This document provides an overview of basic surveying concepts and chain surveying principles. It defines surveying as collecting information about a region and representing it in drawings. The key purposes of surveying are to obtain necessary information about an area and prepare maps and plans. Surveying can be classified as geodetic or plane depending on whether the curvature of the Earth is accounted for. Chain surveying involves measuring lines with a chain and does not use angular measurements. The basic steps of chain surveying involve selecting stations, a base line, chaining measurements, and preparing drawings.

1. `BASIC SURVEYING NOTES
CH# 1 SURVEYING
Q1.
Ans.
What does surveying means? What is the purpose of surveying?
Survey
Collecting different type of information about something is called survey.
Surveying
In civil engineering, survey means to collect necessary information about a region and represent
that information in the form of drawing, and the process is called surveying.
Purpose of surveying
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Q2.
Ans.
The basic purpose of survey is to get necessary information about an area.
To prepare a plan in the form of a map.
To represent area in the form of horizontal lines.
To represent vertical distances in the form of contour lines.
How surveying is classified?
There are two basic types of surveying.
1) Geodetic survey.
2) Plane survey.
Geodetic survey
Survey in which curvature of earth is taken in account is called geodetic survey. The surface of
earth is considered curved in geodetic survey. This type of survey is used for surveying on large
scale. The government organizations mostly use this type of survey i.e. survey of Pakistan do this
type of survey.
Plane survey
The survey in which curvature of earth is not taken in account is called plane survey. The surface
of earth is considered flat in plane survey. This survey is mostly carried out for small areas. The
correctiveness of this survey is less as compared to geodetic survey. In this survey the length is
not taken greater than 15k.m and 260k.m2 area.
Q3.
Ans.
Write down the basic principles of surveying?
Basic principles of surveying are as follows.
First principle
 First of all survey is done for large area and then for small area. This principle is called
whole to part.
Second principle
 For finding the position of any relative point during survey at least two measurements
will be taken, i.e.
i.
Measurement of both the lines.
ii.
Measurement of both the angles.
iii.
Measurement of a line and an angle.
Q4.
State the instruments for taking linear and angular measurements.
Instruments for taking linear measurement
The following instruments are used taking linear measurements.
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2. `BASIC SURVEYING NOTES
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Pedometer
Chain
Steel Band
Tape
Tachometer
Distance Meter
Total Station
Instruments for taking angular measurements
The following instruments are used for taking angular measurements.
 `Compass
 Clinometer
 Sextant
 Theodolite
 Total Station.
Q5.
Ans.
Define chain surveying? State the principles of chain surveying.
Chain surveying
Type of survey in which we use chain for taking the measurements, on the basis of instrument
used it is termed as chain survey.
Chain survey is an ancient method of surveying which has not too much correctness. This survey
is usually used for the less importance projects. In this survey chain is used to measure the
lengths of the lines.
Principles of chain surveying
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Q6.
Ans.
Divide the area to be surveyed into number of triangles.
Lines should run through the level ground.
Offset should be short as possible.
The sides and area are directly measured in the field.
No angular measurements are taken.
There should be one base line in a survey upon which surveyor forms the triangles.
Stations should be visible.
Enlist the advantages and disadvantages of chain survey.
Advantages of chain survey
Advantages of chain survey are as follows.
 It is a simple way of carrying out survey.
 The instruments used in chain survey are simple and cheap.
 It does not require a highly educated surveyor. Little educated but experienced
surveyors can carry out chain survey easily.
 It is more suitable in small and level areas.
Disadvantages of chain survey
Chain survey has the following disadvantages.
 This method is not suitable for hilly areas.
 It is costly and time consuming if it is carried out for large scale survey.
 This survey is not suitable for populated area because forming triangles there are
difficult.
 It is not a becoming way for survey of roads, railway lines and streams etc.
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3. `BASIC SURVEYING NOTES
Q7.
Write short notes on the following.
1) Base line 2) Tie line
3) Check line 4) Offset
Base line
This line is the basic line of chain survey. This line is passed through the centre of the area. For
passing the base line flat surface is selected. The correctness of survey depends on the base line.
In chain survey first of all base line is measured and then other lines.
Tie line
During carrying out chain survey a surveyor attempts that no area remains without details.
Some times a small area remains in the large lines and the area is greater than tape and that is
why an extra line is passed to know the details which are called tie line.
Check line
Check lines are also called proof lines. The lines drawn for representing the other chain lines in
chain survey map correctly and checking the details obtained from other check lines. This line
connects a station with other chain lines.
