What Different Types Of Surveys Are There?

Lot Survey: This is a survey of a lot in a recorded subdivision. Corners should be marked in accordance with existing state standards, and the owner receives a drawing depicting what comers were set and what comers were found.

Boundary Survey: These surveys are normally described by Metes and Bounds and may require extensive research of adjoining deeds, original government surveys, highway plans, etc. A Boundary Survey usually requires field work on neighboring lands to verify or find existing monumentation. Because many deeds were prepared in an office and not actually surveyed, and others are just poorly written, it may require extra research and field work to determine the property lines. The comers should be marked in accordance with existing state standards, and the owner receives a drawing depicting what comers were set and what comers were found, and the relationship between deed lines and lines of possession.

Subdivision Survey: This type of survey divides existing parcels into smaller parcels. These types of surveys           are required to be recorded at the county recorder's office and must also meet all requirements of government agencies. State standards require a minimum of two permanent monuments per block.

Topographic Survey: Although these are generally performed by a Land Surveyor, other professionals, such as Engineers and Architects may also complete them. These types of surveys are graphic representations of physical features of the land depicting natural and man-made features, such as fences, buildings, utilities, hills, valleys streams, lakes, roads, etc. They can be performed by field ground methods or by aerial photographic methods. The preciseness of this type of survey depends on what it is to be used for. These surveys should be completed in conjunction with a ''Boundary Survey'' (which can only be performed by a Professional Land Surveyor) to show lines of possession.

Plot Plan or Site Plan:This type of survey may be required by local authorities or you may require it to insure that a proposed house or structure is constructed in the proper location and not over an easement or building set back line. A drawing may be required showing the proposed building location.

Surveyors Real Property Report: This is a report on the location of improvements and a cursory check for encroachments onto or from the subject property based on existing evide.

What Is The Purpose Of Hydro graphic Surveying?

What Is The Purpose Of Hydro graphic Surveying?

Hydro graphic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/offshore oil drilling and related activities.

What Is A Tacheometer?

Tacheometry, from the Greek "quick measure", is a system of rapid surveying, by which the positions, both horizontal and vertical, of points on the earth's surface relatively to one another are determined without using a chain or tape or a separate leveling instrument.

What Is An Intermediate Survey?

What Is An Intermediate Survey?

Answer :

Intermediate Survey—The inspection of a vessel by a classification society surveyor which takes place between two and three years before and after each Special Survey for such vessel pursuant to the rules of international conventions and classification societies.

What Is A Digital Theodolite Used For?

What Is A Digital Theodolite Used For?

Answer :

In addition to measuring horizontal and vertical angles, digital theodolite are used to establish straight lines, to establish horizontal and vertical distances through the use of stadia, and to establish elevations when used as a level.

What Is A Surveyor's Transit?

What Is A Surveyor's Transit?

Answer :

A vernier compass has an adjustable scale that allows for the "setting off" of the magnetic declination and the compass can then directly read true north. The Transit and Theodolite. Transit. Theodolite. The transit and theodolite are used by the surveyor to measure both horizontal and vertical angles.

How Does A Theodolite Work?

How Does A Theodolite Work?

Answer :

A theodolite works by combining optical plummets (or plumb bobs), a spirit (bubble level), and graduated circles to find vertical and horizontal angles in surveying. An optical plummet ensures the theodolite is placed as close to exactly vertical above the survey point.

What Is Meant By Hydro graphic Survey?

What Is Meant By Hydro graphic Survey?

Answer :

Hydro graphic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/offshore oil drilling and related activities.

What Is A Total Station?

What Is A Total Station?

Answer :

A Total Station is a modern surveying instrument that integrates an electronic theodolite with an electronic distance meter. A theodolite uses a movable telescope to measure angles in both the horizontal and vertical planes.

What Is A Transit Tool?

What Is A Transit Tool?

Answer :

A transit level is an optical instrument, or a telescope, complete with a built-in spirit level that is mounted on a tripod. Transit levels are used mainly for surveying and building, but they can be used to determine the relative position of lines and objects as well.

