FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & EARTH RESOURCES

ENGINEERING SURVEYING FIELDWORK

LINEAR SURVEY
REPORT

SUBJECT CODE BAA 1912

SUBJECT ENGINEERING SURVEYING FIELDWORK

DATE 14 & 21 FEBRUARY 2019

GROUP NUMBER 1

SECTION 04

GROUP MEMBER:
NAME & ID
NUMBER

LECTURER

MARKS

REMARKS

ENDORSEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENT

NO. CONTENT PAGE NUMBER

i) INTRODUCTION 1-5

ii) OBJECTIVE 6

iii) DEVICES/EQUIPMENT 6

iv) PROCEDURE 7-8

v) PRODUCT 9-10

vi) DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS 11

vii) CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION 12

viii) APPENDICES 13
INTRODUCTION
LINEAR SURVEY

Introduction:

The objective of any survey is the production of the scaled drawing of a parcel of ground.
Linear surveys were fashionable for all sizes of ground parcels before the advent of
electromagnetic distance measurement, but nowadays only small sites, probably less than a
hectare in extent, are surveyed using this method.
This method of surveying is known as linear surveying, because the survey is carried out by
measuring only the lengths of lines. No angular measurement are made at all.

Principles of linear surveying:

A survey makes use of the principles of geometry. The simplest possible geometric figure is a
triangle, which is a three sided figure, the sides of which join three points. If the distance
between two of the points is measured the points are fixed. The problem, then, is to fix the third
point in the relation to the two known points.
Figures illustrates the situation. A large tree, Z (position unknown), is to be fixed by survey to
straight fence XY. Two methods are available.

a) Trilateration

The word means measurement of three sides. When the principle is applied to Figure, the
lengths XY, YZ and XZ are all measured, using a tape. Length XY is then drawn to scale on
paper, point Z is fixed to XY, using a pair of compasses and drawing arcs XZ and YZ to
intersect in the point Z.

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 b) Lines at right angles (offset)
In the field lines XO and OY are measured along the fence XY. Offset is measured at the right
angles to line XY. Offset OZ is measured at right angles to line XY. Using a set square and
scale rule, point Z is plotted at right angles to line XY, thus establishing the correct relationship
of the tree to the fence.
The principles of trilateration and offsetting are applied to all linear surveys, which are carried
out in two parts:
i) Framework survey

A framework is established over the whole site to form a sound geometrical

figure, which can be readily plotted. The detail survey is then added to the
framework; thus the fundamental surveying rule of ‘working from the whole
to the part’ is complied with.

ii) Detail survey

The fences, wall stream, tress, buildings, etc., are the details that are added to
the framework by offsetting.

Working from the whole to the part

This is the fundamental rule of all survey operation. The area to be surveyed is treated as a
whole and is then broken down into several triangles rather than reverse.

Linear measuring techniques:

On every survey, there will inevitably be a variety of long and short, flat and inclined, lines to
be measured accurately. Figure shows a short survey AB marked on the ground by two pegs.
The distance AB is shorter than one length of tape. The measurement of the line AB is obtained
by unreeling the tape and straightening it along the line between the pegs. The zero point of the
tape (usually the end of handle) is held against station A by the rear tape person (called the
follower). The forward end of tape is read against station B by the forward tape person (called
the leader) after it has been carefully tightened.

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 On surveys most of the lines will be considerably
longer than one tape length and a sound operational
technique is required. Two ancillary pieces of
equipment are necessary, namely ranging and
making arrows.

Raging rods are 2m long, round, wooden poles,

graduated into 500mm divisions and painted
alternately red and white. They have a pointed metal
shoe for penetration into the earth.

Marking arrows are made from steel wire, 375mm long, pointed at one end, 30mm loop at the
other and pointed in fluorescent paint. They are made up in sets of ten.

Two surveyors are required to measure a long line. The leader’s job is to pull the tape in the
required direction and mark each tape length. A known number of arrows and a ranging rod
are carried by the leader. The follower’s job is to align the tape and count the tape lengths.

In Figure, a line AB is to be measured across the gently sloping grassy field. The follower holds
the zero end of the tape against station A and the leader pulls the tape towards station B. When
the tape has been laid out the leader holds the raging rod vertically approximately on the line
AB. The tape is tightened between newly erected rod and station A and an arrow is pushed into
the ground at the 20 marks of the tape.

The followers move the forward to this new point and the whole procedure is repeated for the
remainder of the line until station B is reached. The follower gathers the marking arrows and
the number of tape lengths measured is the number of arrows carried by the follower. The
portion of tape between the last arrow and station B is then measured and added to the number
of complete tape lengths to produce the total length of the line.

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Appendix 2

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Appendix III

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OBJECTIVE
1. To gathered data of a parcel of ground within UMP area using linear survey technique.
2. To produce of the scaled drawing of a parcel of ground within UMP area.
3. To measuring the length of lines.

