CE 214

Fundamentals of
Surveying

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PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY STATE UNIVERSITY
NOT FOR SALE
CE 214 – Fundamentals of Surveying

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Learning Module Development Team

Assigned Chapter/Lesson Title Author/s

Chapter/Lesson 1: (First Name, Middle Initial, Last
Name)
Chapter/Lesson 2:
Chapter/Lesson 3:

Evaluators:

(First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name), Position

(First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name), Position
(First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name), Position
Course Overview
Introduction

This course deals with: Measurement of distance and distance corrections, the use of
surveying instruments, area computations, balancing the traverse, elevation determination,
and leveling. Stadia surveying, topographic surveying, triangulation and trilateration, missing
data, irregular boundaries, and global positioning system.

Proper handling and utilization of surveying instrument will be taken. Students will learn how
to perform measurement of distance and apply distance corrections, use and proper handling
of surveying instruments, and perform calculations related to area computations, latitude and
departure computations, DMD and DPD methods of land area determination, balancing the
traverse, elevation determination, and leveling. Perform stadia surveying, topographic
surveying, triangulation and trilateralization, missing data computation, and subdivision of
lots. Laying out of horizontal curves, compound curve, reversed curve, spiral curve and mass
diagramming.

Course General Objectives

At the end of the semester, 90% of the students have attained 80 % proficiency level in the
field of surveying.

1. Apply the basic surveying concepts, principles and theories on distance and
angular measurements as well as area computation.
2. Solve for distances, elevations and areas from a provided set of survey data.
3. Apply the basic surveying concepts, principles and theories on determining
horizontal and vertical distances using stadia.
4. Compute for the missing data from an incomplete traverse data.
5. Acquire a working knowledge in design and lay-out of horizontal or vertical
curves in highway or railway
6. Determine and use the appropriate methodology in calculating earthworks in
various civil engineering constructions.

Course Details:

 Course Code: CE 214

 Course Title: Fundamentals of Surveying
 No. of Units: 3 units lecture and 2 units laboratory
 Classification: Lecture and Laboratory-based
 Pre-requisite: CE 121 – Engineering Drawing and Plans
 Semester and Academic Year: 1st Semester, AY 2021-2022
Schedule:
BSCE 2A
TTh 09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
MWF 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM

BSCE 2B
TTh 10:30 AM - 12:00 NN
MWF 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

BSCE 2C
TTh 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
MWF 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM

BSCE 2D
TTh 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
MWF 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM

 Name of Faculty: Joven Flores Manangan, RCE

 Contact Details
Email: mananganjov@gmail.com
FB Account: Manangan Joven
 Consultation
Day: Saturday
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON

Learning Management System

The University LMS will be used for asynchronous learning and assessment. The link and
class code for LMS will be provided at the start of class through the class’ official Facebook
Group.

 Edmodo
 Google Classroom
 University LMS

Assessment with Rubrics

Students will be assessed in a regular basis thru quizzes and laboratory works. Rubrics are
also provided for evaluation of individual outputs.

Major examinations will be given as scheduled. The scope and coverage of the examination
will be based on the lessons/topics as plotted in the course syllabus.
 0323

Module Overview
Introduction

This learning module aims to educate the civil engineering students about the concepts,
methods, procedures, and practices in the field of surveying. The following modules contain
the important ideas needed to perform and execute the surveying work.

Table of Contents

Chapter/Lesson 1: Introduction of Surveying - Types of Surveying

Chapter/Lesson 2: Measurement of Distance, Errors in measurement
Chapter/Lesson 3: Pacing
Chapter/Lesson 4: Measurement of Directions and Angles
Chapter/Lesson 5: Bearing and Azimuth
Chapter/Lesson 6: Magnetic Declination
Chapter/Lesson 7: Balancing the Traverse - Area Computation
Chapter/Lesson 8: Curvature and Refraction; Elevation Determination
Chapter/Lesson 9: Leveling
Chapter/Lesson 10: Stadia Method
Chapter/Lesson 11: Horizontal and Vertical Curves
Chapter/Lesson 12: Earthworks
 Fundamentals of Surveying

Chapter 1

Introduction of Surveying –
Types of Surveying
Chapter 1

Introduction of Surveying – Types of Surveying

Introduction

Surveying is one of the oldest art the human being have made. It is traditionally defined as
the science of determining the relative positions of points above, on, or beneath the Earth’s
surface.

