Surveying Laboratory Manual (v 4.

2)

Field Notebook Organization

Distance, Elevation, and Angle Measurements
Electronic Surveying Devices

By
Ghassan Tarakji, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor of Civil Engineering
San Francisco State University

September 2010

(Updated October 2014)

© 2015 G. Tarakji
Field Notebooks: Although modern surveying equipment have the capability of
collecting, storing, and downloading surveying measurements electronically,
there is still a need for surveying professionals to have a basic understanding of
recording and organizing data manually in a surveying filed notebooks.

Surveying filed notebooks can have spiral binding or be stapled, can be hard
cover or soft cover, and can be thick or thin. The main requirements are the size,
the type of paper, and the ruling on the paper.
The type that will be used in this class is “Rite in the Rain” Transit No. 303 or
equivalent (shown above).

Surveying field notebooks are normally available at college bookstores

(especially at schools that teach surveying), at surveying supplies stores, at
some blue print stores, and are available online at various sites such as

www.riteintherain.com
www.benmeadows.com
What to Wear:

Wear comfortable cloth such as Jeans pants and sweat shirts/jackets. Hiking or
basketball shoes are good. No sandals, high-heels or flip-flops.

Hand Signals:

While new modern communications techniques such as cellular phone, walky-

talkies, and modern electronic instruments equipped with two-way
communications can be used, hand signals continue to be a very convenient,
popular, and practical means for communicating with other members of the
surveying party.

( From McCormac, 5th Ed.)

Instructions for Using Field Notebooks:

1. Write your name in ink on the outside cover. Write your name, email
address and telephone number on the inside cover.

2. Use hard pencil (3H) for recording the information

3. Never use an eraser. Never erase any recorded information. If information

is recorded in error, draw a line through it and record the correct
information on top of it.

4. Never superimpose any numbers or letters over previously recorded

numbers or letters.

5. Use an index to record the experiments. Update the index.

6. For every experiment, write the Title and the location on the top of the left
page. On the top of the right page, write the (i) date, (ii) starting and
finishing time, (iii) weather (temperature, wind, humidity, rain, etc.), (iv)
equipment used and their identification, and (v) party (team members) and
who did what.

7. Use a straight edge for drawing lines and a protractor for drawing angles.

8. Use the left page (column ruled) for recording data and use the right page
(graph ruled) for drawing diagrams. Do not draw diagrams for the sake of
drawing diagrams! Instead of drawing a new diagram, you may refer to a
previously drawn diagram. Sometimes, you might need to exaggerate the
dimensions to clarify the information. For example, if you draw a 2% slop
exactly as a 2% slop, it will look like a straight line. It will be clearer if the
slop is slightly exaggerated.

9. If the information is original (recorded at the time the measurements are

taken), then sign your name in the lower right-hand corner of the right
page. If the information is copied, indicate that be writing “COPY” in large
letters diagonally on the left page (without the letters of COPY touching
the recorded information.)

10. Refer to your textbook for examples of recorded information for various
experiments, or ask the instructor for examples.
 Lab No. 1: Distance Measurement by Pacing & Rolling Wheel

Measure your pace length

• On a flat hard surface (e.g. concrete or asphalt slab), each member of the group will measure
his/her pace length.
• Start at a point far from walls, stairs, and other limiting features. Write your initials.
• Use a piece of chalk to mark the back of you heels
• Take 10 comfortable paces (do not try to force the paces to be equal)
• Mark the back of your heel at the finish point
• Measure the distance between the two marks
• Repeat by taking your paces in the opposite direction (not backward!)

Field Notebook Data Entry:

10 PCS FWRD 10 PCS BWD TOT AVG PACE

NAME (FT.) (FT.) (FT.) (FT.)
--------- ----------------- ---------------- --------------- ---------------

Referencing the points:

Your instructor will establish 5 points (marked A, B, C, D, and E) on the green lawn at the center of the
campus. Each group will be asked to reference each of these five points by measuring the distance from the
point to 2 permanent reference points. Therefore, we can always find (or re-establish) these points because
they lie at the intersection of two arcs whose centers and radii we know.

