Topic 2: CHAIN SURVEY

It is the system of surveying in which sides of various triangles are measured directly in the field and no
angular measurements are taken. It is the simplest but accurate method of land surveying.
PRINCIPLE OF CHAIN SURVEYING
The principle of chain surveying is to divide the area into a number of triangles of suitable sides. As a
triangle is the only simple plane geometrical figure which can be plotted with its sides alone, a network of
triangles is preferred to in chain surveying.
TECHNICAL TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
The important technical terms used in chain surveying are :
1. Main Survey Station. The point where two sides of a main triangle meet is called, a main survey
station. Main survey station is a point at either end of a chain line.
2. Subsidiary Survey Station. (or tie station). The stations which are selected on the main survey lines for
running auxiliary lines, are called subsidiary stations.
3. Main Survey Lines. The chain line joining the two main survey stations, is known as the main survey
line.
4. Auxiliary, Subsidiary, or Tie Lines. The chain line joining two subsidiary survey stations, is known as
auxiliary, subsidiary or more commonly as tie line. Auxiliary lines are provided to locate the interior
details which are far away from the main lines.
5. Base Line. The longest of the main survey lines, is called a base line. Various survey stations are
plotted with reference to the base line.
6. Check Lines. The line which is run in the field to check the accuracy of the field work, is called the
check line. If the measured length of a check line agrees with the length scaled off the plan, the survey is
accurate. Each triangle is generally provided with a check line. The check lines may be laid in such a way
that maximum number of details are intersected by it. Check lines may also be laid by joining the apex of
the main triangle to any point on the opposite side or by joining two points on any two sides of the
triangle.
SELECTION OF STATIONS
The following points should be kept in mind while selecting survey stations
: 1. Main survey stations at the ends of chain lines, should be intervisible.
2. Survey lines should be minimum possible.
3. The main principle of surveying viz.,working from the whole to the part and not from the part to the
whole, should be strictly observed.
4. Survey stations should form well conditioned triangles.
5. Every triangle should be provided with a check line.
6. Tie lines should be provided to avoid too long offsets.
7. Obstacles to ranging and chaining, if any, should be avoided
. 8. The larger side of the triangle should be placed parallel to boundaries, roads, buildings, etc. to have
short offsets.
9. To avoid tresspassing, main survey lines should remain within the boundaries of the property to be
surveyed.
10. Chain lines should lie preferably over level ground.
11. Lines should be laid on one side of the road to avoid interruption to chaining by moving traffic.
SELECTION AND MEASUREMENT OF THE BASE LINE
In chain surveying, the base line is the most important line as it fixes the directions of all other chain
lines. The following points are kept in view while selecting and measuring a base line
. 1. It should be laid preferably on a level ground.
2. It should be run through the centre of the length of the area.
3. It should be correctly measured horizontally
4. It should be measured twice or thrice and the mean value accepted as its correct length.
5. Great care should be taken, to ensure straightness of the base line while measuring.
6. If convenient, two base lines perpendicularly bisecting each other should be laid out.
OFFSETS
In chain surveying, the positions of details i.e., boundaries, culverts, roads stream bends, etc., are located
with respect to the chain line by measuring their distances right or left of the chain line. Such lateral
measurements are called offsets.
There are two types of offsets i.e.,
(i) Perpendicular offsets,
(ii) Oblique offsets.
1. Perpendicular offsets. When the lateral measurements for fixing detail points, are made perpendicular
to a chain line, the offsets are known as perpendicular or right angled offsets. EN is a perpendicular
offset on the right side of the chain line.