What Is A Level Staff?

What Is A Level Staff?

Answer :

A level staff, also called leveling rod, is a graduated wooden or aluminum rod, used with a leveling instrument to determine the difference in height between points or heights of points above a datum surface.

Civil Engineering Shorts Question

1.  What Does It Mean To Survey A Boat?
   Answer :
   Basically, it is a detailed inspection of a boat, hopefully done by a qualified, diligent, intelligent and honest surveyor, for the purpose of determining its current condition and seaworthiness.
2. What Is A Chartered Quantity Surveyor?
   Answer :
   Members and Fellows of the RICS entitled to use the designation (and a number of variations such as "Chartered Building Surveyor" or "Chartered Quantity Surveyor" or "Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor" depending on their field .

What Is An Automatic Level and What Is The Use Of Dumpy Level?

1. What Is An Automatic Level?
   Answer :
   A dumpy level, builder's auto level, leveling instrument, or automatic level is an optical instrument used to establish or verify points in the same horizontal plane. It is used in surveying and building with a vertical staff to measure height differences and to transfer, measure and set heights.
2. What Is The Use Of Dumpy Level?
   Answer :
   A dumpy level is a surveying tool that measures horizontal lines. It is used to determine relative height and distance among different locations. In modern times, it is most commonly used to obtain measurements for buildings rather than to gather information on large tracts of land.

Surveying Short Question

Question 1.What Is Surveying?

Answer :

The profession or work of examining and recording the area and features of a piece of land so as to construct a map, plan, or detailed description of it.

Question 2. What Is A Surveyor?

Answer :

Surveyors update boundary lines and prepare sites for construction so that legal disputes are prevented. Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries. They provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth's surface for engineering, map making, and construction projects.

Question 3. What Is A Property Surveyor?

Answer :

It is important, therefore, that you employ a surveyor yourself to undertake a thorough inspection of the property you wish to buy. The types of surveys available. There are two main types of structural survey available for those buying a property: a Home buyer's Report or a Full Building Survey.

Question 4. What Is A Marine Surveyor?

Answer :

A Marine surveyor (including "Yacht & Small Craft Surveyor", "Hull & Machinery Surveyor" and/or "Cargo Surveyor") is a person who conducts inspections, surveys or examinations of marine vessels to assess, monitor and report on their condition and the products on them, as well as inspects damage caused to both vessels .

What Is A Chartered Quantity Surveyor?

What Is A Chartered Quantity Surveyor?


Members and Fellows of the RICS entitled to use the designation (and a number of variations such as "Chartered Building Surveyor" or "Chartered Quantity Surveyor" or "Chartered Civil Engineering Surveyor" depending on their field .

What Is An Automatic Level?

What Is An Automatic Level?



A dumpy level, builder's auto level, leveling instrument, or automatic level is an optical instrument used to establish or verify points in the same horizontal plane. It is used in surveying and building with a vertical staff to measure height differences and to transfer, measure and set heights.

How to determine the size of elastomeric bearings?

How to determine the size of elastomeric bearings?

 For elastomeric bearing, the vertical load is resisted by its compression while shear resistance of the bearing controls the horizontal movements.

The design of elastomeric bearings are based on striking a balance between the provision of sufficient stiffness to resist high compressive force and the flexibility to allow for translation and rotation movement. The cross sectional area is normally determined by the allowable pressure on the bearing support. Sometimes, the plan area of bearings is controlled by the maximum allowable compressive stress arising from the consideration of delamination of elastomer from steel plates. In addition, the size of elastomeric bearings is also influenced by considering the separation between the structure and the edge of bearing which may occur in rotation because tensile stresses deriving from separation may cause delamination. The thickness of bearings is designed based on the limitation of its horizontal stiffness and is controlled by movement requirements. The shear strain should be less than a certain limit to avoid the occurrence of rolling over and fatigue damage. The vertical stiffness of bearings is obtained by inserting sufficient number of steel plates. 

