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Types of Surveying
Surveying is the process of measuring and mapping the relative positions and angles of points on, above, or below the surface of the earth. Surveying is essential for many fields such as civil engineering, geology, archaeology, mining, military, and more. There are different types of surveying methods and techniques that are used for different purposes and applications. In this blog post, we will explain some of the most common types of surveying and their characteristics.
What is the Purpose of Surveying?
The main purpose of surveying is to obtain reliable and accurate information about the physical features and dimensions of a given area or object. Surveying can help us to:
- Plan and design projects such as roads, bridges, buildings, dams, tunnels, etc.
- Locate and mark boundaries of properties, territories, countries, etc.
- Map and measure the shape and size of the earth and its natural and artificial features.
- Study and monitor the changes and movements of the earth’s surface due to natural or human causes.
- Establish and maintain geodetic datums and coordinate systems for spatial referencing.
How is Surveying Done?
Surveying is done by using various instruments and methods to measure distances, angles, elevations, directions, areas, volumes, etc. Surveying can be classified into two general categories based on the nature of the field:
Geodetic Surveying:
Geodetic surveying is a type of surveying that takes into account the curvature of the earth. Geodetic surveying is used for large areas and high accuracy requirements. Geodetic surveying involves spherical trigonometry and advanced instruments such as GPS, satellite imagery, and laser scanners. Geodetic surveying is mainly used for mapping continents, countries, and regions.
Plane Surveying:
Plane surveying is a type of surveying that assumes the earth’s surface to be flat. Plane surveying is used for small and level areas and low accuracy requirements. Plane surveying involves plane geometry and simple instruments such as chains, tapes, compasses, and levels. Plane surveying is mainly used for mapping farms, fields, towns, and villages.
What are the Types of Surveying?
There are various types of surveying methods and techniques that are suitable for different situations and needs. Some of the most common types of surveying are:
Chain Surveying:
Chain surveying is a type of plane surveying that uses linear measurements only. Chain surveying is the simplest method of surveying in which only distances are measured in the field using a chain or a tape. Chain surveying involves dividing the area into a number of triangles and measuring the lengths of their sides. Chain surveying is mainly used for preliminary surveys of construction and rough sketches.
Compass Surveying:
Compass surveying is a type of plane surveying that uses angular measurements in addition to linear measurements. Compass surveying involves using a compass to determine the direction or bearing of survey lines and measuring their lengths with a chain or tape. Compass surveying is mainly used for running traverse lines and locating boundaries.
Plane Table Surveying:
Plane table surveying is a type of plane surveying that uses graphical methods for both fieldwork and plotting. Plane table surveying involves using a plane table, which is a board with a sheet of paper fixed on it, and a sighting device called an alidade. Plane table surveying is mainly used for small and medium scale mapping where speed and accuracy are not very important.
Tacheometric Surveying:
Tacheometric surveying is a type of plane surveying that uses optical methods for measuring distances and elevations.Tacheometric surveying involves using a tacheometer, which is a telescope with a stadia rod or graduated staff. Tacheometric surveying is mainly used for contouring and profiling where rapid measurements are required.
Triangulation:
Triangulation is a type of geodetic surveying that uses a network of well-defined triangles to cover large areas. Triangulation involves measuring one baseline accurately and then determining all other sides and angles by trigonometric calculations. Triangulation is mainly used for establishing control points for other types of surveys.
Trilateration:
Trilateration is a type of geodetic surveying that uses distances only to determine the relative positions of points. Trilateration involves measuring three or more distances from known points to an unknown point using electronic distance measuring devices (EDMs). Trilateration is mainly used for locating inaccessible points or supplementing triangulation.
Astronomic Surveying:
Astronomic surveying is a type of geodetic surveying that uses observations of celestial bodies to determine the latitude, longitude, azimuth, and time at a point on the earth’s surface. Astronomic surveying involves using instruments such as sextants, chronometers, zenith telescopes, and star cameras. Astronomic surveying is mainly used for establishing geodetic datums and verifying other types of surveys.
Satellite Surveying:
Satellite surveying is a type of geodetic surveying that uses artificial satellites orbiting around the earth to provide accurate positioning information. Satellite surveying involves using receivers that can track signals from multiple satellites simultaneously and compute their coordinates using complex algorithms. Satellite surveying is mainly used for global positioning, mapping, navigation, and geodesy.
Conclusion
Surveying is a vital process that helps us understand and represent the physical features of the earth. There are various types of surveying methods and techniques that are suitable for different situations and needs. In this blog post, we have explained some of the most common types of surveying and their characteristics. We hope you have found this post informative and useful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading!
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