MODULE 3
Measurement of Horizontal Distances
PREPARED BY: ENGR. ELIJAH C. TASANI
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
2 MEASUREMENT
OF HORIZONTAL
DISTANCES
3 CORRECTIONS IN
TAPING
01
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
There are many various ways on how surveying is done. In
any way, there will be a specific tool and/or equipment for it
to be done.
Some of these tools and/or equipment were useful on some
ways but not on the other. These tools or equipment has
natural imperfections; thus, adjustments have to be done.
This module will enumerate those ways and tools and/or
equipment that work together for surveying to be carried out
and how to adjust errors due to natural imperfections.
02
MEASRUEMENT OF
HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
The accurate determination of the distance between two
points on any surface is one of the basic operations of Plain
Surveying. Such linear measurement are understood to mean
the horizontal distance. There are several methods of
determining distance. The choice depends on the purpose for
which the measurement is intended, the required precision,
the cost, and the other conditions.
If the points are at different elevation, the distance is the
horizontal length between vertical lines at the points.
MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
If the angle α is determined, the horizontal distance between
points A and B can be computed from the relation;
H = L cos α
Where:
H= is the horizontal distance
between points,
L= is the slope length
α= is the vertical angle from
horizontal
MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
If the difference in elevation d between the ends of the tape is
measured, which is done by leveling, the horizontal distance
can be computed using the following expression derived from
the Pythagorean Theorem;
C is the difference between
H horizontal distance and
L slope distance ;
MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
C is the difference between H horizontal distance and L slope
distance ; C is approximately
MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
A. Uphill (+) b. Downhill (-)
MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL DISTANCES
03
METHODS OF MAKING
LINEAR MEASUREMENT
METHODS OF MAKING LINEAR MEASUREMENT
There are several direct and indirect methods of determining
distances.
• Pacing
• Tachymetry
• Taping
• Electronic Distance Measurement
• Others
Most surveying field distance measurements are
accomplished by using either taping (steel or fiber glass tape)
or electronic distance measurements (EDM) .
DISTANCE BY PACING
Pacing consists of counting the number of steps or paces in a
required distance. A pace is defined as the length of the step
in walking. It may be measured from heal to heal or from toe
to toe. In surveying means moving with measured steps and
if the steps are counted, distances can be determined if the
length of the step is known.
DISTANCE BY PACING
Today, a pace is one step. A stride is
two steps.
Pace Factor (PF) is defined as the
ratio of the measured distance in the
number of paces made by an
individual to cover the measured
distance.
L = Length
m = Mean of pace
DISTANCE BY PACING
Example. A 45m course, AB, on a level ground was paced by a surveyor for the
purpose of determining his pace factor. Data gathered as shown, find:
a. Pace Factor.
b. If the surveyor then took 771, 770, 768, 770, 772 and 769 paces in walking an
unknown distance CD, what is the length of the line?
c. Assuming that the taped length of line CD is 667.0m, determine the relative
precision of the measurement performed.
DISTANCE BY PACING
Example.
a. Pace Factor.
Given:
L = 45m
n1= 6 (trials for AB)
Solution:
PF = L/M1
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M1 = = = 52 paces
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PF = 45 m / 52 paces = 0.865 m/pace
DISTANCE BY PACING
Example.
b. If the surveyor then took 771, 770, 768, 770, 772 and 769 paces in
walking an unknown distance CD, what is the length of the line?
Given:
Solution:
x1= 771
PF = L/M1
x2 = 770
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x3 = 768 M2 = =
�� �
x4 = 770 M2 = 770 paces
x5 = 772 PD = M2 (PF) = 770 pace (0.865 m/pace)
x6 = 769 PD = 666.1 m ( Paced Distance or length)
n2= 6 (trials for CD)
DISTANCE BY PACING
Example.
c. Assuming that the taped length of line CD is 667.0m, determine the
relative precision of the measurement performed.
