SURVEYING one of the oldest arts practiced

by man.
The art and science of determining
the
angular
and
linear
measurements to establish the
form, extent, and relative position
of points, lines and areas on or near
the surface of the earth or on the
extraterrestrial
bodies
through
applied mathematics and the use of
specialized
equipment
and
techniques.
PLANE SURVEYING is that type of surveying in
which the
Earth is considered to be a flat
surface, and where distances
and areas involved are of
limited extent that the exact
shape
of
the
earth
is
disregarded.
GEODETIC SURVEYING are surveys of wide
extent which
take into account the
spheroidal
shape of the earth.
CADASTRAL SURVEYS are usually closed
surveys which
are undertaken in urban
and rural locations for the
purpose of determining and
defining property lines and
boundaries, corners and
areas.
one of the oldest survey.
CITY SURVEYS are surveys of the areas in and
near a city for the purpose of
planning
expansions
or
improvements.
CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS are surveys which
are undertaken at a construction
site to provide data regarding
grades.
FORESTRY SURVEYS a type of survey
executed in connection with
forest
management
and
mensuration.
HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS refer to surveying
streams,
lakes,
reservoirs,
harbors,
oceans,
and other
bodies of water.
INDUSTRIAL SURVEYS known as optical
tooling.
it refers to the use of
surveying techniques in ship
building,
construction
and
assembly of aircrafts, etc.
MINE SURVEYS are surveys which performed
to determine the position of all
underground excavations and
surface mine structures, etc.

PHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEYS a type of

survey which makes use of
photographs taken with specially
designed cameras either from
airplanes or ground stations.
ROUTE SURVEYS involves the determination
of alignment, grades, earthwork,
etc.
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS are those surveys
made for determining the shape
of the ground and the location
and elevation of natural and
artificial features upon it.
MEASUREMENT is the process of determining
the extent, size or dimensions of
a
particular
quantity
in
comparison to a given standard.
may be directly or
indirectly.
DIRECT MEASUREMENTS is a comparison of
the measured quantity with a
standard measuring unit or units
employed
for
measuring
a
quantity of that kind.
INDIRECT MEASUREMENTS making use of
formula.
when it is not possible to
apply
measuring
instrument
directly to a quantity to be
measured.
METER the international unit of linear
measure.
introduced in 1789 by French
scientists.
was defined as 1/10,000,000 of the
earths meridional quadrant.
SURVEYING FIELD NOTES constitute the only
reliable and permanent record of actual
work done in the field.
FIELD NOTEBOOK should be of good quality
rag paper, with stiff board or leather
cover made to withstand hard usage
and of pocket size.
SKETCHES are rarely made to exact scale.
will help to convey correct
impression.
are drawn freehand and of liberal
size.
EXPLANATORY NOTES provide a written
description of what has been done in
the field.
CHIEF OF PARTY the person who is responsible
for the overall direction, supervision,
and operational control of the survey
party.
INSTRUMENTMAN the person whose duty is to
set up, level and operate surveying
instruments.

HEAD TAPEMAN the person responsible for

accuracy and speed of all linear
measurements with tape.
REAR TAPEMAN the person whose duty is to
assist the head tapeman.
FLAGMAN the person whose duty is to hold
the flagpole or range pole at selected
points as directed by instrumentman.
RODMAN the person whose primary duty is to
hold the
stadia or leveling rod when sights are
to be
taken on it.
RECORDER

