Orphanage PolytechnicCollege Civil Engineering questions

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MODULE I: INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING
1. Define surveying?
Art/Science of determining the relative positions of points on, above or below earth’s
surface by means of direct or indirect measurement of distances, elevations or
directions.
2. What are the primary objects of surveying?
a) Preparation of plans / maps
b) To find horizontal distances b/w points
c) To find elevation (height) b/w points
d) To find relative and absolute directions
3. What are the primary divisions of surveying?
a) Plane survey
 Curvature of earth is not considered
 For small areas
b) Geodetic survey
 Curvature of earth is considered
 For large areas
4. Write down the cardinal principles of surveying?
a) Working from whole to part
 Area to be surveyed is divided into large triangle and further divided into
small triangles (Triangulation)
 A system of control points is identified and located with high precision
 To prevent accumulation of errors
 To control and localize minor errors
b) Locating a point with reference to two fixed points
 chain survey
 Traversing
 offset method
 compass method
5. List classification of surveying based on instrument used?
a) Chain surveying
b) Compass surveying
c) Theodolite surveying
d) Plane table surveying
e) Tachometric surveying
Orphanage Polytechnic College, Edavanna
REVISION PACKAGE
Surveying - I ( Revision 2015)

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6. Name instruments required for chain survey?
a) Chain or tape
b) Arrows
c) Ranging rods
d) Cross staff
e) Offset rods
f) Pegs
g) Plumb bob
7. What is reconnaissance? What is its importance in chain surveying?
Before starting the actual survey, surveyor walks around the area to prepare a
reference sketch of the ground to fix best positions of survey lines and stations.
Objectives:
 To check the possibility of a building / constructing road through that area
 To choose best route and mark on maps
 To prepare estimate and draft report
 This gives the surveyor an overall idea of the land and the important features.
8. What is mean by ranging? What is direct and indirect ranging? or Write the
basic methods of ranging out survey lines?
The process of establishing intermediate points on a straight line between the end
stations is called ranging. Intermediate ranging rods are placed to maintain correct
direction. There are two methods of ranging on slopping grounds.
a) Direct ranging
b) Indirect ranging
Direct Ranging:
When the starting, ending points and intermediate stations are intervisible along a
straight line. It can be done by eye, line ranger or theodolite.
Line Ranger: The line Ranger is a small reflecting instrument used for fixing
intermediate points on the chain lines. Without going to either end, we can fix the
intermediate points.
(i) To range a point P, two ranging rods are fixed at ends A and B
(ii) Surveyor hold the line ranger near AB
(iii) The reflected rays forms imag, but may not be in same vertical line.
(iv) Surveyor moves the line ranger sideways till both images are in same
vertical line as in figure.
(v) Point P is transferred to ground with help of plumb bob

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Indirect Ranging:
 If the end stations are not intervisible due to hill/other land features.
 Also known as reciprocal ranging
9. What is mean by reciprocal ranging? Write the condition under which the
reciprocal ranging is resorted to. Explain the procedure for indirect ranging?
It is the method of fixing intermediate station points b/w two terminal points, when
they are not intervisible. This method is adopted under following situations or
conditions.
 A raising ground b/w the two end points
 A hill (Steeply raising ground) b/w the end points
 A deep valley b/w the end points
Procedure:
1. The ranging rods are drawn vertically at A and B
2. The person carrying ranging rods ‘C’ and ‘D’ should be sent to the positions
that they are to be visible from A and B.
3. The initial positions of C and D are marked on the ground as C1 and D1
4. The surveyor at A will now direct the man at C1 to put his rod at C2 in line with
A and D1
5. The surveyor at B will next direct the man at D1 to put his rod at D2 in line with
B and D2
6. This process is repeated several times till the points C and D are found out in
the line AB

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10. Briefly explain the direct and indirect method of measuring distances, if the
ground is slopping?
There are two methods of chaining on sloping grounds,
 Direct method
 Indirect method
Direct method (Method of stepping or stepping method):
 The horizontal distance between A and B is measured in small horizontal steps
 Total horizontal distance = l1 + l2 + l3 + l4
 The follower holds the zero end of the tape at A while the leader selects any
suitable length of tape and moves forward.
 In case of irregular slopes, this is the only suitable method
Indirect method: Three types
a) By using clinometer
b) By applying hypotenusal allowance
 Correction is applied in the field at every chain length and at every point
where the slope changes
 BC – Hypotenusal allowance
c) By knowing the difference of level between the points
D = √