DEVICES/EQUIPMENTS
List of devices:
4. Picket
1. 30m Measuring tape

5. Hammer
2. 50m Measuring tape

3. Signboard & Traffic Cone

6. Marker Pen

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PROCEDURE

1. Reconnaissance survey
The survey site was issued on 14th of February 2019, the group visited the site on the same
day also. Where we:

a) Identified main features on the site. Example: Equally spaced planted trees.
b) Identified the different kinds of obstacles to the survey process.
c) Identified the nature of our site. Example: Sloped land.
d) Identified the well-conditioned of every triangle area in a pentagon-shaped site.
Example: Angle of the triangle should not less than 30 degree nor greater than 120
degree.
e) Sketched the plan which containing the identified features and obstacles.

2. Survey conducted

a) The 5 lengths of our pentagon-shaped site were accurately measured using a synthetic
tape and recorded. While carrying out the measurements, it was ensured the tape was
straight and lying on the ground.

b) The longest diagonal across the site was identified and surveyors chain laid across the
diagonal. Once the chain was confirmed to be straight a chaining arrow was fixed at its
end in place of the ranging rod.

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 c) Features near the diagonal were mapped alternatively by ties and offsets. Two tapes
were used as starting point and chain line to erect offsets while ties were constructed
from 2 different points on the chain using two tapes.
d) The chain was then dragged until the opposition corner of the end of a diagonal.
e) Some features were also mapped from boundaries of our areas by doing the offsets, the
horizontal distances between trees in organized rows also measured.

3. The survey recorded

All of the measurements that we have taken recorded by sketching a plan and measurements
on a paper.

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PRODUCT
FIELDBOOK

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PLAN

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DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
After completing linear surveying, we able to learn about the principle of linear
surveying which makes use of the principle of geometry. For example, the simplest possible
geometric figure is triangle, which is a three sided figure, the sides which are form by joining
the three points together. Throughout the whole process of linear surveying, we able to enhance
a lot of new knowledge and skills about linear surveying but we also faced a lot of difficulties.

As soon as we start, we faced the first problem is finding a suitable place to set up our
stations. This is because that we have to make sure the distance between the stations have to
be in the range of 30 to 50 meters. Therefore, we spent quite a lot of time placing all of the
pickets at the suitable station in order to get a distance ranging from 30 to 50 meters.

Next, we also faced a problem when we are going to take some measurement that require
us to cross the busy road. This is due to the measuring tape will be affected by those car passing
through, we need to waste time to readjust the measuring tape to ensure that the reading we get
is more accurate. We repeated the same steps a couple time and this has wasted a lot of pleasure
time. We also have to take extra care for the tools that we are using and our own safety when
we are taking measurements across the road by placing traffic safety cone around our surveying
site to prevent any accident from happening.

On the other hand, we always wasting time on finding back our pickets although we
already put the group mark on it. This is because we hammered the pickets quite deep into the
ground to prevent people get stumble by the pickets and some of the pickets already covered
by the grass. We are asked to hammer the pickets deep into the ground to prevent the pickets
from removing by other people.

In a nutshell, the measurement that we get might not be exact and contain various
types of errors. There are two types of general errors which are systematic error that occur
from well understood causes and random error that due to combination of causes and beyond
the control of surveyor. Errors in measurements comes from three main sources which are
personal errors, natural errors and also instrument errors. All of these errors will influent the
accuracy of our measurement. We try our best to minimize the errors occurring by getting a
mean set of the measurement to be used. We can use a few methods to minimize the errors but
we can never ever eliminate the errors.

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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

We can conclude that the field work that we have conducted in group was successful
because we recorded all the necessary data and details that help us to figure out our site area.
Each group member was involved in all linear survey activities alternatively and every member
was able to cooperate with each other.

There are several difficulties while linear survey was conducted as we mentioned at
discussion and conclusion part. The main problem is about the accuracy of the results as the
ground is not completely smooth. When measuring the offset distance between the objects and
the chain line, it is difficult to obtain the shortest measurement by swinging the taut offset tape
side by side along the line. As a result, the area found is not accurate enough.

For the improvement of this field work, it is important to follow the procedures
correctly and to set the materials with technique properly because wrong set up might cause
inaccurate results. For instance, the zero points of the measuring tape is at the end of handle
and the calibrated unit on each side are meter and feet. For obtaining an accurate distance
reading between two stations, we must make sure that we take the reading started at zero point
which is the end of the handle.

There are fews more recommended improvement. When placing the tape, try to
remove the objects which are rough and may cause an inaccurate measurement. Also, a
surveyor should check the tape to ensure that it is straight enough to observe. Conclusions To
conclude, different distances between points or objects can be found by both Offset Method
and Trilateration Method. However, Offset Method requires higher techniques as it is quite
difficult to obtain accurate readings.

After conducting the fieldwork, we have learned how to use the linear measuring
techniques to measure the horizontal distance of a survey site.

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APPENDICES

photo 1 : Offset Method is applied along the drainage to the chain line between S5 and S1 .

photo 2 : One of our team member fixed the starting at zero point to avoid systematic error.

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