Importance Of Farm Surveying | Meaning, Survey Equipments

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Hello, welcome to this class. In this class we are going to be looking at the importance of farm surveying.

Table Of Contents

  1. Meaning of farm survey.
  2. Recognize common simple survey equipments.
  3. The general maintenance of survey equipments.
  4. Revision Questions

See Also

Let’s look at the meaning of Farm survey

WHAT IS FARM SURVEY

Meaning: Farm surveying is defined as a process of measuring and mapping out the position, topography, size and boundaries of an area of farmland. It can also be defined as the process by which measuring of land is made on the farm. Such measurements by tables, plans of layout are done for specific purposes.

Types Of Surveying Equipments

Some common Surveying Equipment And Instruments

  • Ranging Pole
  • Measuring tape.
  • Gunters chain.
  • Prismatic compass.
  • Theodolite.
  • Offset staff
  • Arrows or pin
  • Beacons or pillars

RANGING POLE: Description;

Here are the descriptions of ranging pole types of surveying equipments

  1. Ranging pole is made of wood or metal.
  2. It is of varying lengths, e.g. 1.8m 2.4m or 3.0m.
  3. It generally secular in section, though some octagonal types are obtainable.
  4. It is usually painted black, bright red and white to enable it to be seen from a distance.
  5. It has a pointed end.

FUNCTIONS/USES

  • It is used for marking stations.
  • It is also used for making straight lines.

MEASURING TAPE: Description;

Here are the descriptions of measuring tape types of surveying equipments

  1. It is usually made of lining of fine steel sheet.
  2. It it is usually marked on one side with metric unit and the other side with the imperial unit.
  3. The tape is usually wound in a small case from where it is unwounded for use
  4. The tape is of various types and lengths.

FUNCTIONS/ USES

  • It is used for taking measurements of length, breadth and height.

GUNTER’S CHAIN: Description;

Here are the descriptions of gunters chain types of surveying equipments

  1. It is consists of series of dumb bell shape links of steel wires join together by three small rings.
  2. One Gunters chain is normally 20.13m (66ft) in length.
  3. It has brass handles at either side.
  4. It is divided into 100 links so that each link is 19.8cm or 7.92 ins.
  5. A link is the distance from the middle of the central ring to the middle of the next Central ring.
  6. The chain is entirely metallic.

Precautions to be taken when chaining a farmland.

  • Pull taut chains, tapes or ropes
  • Avoid errors of transposing figures on papers.
  • Equipments such as theodolite should be placed on a perfect horizontal plane.
  • All chains, tips, ropes, etc, must be properly aligned before taking measurements.
  • Avoid error of parallax when reading measurements.
  • Make sure the chain is not faulty before use.

FUNCTIONS/USES: It is used in taking short or detailed measurement of length and breadth.

PRISMATIC COMPASS: Description;

Here are the descriptions of prismatic compass types of surveying equipments

  1. It is normally placed on a stand.
  2. It has a prism.
  3. It has a compass card marked in degrees, half degrees, minutes and seconds, in a clockwise direction.
  4. It has a straight slot.

FUNCTIONS/ USES: It is used in taking bearings. It is also used in measuring Angular distances.

THEODOLITE: Description;

Here are the descriptions of THEODOLITE types of surveying equipments

  1. It consists of a tripod stand, made of wood or lightweight metal in solid or telescopic legs.
  2. The tripod stand forms the base of the instruments.
  3. It has a lower plate which contains the graduated horizontal circle made of glass or brass.
  4. It has a spirit level which is used to define horizontal plane against which angles of the elevation or depression are measured.

FUNCTIONS/USES: It is used to measure horizontal or vertical angles of planes.

ARROW OR PIN: Description includes:

  1. This is thin pointed steel wires of about 30cm long with one end curved into a ring.
  2. A red cloth is normally attached to the ring so that it can be seen from afar.

Functions/uses of Arrow or pin: It is used during chaining for marking off chain lengths as measured, and it can also be used for marking stations.

OFFSET STAFF: Description of OFFSET STAFF

  1. This is a graduated rod 3m long.
  2. A hook may be fitted at the top for the purpose of pulling a chain through a hedge.
  3. Each telescopic link is 0.3m (30cm) in length.

FUNCTIONS/USES: It is used for taking short offset measurement.

BEACON OR PILLAR: Description of Beacon or pillar.

  1. It is made of rectangular block usually in concrete form.
  2. Mark is usually inscribed on top of the block.
  3. The beacons are always buried in the ground with marked head raised a little above the ground.

FUNCTIONS/USES:

  • It is used for marking off point measured.
  • It is also used for the recognition of the measured or surveyed area.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

  1. All instrument must be clean after use.
  2. Keep instruments in dry and cool places.
  3. Those with metal parts should be oiled or greased or painted before they are put away for a long time.
  4. Keep instruments away from heat and rain to prevent damage and rusting respectively.
  5. Replace worn out parts.
  6. Use instruments only for the intended functions.
  7. Let competent surveyor handle and use the instruments only or as he may direct.

Importance Of Farm Surveying In Agriculture

Next we are going into the importance. Here are the importance of Farm surveying in agriculture:

1. Determination of size of farmland: The number one importance of Farm surveying is is that farm surveys help to determine the size or hecterage of farmland.

2. For feasibility studies: Farm surveys also important or useful for the preparation of feasibility studies.

3. Proper use of farmland: Another important of Farm surveying is the proper use of farmland. Farm surveys enables farmers to make proper use of the Land.

4. Location of farm buildings: In this importance of Farm surveying, farmers can determine where to site and locate certain buildings or structures in the farm.

5. Planning of farmstead: Farm maps or soil maps are useful in planning the farmstead. Study about farm planning and farmstead [HERE]

6. For soil classification: Another important of farm surveying is soil classification. Characteristics and features of the various soil unit are used for soil classification.

7. Projection of Yield: The yield or productivity of farmland can be projected.

8. For collateral security: Collateral security is another important of Farm surveying. Results of Farm survey can be used as collateral for securing loan from financial institutions.

9. Determination of gradient of farmland: Farm surveys also help to determine the gradients of the farmland.

10. Acquisition of certificate of occupancy (C of O), This is the most important of Farm surveying. Farm survey facilitate acquisition of certificate of occupancy (c of o).

11. Construction of roads: Road and other access ways can be constructed with the knowledge derived from surveying.

Revision Questions

  1. What is Farm surveying?
  2. Outline the importance of Farm surveying.
  3. List and discuss four types of survey equipments commonly used in the farm.
  4. Describe briefly the Gunter’s chain
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