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11. What is well conditional triangle and ill conditional triangles?
well conditional triangle ill conditional triangle
Error is minimized due to equal
distribution
Error gets accumulated in one
angle or one length only
All angles are nearly equal to 600
Angles are <300
or >1200
12. Explain reference sketch, Index sketch?
Index sketch Reference sketch
It is a rough sketch of the
entire area to be surveyed
It is a rough sketch showing
location/reference of a
survey station
All lines, stations,
topographical features are
shown approximately
minimum two distances are
shown w.r.t. permanent
object like building
Useful for proper selection of
stations
Used for locating a station
correctly
13. Explain the principle on which chain survey is based? Mention the different
methods generally adopted to find the areas from previously plotted plan?
Basic principle used in chain survey is triangulation. The plotted framework is
divided into number of connected triangles.
14. Explain the terms: Main line, Base line, Check line, Tie line?
Main Line: Lines joining main stations
Base line : Biggest line that divides the total area almost into two parts
Check line: Lines drawn to check accuracy of survey
Tie line : Lines drawn to collect more details of object
15. Describe different types of chain used for linear measurements?
Following are the various types of chain in common use
1) Metric chains
2) Gunter` s chain or surveyors chain
3) Engineers chain
4) Revenue chain

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Metric chain:
 Metric chains are made in lengths 20 m and 30 m.
 Tallies are fixed at every 5 m length
 Brass rings are provided at every one meter length except where tallies are
attached.
 20 m chain has 100 links and 30 m chain has 150 links.
 Length of one link is 20 cm.
Gunter’s or Surveyor’s Chain
 It is 66 feet long
 It is divided into 100 links
 Each link is 0.66 feet long
Engineers Chain
 It is 100 feet long
 It is divided into 100 links
 Each link is 1 feet long
Revenue Chain
 It is 33 feet long
 It is divided into 16 links
 Each link is 2.06 feet long
16. Mention the three different operations in chain surveying?
(i) Ranging: The process of locating intermediate points on a straight line between
two end points in a straight line
(ii) Chaining: The process of measuring the distance with a chain or tape.
(iii) Offsetting: The process of measuring the lateral distance of the object from the
survey line to the left or right according to their positions.
17. Explain the process of setting plane table over a station?
It involves
(i) Fixing: Fixing the table on the tripod
(ii) Setting : (a) Levelling the table (b) Centering (c) Orientation
(iii) Sighting the points
18. How levelling is done in plane table survey?
For small work, levelling is done by estimation. For accurate works, spirit level is used
19. What is meant by centering?
The process of making the point correctly on paper by placing the table exactly over
the ground station point is called centering.
20. What is orientation?What are the different methods of orientation of plane table?
Orientation is the process of putting the plane table into some fixed direction so that
the line representing a certain direction on the plan is parallel to the direction on the
ground.

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The methods of orientation are
(i) Orientation by means of trough compass
(ii) Orientation by means of back sighting
21. Describe the method of orienting the plane table by magnetic needle (trough
compass). What are the limitations of this method?
 In this method, the magnetic north is drawn on paper at a particular station.
 At the next station, the trough compass is placed along the line of magnetic
north and then the table is turned in such a way that the ends of magnetic needle
are opposite to the zeros of the scale.
 The board is then fixed in position by clamps.
 This method is inaccurate in the sense that the results are likely to be affected
by the local attraction.
22. Describe the method of orientation of plane table by back sighting?
In this method, the orientation is carried out by the back sighting of a particular
line. Suppose a line is drawn from station A on paper representing line AB on
ground. The table is centered and leveled at station B and then the alidade is
placed along the line ba. The table is turned till the line of sight bisects the
ranging rod at A. The board is then clamped in this position. This method is
better than the previous one and it gives perfect orientation.
23. Difference between plane surveying and geodetic surveying?
Plane Survey Geodetic survey
Curvature of earth is not
considered
Curvature of earth is
considered
For small areas For large areas
24. List the various methods of plane table surveying? Under what field conditions
each method is used?
a) Radiation method
b) Intersection method
c) Traverse method
d) Resection method
25. Explain resection method of plane tabling?
Resection is the process of determining the plotted position of the station occupied by
the plane table, by means of sights taken towards known points, locations of which
have been plotted. Depending on how the table is orienting, resection is of four types
1. Resection after orientation by compass
2. Resection after orientation by back sighting
3. Resection after orientation by back sighting
4. Resection after orientation by two point problem.
26. What are survey stations in chain surveying? What are the points to be
considered in selection of survey stations and survey lines?
Survey stations are the beginning point or end points of a chain line. The points to be
considered are