Surveying has been important since the beginning of civilization. Its earliest applications
were in measuring and marking boundaries of property ownership. Throughout the years, its
importance has steadily increased with the growing demand for a variety of maps and other
spatially related types of information and the expanding need for establishing accurate line
and grade to guide construction operations.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

- Be familiar with the various definitions of surveying

- Be familiar with the different types of survey

Duration

Chapter 1: Introduction of Surveying – = 9 hours lecture

Types of Surveying
Lesson Proper

What Is Surveying?
For simple definition:
- One of the oldest arts practiced by man
- It is done by marking boundaries to divide tracts of
land

DEFINITIONS OF SURVEYING
1) “Surveying is the art of determining the positions of points on or near the earth’s
surface by means of measurements in the three elements of space; namely, distance,
direction, and elevation.” – Rayner and Schmidt

2) “Surveying is the art of measuring horizontal and vertical distances between objects,
of measuring angles between lines, of determining the direction of lines, and of
establishing points by predetermined angular and linear measurements.” – Davis,
Foote, Anderson, and Mikhail

3) “Surveying is the art of making such measurements of the relative positions of points
on the surface of the earth that, on drawing them to scale, natural and artificial
features may be exhibited in their correct horizontal or vertical relationships.” –
Clarke

4) “Surveying is that branch of applied mathematics which teaches the art of determining
the area of any portion of the earth’s surface, the length and directions of the
boundary lines, the contour of the surface, and of accurately delineating the whole on
paper.” - Webster

5) “Surveying is the science or art of making such measurements as are necessary to

determine the relative position of points above, on, or beneath the surface of the Earth,
or to establish such points.”- Breed, Hosmer, and Bone
 6) “Surveying is the science and art of determining the relative positions of points above,
on, or beneath the surface of the earth, or to establish such points.”- Brinker and
Wolf

For Juny Pilapil La Putt’s Definition of Surveying,

“Surveying is the art and science of determining 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 other extraterrestrial bodies through applied mathematics and the
use of specialized equipment and techniques”

TWO GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS OF SURVEYING

I - PLANE SURVEYING
The 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.
With regard to horizontal distances and
directions, a level line is considered as
mathematically straight, the direction of the
plumb line is assumed to be the same at all
points within the limits of the survey, and all
angles are considered to be plane angles.

Plane Surveying is of wide scope and application. The different methods of plane surveying
are employed in various surveys undertaken in engineering, scientific, commercial,
architectural, geographic, navigational, and exploratory work. Since it is the required degree
of accuracy which forms the controlling factor in most surveys, no definite limit can be
assigned for the area up to which a survey may be considered as plane. Unless extreme
accuracy is required, plane surveying is applicable to areas of some thousands of square
kilometers in extent.
II - GEODETIC SURVEYING
A survey of wide extent which
take into account the spheroidal
shape of the earth. These
surveys employ principles of
geodesy, are of high precision,
and the related calculations
involve the solving of equations derived from advanced mathematics particularly spherical
trigonometry, calculus, and some applications of the theory of least squares.

Geodetic surveys, which are usually of national character, are mostly undertaken by
government agencies to serve as a basis for the production of accurate base and topographic
maps. The most refined instruments and methods of observation are employed since these
surveys provide a reference framework covering a large area of the earth’s surface. A number
of points of known location and elevation are established to serve as controls for subordinate
surveys of lesser extent which are performed as plane surveys. Elevations of selected
vertical control points are expressed in terms of vertical distances above or below a
reference curved surface usually mean sea level.

TYPES OF SURVEYS
Of the different types of surveys, the following are the more commonly executed:

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. These surveys are also made
to fix the boundaries of the
municipalities, towns, and
provincial jurisdictions
City Surveys – are surveys of the areas in and near a city for the purpose of planning
expansions or improvements, locating property lines, fixing reference monuments,
determining the physical features and configuration of the land, and preparing maps.

Construction Surveys – these are surveys which are undertaken at a construction site to
provide data regarding grades, reference lines, dimensions, ground configurations, and the
location and elevation of structures which are of concern to engineers, architects, and
builders.
Forestry Surveys – a type of survey executed in connecting with forest management and
mensuration, and the production and conservation of forest lands.

Hydrographic Surveys – refer to surveying streams, lakes, reservoirs, harbors, oceans, and
other bodies of water. These surveys are made to map shorelines, chart the shape of areas
underlying water surfaces, and measure the flow of streams. They are of general importance
in connection with navigation, development of water supply and resources, flood control,
irrigation, production of hydro-electric power, subaqueous construction, and recreation.
Industrial Surveys – sometimes known as optical tooling. It refers to the use of surveying
techniques in ship building, construction and assembly of aircraft, lay-out and installation of
heavy and complex machinery, and in other industries where very accurate dimensional
layouts are required.

Mine Surveys – are surveys which are performed to determine the position of all
underground excavations and surface mine structures, to fix surface boundaries of mining
claims, determine geological formations, to calculate excavated volumes, and establish lines
and grades for other related mining work.
Photogrammetric Surveys – a type of survey which makes use of photographs taken with
specially designed cameras either from airplanes or ground stations. Measurements are
obtained from the photographs which are used in conjunction with limited ground surveys.

Route Surveys – involves the determination of alignment, grades, earthwork quantities,

location of natural and artificial objects in connection with the planning, design, and
construction of highways, railroads, pipelines, canals, transmission lines, and other linear
projects.
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. The features shown
include such natural objects as hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, relief of the ground surface, etc;
and works of man, such as roads, buildings, ports, towns, municipalities, and bridges.

References/Additional Resources/Readings

La Putt, Juny Pilapil (2010 Reprint). Elementary Surveying (3rd Ed.) Cacho Hermanos, Inc.

Ghilani, Charles D. & Wolf, Paul R. Elementary Surveying, An introduction to Geomatics

(12th Ed.) p.cm.
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