Offset line
For measuring the points near the chain lines, the lines drawn to the relative points are called
offset lines. Offset lines are of two types.
1) Right offset
2) Oblique offset
Right offset
This offset is taken perpendicularly to the chain line. Offset taken at that point of chain line, the
length of that point is called reduced distance (R.D).
Oblique offset
The points located near the chain line, the lines connecting these points with the chain line at
other than right angle are called oblique offset. For representing any one point at least two
oblique offsets are taken.
Q8.
Ans.
What are the main types of ranging?
Ranging
Before measuring the line, the line is possibly directed on the ground with help of ranging rod.
This process of directing is called ranging.
OR
The process of making number of intermediate points straight on the survey line joining two
stations in the field so that the length between them may be measured correctly.
Types of ranging
The chain line is ranged in two ways.
1) Direct ranging
2) Indirect ranging
Direct ranging
This method is used that time when both the borders of line are clearly seen and the surface of
earth is flat. For ranging the line the ranging rods are arranged at both the ends of the survey
line. Before arranging the ranging rods the stations are foreordained with the help of pegs.
Ranging rods are just arranged behind the pegs and then more rods are arranged.
Indirect ranging
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4. `BASIC SURVEYING NOTES
This method of ranging is adopted that time when there is any slope or cliff between the ends of
the line. This method is also adopted that time when the length of the line is too long that the
ranging rods at the ends of the line can not be seen conjunctively. This method is also called
reciprocal ranging.
IMPORTANT TERMS
Engineering survey
Survey which is carried out for the determination and estimation of quantities for designing
engineering works such as roads, building, bridges etc.
Military survey
This survey is carried out for fixing points of strategic importance for armed force purposes.
Mine survey
The survey carried out for excavation in earth for getting out metals and mineral wealth such as
coal, gypsum, gold etc.
Geological survey
The survey carried out to find out about the earth’s surface is called geological survey.
Division based upon field of surveying
Land survey
1) Topographical survey
The survey carried out for ascertaining description of features of geographical area such as
township, railways, roads etc.
2) Cadastral survey
The surveys carried out for fixing the property lines, calculation of areas of landed properties,
preparation of revenue maps of states are called cadastral surveys. This survey is generally
plotted to a larger scale than the topographic survey.
3) City survey
The survey carried out for laying out plots and construction of plumbing, drainage works etc.
Marine survey
The survey carried out for the determining level of water, depth of water, mean sea level,
navigation, harbor works, and discharge of water from the sea is called marine survey.
Astronomical survey
The survey carried out for determining well and absolute location of different places and
direction of any line on the surface of earth by making observation with heavenly bodies i.e. sun
and stars is called astronomical survey.
Geographic information system
Geographic information system is such a system in which the data obtained from survey is
saved, processed and maps are prepared. It is briefly known as G.I.S. the data may be obtained
from the total station and global positioning system devices etc.
Method of chain survey
For doing the chain survey of an area the following the following are steps are taken.
1. Reconnaissance
2. Preparation of index plan
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5. `BASIC SURVEYING NOTES
1.
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3.
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3. Selection of station points
4. Selection of base line
5. Chaining
6. Drawing work
Reconnaissance: - the area for which survey is to be done is checked and looked to its
prominent details like tracks, drainage, sewerage system, populated area, railway track and
roads etc. this step of looking into the general details of an area is called reconnaissance.
Preparation of index plan: - index plan is also called “key plan”. After doing the reconnaissance
rough sketch of the complete area is prepared. The general details of the area are shown in this
sketch. This sketch is called index plan.
Selection of station points: - after doing the reconnaissance and preparation of index plan,
station points are selected on the ground. During selecting the station points, it is kept in mind
that two stations must be at certain distance that they are visible to each other and their should
be no obstacle between them.
Selection of base line: - after the selection of station points, the base line is passed through the
center of the area. During the selection of base line it is attempted that no point should be away
from the base line so that all the important details can be checked out. The correctness of
survey of an area depends upon this line.
Chaining: - in this step the base line and other lines are measured and the details of the points
around the base are noted. In this step first of all base line is measured and then other lines.
Drawing work:- after the completion of field work, all the details of the area are represented on
the map. Before making the drawing, the area surveyed is pondered over and is attempted that
no details may remain in showing the map. First of all a suitable scale is selected and then
sketch is prepared. All the details are shown by specific symbols.
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