CHAIN SURVEYING

SUMMARY & ABSTRACT

Chain (Tape) surveying is the simplest form of detail surveying. In this method the
lengths of lines marked on the field are measured, while the details are measured by
offsets and ties from these lines. This field work will continue for 3 field hours. Every
group is expected to submit a detailed report besides the final plan of the area
surveyed.

OBJECTIVES:

This field work aimed to train the student on the following process:
1. Selection of a frame work (chain or base lines) and control points.
2. Direct method of linear measurements (horizontal distance measurement).
3. Setting out right angles (offsets).
4. Determining the direction of any line in the field with respect to magnetic
north "bearing".
5. Booking Method.
6. Plotting Method.

APPARATUS & INSTRUMENT

1. 2 Tapes
2. 3 Ranging Rods
3. Arrows/Marker paints
4. Prism Square
5. Prismatic Compass
6. Booking Board

PROCEDURE:

1. Make a reconnaissance of the area and select a suitable framework (chain

lines) and stations based on the criterion given in Note 1.
2. Mesure all the chain (based) lines once in each direction using the direct
measurement method. See Note 2.
3. Measure the offsets/or ties from every necessary point on the detail to the
corresponding base line. Use the procedure explained in Note 3.
4. You may need some measurements on the details (on the building sides…).
5. Measure the bearing of one of the chain lines by using the prismatic compass.
See Note 4.
6. Record all the information and measurements properly in the booking papers
as explained in Note 5.
7. Make the necessary calculations and corrections.
8. Draw the details in a suitable scale to produce a detailed map of the area. See
Note 6.
Note 1: CHAIN LINES & STATIONS SELECTIOS

To locate a suitable stations and chain lines, a reconnaissance of the area should be
undertaken by walking around the area required to be surveyed. Any obstacles should
be noticed. The selected stations should produce a well formed linked triangles or
braced quadrilaterals.
The principles to be considered are:
1. Few long lines should be used.
2. Avoid any obstacles to ranging or chaining.
3. Angles should be > 30o & <120o.
4. Make check lines when possible to detect errors when plotting.
5. The lines should be closed to the details (Avoid long offsets (>10m) and ties.
After selection of the framework you should draw sketch of the area and mark the
stations by wooden pegs or marker paints, and give a number for each station.

NOTE 2: DIRECT DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

For measuring any distance between A and B, especially when it is longer than the
tape length, the following ranging is needed: "ranging by eye".
1. The ranging rode should be placed at the beginning point A and the end point
B. The first man should place the tape zero point at A.
2. The second man holding the third raging rod and the tape should move to the
direction of B to a point of the end of the tape length. Then he should hold the
ranging rod vertically.
3. The first man at point A lines up the ranging rod with that on point B. "by
sighting as low as possible".
4. Then, the second man should straighten the tape and mark this point.
5. Both men move ahead repeat the whole steps beginning from the first mark.
6. As measurements processes, the second man should record the length.

Note 3: SETTING THE OFFSET

Any point on the detail can be related to the chain line by offset or ties. This is
accomplished by measuring all X's and Y's as shown in the figure.

To set out offsets, a prism square can be used. To locate the point at which a 1 from
any point on the feature would meet the chain line (say AB) you can follow the
following steps:
1. One man should hold the ranging pole at the given point, while the other pole
is placed at any point on the chain line AB.
2. The observer holds the instrument and walk along the line AB until he see
both poles coincide in each other. Then the distance to this point along the
chain line can be measured beside the length of the perpendicular.
Another method can be used by holding the zero point of the tape at the given point
and swinging tape over the chain line and mark the point on the chain line at
minimum reading.
NOTE 4: MEASURING THE BEARING OF A LINE

To measure the angle that any line makes with the magnetic direction, you can use a
prismatic compass. The procedure is as follow:
1. Place the ranging pole vertically at point B.
2. Place the prismatic compass over its tripod at point A and level it using the
bubble and screws.
3. Rotate the compass until it is directed to the pole and read the angle.
4. Repeat the whole procedure for point B.

NOTE 5: BOOKING

The field book should be neat and consistent:

1. Each chain line is represented by double line drawn through the corner of the
page.
2. Entries start at the bottom of the page.
3. Detail that is on the right-hand side of the line is booked on the right-hand side
of the page and voice versa.
4. The lengths from the beginning of the line are written inside the double lines
while the offset lengths outside.