2. Oblique Offsets. When the lateral measurements for fixing detail points, are made at any angle to the
chain line, the offsets are known as oblique offsets. CM and DM are oblique offsets on the right side of
the chain line AB. (Fig. 3.3 b)
3. Short Offsets. The offsets having their length less than 15 m are called short offsets.
4. Long Offsets. The offsets having their length more than 15 m, are called long offsets.
NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IN USING CHAIN SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS
1. After use in wet weather, chains should be cleaned, and steel tapes should be dried and wiped with an
oily rag.
2. A piece of colored cloth should be tied to arrow (or ribbon – attached) to enable them to be seen
clearly on the field.
3. Ranging rods should be erected as vertical as possible at the exact station point.
4. The operating tension and temperature for which steel bands/tapes are graduated should be indicated.
5. Linen tapes should be frequently tested for length (standardized) and always after repairs. 6. Always
keep tapes reeled up when not in use.
GENERAL PROCEDURE IN MAKING A CHAIN SURVEY
1. Reconnaissance: Walk over the area to be surveyed and note the general layout, the position of
features and the shape of the area.
2. Choice of Stations: Decide upon the framework to be used and drive in the station pegs to mark the
stations selected.
3. Station Marking: Station marks, where possible should be tied - in to a permanent objects so that they
may be easily replaced if moved or easily found during the survey. In soft ground wooden pegs may be
used while rails may be used on roads or hard surfaces.
4. Witnessing: This consists of making a sketch of the immediate area around the station showing
existing permanent features, the position of the stations and its description and designation.
Measurements are then made from at least three surrounding features to the station point and recorded on
the sketch. The aim of witnessing is to re-locate a station again at much later date even by others after a
long interval.
5. Offsetting:- Offsets are usually taken perpendicular to chain lines in order to dodge obstacles on the
chain line.
6. Sketching the layout on the last page of the chain book, together with the date and the name of the
surveyor, the longest line of the survey is usually taken as the base line and is measured first.
RANGING A LINE
The process of marking a number of intermediate points on a survey line joining two stations in the field
so that the length between them may be measured correctly, is called ranging.
When the line is short or its end station is clearly visible, the chain may be laid in true alignment. If the
line is long or its end station is not visible due to undulating ground, it is required to mark a number of
points with ranging rods such as a, b, c, d, etc. (Fig. 2.12) along the chain line prior to chaining the
distance between A and B.
Ranging may be done either by
1.Eye estimation
2. by using a line ranger
3.a theodolite. Theodolites are generally used only for important work.
Classification of Ranging
Ranging may be classified as :
(i) Direct ranging
(ii) Indirect ranging.
A. Direct Ranging.
When intermediate ranging rods are fixed along the chain line, by direct observation from either end
station, the process is known as ‘Direct Ranging’.
Following steps are taken in direct ranging:
1. Erect ranging rods or poles vertically behind each end of the line.
2. Stand about 2 m behind the ranging rod at the beginning of the line.
3. Direct the assistant to hold a ranging rod vertically at arm’s length at the point where the intermediate
station is to be established.
4. Direct the assistant to move the rod to the right or left, until the three ranging rods appear to be exactly
in a straight line.
5. Stoop down and check the position of the rod by sighting over their lower ends in order to avoid error
due to non-verticality of the ranging rods.
6. After ascertaining that the three ranging rods are in a straight line, signal the assistant to fix the
ranging rod.
B. Indirect Ranging.
When end stations are not intervisible and the intermediate ranging rods are placed in line by
interpolation or by reciprocal ranging or by running an auxiliary line (or random line), the process is
known as Indirect Ranging.
Indirect ranging is resorted to the following situations:
(1) When the end stations of a line are not intervisible due to intervening raised ground.
(2) When the end stations of a line are not distinctly visible due to a large distance.
Case I: Intervening a raised ground Let A and B be two end stations intervened by raised ground. The
ranging on intermediate points, may be done as discussed below. (Fig. 2.14.)

Steps. The following steps are followed:

