Chapter Two Topographic Surveying: 2.1 Introductiontopography

Chapter two
Topographic Surveying
2.1 IntroductionTopography
Refers to characteristics of land surface. This characteristic include relief, artificial (manmade) and
natural features. Relief is the configuration of earth’s surface and include such features such as
hills,valleys,plains,summits,depressions,trees,streams and lakes and Manmade features are highway
,bridges, dams ,buildings and etc.
Topographic surveying is the process of determining the positions, on the earth's surface, of the
natural and artificial features of a given locality, and of determining the configuration of the terrain .
• Purposes of topographic surveying
The purpose of a topographic survey is to find the necessary data for the graphical portrayal
(plotting) of topographic features (sea, relief, population settlement areas, communication
network, vegetation, water feature etc.). ). This map shows the horizontal distances between the
features, their location and elevations above a given datum.
Use of topographic map
The topographic maps are used for the planning of a building complex, an industrial plant, a
railway or a highway project as well as for irrigation projects etc. Bridges, tunnels and dams are
also planned and designed after the preparation of a topographic map. The user of the map should
be able to interpret the map as a model of the ground.
These map shows both the plan meter and topographic features.: -
Industrial Plants
Rail ways & high ways
Irrigation & drainage scheme
Hydroelectric power station
a building complex
Bridges, tunnels and dams

Topographic surveying and the preparation of a topographic map of the terrain is therefore generally the first step in the planning and designing of a major engineering project.
Planmetric map
Show only the horizontal position of geographic and cultural features.
Show accurate horizontal distances
Fig.1 Planmetric map
• 3.Methods of topographic surveying
1. Ground surveying method:-is done by means of total
station or theodolite (stadia tacheometre),as well as with
levels, tapes. This method is economic and suitable for
relative small areas.
2. Photogrammetric method
Aerial photographs are used to gather the necessary
ground data.It is an economic method for larger areas of
projects. The accuracy of photogrammetry mainly
depends upon the scale of the aerial photographs.
3) Data from satellite.Itis done by capturing land
information data from satellite.
4. General procedures of topographic surveying
Total field work procedure in topographic surveying are
the following:-
1. Reconnaissance surveying
• The term reconnaissance means the first inspection of
the target area in terms of existing control points,
possible sites for new observation stations.
• Generally specific tasks we do in reconnaissance
surveying are
Site observation of the area to be mapped
Selection, marking and numbering of stations
Sketching the features in the area
2. Establishing control points
The establishing of horizontal and vertical control points is the most
essential part and is the second step in the field work process of
topographic surveying, since the three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y, Z)
of each point to be surveyed can only be determined with respect to well
established reference points.
3. Preparation of a field book In the case of stadia tachometry all
relevant readings, such as horizontal angles, vertical angles, the three
stadia readings, and the instrument height are booked in a special form.
• The main components of format of field book are:
 Project name
 Place of project
 Name of surveyor
DateFormat of field book
Format of field for horizontal distance measurement
Project ______________Place _____________Surveyor___________ Date __________
STATATION FW BW MEAN REMARK
1
2
3
Where FW forward measurement
BW backward measurement
Contour lines
The graphical portrayal of the configuration of the land surface (relief) is most commonly
done with contour lines.
The most common method of representing topography of an area.
It is an imaginary level line that connects point of equal elevation.
Characteristics of contour line
 Closely spaced contour indicate steep slopes
 widely spaced contour indicate moderate slopes
 Contour should be labeled through elevation value
 Contour line does not cross each other.
 The distance between contour indicate steepness of slopes
 Wide separation of distance indicate gentle slope
 Close spacing indicate steep slope

If the spacing between the contour lines is small the slope
is steep, but for gentle slopes the spacing is large (see
also figure
steep
slope
gentle slope
Contour lines never cross one another and do not make branch
into two contour lines of the same elevation
 Contours do not have sharp turnings.

 Contours are not shown going through buildings

 Contours crossing a manmade horizontal surface (roads, railway
track) will be straight parallel lines as they cross the facility.

Chapter Two Topographic Surveying: 2.1 Introductiontopography

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter Two Topographic Surveying: 2.1 Introductiontopography

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter Two Topographic Surveying: 2.1 Introductiontopography

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter two

STATATION FW BW MEAN REMARK

Where FW forward measurement

 widely spaced contour indicate moderate slopes

 Contour should be labeled through elevation value

 Contour line does not cross each other.

 The distance between contour indicate steepness of slopes

 Wide separation of distance indicate gentle slope

 Close spacing indicate steep slope

 Contours do not have sharp turnings.

You might also like