Measuring Distance by Pacing:

Each group will be asked to measure the distances between the five points by pacing. One person in the
group will start with the back of his/her heels at one point, and then take comfortable paces in a straight line
to the next point counting the paces. You may estimate the fraction of the last pace (to the back of the heel)
or round to a full numbers.
An example of the field Notebook Data is give below:

FWD DIST NO. OF FWD DIST BWD DIST NO. OF BWD DIST AVG
PT. BY PACES (FT.) BY PACES (FT.) (FT.)
------- ------------- ----------- -------------- --------------- ---------- ------------- -------
A

Measuring Distance by the Rolling Wheel:

The rolling wheels we are using have 3’ circumference with 3 pins, each one will make the pedometer jump
one number when the wheel turns one third of a turn. Therefore the pedometer will show the distance
traveled in feet. To measure the distance by the rolling wheel, perform the following:

• Move the wheel so that the pin is at the back of the recording mechanism (so that the mechanism
will record a measurement when a full foot is rolled
• Zero the pedometer
• Place the center of the wheel on the starting point
• Roll the wheel in a straight line in the direction of the ending point
• At the ending point, you may estimate the fraction of a foot for the last increment, and read the
pedometer accordingly.

An example of the field Notebook Data is give below:

FWD DIST BWD DIST AVG

PT. (FT.) (FT.) (FT.)
------- ------------- -------------- ---------------
A

A
Note that all distance have been measured twice (forward and backward). This is done to accomplish two
important objectives:

1. Reduce the measurement error by averaging two readings

2. Spot any major mistakes (if the two readings are far apart)

Equipment Needed:

• 3’ Rolling Wheels
• Cloth 100’ tape
• Chalk and/or staking pin
 Lab No. 2 - Errors & Measurements

In this lab, we will investigate the variations of measurements when the measurements
are taken using the same procedures and equipments, and are performed under the same
conditions. One would expect all measurements of the same variable will be the same,
but we will notice that there might be slight variations in these measurements. Each
group will be assigned one measurement as stated below:

Group 1: Distance AB
Group 2: Distance BC
Group 3: Distance DE

Each member of the group will measure the distance once (FWD and BWD) using pacing
and then using the rolling wheel. Thus, if there are 5 members per group, then the group
will have 10 measurement values by pacing and 10 measurements values by the rolling
wheel. Calculate the mean and the standard deviation of the 10 pacing measurements and
the 10 rolling wheel measurements. Compare your results and explain the difference.

Equipment needed:
Rolling Wheel

Example of Field Notebook Data Format

Pacing No of Pacing Rolling

Distance By Dist Paces Dist Wheel Dist
Andrew (FWD) 2.05 100 205.00 208.50
Andrew (BWD) 2.05 101 207.05 207.75

Mary (FWD)
Mary (BWD)
.
.
.
etc.
 Lab No. 3 – Precise Taping

Measure the distances around the traverse established in the SFSU central lawn using
precise taping.

Use Range Poles to insure horizontal alignment

Use Range Poles and Hand Levels to insure vertical alignment
Use plumb bobs to insure that you are over the points
Apply tension (15 lbs for our tapes) to insure proper tension
Use staking pins if distance is more than 100’

Equipment Needed:
1 Steel Tape
2 Plumb Bobs
1 Set Staking Pins
1 Set Range Poles
1 Hand Level

Tabulate the data as follows:

FWD BWD AVG

ST DIST DIST DIST

A
78.22 78.20 78.21
B

Etc.
 Lab No. 4 - Stadia

Place your instrument at point A and your rod at point B. Read the lower and upper cross-
hairs on the rod. Subtract and multiply by the level constant (Our levels have a constant
of 100) to obtain the distance. Repeat for all distance.

Equipment needed:
Automatic Level
Leveling rod (4-Segment Telescopic)
Tripod
Rod Level

Notebook Format:
ROD
Point Lower Hair Upper Hair Distance (FT) Distance (FT)
A
3.41 4.51 1.10 110
B

A
 Lab No. 5 - Leveling

Every group can start at one of the five reference points we have established in the SFSU
central lawn. Assume the elevation of the point you start with to be 100.00’ a.m.s.l. Then
using automatic levels and leveling rods, compute the elevation of the remaining 4 points,
and complete the loop back to the point where you started.