NOTE 6: PLOTTING

A. Plot the framework of chain lines by:

1. Draw the longest line according to its bearing.
2. Build up the other chain lines by using beam compasses.
3. Draw the check lines, and if there are any errors, check the drawn lines in the
incorrect triangles. (You may need to measure them in the field).

B. Draw the detail for each chain line based on offsets and ties information. Then
connect these points to get the details.
 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

Related posts:

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.

METHODS USED IN SURVEYING

TRADITIONAL METHODS

Compass and chain:

From colonial times, through the 1800’s, most boundary

surveys were performed with a compass and “Gunter’s
Chain”, usually 66 feet long and divided into 100 links. The
compass was either mounted on a tripod or a single pole,
called a “Jacob’s Staff”. These early surveying tools were
not very precise, but were sufficient in the days when land
values were 50 cents per acre, or less.

Transit and tape:

Eventually, the use of the compass gave way to the

transit, and the chain to the steel tape. While the compass
was generally only able to measure the magnetic bearing
of a line to the nearest one-quarter degree, a transit is
able to measure the angles between lines to less than one
minute of arc. The steel tape, usually 100 or 200 feet long
and graduated in hundredths of a foot, provided an
accuracy significantly greater than the Gunter’s Chain.
The transit and tape permitted the more precise
measurements necessary in land subdivision planning,
construction surveying, and nearly all boundary or land
title surveys. Until recently, this method was used for most
surveying work.

Transit and stadia:

Angles were measured with a transit and distances
“measured” by optical methods. A rod or “Stadia Board”
was graduated in hundredths of a foot, and horizontal
crosshairs in the telescope of a transit, called Stadia
Hairs, were positioned so that, based on trigonometry, at a
distance of 100 feet the stadia hairs subtended exactly
one foot on the rod. Thus, within about 500 feet, a
distance could be “read” directly from the rod. Due to its
speed and efficiency, this method was most common for
topographic mapping. For the most part, stadia has also
given way to electronic instruments.

MODERN METHODS

Theodolite and electronic distance measurement:

There are no exact standards differentiating an instrument

referred to as a “Transit” from one that is referred to as a
“Theodolite”. Generally, a theodolite is a much more
precise instrument. Some can measure an angle to within
1/10 of one second of arc (one thousandth of a foot in one
mile), but 1-second or 3-second theodolites are typical.
Also, the angles on a transit were read off of a circular
metal plate, graduated in degrees and minutes, while the
theodolite replaced the metal plate with an internal etched
glass plate and the ability to read an angle through the
eyepiece via a series of mirrors and lenses.

By the 1970’s, relatively small, lightweight and easy-to-use

electronic distance measuring devices, called EDM’s were
in use. They were mounted on the theodolite, and
operated on the principle of transmitting a narrow beam of
infrared light to a reflector and measuring the time it takes
to return.
Before long, the advance of technology and
miniaturization of electronic components enabled the
building of theodolites that measure angles electronically,
measure distances with their own internal EDM, and
display a variety of data on an LCD screen. These super-
theodolites are referred to as “Electronic Total Stations”. In
addition to enhanced speed and accuracy, the digital data
can be automatically “downloaded” to an electronic data
collector for transfer directly to computers for calculations
or CAD drafting. In addition to the speed and accuracy
that they provide, the decreasing cost of the electronic
total stations has allowed them to virtually totally replace
all previous methods and instruments for most survey
work.

Photogrammetric mapping:

Topographic mapping may be done from aerial

photographs and is particularly useful for large areas.
Usually, the photography is made specifically for the
project involved. Accurate ground survey work must be
used to establish measurements, both horizontally and
vertically, to photo-identifiable points to insure scale
accuracy and proper orientation of the photo model.
Supplemental field surveys are usually required for
locating features that are not identifiable on aerial
photographs, such as underground utilities, wetlands,
culverts, and any feature too small to be seen.

GPS:

The GPS, or Global Positioning System, is the newest

method available to surveyors. The system is based on
a constellation of 24 satellites in precise orbits around
the Earth. Today’s GPS receivers can directly calculate
the position of any place on the Earth’s surface from
signals broadcast from the satellites. While
inexpensive, handheld receivers can provide a position
to within a hundred feet, or less, more sophisticated
receivers can provide a position to within a few inches.
If two or more of these receivers are used, and one is
placed on a known position, the directions and
distances between the receivers over very large areas
can be determined with a precision never before
obtainable. However, due to technical limitations, GPS
technology is not suitable for precise determination of
elevations. At present, the high cost of these receivers
is prohibitive for use in all but the larger control surveys
or aerial mapping projects.