Top 60 Surveying Questions and Answers

Surveying is a branch of civil engineering that deals with earth levels, coordinates, layout markings, three dimensional positions of points, distances and angles between them etc. It is also used to map land boundaries, construction sites and topographic features.

The main types of surveying are land surveying, topographic surveying, hydrographic surveying, cadastral surveying, geodetic surveying and engineering surveying.

Land survey is conducted to mapping the boundaries, features and areas of land on the surface of earth for ownership, construction designing and legal purposes. Land surveying includes the measurement of areas, distances, directions, angles between different points both vertically and horizontally.

Topographic survey is the field of surveying in which elevations and contours of the Earth's surface is prepared that show the ups and down of earth and to find out water flow directions.

As defining by its name (Hydro stand for water) hydrographic survey is relates to water. Hydrographic surveying is used to measure and describe features in bodies of water, such as riverbeds, lakes or oceans, for navigation, engineering and environmental purposes.

Cadastral surveying is conducted to define and redefine land boundaries for different purposes like Land ownership, property delineation and the creation of land maps.

Engineering surveying is conducted to provide data that is essentially required for planning, designing and construction of engineering projects such as roads, bridges and buildings etc.

Geodetic surveying or survey is the field of surveying that deals with large areas of Earth’s surface, in this survey large area on earth measured accurately with the help of GPS and satellite data by keeping in consideration Earth’s curvature.

Photogrammetric surveying is conducted to gather the data of earth’s surface through photos. Photos are collected both from air & land and also photos are collected from satellite to create maps and 3D models of large areas.

Remote sensing involves gathering data about the Earth's surface from a distance, typically using satellites or aircraft sensors.

Construction survey is the process of laying out drawings on earth to start the construction execution work on site. It involves establishing reference points, lines and elevations for building and civil engineering projects to ensure the correct placement and construction of structure.

Mining surveying focuses on the development, operation and reclamation of mines, ensuring that excavations and structures are accurately measured and planned.

In plane surveying earth surface is assumed flat, which simplifies calculations for small areas where the Earth’s curvature is negligible.

An aerial survey is conducted from aircraft or drones, using photography, LiDAR or other sensors to collect geographic data for mapping large areas.

Azimuth is the horizontal angle measured clockwise from a reference meridian, usually north used to define the direction of a line.

While finding out levels on earth backsight is a reading taken on a point of known elevation to establish the height of the instrument.

A baseline is a fixed reference line used in triangulation and other surveying methods, from which other measurements are taken.

Bearing is the horizontal angle between a reference direction (usually north) and the line connecting two points.

A benchmark is a permanent reference point, level of this point is already known and written on bench mark sign (fixed or installed on earth). Levels of all other points are taken with the reference of this bench mark.

A contour line is a line marked on contour map that shows the level of different points on earth indicating the shape and slope of the terrain.

A datum is a reference surface or level used as a baseline for elevation measurements in surveying.

Elevation refers to the vertical distance or height of a point above a reference level, usually mean sea level.

A foresight is a reading taken on a point to determine its elevation, usually after the instrument height has been established.

Grid north is the direction of the northward lines on a grid system, which may differ slightly from true north due to map projections.

Leveling is the process of determining the height and depth of different points or the differences in elevation between points on the Earth’s surface.

An offset is a perpendicular distance measured from a survey line to a point, feature or object.

Point of intersection is the point where two lines intersect or cross in surveying, commonly used in road or railway alignments.

A prism is a modern instrument that is used in surveying to find out accurate distances and angles between different points. Prism reflects signals emitted by a total station, allowing for accurate measurement of distances and angles in modern surveying.

A range line is an imaginary or marked line used to guide the direction of a survey or alignment, often in construction.

In surveying, Reduced Level (RL) refers to the height or elevation of a point in relation to a fixed reference like datum. It’s essentially a way to express the vertical distance between a surveyed point and the known reference point. By calculating RLs, surveyors can compare the relative heights of various locations, which is crucial for leveling and ensuring structures or landscapes are built accurately on even ground.

Right of Way (ROW) in surveying refers to the legal right to access or use a specific strip of land...

Total station is an advanced surveying instrument that combines an electronic theodolite...

Theodolite is a surveying instrument used to measure vertical levels of different points...

Triangulation is a method used to determine the positions of points by forming triangles...

In surveying, zenith refers to the point in the sky directly above the observer...

Chainage refers to the measurement of distance along a specific line, such as a road...

A cross-section represents a vertical slice through a terrain or structure...

Mean errors are the average deviation from the true or accepted value...

Reciprocal leveling is a precision surveying method used to determine the elevation...

Electromagnetic Distance Measurement (EDM) is a highly accurate technique used in surveying...

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveying utilizes satellite signals...

Collimation error occurs when the line of sight in a leveling instrument is not perfectly horizontal...

Route surveying is the process of designing and mapping the alignment for linear infrastructure projects...

Surveying errors can arise from various factors like instrumental errors, environmental factors...

The Bowditch method, or compass rule, is a technique used in surveying to adjust a traverse...

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are revolutionizing surveying...

Plane table surveying is a traditional method where the surveyor directly plots points onto a map...

In radial surveying, measurements of distance and angle are taken from a central point...

The "whole to part" principle ensures that a large control framework is established first...

A clinometer is an instrument used to measure the angle of elevation, slope, or depression...

Tacheometry is a rapid surveying method for measuring both horizontal distance and elevation...

The gradient or slope of a surface is calculated by dividing the vertical height difference by the horizontal distance...

A plumb bob is a simple but essential tool in surveying used to ensure instruments are perfectly vertical...

Plane surveys assume that the Earth's surface is flat, making them suitable for small areas. In contrast, geodetic surveys account for the Earth's curvature and are used for large-scale projects where this curvature affects measurements.

EDM uses the time it takes for electromagnetic waves, such as infrared or laser, to travel to a reflector and back to the instrument to measure distances. This technique provides high accuracy over long distances and is commonly used in construction and topographic surveys.

An alidade is a sighting device used in plane table surveying. It allows surveyors to sight objects in the field and draw lines on the map corresponding to the angles and distances measured, enabling accurate plotting of points.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a technology used to collect, store, analyze, and visualize geographic data. In surveying, GIS helps manage spatial information, map terrains, and perform analyses critical to land management, infrastructure planning, and environmental monitoring.

Parallax is a surveying error that occurs when the object being sighted is not aligned with the crosshairs in the instrument due to improper focusing. This can lead to inaccurate measurements, so proper focusing and alignment is crucial.

Fly leveling is a rapid method of transferring elevation from one point to another, typically over long distances. It is commonly used to establish new benchmarks or reference points in large construction projects or infrastructure developments.