Taping involves the direct measurement of a distance using steel tapes.
6. Electronic Distance Measurement uses devices which measure lengths indirectly by
determining the number of waves of transmitted electromagnetic energy in travelling between
the ends of two lines.

Fundamentals of Surveying: Module 1 Page 2 of 2

Engr. Edgardo L. Lintag, Jr.