Survey and Mapping

INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING, LINEAR MEASUREMENT

Surveying is defined as “taking a general view of, by observation and measurement determining the boundaries, size, position, quantity, condition, value, etc. of land, estates, building, farms mines, etc. and finally presenting the survey data in a suitable form”. This covers the work of the valuation surveyor, the quantity surveyor, the building surveyor, the mining surveyor, and so forth, as well as the land surveyor.

The process of surveying is therefore in three stages namely:

  • Taking a general view:

This part of the definition is important as it indicates the need to obtain an overall picture of what is required before any type of survey work is undertaken. In land surveying, this is achieved during the reconnaissance study.

  • Observation and Measurement:

This part of the definition denotes the next stage of any survey, which in land surveying constitutes the measurement to determine the relative position and sizes of natural and artificial features on the land.

  • Presentation of Data:

The data collected in any survey must be presented in a form which allows the information to be clearly interpreted and understood by others. This presentation may take the form of written report, bills of quantities, datasheets, drawings and in land surveying maps and plan showing the features on the land.

Types of Surveying

On the basis of whether the curvature of the earth is taken into account or not, surveying can be divided into two main categories:

Plane surveying: is the type of surveying where the mean surface of the earth is considered as a plane. All angles are considered to be plane angles. For small areas less than 250 km2 plane surveying can safely be used. For most engineering projects such as canal, railway, highway, building, pipeline, etc constructions, this type of surveying is used. It is worth noting that the difference between an arc distance of 18.5 km and the subtended chord lying in the earth’s surface is 7mm. Also, the sum of the angles of a plane triangle and the sum of the angles in a spherical triangle differ by 1 second for a triangle on the earth’s surface having an area of 196 km2.

Geodetic surveying: is that branch of surveying, which takes into account the true shape of the earth (spheroid).

Classification of surveying:

For easy understanding of surveying and the various components of the subject, we need a deep understanding of the various ways of classifying it.

Surveying is classified based on various criteria including the instruments used, purpose, the area surveyed and the method used.

Classification on the Basis of Instruments Used. Based on the instrument used; surveys can be classified into;

  1. Chain tape surveys
  2. Compass surveys
  3. Plane table surveys
  4. Theodolite surveys

Classification based on the surface and the area surveyed

  1. Land survey:

Land surveys are done for objects on the surface of the earth. It can be subdivided into:

  • Topographic survey: This is for depicting the (hills, valleys, mountains, rivers, etc) and manmade features (roads, houses, settlements…) on the surface of the earth.
  • Cadastral survey is used to determining property boundaries including those of fields, houses, plots of land, etc.
  • Engineering survey is used to acquire the required data for the planning, design and Execution of engineering projects like roads, bridges, canals, dams, railways, buildings, etc.
  • City surveys: The surveys involving the construction and development of towns including roads, drainage, water supply, sewage street network, etc, are generally referred to as city survey.

  • Marine or Hydrographic Survey:

Those are surveys of large water bodies for navigation, tidal monitoring, the construction of harbours etc.

  • Astronomical Survey:

Astronomical survey uses the observations of the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars etc) to fix the absolute locations of places on the surface of the earth.

Classification on the basis of purpose:

  • Engineering survey

Control Survey: Control survey uses geodetic methods to establish widely spaced vertical and horizontal control points.

  • Geological Survey: A geological survey is used to determine the structure and arrangement of rock strata. Generally, it enables to know the composition of the earth.

  • Military or Defence Survey is carried out to map places of military and strategic importance.

  • Archeological survey is carried out to discover and map ancient/relies of antiquity.

Classification Based on Instrument Used:

  • Chain/Tape Survey: This is the simple method of taking the linear measurement using a chain or tape with no angular measurements made.

  • Compass Survey: Here horizontal angular measurements are made using magnetic compass with the linear measurements made using the chain or tape.

  1. Plane table survey: This is a quick survey carried out in the field with the measurements and drawings made at the same time using a plane table.

  1. Levelling: This is the measurement and mapping of the relative heights of points on the earth’s surface showing them in maps, plane and charts as vertical sections or with conventional symbols.

  1. Theodolite Survey: Theodolite survey takes vertical and horizontal angles in order to establish controls.

Classification based on the method used:

  1. Triangulation Survey In order to make the survey, manageable, the area to be surveyed is first covered with series of triangles. Lines are first run round the perimeter of the plot, then the details fixed in relation to the established lines. This process is called triangulation. The triangle is preferred as it is the only shape that can completely over an irregularly shaped area with minimum space left.

  1. Traverse survey: If the bearing and distance of a place of a known point is known: it is possible to establish the position of that point on the ground. From this point, the bearing and distances of other surrounding points may be established. In the process, positions of points linked with lines linking them emerge. The traversing is the process of establishing these lines, is called traversing, while the connecting lines joining two points on the ground. Joining two while bearing and distance is known as traverse. A traverse station is each of the points of the traverse, while the traverse leg is the straight line between consecutive stations. Traverses may either be open or closed.

Closed Traverse:

When a series of connected lines forms a closed circuit, i.e. when the finishing point coincides with the starting point of a survey, it is called as a ‘closed traverse’, here ABCDEA represents a closed traverse.

Open Traverse:

When a sequence of connected lines extends along a general direction and does not return to the starting point, it is known as ‘open traverse’ or (unclosed traverse).

BRANCHES OF SURVEYING:

  • Aerial Surveying

Aerial surveys are undertaken by using photographs taken with special cameras mounted in an aircraft viewed in pairs. The photographs produce three-dimensional images of ground features from which maps or numerical data can be produced usually with the aid of stereo plotting machines and computers.

  • Hydrographic Surveying (Hydro-Survey)

Hydro survey is undertaken to gather information in the marine environment such as mapping out the coast lines and sea bed in order to produce navigational charts.

  • Geodetic Survey:

In geodetic survey, large areas of the earth surface are involved usually on national basis where survey stations are precisely located large distances apart. Account is taken of the curvature of the earth; hence it involves advanced mathematical theory and precise measurements are required to be made. Geodetic survey stations can be used to map out entire continent, measure the size and shape of the earth or in carrying out scientific studies such as determination of the Earth’s magnetic field and direction of continental drifts.

  • Plane Surveying:

In plane surveying relatively small areas are involved and the area under consideration is taken to be a horizontal plane. It is divided into three branches.

  1. Cadastral surveying
  2. Topographical surveying
  3. Engineering surveying

Cadastral surveying

These are surveys undertaken to define and record the boundary of properties, legislative area and even countries. It may be almost entirely topographical where features define boundaries with the topographical details appearing on ordinance survey maps. In the other hand, markers define boundaries, corner or line points and little account may be taken of the topographical features.

Topographical Survey

These are surveys where the physical features on the earth are measured and maps/plans prepared to show their relative positions both horizontally and vertically. The relative positions and shape of natural and man –made features over an area are established usually for the purpose of producing a map of the area of for establishing geographical information system.

Engineering Survey

These are surveys undertaken to provide special information for construction of Civil Engineering and building projects. The survey supply details for a particular engineering schemes and could include setting out of the work on the ground and dimensional control on such schemes.