Theory

• Introduction to the history of surveying and geodesy: historical development.
• Modern surveying instruments (measuring tape, total station, level, leveling staff).
• Distance measurement; measurement of horizontal and vertical angles; land surveying; area computation; height determination; tacheometry.
• Fundamental surveying problems: forward intersection and resection.
• Traverses: open and closed traverses, computations and adjustments.
• Introduction to error theory (types of errors, error computation, and error propagation law).
• Geographic coordinate systems.
• Maps and cartography.
• Contour line plotting and terrain cross-section design.

Laboratory

• Use of ranging rods and plumb lines; vertical alignment of ranging rods.
• Setting out straight lines using ranging rods. Distance measurement using measuring tape and ranging rods. Land surveying using tape: triangulation method and radial method.
• Training in the use of the total station. Measurement of horizontal and vertical angles. Tacheometric distance measurement. Area computation using the rectangular coordinate method. Computation of tacheometric points. Preparation of topographic maps.
• Training in the use of the level; differential leveling measurements; computation and adjustment of leveling traverses. Cartographic drafting. Closed and open leveling loops. Error determination and adjustment.
• Introduction to and familiarization with the electronic theodolite.

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the methods, measurements, and computations used in Geodesy to determine the positions of points on the physical surface of the Earth, which constitutes the space and the object of measurement, mapping, and analysis in Geodesy.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply traditional techniques for spatial measurement and surveying.
• Operate surveying instruments (measuring tape, level, theodolite, etc.).
• Solve problems involving rectangular coordinate systems.
• Solve traverse survey problems.
• Perform area computations and land surveys.
• Estimate the accuracy of survey results.
• Compute elevation differences and draw contour lines.
• Interpret topographic and elevation maps and produce terrain cross-sections.