1

SURVEYING
Correction Applied for Measurements of
Distances
1.

Temperature Correction
Ct = K (T2 T1) L1
K = coefficient of linear expansion
T2 = temperature during measurement
T1 = temp when the tape is standard length
L1 = standard length of the tape
Ct = correction when the length is L1

2.

3.

Pull Correction
P P L
Cp = 2 1 1
AE
P2 = pull during measurement
P1 = pull when the tape is standard length
L1 = standard length of the tape
A = cross-sectional area of tape
E = modulus of elasticity
Cp = correction when the length is L1
Sag Correction

5.

Reduction to Sea Level

h h2

CSL = B'
R R2

B = B + CSL

B
h
R

h = altitude between B and B

B = horizontal distance at sea level
B = corrected horizontal distance
R = radius of the earth
CSL = reduction to sea level
Normal Tension:

PN

0.204 A E
PN P1

PN = normal tension
P1 = pull when the tape is standard length
A = cross-sectional area of tape
E = modulus of elasticity

Units of Measurements
L

Cs = -

4.

w 2L3
24P2

1 tally = 10 pins
1 link = 1 foot
1 pin = 100 links
1 perch = 1 rod
1 rod = 16.5 feet
1 vara = 33 inches

P = pull during measurement

w = weight of tape per unit length
L = unsupported length of the tape
Cs = correction when the distance between
support is L

Errors and Mistakes

Slope Correction

Probable Error = 0.6745

Standard Deviation =

V 2
n(n 1)

V 2
n 1

n
o
i
t
a
i
v
e
d
d
r
a
d
n
a
t
s

Cs = -

h2

2S
H = S - Cs

h = difference in elev bet ends points

S = corrected distance along sloping distance
Cs = correction due to slope
H = corrected horizontal distance

Standard Error =

n
V = residual
= recorded value mean value
n = no. of trials

SURVEYING
Leveling
h

B
C

h2

FS

h1

BS
B

D2

D1
A

mean sea level (el. 0)

el. A + BS FS = el. B

Derive equation considering the effect of curvature

and refraction correction:

e
h h2
TR

D2
(h1 h2 ) 0.067 D1 D2
D1 D2

Compass Surveying

A
TN
B

B.S. = backsight reading

F.S. = foresight reading
e = error in line of sight
T.R. = true reading

MN

Curvature and Refraction Correction

W
A

Curvature and Refraction Correction:

h = 0.067 K2
where:
h = combined curvature & refraction
correction, in meters
K = distance between A & B, in km

= east declination

Magnetic Bearing of AB: N W

True Bearing of AB: N W
Bearing = an angle of the line from North or South of not
more 900.
Azimuth = an angle of the line from South in clockwise
direction.

SURVEYING
Latitude and Departure

LEC

tan

d
W

D
L

D = algebraic sum of departure

Note: For a closed traverse, the algebraic sum of
latitude (L) is zero and the algebraic sum of
departure (D) is zero.

Dep

L 2 D 2

L = algebraic sum of latitude

Lat

Correction of Linear Error of Closure

1. Compass Rule

Dis tan ce
Correction in Lat Error in Lat

Perimeter

Latitude = Distance x Cosine of Bearing

Dis tan ce
Correction in Dep Error in Dep

Perimeter

Lat = d x cos
Departure = Distance x Sine of Bearing

2. Transit Rule

Dep = d x sin

Latitude

Correction in Lat Error in Lat

Arithmetic Sum of Lat

Sign Convention:
North Latitude & East Departure are positive
South Latitude & West Departure are negative

Departure

Correction in Dep Error in Dep

Arithmetic Sum of Dep

Linear Error of Closure

How to apply the correction?
Latitude Correction:
if the sum of North Lat is greater than the
sum of South Lat the correction is negative.
if the sum of North Lat is less than the sum of
South Lat the correction is positive.

Linear Error of Closure: LEC

LEC

Departure Correction:
if the sum of East Dep is greater than the
sum of West Dep the correction is negative.
if the sum of East Dep is less than the sum of
West Dep the correction is positive.

SURVEYING
Area of Irregular Boundaries

Area of Closed Traverse

1. Area by Double Meridian Distance
Computation of Double Meridian Distance (DMD)
1. DMD of the first course is equal to the
departure of that course.
2. DMD of any other course is equal to the DMD
of the preceding course, plus the departure of
the preceding course, plus the departure of the
course itself.
3. DMD of the last course is numerically equal to
the departure of the last course but opposite in
sign.
Line

Lat

Dep

DMD

2A = DMD x Lat

AB
BC
CD
DA

+35.51
-27.61
-66.94
+58.94

+48.05
+64.73
-37.31
-75.47

+48.05
+160.83
+188.25
+75.47

+ 1711.06
- 4440.46
-12601.46
+ 4448.20
2A = 10882.72
A = 5441.36

2. Area by Double Parallel Distance

Computation of Double Parallel Distance (DPD)
1. DPD of the first course is equal to the latitude
of that course.
2. DPD of any other course is equal to the DPD
of the preceding course, plus the latitude of the
preceding course, plus the latitude of the
course itself.
3. DPD of the last course is numerically equal to
the latitude of the last course but opposite in
sign.
Line

Lat

Dep

DPD

2A = DPD x Dep

12
23
34
41

-18.63
+8.03
+4.81
+5.79

-11.77
-5.96
-1.36
+19.09

-18.63
-29.23
-16.39
-5.79

+219.275
+174.211
+22.290
+110.531
2A = 305.245
A = 152.622

3. Area by Triangles
4. Area by Coordinates

1 x1 x 2 x3 x 4 x1
2 y1 y 2 y 3 y 4 y1