what is chain survey.......

Chain survey is the simplest method of surveying. In this survey only measurements are
taken in the field, and the rest work, such as plotting calculation etc. are done in the office.
This is most suitable adapted to small plane areas with very few details. If carefully done, it
gives quite accurate results. The necessary requirements for field work are chain, tape,
ranging rod, arrows and some time cross staff.

Survey Station:

Survey stations are of two kinds

Main Stations

Subsidiary or tie

Main Stations:

Main stations are the end of the lines, which command the boundaries of the survey, and
the lines joining the main stations re called the main survey line or the chain lines.

Subsidiary or the tie stations:

Subsidiary or the tie stations are the point selected on the main survey lines, where it is
necessary to locate the interior detail such as fences, hedges, building etc.

Tie or subsidiary lines:

A tie line joints two fixed points on the main survey lines. It helps to checking the accuracy
of surveying and to locate the interior details. The position of each tie line should be close to
some features, such as paths, building etc.

Base Lines:

It is main and longest line, which passes approximately through the centre of the field. All
the other measurements to show the details of the work are taken with respect of this line.
Check Line:

A check line also termed as a proof line is a line joining the apex of a triangle to some fixed
points on any two sides of a triangle. A check line is measured to check the accuracy of the
framework. The length of a check line, as measured on the ground should agree with its
length on the plan.

Offsets:

These are the lateral measurements from the base line to fix the positions of the different
objects of the work with respect to base line. These are generally set at right angle offsets. It
can also be drawn with the help of a tape. There are two kinds of offsets:

1) Perpendicular offsets, and

2) Oblique offsets.

The measurements are taken at right angle to the survey line called perpendicular or right
angled offsets.

The measurements which are not made at right angles to the survey line are called oblique
offsets or tie line offsets.

Field work in Chain survey | Surveying

in Civil Engineering

Field work in Chain surveying | Surveying and Levelling

Earlier, we discussed Principles of Chain Surveying and the considerations that are
taken for carrying out Chain Surveying In this article, we will discuss various
instruments that are essential for carrying outChain Surveying.

Here are the steps to be followed for carrying out Chain Surveying:
1. Reconnaissance Survey
2. Marking stations
 3. Running survey lines
4. Taking offsets

Instruments used in Chain Survey

1. Chain, 20m or 30m long
2. Tape
3. Arrows
4. Ranging rods
5. Wooden or Iron Pegs
6. Plumb bob
7. Cross staff

Chain used for Surveying

20m chain 100 links

30m chain 150 links

1 links 20cm

Links of chain are made by mild steel wire 4mm diameter.

Chain used for Chain Surveying

Each link at the end is bent into a loop and is connected to adjoiningly by means of
three oval rings which offers flexibility to the chain. Ends of chains carry brass handle.

The length of chain is the distance between the outside of handles.

 Brass Tags in Chains

Brass tags are fixed at every 5m length.

Tape used for Chain Surveying

Metallic Tape

Cloth tapes reinforced with brass, copper and bronze wires to prevent it from stretching.

They are available in lengths 10, 15, 20 and 30m.

Tape is provided in leather case fitted with winding device.

It is used for small linear measurements and for taking offsets.

Steel Tapes

Outer end of the tape carries better links for its easy handling and the length of tape is
inclusive of this ring.

It is provided in a leather case or a rust-proof metal case with a suitable winding device.

Steel tapes are light, delicate and are used for measurements of distance with high
degree of accuracy.

Arrows

Arrows or marking pins or chaining pins are used to mark the end of each chain during
the process of chaining.

400mm in length are pointed at one end for intersecting into the ground and bend into
a ring at the other end for facility of carrying.

A piece of white or red tape tied to the ring so that they can be made easily visible at a
distance.
Ranging Rods

2m to 3m length and 2.5m diameter painted alternately with black or white.

An iron shoe provided at its bottom enable it to the fixed at a required point in the
ground.

Ranging rods

A coloured flag is provided at its tops so that it can be easily seen from a long distance.

They are used for ranging intermediate points along a given survey line and are also
used to mark the positions of survey stations clearly.