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1. Survey stations must be mutually visible
2. Survey lines must be as few as possible
3. The frame work must have one or two baselines.
4. The lines must run through levelled ground as possible
5. The main lines should form well-conditioned triangles
6. The main survey lines should not pass through obstacles as far as possible
27. Draw a typical page of a chain survey field book? Explain?
The book in which chain or tape measurements are entered is called a field book. It is
an oblong book of size 20 cm X 12 cm and opens length wise. Chain line is
represented by single or double lines and land features are marked in either direction.
 Good quality paper
 well bounded and pocket size
 Date, Name of surveyor, details of survey lines, page index, location sketches
should be added
28. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of plane table survey?
Advantages:
 It is simple and cheaper
 No great skill required
 It is rapid
 It is suitable for small scale maps
 less possibility of mistakes
 easy to compare plotted figure with field features
Disadvantages:
 Less accurate
 Difficult to transport from one location to another
 Not suitable for rainy season or wet climate
 It is essentially a tropical instrument
 There are several accessories to carried and chances of missing is high

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29. List the types of obstacles in chaining
 Obstacles prevent us from direct measurement b/w two points
 They are of three kinds
(i) Obstacle in ranging
(ii) Obstacles in chaining
(iii) Obstacles to both chaining and ranging
Obstacle in Ranging: Obstacles which obstruct ranging but not chaining
(Chaining free-vision obstructed). When the ends are not intervisible due to hill or
other land features, ranging is not possible directly.
Obstacle in chaining: When the end points are inter-visible but chaining is
obstructed due to river, pond, other land features. i.e, Obstacles which obstruct
chaining but not ranging (Vision free – chaining obstructed).
Obstacle in both chaining and ranging: When the end points are not intervisible
and chaining is not possible. Obstacles which obstruct both chaining and ranging
30. Describe briefly the various accessories of plane table.
Plane table with tripod:
The drawing board made of well-seasoned wood such as teak or pine which is used for
the purpose of plotting is called plane table. The top surface of board is perfectly
plane and to bottom is fitted with a levelling head or ball and socket arrangement.
Spirit level:
A small sprit level circular or rectangular is required for seeing if the table is properly
level or not. The level must have flat base so that it can be placed on the table.
Trough compass:
The compass which is used to mark the direction of the magnetic meridian on the
plane table is called trough compass.
U-frame with plumb bob:
A plumbing fork or U-Frame with a plumb bob is used for centering the point and to
transfer that point on ground to sheet.

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Alidade:
A plane table alidade is a straight edge with some form of sighting device. They are of
two types, Plain alidade and telescopic alidade. The bevelled graduated edge in an
alidade is known as the fiducial edge. It consists of sighting vane and object vane.
31. Explain with neat sketch intersection method of plane table survey?
Intersection method is used when the distance b/w the point and instrument station are
too large.
Principle: The location of an object is determined by sighting at the object from two
plane table stations (previously plotted) and drawing the rays. The intersection of these
rays gives the position of that object.
* Draw step by step figures given in notebook
Procedure
1. Set, level and transfer ‘A’ to sheet, mark north direction.
2. Pivoting the alidade about ‘A’, sight to ‘B’. Measure AB and plot ‘ab’
along B
3. Sight to all boundary points and draw rays
4. Shift the instrument to B
5. Orient the compass by back sighting to A
6. Draw rays towards all boundary points
7. The intersection of two rays gives the position of the object.
32. Prepare a survey plan and determine the area of the field from the following
observations?
E
625
D 65 520
500 45 F
C 73 420
310 61 G
B 58 160
0
A

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Ans:
33. What are offsets? Classify them.
An offset is the lateral distance of an object or ground feature measured from a survey
line. There are two types of offsets.
(i) Perpendicular offset: The angle of offset from a point on a chain line is 900
(ii) Oblique offset : When the angle of offset is other than 900
.
34. What is a cross staff ? What are different types of offset?
It is a kind of instrument used for setting out right angles from a point on the chain and
finding the foot of perpendicular from a given point to the chain line. Three types,
(a) Open cross staff
(b) French cross staff
(c) Adjustable cross staff
35. What is the basic principleof plane table survey?
Lines drawn during plotting always lies parallel to the corresponding lines actually
present on the ground.
36. Explain with neat sketch the radiation method in plane tabling?
37. Explain the procedure for solving two point problems in plane table surveying?
SL
NO
Fig Chainage
(m)
Base
(m)
Offset
(m)
Mean
(m)
Area
(m2
)
1 0,160 160 0,58 29 4640
2
3
4
5
6
7