Equipment needed:

Automatic Level
Leveling rod (4-Segment Telescopic)
Pin and/or chalk to mark temporary points
tripod

Notebook Format:

Point BS H.I. FS ELEV

A
B
C
D
E
 Lab No. 6 - Differential Leveling Using the Lenker Rod

The elevation of BM1 (located near the railing at the porch outside the engineering
faculty wing in the SCI building) is 132.85’ a.m.s.l.

Start at BM1, do differential leveling from BM1 to any point along loop ABCDE,
continue differential leveling around the loop, then after coming back to the point on the
loop where you started, go back to BM1. Note, there are two loops in your leveling
circuit that will help you check the accuracy of your leveling.

Equipment needed:
Automatic Level Lenker Rod
Tripod Pin and/or Chalk

Notebook Format:
ROD DIF
Point SLOPE READ (FT) ELEV (FT) ELEV
BM1
TP1
TP2
C
D
E
A
B
TP3
TP4
BM1

Notes: Slope is UP or DN
If the slope is UP, then DIFF ELEV = ROD READ
If the slope is DN, then DIFF ELEV = ROD READ -10
 Lab No. 7 - Profile Leveling Using the 4-Segment Telescopic Rod

• Refer to the SFSU map shown on the next page

• Start at BM1 (whose elevation is 138.25’ a.m.s.l.) and then follow the center line
of bold line leading the parking garage.
• Lay out points 50’ apart (half stations) and mark them with steel pins or chalk
marks if they are on the pavement.
• Determine the station number of points where the line changes direction (e.g.,
ST 2+35.22) and determine the elevation of these points. These points are called
partial stations.
• Use profile leveling to calculate the elevations of all the half stations station
points and the partial station points. Make sure that you complete the loop by
going back to the point in the traverse where you started.

Equipment needed:
Automatic Level 1 4-Segment Telescopic Rod
Tripod 1 Rod Level
1 Steel tape A piece of chlk

Optional Equipment:
1 Set of Steel Pins
2 Plumb bob
Range poles

Notebook Format:
CORR
ST BS HI I-FS FS ELEV ELEV
BM1 138.25 138.25
0+00
0+50
1+00
1+50
2+00
2+3.45
2+50
3+00
etc.
 Lab No. 8 - Closing the Horizon

The purpose of this experiment is to gain experience in using the theodolie. We will be
measuring three consecutive angles around the horizon (sum of the three angles is 360
degrees). Each angle will be measured from scratch by zeroing the reading, sighting at
the first point, and then moving the telescope to the second point.

Equipment needed:
Optical theodolite
Tripod

(Instructor will place 3 targets for sighting)

Procedure:
1. Zero the vernier window
2. Zero the horizontal angle window
3. Freeze the horizontal rotation that changes the reading
4. Sight at the first point (if CW rotation is to be performed)
5. Freeze the horizontal rotation that will not change the angle. Unfreeze the
horizontal rotation that will change the reading
6. Go CW to sight at the second point
7. Move the vernier knob to place the “full degrees” horizontal angle reading in the
middle
8. Read the “full” horizontal angle in degrees (from the H-angle window) and the
minutes and seconds (from the vernier window.

Notebook Format:

MEASURE
ANGL DEG MIN SEC
AOB
BOC
COA
 Lab No. 9 - Interior Angles

The purpose of this experiment is measure the horizontal angles of the traverse.

Equipment needed:
Optical theodolite
Tripod
2 Plumb bobs with targets

Procedure:

• Use the plumb bob to center the theodolite on the points of the traverse
• Level the theodolite
• Use the range finder to check that the theodolite is centered over the point
• If not, un-tighten the connection to the tripod and move the theodolite.
• Repeat 2, 3, and 4, until the theodolite is centered when leveled
• Zero the vernier window
• Zero the horizontal angle window
• Freeze the horizontal rotation that changes the reading
• Some one should hold a Plumb Bob with a target at the preceding point. Sight at
the target.
• Freeze the horizontal rotation that will not change the angle. Unfreeze the
horizontal rotation that will change the reading
• Go CW to sight at the following point. Sight at the target (on Plumb Bob).
• Move the vernier knob to place the “full degrees” horizontal angle reading in the
middle
• Read the “full” horizontal angle in degrees (from the H-angle window) and the
minutes and seconds (from the vernier window.
• Repeat for the other 4 internal angles.