Given:
TD = 667.0 m ( taped distance)
PD = 666.1 m (paced distance)
Solution:
RP = (TD-PD)/TD = (667.0 - 667.1) / 667.0 = 0.9 / 667.0
RP = 1 / 741.111 say 1/741 Note: For conservative = 1/700
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
Tachymetry (or Tacheometry) is another procedure of obtaining
horizontal distances. It is based on the optical geometry of the
measurements employed and is an indirect method of measurement.
A transit or a theodolite is used to determine subtended intervals and
angles on a graduated rod or scale from which distances are
computed by trigonometry
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
This method provides a rapid means of determining horizontal
distances. It is introduced in 1771 by James Watt of Scotland and was
at the time referred to as micrometer of measuring distances. The
precision of the stadia method depends on the following factors:
• Instrument Precision
• Skill of the Observer
• Length of Measurement
• Effects of Refraction and Parallax
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
Given:
R = 75 m (river) K = 100
C=0 SR = 0.895m
Solution:
DR = KSR + C = (100)(0.895 m) + 0= 89.50 m
DL = DR - R = 89.5 m - 75.0 m = 14.50 m
DL = KSL + C
SL = (DL -C)/K = (14.50 - 0) / 100 = 0.145m
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
Example. A stadia rod held at a distant point B is sighted by an
instrument set up at A. The upper and lower stadia hair readings where
observed as 1.300m and 0.900m, respectively. If the stadia interval
factor(K) is 100, and the instrument constant(C) is zero, determine the
length of line AB.
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
Example. A stadia rod held at a distant point B is sighted by an instrument set up at A. The upper and
lower stadia hair readings where observed as 1.300m and 0.900m, respectively. If the stadia interval
factor(K) is 100, and the instrument constant(C) is zero, determine the length of line AB.
Given:
K = 100 C=0
T = 1.300 m (upper stadia reading) B = 0.900 m (lower stadia reading)
Solution:
D = KS + C = 100 (1.300 - 0.900) + 0 = 40.0 m (length of the line AB)
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
A. Stadia Method
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
B. Subtense Bar Method.
The subtense bar is a convenient and practical devise used for quick
and accurate measurement of horizontal distances. The procedure of
determining the distance between two points consist of setting up the
subtense bar (2m long) at the distant station and measuring the
horizontal angle subtended by the distance between the two ends of
the bar. A theodolite, set up at the other end of the line to be
measured, is used in measuring the subtending angle.
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
B. Subtense Bar Method.
The slope distance, SD, between the transit./theodolite and subtense bar
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
B. Subtense Bar Method.
The horizontal distance, HD, is obtained by measuring the zenith angle
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
B. Subtense Bar Method.
The vertical distance between the centers of the transit/theodolite and subtense bar
If the instrument is set over a point whose elevation is known and the heights of the
instrument, HI, and subtense bar, HB, are measured, the ground elevation at the
subtense bar
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
Example. The following subtended angles were read on a 2 m long
subtense bar using a theodolite 0°54’13’’, 0°22’20’’, 0°32’ 06’’ and
0°19’46’’. Compute the horizontal distance from the theodolite to each
position of the bar.
DISTANCE BY TACHYMETRY
Example. The following subtended angles were read on a 2 m long subtense bar using
a theodolite 0°54’13’’, 0°22’20’’, 0°32’ 06’’ and 0°19’46’’. Compute the horizontal
distance from the theodolite to each position of the bar.
Given:
S = 2m
α1 = 0°54’13’’ α2 = 0°22’20’’ α3 = 0°32’ 06’’ α4 = 0°19’46’’
Solution:
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D1 = But S/2 = 2m/2 = 1m
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D1 = 1m/tan(0°54’13’’/2) = 126.81 m
D2 = 1m/tan(0°22’20’’/2) = 307.86 m
D3 = 1m/tan(0°32’ 06’’/2) = 214.19 m
D4 = 1m/tan(0°19’46’’/2) = 347.83 m
THANK YOU