(i) Fix two ranging rods A and B at the ends of the chain line.
(ii) Send two assistants with ranging rods to take positions at C and D as nearly on the line as can be
judged.
(iii) Ensure that the assistant at C can see the ranging rods held at B and D and the assistant at D can
see the ranging rods held A and C.
(iv) Direct the assistants to proceed to line themselves alternately.
(v) Assistant at C should direct the assistant at D to be in line with B, and then the assistant at D
should direct the assistant at C to be in line with A.
(vi) By successively directing each other, the two assistants go on changing their positions until both
are exactly on the line AB.
(vii) Erect the ranging rods at C and D which serve as intermediate stations for ranging other points.
The above method may also be used for ranging a line across a valley.
Case II: Non-intervisibility due to large distance
When end stations are not visible from any intermediate point, the random line method is used. This
method is specially suitable for ranging a line across forests and wooded areas where vision is obstructed.
Let AB be a line to be ranged which is intervened by vegetation. (Fig. 2.15.)
 Steps. The following steps are followed:
(i) Estimate the approximate direction of the station B from A.
(ii) Run a random line AB′ in the estimated direction and measure it. Fix intermediate points such as
C′ and D′.
(iii) Continue ranging until the station B is visible.
(iv) Measure a perpendicular offset B′B on AB′.
(v) Calculate the length of AB = √(AB′) 2 + (BB′)2
(vi) (vi) Calculate the perpendicular offsets C′C and D′D which are evidently equal to AC′ AB′ BB′
and AD′ AB′ × BB′ respectively.
(vii) Lay out perpendicular offsets equal to their calculated values from points C′ and D′.
(viii) Locate a number of points on the line AB. Clear the line from points vegetation for accurate
ranging
BOOKING FIELD NOTES
In a field book, the field notes are entered from the bottom of the page upward. At the beginning of a
chain line, the following information is recorded in the field book :
(i) The name or number of the chain lin.
(ii) The name or number of the survey station.
(iii) The symbol ∆ denoting the station mark
(iv) The direction of survey lines starting from or ending at the station.
(v) The initial chainage which is generally zero, is enclosed in the symbol ∆.
All distances along the chain line i.e., chainages are entered on the centre line or in the central column
and offsets are written opposite them on the right or left of the column according to their ground
positions with respect to the chain line. Close to the offsets, their sketches are drawn to guide the
draughtsman to draw them correctly.
When any linear detail such as a road, a foot path, a fence, a boundary line, etc. intersects the chain line,
chainages of its points of intersection are entered in the column and the direction of the detail sketched.
At the end of the chainline, the chainage should be enclosed in the symbol ∆ and the name or number of
the station and chain line, should be neatly written. Tie or subsidiary stations along a chain line should be
indicated by a circle or an oval round their chainages.
At the commencement of a tie line in the field book, the position of the tie station should be described
e.g., Tie station T1 on AB at 36.0 m from A. Similarly, at the end of the tie line, it double line should be
described e.g., Tie station T2 on BC at 86.5 m from B. A specimen field book for chain survey, is shown
on page 93
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOOKING THE FIELD NOTES
The following points should be kept in mind for booking the chain survey measurements in a field
book : 1. Each chain line or a tie line, should be recorded on a separate page.
2. The recorder should always face the direction of chaining while booking the field notes.
3. All the measurements should be recorded as soon as these are taken and nothing should be left to
memory.
4. The notes should be complete, neat and accurate with all informations necessary for plotting the
survey by a draughtsman in office.
5. Numerals should be neatly and legibly written without any overwriting.
6. Sketches of the details, should be neat and clear. 7. A good quality pencil should be used for recording
the entries.
8. The field book is an important document and should be kept clean. Wrong entries should be scored out
and correct ones written over the wrong ones. If an entire page is to be discarded, it should be crossed,
and marked ‘‘cancelled’’. A reference to the page on which correct readings are recorded, is made on this
page.
9. A complete record of the chain survey should include:
(i) A general lay-out plan of the lines.
(ii) The details of the lines.
(iii) The date of the survey.
(iv) A page index of the lines.
(vi) Names of the surveyor and his assistants.
 EQUIPMENTS USED IN CHAIN SURVEYING
These equipments can be divided into three, namely
(i) Those used for linear measurement. (Chain, steel band, linear tape)
(ii) Those used for slope angle measurement and for measuring right angle (Eg. Abney level,
clinomater, cross staff, optical squares)
(iii) Other items (Ranging rods or poles, arrows, pegs etc).
EQUIPMENT
The list of equipments required for chain surveying, should include the following :
1. A 20 m or 30 m chain with 10 arrows.
2. A 20 m metallic tape
3. Ranging rods and offset rods.
4. An optical square or a cross staff.
5. A plumb bob.
6. Wooden pegs.
7. A hammer.
8. A field book.
9. Two good quality pencils.
10. A pen knife

OBSTACLES IN CHAINING
Various types of obstacles generally met during chaining, may be overcome by any one of the following
methods. Obstacles to chaining are of the following types:
1. Obstacles which obstruct ranging but not chaining.
2. Obstacles which obstruct chaining but not ranging.
3.Obstacles which obstruct both ranging and chaining.
1. Obstacles which Obstruct Ranging but not Chaining.
In this type of obstacles, the ends of the chain line are not intervisible. Such obstacles are generally met
in undulating terrain where area consists of rising grounds, intervening hills or undulations.
Two cases may occur:
(a) When ends are visible from intermediate points on the chain line.
(b) When ends are not visible from any intermediate point on the chain line. Difficulties faced in both
the cases may be over-come either by reciprocal ranging or by the random line method, as already
described in Chapter 2 Linear measurements.
2. Obstacles which Obstruct Chaining but not ranging.
The typical types of obstructions under this category are generally large water bodies, i.e., lakes, ponds,
rivers, etc. where distances between two convenient points on the survey line on either side of the
obstacles, are required to be determined.
Two situations may rise:
(i) It is not possible to chain round the obstacle.
(ii) It is possible to chain round the obstacle.

