1E11: Experimental Methods

Lecture 1: Introduction to Engineering Surveying

Introduction Contact details Dr. Brian Caulfield Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. Simon Perry Building, brian.caulfield@tcd.ie Topics Covered 1. Introduction to surveying 2. Sources of error and error measurement 3. Basic surveying 4. Leveling 5. Angle measurement Lecture notes: http://www.tcd.ie/civileng/Staff/Brian.Caulfield/1E11/

What is Engineering Surveying? Engineering surveying involves: -Investigating land, using measurement tools and geographic knowledge, to work out the best position to build bridges, tunnels and roads etc. -Producing up-to-date plans which form the basis for the design of a project -Setting out a site, so the structure is built in the correct location to the specified parameters -Monitoring the construction process to make sure that the structure remains in the right position and recording the final built position -Providing control points by which the future movement of structures such as bridges and dams can be monitored

Surveying The traditional role of a surveyor has been to determine the position of features in both the natural and built environment on or below the surface of the Earth and to represent these on a map.

Contemporary surveying expands beyond traditional surveying and uses many different methods for collecting spatial data about the Earth and its environment. This data is processed in various formats and are also presented in an assortment of media. Contemporary surveying is now a part of Geomatics or Geoinformatics.

Geomatics Geo : Anything at, a little above or a little below the Earths level Matics : Measurement Hence, Geomatics or Geoinformatics is collecting information or measuring any object or phenomenon at, a little below or a little above the Earths level.

Measurement Geomatics Management

It is the science and study of spatially related information and is particularly concerned with the collection, manipulation and presentation of the natural, social and economic geography of the natural and built environments. (Definition by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)

Other types of surveys -Hydrographic surveying: this when one surveys in a marine environment, this can include mapping coastlines and the sea bed to produce navigational charts -Photogrammetry: this is a process where by one acquires measurements from photographic images typically aerial images. As this is a non-contact method of obtaining information it is useful in hazardous situations. -Remote sensing: this approach is very similar to photogrammetry in that it uses satellite imagery to obtain information -Geographic information systems (GIS): this method uses computer-based systems which allow spatial information to be stored and integrated with many other different types of data -Cartography: cartography and map making is often considered to be the traditional role of the surveyor

How engineering surveys are conducted Engineering surveys are usually based on horizontal and vertical control, which consists of a series of fixed points located throughout a site whose positions must be determined on some coordinate system. Horizontal control: defines points on a two dimensional horizontal plane which covers the site Vertical control: is the third dimension added to the chosen horizontal datum. The measurements for the control survey are taken using different types of equipment depending on the size of the site. In small sites typically theodolites, and tapes are used to observe horizontal control in the form of a traverse with leveling providing the vertical control

How engineering surveys are conducted In larger sites, total stations and digital levels are used. Plane surveying: is where a flat surface is used to define the local shape of the Earth, with the vertical always taken to be perpendicular to this. The horizontal surface is assumed to be flat rather than curved to simplify the calculation of the horizontal position by plane trigonometry. Geodetic Surveying is used when the assumption made in plane survey (i.e. a flat horizontal surface) is no longer true and the curvature of the earth has to be taken into account. This occurs when is site is greater than 10-15km in either direction e.g. road building, pipelines etc. Setting Out this is the surveying carried out to establish all the marks, lines and levels needed for construction purposes on site.

Surveying Equipment

Surveying Equipment Theodolite this is used to measure angles

Surveying Equipment Total stations these are used to measure distance and angles

Surveying Equipment GPS devices are used can be used as a substitute for traditional methods

Aerial outline

Aerial photography

Setting out

Precision setting out

Precision setting out

Precision setting out

Precision setting out

Precision setting out

Precision setting out

Precision setting out

Precision planning

Precision planning

Precision planning

Precision planning