Notebook Format:

ANGL
ABC
BCD
CDE
DEA
EAB
 ENGR 235
Lab No. 10: - Total Station

The purpose of this experiment is measure the horizontal angles of the traverse.

Equipment net:
QTS-6082 Total Station
Tripod
Single Lens Prism
Prism Pole

Procedure:
• Place the tripod on an arbitrary point where you can observe all the 5 points of the
prism. Attach the total station and level it.
• Attach the prism to the prism pole and tighten the pole so that its height remains
unchanged. Do not change this height for the rest of the lab.
• Turn the TS on and index the vertical angle (rotate 360 deg.)
• Place the prism at ST. A, and sight at it.
• Press F4 to zero the Hr (horizontal Angle to the right) at Point A.
• Press F5 to “Set.
• Observe that F5 show P1. Press F2 to go to Horiz. Distance Measurement and
press F1 again to measure the distance. Record HD, VD, and Hr (Hr should be 0
for point A)
• Press F4 “NEZ” to read the coordinates of Point A and press F1 to measure.
• Move the prism to point B. Press F4 ‘HD.’ Repeat steps 7 and 8.
• Repeat 9 for all the five points in this travers.

Notebook Format:

PT. HD VD Hr
A
B
C
D
E

PT. N E Z
A
B
C
D
E
 Lab 11: Total Station II (Tracking)

The purpose of this experiment is to stake-out an equilateral triangle (AMN) of side 100'
starting at point A, AM is in the direction of AE, and N is to the left of AE.

Equipment Needed:
QTS-6082 Total Station
Tripod
Single Lens Prism
Taping Pins

Procedure:
1. Set the machine at point A
2. In the distance mode, press F5 (you are now in P2)
3. Press F3 (SO mode)
4. Press F1 to choose mode (select level distance)
5. Press F1 and input stake-out distance 100.00'
6. Press F5 (ENT) to return to measuring mode
7. Collimate the prism. The machine will show the difference between the measured
distance and the stake-out distance.
8. Move the prism until the machine displays a value very close to o. Please note that a
negative dHD value means that you are short . . . The prism holder needs to move
further away. The location of the prism where dHD is 0 is Point M.
9. Rotate the horizontal angle 60 degrees.
10. Repeat the previous procedure to stake out point N
11. Now you have triangle AMN staked-out on the ground.

Notebook Format

PT Hr Dist
A Center of Total Station
M 0 100.00
N 60 (CW) 100.00
 ENGR 235
Project

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to obtain topographic information about an area,
and to draw a map of this area.

Location: The location of the area assigned to you is the area bounded by traverse
ABCDE and extending by at least 20’ in any direction outside the traverse.

Procedure:

1. Using the results of Experiment 10 (Total Station), determine:

a. The length of each side
b. The elevation of each point (A, B, C, D, and E)
c. The interior angles
2. Do Traverse Analysis to
a. Determine the closure and calculate the precision
b. Correct the values measured
c. Calculate the coordinates of the 5 points
3. Establish a grid of 10’x10’ intervals to obtain elevation information for contours
a. Using automatic levels determine the elevation of each grid point
b. Draw contour lines using 2’ contour intervals
4. Using AUTOCAD or another CAD program, draw a topographic map similar to
Figure 14-4 in your book (Note: use the topographic symbols in Figure 14-9 in
your book.)
5. Using a spreadsheet program, calculate the Area of traverse ABCD

Deliverables:

1. Completed Field Notebook showing the data collected

2. List of the team members showing who did what.
3. Typed report containing: Problem Statement, Procedure, Tabulated Data,
Calculations, and discussion of problems encountered and how dealt with.
4. Maps (preferably blue prints.)
KEY TO FIELDBOOK NOTES REMARKS