3. Obstacles which obstruct-both Ranging and Chaining.

In such cases prolonging the line beyond the obstacle and finding the distance across it, may be
overcome by any one of the following methods.
Method 1. From two points A and B on the chain line, erect equal perpendiculars AC and BD. Range G
and H in line with C and D. Set D C B E H G F A Fig. 3.43. 110 SURVEYING out GE and HF
perpendiculars to CH equal to AC. E and F are on the chain line and BF = DG. (Fig. 3.44).

Method 2. Erect a perpendicular AC. Mark a point B on the chain line such that AC = AB. Produce BC
to D. Set out a right angle BDF. Measure DE equal to CD and EF equal to BC. From E and F swing two
arcs of radii equal to AC to get the location of G. Points G and F are along the chain line. Now CE may
be measured to get the length AG.

Method 3. By swinging a tape, construct an equilateral triangle ABC.

Produce BC to D such that CD = 2BC and mark the mid point of CD at E. An equilateral triangle DEF is
constructed and the side DF is produced so that FG = BE and mid-point K of FG located. By intersection
of two arcs of radius AB with K and G as centres get H. Then AH = AB and HG is along the chain line

(Fig. 3.46).
Method 4. Select two points C and D on both sides of A in any straight line and a point B on the chain
line. (Fig. 3.47).
Fix a point E in line of BC and F in line of BD making BE = n × BD. Divide EF so that EG = n × CA,
where n = CA/AD. Similarly, fix points H in line of BCE and J in line of BDF, making BH = n × BE and
BJ = n × BF respectively. Divide HJ so that HK = n × EG. Points G and K are on the chain line BA.
Proof: CA AD = EG GF = HK KJ = n Measure BC, CE and EH, then AB BC = BE

ERRORS IN CHAINING
The errors that generally occur in chaining, are classified under two categories i.e.
, (i) Cumulative errors
(ii) Compensating errors
1. Cumulative Errors.
The errors which occur in the same direction and tend to accumulate, or to add up, are called Cumulative
errors. Such an error makes the apparent measurements always either too long or too short.
A. Positive Cumulative Errors. The error which makes the measured length more than the actual, is
known as positive cumulative error.
Positive errors are caused in the following situations:
1. The length of the chain or tape is shorter than its standard length due to :
(i) Bending of the links.
(ii) Removal of too many rings from the chain during adjustment of its length.
(iii) Knots in the connecting links.
(iv) The field temperature being lower than that at which the tape was calibrated.
(v) Shrinkage of the tape when moist.
(vi) Clogging of rings with mud.
2. The slope correction ignored while measuring along the sloping ground.
3. The sag correction, if not applied, when the chain or tape is suspended at its ends.
4. Incorrect alignment.
5. Working in windy weather, when the tape bellys out.
B. Negative Cumulative Errors.
The error which makes the measured length less than the actual, is known as Negative Cumulative error.
Negative errors are caused in the following situations :
1. The length of the chain or tape is shorter than its standard length due to :
(i) Flattening of the connecting rings.
(ii) Opening of the ring joints.
(iii) The field temperature being higher than that at which the tape was calibrated.
Note. The following points may be noted : (i) Cumulative errors are always proportional to the length of
the line. (ii) Cumulative errors, though large, can be corrected by applying the required correction.
3. Compensating Errors.
The errors which are liable to occur in either direction and tend to compensate, are called compensating
errors. These are caused in the following situations :
1. Incorrect holding of the chain.
2. The chain is not uniformly calibrated throughout its length.
3. Refinement is not made in plumbing during stepping method.
4. Chain angles are set out with a chain which is not uniformly adjusted. Note. The following points may
be noted : (i) Compensating errors are proportional to the length of the line. (ii) Though compensating
errors are small as compared to cumulative errors, these can not be corrected as the nature of correction
cannot be ascertained.
COMMON MISTAKES IN CHAINING
While chaining a line, an inexperienced chainman generally commits the following mistakes
1. Displacement of the arrows
2. Failure to observe the zero point of the tape
3. Adding or omitting a full chain length
4. Reading from the wrong end of the chain
5. Reading numbers wrongly
6. Reading wrong metre marks
7. Calling numbers wrongly
8. Wrong recording in the field book