What is Surveying in Civil Engineering? Guide with Free PDF

From correctly drawing borders between private and public property, to inspecting bridges and other vital infrastructure, surveying is involved in everything. The placement, protection, and safety of projects can not be assured without surveying. Here’s a description of how surveying works to improve public works through civil engineering.

The study of civil engineering is complex. Currently, aside from military engineering, it’s the second-oldest engineering discipline. Often, civil engineering is related to public works, but that’s not what it is.

Any kind of engineering that includes constructing structures on top of the landscape is civil engineering: canals, bridges, and pipelines are most notable.

Since civil engineering includes affecting the environment directly (often in a significant way), surveys are extremely essential.

Surveys ensure that the safe environment is not adversely affected, that the system is stable, and that the project is as successful as possible overall.

So, what is civil engineering surveying or what is surveying in civil engineering? Civil Engineering Surveying is a vital part of any stage of the creation of a project. Here are some of the ways that surveying is so extremely important.

What Is Surveying In Civil Engineering

Surveying is the engineering of determining the relative positions of objects (distinctive features) on, above or beneath the surface of earth by means of direct or indirect measurements of distance, direction and elevation. It also establishes the points in the field by predetermined angular and linear measurements.

Surveying in civil engineering is the art of determining the relative positions of different objects on the surface of the earth by measuring the horizontal distances between them and by preparing a map to any suitable scale. Thus in this discipline the measurements are taken only in horizontal plane. We hope now that it is clear – what is survey in civil engineering?

Levelling In Civil Engineering

It is the art of determining the relative vertical distances of different points on the surface of the earth. Therefore in leveling the measurements are taken only in the vertical plane.

Work of a surveyor in Civil Engineering

1. Decision Making – selecting method, equipment and final point locations.
2. Fieldwork & Data Collection – making measurements and recording data in the field.
3. Computing & Data Processing – preparing calculations based upon the recorded data to determine locations in a useable form.
4. Mapping or Data Representation – plotting data to produce a map, plot, or chart in the proper form

The Objective of Surveying in Civil Engineering

The aim of surveying is to prepare a map, to show the relative positions of the object on the surface of the earth. The map is drawn to some suitable scale. It show the natural features of the country such as towns, villages, roads, railways, rivers, etc.

Maps may also include details of different engineering works such as roads, railways, irrigation, canal , etc.

Uses of Surveying in civil engineering

1. To prepare a topographical map which show the hills, village, rivers, valleys, towns, forest, etc. of a country.
2. To prepare a cadastral map showing the boundaries of fields , houses and other properties.
3. To prepare an engineering map which show the details of engineering works such as roads, railways, irrigation, canal, reservoirs.
4. To prepare a military map showing the road and railway communication with different parts of country. Showing the different strategic points important for defence of country.
5. To prepare the contour map – To determine the capacity of a reservoir and to find the best possible routes for roads, railways, etc.
6. Geological Map – Showing areas including underground resources.
7. To prepare an archaeological map including places where animal relics exists.

Classification of Surveying

1. Primary Surveying :-

1. Plane Surveying
2. Geodetic Surveying

2. Secondary Surveying

1. Based on Instrument
   • Chain Survey
   • Compass Survey
   • Plane Table Survey
   • Theodolite Survey
   • Tachometric Survey
   • Photographic Survey
2. Based on Methods
   • Triangulation Survey
   • Traverse Survey
3. Based on Objects
   • Geological Survey
   • Mine Survey
   • Archeological Survey
   • Military Survey
4. Based on Nature of field
   • Land Surveying
     • Topographical Survey
     • Cadastral Survey
     • City Survey
     • Engineering Survey
   • Marine Surveying
   • Astronomical Surveying

3. Miscellaneous Classification

• Photogrammetric
• Control Surveying
• Route Surveys