keeps
a
record
of
all
measurements,
sketches
and
observations
ERROR is defined as the difference between
the true
value and the measured value of a
quantity.
it is a deviation of an observation or
a calculation from the true value and is
often beyond the control of the one
performing the operation.
SYSTEMATIC ERRORS is one which will always
have the same sign and magnitude as
long as field conditions remain
constant and unchanged.
ACCIDENTAL ERRORS are purely accident in
character.
- are caused by factors beyond the
control of the surveyor and are present
in all surveying measurements.
MPV most probable value of a quantity is a
mathematical term used to designate
that adjusted value which, according to
the principles of least squares, has
more of being correct than has any
other.
RESIDUAL referred to as the deviation.
defined as the difference between
any measured value of a quantity and
its most probable value.
PROBABLE ERROR is a quantity which, when
added to and subtracted from the mpv.
is a mathematical quantity giving an
indication of precision and does not
signify either the true error or the error
most likely to occur.
is a valid measure of the precision of
observation only with regard to
accidental errors.
RELATIVE (ERROR) PRECISION the ratio of the
error to the measured quantity is used
to define the degree of refinement
obtained.
is a value determined by dividing the
discrepancy by the mean measured
length and where the numerator is
reduced to unity or one.

WEIGHT are used to control the sizes of

corrections applied to measurements in
an adjustment.
ANGLE WEIGHTS are proportional to the
number of times the angle are
observed or turned.
DIRECT METHOD are used for determining
horizontal distances with a tape or
chain or with an edm.
INDIRECT METHOD transit and stadia or
theodolite are used.
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE in plane surveying
the distance between two points.
PACING consists of counting the number of
steps or paces in a required distance.
STRIDE is equivalent to 2 paces or a double
step.
PACE is defined as the length of a step in
walking.
it may be measured from heel to heel
or from toe to toe.
TACHEOMETRY it is based on the optical
geometry of the instruments employed
and is an indirect method of
measurement.
TRANSIT OR THEODOLITE is used to
subtended intervals and angles on a
graduated rod or scale from which
distances
are
computed
by
trigonometry.
STADIA METHOD this method provides a rapid
means
of
determining
horizontal
distances.
is based on the principle that the
ratio of the perpendicular to the base is
constant in similar isosceles triangles.
introduced in 1771 by JAMES WATT of
Scotland.
referred to as a micrometer for
measuring distances.
SUBTENSE BAR METHOD is a convenient and
practical device used for quick and
accurate measurement of horizontal
distances.
GRAPHICAL OR MATHEMATICAL METHOD
unknown distances may be determined
through their relationship with known
distances geometrically.
ODOMETER is a simple device that can be
attached to a wheel for purposes of
roughly measuring surface distances.
converts the number of revolutions of
a wheel of known circumference to a
distance.
MEASURING WHEEL is very similar in
operation to an odometer except that it
is a more portable and self-contained
measuring device.
it is basically consists of a small
wheel which is attached to a rod and

handle and can be pushed by an

operator.
OPTICAL RANGEFINDER operates on the same
principle as a rangefinder on singlelens reflex camera.
is usually hand-held or mounted on a
small tripod.
PHOTOGRAMMETRY

refers
to
the
measurement
of
images
on
a
photograph.
it is taken from an aircraft.
CUBITS the distance between the tip of your
middle finger to the elbow.
FATHOM distance between the tips of your
middle finger when your arms are
outstretched.
came from Danish faeom, meaning
outstretched arms.
FOOT distance from the tip of a mans big toe
to heel.
ROD sum of the lengths of the left feet of 16
men.
CHAINING is a carry-over from the time when
the Gunter chain was used.
GUNTER CHAIN the surveyors chain.
invented by EDMUND GUNTER an
English
mathematician
and
astronomer.
TAPING consists of applying the known length
of graduated directly to a line a
number of times.
CHAINING PINS OR TAPING PINS are used to
mark tape lengths.
aso called surveyors arrows or taping
pins.
HAND LEVEL is a simple instrument used to
keep the tape ends at equal
elevations when measuring over
rough terrain. (hilly)
CLAMP HANDLES used to apply tension by a
positive, quick grip.
RANGE POLES OR LINING RODS OR FLAGS is
to mark the line being measured so
that the tapes alignment can be
maintained.
are used as temporary signals to
indicate the location of points or the
direction of lines and to mark the
alignment.
are round or hexagonal in cross
section and mark with red and white
bands.
PLUMB BOBS are used for projecting the tape
ends to the ground when the tape
must be
suspended
above
the
measured line.
is used to locate the measurement
point on the tape vertically above a
fixed marker.
PEGS is set out to mark the positions.

ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASUREMENT (EDM)

are very useful in measuring
distances that are difficult to access or
long distances.
allow a rapid and accurate
determination of linear distances.
measure the time required for a light
wave to sent to a target and reflected
back.
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
can provide the needed positions
with much greater accuracy, speed and
economy.
ELECTRO-OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
type of instruments which transmit
wavelengths within or slightly beyond
the visible region of the spectrum.
GEODIMETER is an acronym for geodetic
distance meter.
it is an electro-optical device
which was developed in 1948 by
ERIK BERGSTAND, a Swedish
physicist.
TELLUROMETER invented by DR. T.L. WADLEY.
worlds second EDM
instrument.
LINING IN using range poles, the line to be
measured should be marked at both
ends.
BREAKING TAPE horizontal measurements on
sloping
ground.
STRAIGHT LINE is the shortest distance
between two
points on a map.
HEAD CHAINMAN acts as the recorder also
reads
and
records
the
temperature of the tape.
REAR CHAINMAN is the responsible for
keeping the tape
in alignment.
STRETCHERMAN are to apply and to maintain
the correct tension on the tape.
STEEL TAPE also known as surveyors or
engineers tape.
METALLIC TAPE also called woven tapes.
NON-METALLIC TAPE is a type of tape woven
from selected synthetic materials with
strong dimensional stability.
INVAR TAPE a special tape made of an alloy of
nickel and steel with a very low
coefficient of thermal expansion.
FIBERGLASS TAPE is made by weaving
fiberglass in a longitudinal and traverse
pattern.
TENSION HANDLE also referred to as a spring
scale.
DISCREPANCY is normally assumed to be
distributed uniformly throughout the

tape and is directly proportional to the

fractional segment of the tape used.
DATUM is any convenient level surface
coincident or parallel with mean sea
level to which elevations of a particular
area are referred.
ELEVATION is the vertical distance above or
below mean sea level or any other
selected datum.
DUMPY LEVEL is the most widely used directly
leveling instrument.
- It has a long telescope which is
rigidly attached to the level bar.
- It can rotate through 360 degrees
and fixes the direction of the line of
sight.
WYE LEVEL is very identical to the dump
level. The only distinct difference
between these two instruments is in
the
manner
by
which
their
telescopes are attached to the
supporting level bar.
- It has a detachable telescope which
rests in supports.
CROSS HAIRS - consists of a pair of lines which
are perpendicular to each other and
are used to define the instruments
line of sight.
FORESIGHT a reading taken on a rod held on
a point whose elevation is to be
determined.
BACKSIGHT is a reading taken on a rod held
on a point of known or assumed
elevation.

BENCHMARK is a fixed point of reference

whose elevation is either known or
assumed.
HAND SIGNAL is any gesture or motion that
conveys information or gives a
command, direction or warning.
COME IN it is executed by moving the arm
into a circular motion starting from
below the waist to the front of his
face.
PICK UP THE INSTRUMENTS when a new set
up of the level is desired, the chief
of party signals the instrumentman
by first extending both arms
downward the raising them up
quickly as though an object is
lifted.
WAVE THE ROD the intrumentman hold his
arm
above
his
head
and
continuously waves it back and
forth.
PROFILE is a curved line which graphically
portrays the intersection of a
vertical plane with the surface of
the earth.
STATIONING a numerical designation given in
terms of horizontal distance any
point along profile line is away
from the starting point.
VERTICAL EXAGGERATION is a process of
drawing the vertical scale for a
profile much larger than the
horizontal scale in order to
accentuate the differences in
elevations.
DOWNHILL