A: Write your name on the outside Cover and first inside cover (also phone No., Email)
B: Complete Table of Contents/Index
C: Write the date and time
D: Write the starting and finishing time and/or weather conditions
E: Sign lower right hand corner of right page or indicate if copy
F: List the equipment and their identifications
G: Do not erase and/or superimpose numbers or letters
I: List group members and Indicate who did what
J: Do appropriate checks before leaving
K: Some experiments are missing
L: User harder lead pencil
M. Number the pages
X: Must purchase and use his/her own field notebook
Y: Write Headings (Title and Location)
Z: Draw diagram and indicate the approx N
 Equations Sheet
Note: Do not write or add any other information to this sheet.
Units:
1 mile = 80 Ch = 5280 ft = 1.609347 Km 1 ft = 12 inches = 304.8 mm
1 Rod = 1 Pole = 1 Perch =16.5 ft 1 Vara = 33 Ch (in CA) = 33 1/3 Ch (in TX)
1 Fathom = 6 ft 1 Ch = 4 Rods = 66 ft 1 S Km = 100
ha = 247.1 Acres
1 Acre = 10 Sq Ch = 43,560 SF = 4,046.9 SM 1 SM = 10.76 SF 1 Hectare (ha)
= 2.471 Acres
1 Revol = 360 deg = 2Π Rad = 400 g = 6,400 Mil

Trigonometry:
Cos Law: Cos α = ( b2 +c2 – a2) / (2 b c)
Sin Law: sin α / a = sin β / b = sin φ / c

Tape Distance Corrections:

Normal Error: [ (l – lNominal) / lNominal ] * D
Temperature: α * D * (Τ − ΤCalib) K= 6.45 x 10-6 / deg F or 11.6 x 10-6 / deg C
Tension: [ (Papp – Pcalib) * D ] / (A * E) E = 29 x 106 psi = 2 x 106 Kg/sq cm
Sag: - (w2 * L3) / 24 P2app
Alignment/slope: - v2 / 2L

Errors:
Error of the Sum: Esum = +/- SQRT (E2a + E2b + E2c+ ……)
Error of a series: Eseries= +/- E SQRT (n)
Error of the Mean: Emean= Esum/n
Error of a product (K * A * B): Eproduct = K * SQRT (A2*E2B + B2*E2A)
Standard Deviation: σ = SQRT [ Σ (Xi – Xmean) / (n -1)

Elevations
Combined Curvature & Refraction: Cf = 0.574 M2 = 0.0206 F2 Cm = 0.0675 K2
FGCC Classification: c = m * sqrt(K) Order Class m
1 1 <4
1 2 4–5
2 1 5–6
2 2 6–8
3 8 – 12

Textbook Method: Total Error Read to Nearest Sight up to

Classification (ft) (ft) (ft) .
Very Rough +/- 3.00 SQRT(M) Using Hand Level
Rough +/- 0.40 SQRT(M) 0.1 1000
Average +/- 0.10 SQRT(M) 0.01 500
Excellent +/- 0.05 SQRT(M) 0.001 300

Angles: E = ( 1/ N) SQRT [ E2o + 2 N E2P + E2R ]

FGCC Classification: c = k * sqrt(n) Order Class k
1 < 1.7”
2 1 1.7” - 3”
2 2 3” – 4.5”
3 1 4.5” – 10”
3 2 10” – 12”

Areas:

(1) DMD Method:

DMD of first line: DMD= Dep of this line
DMD of any line: DMDij = DMDhi+Dephi+Depij

Area = ½ Σ DMD * Lat for all lines

(2) Rectangular Coordinates:

Area = ½ Σ Yi * [Di-1 – Xi+1] for all i

Public Land Surveys:

Quadrangles are 14 x 24 Miles (16 townships)

Townships are 6 x 6 Miles (36 Sections)
Sections are 1 x 1 mile (16 Lots)
Quarters are ½ x ½ Mile
Lots are ¼ x ¼ Mile

Numbering of Townships: T17N, R27E, MDM township means: Township whose

north side is at the 17th North township line and whose east side is at the 27th East
Range line, with respect to the Mount Diablo Meridian.

Convergence of Meridians: c = 4/3 L d tan φ

Converting from Geodetic to Geocentric System:

RNP = a / sqrt (1 – e2 sin2 φp)

Xp = (RNP + hp) Cos φp Cos λp
Yp = (RNP + hp) Cos φp Sin φp
Zp = [RNP (1 – e2) + hp] Sin φp

Azimuth:
Azimuth of BA = Azimuth of AB + 180ο
Azimuth of BC = Azimuth of BA + CW angle from BA to BC