Importance Of Land Surveying, Branches, Types, Instruments

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Hi, welcome to this blog on the Elementary Land Surveying, importance of land surveying.

Table Of Contents

  1. Meaning of land survey
  2. Importance of land surveying
  3. Branches of land survey
  4. Types of land survey
  5. Land Survey instruments
  6. Revision Questions

Meaning of Land Survey

Meaning: Land surveying is defined as the process by which measurement of land is made and then represent such measurement by tables, plans or layout for specific purposes. It can also mean the measuring and mapping out of the position, size and boundaries of an area of land.

Importance of Land Surveying

Land survey is very important for the following reasons:

  1. Area of land: Surveying helps to determine the area of a place, e.g, market, garden and School.
  2. Position of construction: It helps to set on the ground the position of construction or any engineering works.
  3. Production of maps: It can also help to determine the production of maps.
  4. Position of certain features: Surveying can also be used to determine the relative position or features of the earth (natural or artificial) so that they can be correctly represented on maps.
  5. Feasibility studies: Land surveying can be used as a basis of feasibility studies in any construction work to be carried out on the surveying land.
  6. Land security: Land surveying gives the owner of the Land security which can be used to obtain loan as soon as certificate of occupancy (C of O) is given.

Branches and Types of Land Survey

There are different branches of land survey. These are:

  1. Topographic surveys: In topographic surveys, the survey works are based on the different locations of the main, natural or artificial features of the earth, such as Rivers, hills, valleys, villages and roads.
  2. Engineering surveys: These surveys include all the aspects involved in the preparation of engineering works to its execution. The features mostly considered are roads, channels, rails, dams and other construction works.
  3. Geodetic surveys: These are high accuracy surveys mainly concerned with the shape of the Earth opposition, fixing of points which provide control for lower accuracy survey.
  4. Geological surveys: These have to do with features associated with the inner structure of the earth e.g, types of soil, water table and mineral content.
  5. Geographical surveys: These involve the surveying of natural and man-made features of the earth, market, road, school, hospital, rivers and mountains.
  6. Cadastral surveys: These are survey works based on the preparation of plans, indicating and defining a legal property boundaries.
  7. Military surveys: These involves the survey of land, air and water bodies to provide adequate information for the purpose of defense.

Types of Surveying

There are many types of land surveying. This includes:

  • Chain surveying
  • Traverse surveying
  • Aerial surveying
  • Triangulation surveying
  • Plane-table survey
  • Hydro-graphic surveying.

Chain Surveying

Chain surveying refers to direct linear measurement of an area. The chain surveying involves the use of distant measurements only, but forms the foundation on which advance survey methods are based.

Chain surveying is an elementary survey which involves the use of simple procedures and instruments. It is the simplest and the oldest form of land surveying. It is still in use even up to today.

Chain Survey Instruments

Common survey instruments used in chain surveying includes:

  1. Ranging Pole
  2. Measuring tape
  3. Offset staff
  4. Optical square
  5. Station peg
  6. Gunther’s chain
  7. Steel band
  8. Arrows or pins
  9. Watkins clinometer
  10. Field book

Traverse Surveying

Meaning: Traversing is a survey method whereby series of straight lines are constructed and the bearings and distances are measured. It is a method of fixing point by reaching their bearings relative to one another and measuring the distances between them.

Types of Traverse Surveying

There are two major types of traverse surveying. These include:

  1. Closed surveying: When the framework forms a closed figure or when the Traverse connects to two stations, whose position are known, it is called a close traverse. This type of traverse is commonly used in surveying lakes, buildings blocks, etc.
  2. Open Traverse: An open travers is a series of connected straight lines whose length and bearings are measured. An open travers start from one end of particular road or path to another. This type of Traverse is commonly used to survey rivers, road, railway routes, etc.

Revision Questions

  1. What is land survey?
  2. Outline the importance of land Surveying
  3. State 5 branches of surveys
  4. List and explain the two major types of land surveying.
  5. List and explain two types of traverse Surveying.
  6. Outline ten land survey instruments.
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