Wooden or iron pegs

15cm long and 25mm to 30mm square cross-section prevail into the ground by wooden
or steel hammer.

Iron peg 15cm long (1cm diameter)

Wooden or Iron Pegs

This term is often used in Chain Surveying, The longest of the chain lines
formed in doing a survey is

What is the importance of base line in chain surveying?

generally regarded as the base line.It is the most
important line in doing survey . The framework of the
whole survey built up on the base line as it fixes up the
direction of all other lines.It should be measured with
great accuracy and precision .For accuracy The base line
should be measured twice or thrice.
What is tie line in chain survey?
a tie line is a line which joins subsidiary or tie stations to the main line. the main
object of running a tie line is to take the details of nearby objects but it also serves
the purpose of a check line.

Types of Ranging | Chain Surveying

Methods of Ranging in Chain Surveying | Guide to Surveying and Levelling

In measuring a survey line, the chain has to be laid out on the ground between the
stations.

If the line is short, the chain could be put in alignment easily but if it is long or the end
station is not clearly visible, then intermediate points has to be established in line with
end points to know the directions of the line by ranging.

Types of Ranging

There are two types of ranging:

1. Direct ranging
2. Indirect ranging

Direct ranging

Direct ranging is possible when the stations are intervisible.

Ranging is done by eye-judgement. Ranging rods are erected vertically beyond each
end of survey line.
The surveyor stands 2m beyond the ranging rod while the assistant folds the ranging
rod vertically in the intermediate stations.

The ranging rod is held roughly in line by the thumb and fore-finger.

The surveyor directs the assistant to move the rod to the left or right until the three
ranging rods appear to be in a straight line.

To avoid errors due to the ranging rods not being vertical, the lower end of the rod are
cited for alignment.

Indirect Ranging

1. Indirect Ranging is possible when the ends of a line are not inter-visible as in the case
when a hill ground or when the distance between the stations are so large that they are
not clearly inter-visible.

Indirect Ranging

Intermediate points are fixed by the process of reciprocal ranging as explained below.

Let A and B be the ends of a survey line to be measured as a rising ground between
them.

Two chain men with ranging rods take the positions M1 and N1 such that they are as
nearly in line with A and B as they could judge the chain men at M1 could N1 and B.
And the chain men at N1 could see M1 and A.

First chain men at N1 directs M1 to M2 so that he comes in the line with A and N.

Then the chain man at M2 directs N1 to N2 such that he comes in line with B and M2.

The process is repeated so that they align each other successively directing each other
until they are both finally in the line AB.

Types of Chains and Tapes in Civil Surveying Engineering

Types of Surveying Chains
Following are the various types of chain in common use:

1. Metric chains

2. Steel band or Band chain

3. Gunter's chain or surveyors chain

Advertisements 4. Engineers chain

5. Revenue chain

1. Metric Chain:

Metric chains are made in lengths 20m and 30m. Tallies are fixed at every
five-meter length and brass rings are provided at every meter length except
where tallies are attached.

2. Gunters Chain

Length = 66 (22 yards), No of links = 100, Each link = .66

Used for measuring distances in miles or furlongs (220 yards), acres (Area).

3. Engineers Chain

Length = 100, No of links = 100, Each link = 1

Used in all Engineering Surveys.

4. Revenue Chain
 Length = 33, No of links = 16

Commonly used for measuring fields in cadastral Survey.

Types of Measuring Tapes in Surveying

Tapes are made of different materials:

1. Cloth or linen tape

Used for subsidiary measurements

Very light, easy to handle

May effect by moisture

2. Metric steel tape

Made of steel

Outer end is provided with a ring for holding

3. Invar tape

Used for high precision work

Made of alloy steel

4. Synthetic tape

Made of glass fiber with PVC coating

These are used for short measurements

Chain Survey
Chain survey/surveying is an very old method of Surveying. This article includes definition of chain
survey along with all detailed information with necessary images about various aspects of chain
surveying.
 Chain survey is the simplest method of surveying. In chain survey only measurements are
taken in the field, and the rest work, such as plotting calculation etc. are done in the office.
Here only linear measurements are made i.e. no angular measurements are made.This is
most suitable adapted to small plane areas with very few details. If carefully done, it gives
quite accurate results.

