Surveying is the art of determining the relative positions of distinctive features on the surface of the earth, by means of measurements of distances, directions and elevations. The branch of surveying which deals with the measurements of relative hei9ghts of different points on the surface of the earth, is known as leveling.
The main objective of surveying is the preparation of plans and maps of the areas. The science of Surveying has been developing since the very initial stage of human civilization according to his requirements. The art of surveying and preparation of maps has been practiced from the ancient times. As soon as the man developed the sense of land property , he evolved methods for demarcation its boundaries. Hence, the earliest surveys were performed only for the purpose of recording the boundaries of plots of land. Due to advancement in technology, the science of surveying has also attained its due importance. The practical importance of surveying cannot be over-estimated. In the absence of accurate maps, it is impossible to lay out the alignments of roads, railways, canals, tunnels, transmission power lines, and microwave or television relaying towers. Detailed maps of the sites of engineering projects are necessary for the precision establishment of sophisticated instruments. Surveying is the first step for the execution of any project. As the success of any engineering project is based upon the accurate and complete survey work, an engineer must, therefore be thoroughly familiar with the principles and different methods of surveying and mapping. It is for this reason, the subject of surveying has been made compulsory to all the disciplines of engineering at diploma and degree courses.
The surveying may be primarily divided into two categories:
1. Plane Surveying
The surveys in which the earth surface is assumed as a plane and the curvature of the earth is ignored, are known as Plane Surveys.
2. Geodetic Surveying
The surveys in which curvature of the earth is taken into account and higher degree of accuracy in linear as well as angular observations is achieved, are known as Geodetic Surveying.
The main objective of surveying is the preparation of plans and maps of the areas. The science of Surveying has been developing since the very initial stage of human civilization according to his requirements. The art of surveying and preparation of maps has been practiced from the ancient times. As soon as the man developed the sense of land property , he evolved methods for demarcation its boundaries. Hence, the earliest surveys were performed only for the purpose of recording the boundaries of plots of land. Due to advancement in technology, the science of surveying has also attained its due importance. The practical importance of surveying cannot be over-estimated. In the absence of accurate maps, it is impossible to lay out the alignments of roads, railways, canals, tunnels, transmission power lines, and microwave or television relaying towers. Detailed maps of the sites of engineering projects are necessary for the precision establishment of sophisticated instruments. Surveying is the first step for the execution of any project. As the success of any engineering project is based upon the accurate and complete survey work, an engineer must, therefore be thoroughly familiar with the principles and different methods of surveying and mapping. It is for this reason, the subject of surveying has been made compulsory to all the disciplines of engineering at diploma and degree courses.
The surveying may be primarily divided into two categories:
1. Plane Surveying
The surveys in which the earth surface is assumed as a plane and the curvature of the earth is ignored, are known as Plane Surveys.
2. Geodetic Surveying
The surveys in which curvature of the earth is taken into account and higher degree of accuracy in linear as well as angular observations is achieved, are known as Geodetic Surveying.
