ESCI 1180 Syllabus

Subject Code

ESCI

Course Number

1180

Course Title

Applied Surveying

Prerequisites

Program Admission

Corequisites

None

Terms Offered

Credit Hours

Course Description

This course introduces fundamental plane surveying concepts, instruments, and techniques. Topics include linear measurements; instrument use; and angles, bearings, and directions. Advanced topics include the transfer of data to GIS and AutoCAD platforms and data post processing.

Course Outcomes

Surveying Profession

  • Discuss the common tools and importance of surveying.
  • List government agencies that do surveying and mapping in the United States on a large scale.
  • Describe common job titles and certifications in the surveying profession.
  • Discuss the legal significance of surveyors licenses.
  • Explain the major ethical considerations surveyors face.

Surveying Measurements and Data Recording

  • Describe each of the following types of surveys: plane surveying, geodetic surveying, photogrammetric surveying, control surveys, construction surveys, proper surveys, topographic surveys, route surveys, and hydrographic surveys.
  • Conduct surveyors measurements including: horizontal angles, horizontal distances, vertical angles, vertical distances, and slope distances.
  • Convert measurements in length, angle, area, and volume between English and metric units.
  • Record data giving proper consideration to significant figures.
  • Differentiate between direct and indirect measurements.
  • Define systematic or cumulative errors, random and accediental errors and explain how they can be reduced.
  • Define discrepancy, precision, agreement, and accuracy.
  • Maintain proper field notes.
  • Describe the general procedure for measuring horizontal distances by: pacing, odometer, stadia, taping, and EDM.
  • Measure horizontal distances by pacing to within an accuracy of 1:50.
  • Describe the care and use of the common tools required for taping over level and sloped ground.
  • Demonstrate the six steps of taping: lining in, applying tension, plumbing, marking tape lengths, reading the tape, recording the distance.
  • Measure a distance on level ground to an accuracy of :3000 and check by repeated measure.
  • Measure a distance on sloped ground by breaking tape to an accuracy of 1:2000 and check by repeated measure.
  • Observe distance measured with and EDM.

Instrument Use

  • Describe the function and use of each part of a level, theodolite, and/or transit.
  • Demonstrate proper care, storage, and field transportation of a level, transit, theodolite, and EDM instrument.
  • Setup a level on any type terrain n five minutes or less.
  • Setup a transit or theodolite over a point on level ground in ten minutes or less.
  • Setup a transit or theodolite over a point on sloped ground in fifteen minutes or less.
  • Use a self-registering tracheometer (total station) to collect new data in reference to a control point.
  • Traverse a landscape using control point references.
  • Use differential leveling to determine the difference in elevation between two points.

Angles, Bearing, and Directions

  • Differentiate between horizontal and vertical angles.
  • Describe compass theory and magnetic declination.
  • Convert magnetic bearing to true bearing given declination.
  • Describe each part of a surveyors compass.
  • Measure a horizontal and zenith angle with a total station.

Data Integration and GIS

  • Describe basic GPS theory.
  • Collect survey data using a GPS and use a GPS to locate a control point.
  • Describe GIS and its importance for application of surveying data.
  • Import and export data between GPS and GIS software.
  • Import total station survey data into GIS software and/or AutoCAD for visualization and analysis.
  • Calculate distances and slopes from total station data in AutoCAD and/or GIS software.