The necessary requirements for field work are

Chain
Tape
Ranging Rod
Arrows
Cross staff

Suitability of Chain Survey

Chain survey is suitable in the following cases:

1. Area to be surveyed is comparatively small

2. Ground is fairly level
3. Area is open and
4. Details to be filled up are simple and less.

Survey Station

Survey stations are of two kinds

1. Main Stations
2. Subsidiary or tie

Main Stations

Main stations are the end of the lines, which command the boundaries of the survey, and
the lines joining the main stations re called the main survey line or the chain lines.

Subsidiary or the tie stations

Subsidiary or the tie stations are the point selected on the main survey lines, where it is
necessary to locate the interior detail such as fences, hedges, building etc.
Tie or subsidiary lines

A tie line joints two fixed points on the main survey lines. It helps to checking the accuracy
of surveying and to locate the interior details. The position of each tie line should be close to
some features, such as paths, building etc.

Base Lines

It is main and longest line, which passes approximately through the center of the field. All
the other measurements to show the details of the work are taken with respect of this line.

Check Line

A check line also termed as a proof line is a line joining the apex of a triangle to some fixed
points on any two sides of a triangle. A check line is measured to check the accuracy of the
framework. The length of a check line, as measured on the ground should agree with its
length on the plan.

Offsets
 Offsets are the lateral measurements from the base line to fix the positions of the different
objects of the work with respect to base line. These are generally set at right angle offsets.
It can also be drawn with the help of a tape. There are two kinds of offsets:

1. Perpendicular offsets
2. Oblique offsets.

The measurements are taken at right angle to the survey line called perpendicular or right
angled offsets. For setting perpendicular offsets any one of the following methods are used:

Swinging
Using cross staffs
Using optical or prism square
Perpendicular Offset by Swinging:

Chain is stretched along the survey line. An assistant holds the end of tape on the object.
Surveyor swings the tape on chain line and selects the point on chain where offset distance
is the least (Fig. 12.13) and notes chain reading as well as offset reading in a field book on
a neat sketch of the object.

Perpendicular Offsets Using Cross Staffs

Figure 12.14 shows three different types of cross staffs used for setting perpendicular
offsets. All cross staffs are having two perpendicular lines of sights. The cross staffs are
mounted on stand. First line of sight is set along the chain line and without disturbing
setting right angle line of sight is checked to locate the object. With open cross staff (Fig.
12.14 (a)) it is possible to set perpendicular only, while with french cross staff (Fig. 12.14
(b)), even 45 angle can be set. Adjustable cross staff can be used to set any angle also,
since there are graduations and upper drum can be rotated over lower drum.

FIELD BOOK

All observations and measurements taken during chain surveying are to be recorded in a
standard field book. It is a oblong book of size 200 mm 120 mm, which can be carried in
the pocket. There are two forms of the book (i) single line and (ii) double line. The pages of
a single book are having a red line along the length of the paper in the middle of the width.
It indicates the chain line. All chain-ages are written across it. The space on either side of
the line is used for sketching the object and for noting offset distances. In double line book
there are two blue lines with a space of 15 to 20 mm is the middle of each book. The space
between the two lines is utilised for noting the chain-ages. Figure 12.17 shows typical pages
of a field books.
Procedure in chain survey

1. Reconnaissance: The preliminary inspection of the area to be surveyed is

called reconnaissance. The surveyor inspects the area to be surveyed, survey or prepares
index sketch or key plan.
2. Marking Station: Surveyor fixes up the required no stations at places from where
maximum possible stations are possible.
Some of the methods used for marking are:
o Fixing ranging poles
o Driving pegs
o Marking a cross if ground is hard
o Digging and fixing a stone.
3. Then he selects the way for passing the main line, which should be horizontal and
clean as possible and should pass approximately through the center of work.
4. Then ranging roads are fixed on the stations.
5. After fixing the stations, chaining could be started.
6. Make ranging wherever necessary.
7. Measure the change and offset.
8. Enter in the field the book.
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