What are the advantages of assigning the central pier and the abutment as fixed piers?

 What are the advantages of assigning the central pier and the abutment as fixed piers? 

For abutment pier to be assigned as fixed pier while the bridge is quite long, the longitudinal loads due to earthquake are quite large. As the earthquake loads are resisted by fixed piers, the size of fixed piers will be large and massive. In this connection, for better aesthetic appearance, the selection of abutment as fixed piers could accommodate the large size and massiveness of piers. Normally abutments are relatively short in height and for the same horizontal force, the bending moment induced is smaller.

For the central pier to be selected as the fixed pier, the bridge deck is allowed to move starting from the central pier to the end of the bridge. However, if the fixed pier is located at the abutment, the amount of movement to be incorporated in each bearing due to temperature variation, shrinkage, etc. is more than that when the fixed pier is located at central pier. Therefore, the size of movement joints can be reduced significantly. 

In bridge widening projects, the method of stitching is normally employed for connecting existing deck to the new deck. What are the problems associated with this method in terms of shrinkage of concrete?

In bridge widening projects, the method of stitching is normally employed for connecting existing deck to the new deck. What are the problems associated with this method in terms of shrinkage of concrete?

In the method of stitching, it is a normal practice to construct the widening part of the bridge at first and let it stay undisturbed for several months. After that, concreting will then be carried out for the stitch between the existing deck and the new deck. In this way, the dead load of the widened part of bridge is supported by itself and loads arising from the newly constructed deck will not be transferred to the existing deck which is not designed to take up these extra loads.

One of the main concerns is the effect of stress induced by shrinkage of newly widened part of the bridge on the existing bridge. To address this problem, the widened part of the bridge is constructed a period of time (say 6-9 months) prior to stitching to the existing bridge so that shrinkage of the new bridge will take place within this period and the effect of shrinkage stress exerted on the new bridge is minimized.

Traffic vibration on the existing bridge causes adverse effect to the freshly placed stitches. To solve this problem, rapid hardening cement is used for the stitching concrete so as to shorten the time of setting of concrete. Moreover, the stitching work is designed to be carried out at nights of least traffic (Saturday night) and the existing bridge may even be closed for several hours (e.g. 6 hours) to let the stitching works to left undisturbed.

Sometimes, longitudinal joints are used in connecting new bridge segments to existing bridges. The main problem associated with this design is the safety concern of vehicles. The change of frictional coefficients of bridge deck and longitudinal joints when vehicles change traffic lanes is very dangerous to the vehicles. Moreover, maintenance of longitudinal joints in bridges is quite difficult.   

In incremental launching method of bridge construction, what are the measures adopted to enhance sufficient resistance of the superstructure during the launching process?

In incremental launching method of bridge construction, what are the measures adopted to enhance sufficient resistance of the superstructure during the launching process?

• During the launching process the leading edge of the superstructure is subject to a large hogging moment. In this connection, steel launching nose typically about 0.6-0.65 times span length is provided at the leading edge to reduce the cantilever moment. Sometimes, instead of using launching nose a tower and stay system are designed which serves the same purpose. 

• The superstructure continually experiences alternative sagging and hogging moments during incremental launching. Normally, a central prestress is provided in which the compressive stress at all points of bridge cross section is equal. In this way, it caters for the possible occurrence of tensile stresses in upper and lower part of the cross section when subject to hogging and sagging moment respectively. Later when the whole superstructure is completely launched, continuity prestressing is performed in which the location and design of continuity tendons are based on the bending moments in final completed bridge condition and its provision is supplementary to the central prestress. 

• For very long span bridge, temporary piers are provided to limit the cantilever moment.  

What is “preset” during installation of bridge bearings?

What is “preset” during installation of bridge bearings?

 “Preset” is a method to reduce the size of upper plates of sliding bearings in order to save the material cost. The normal length of a upper bearing plate should be composed of the following components: length of bearing + 2 x irreversible movement + 2 x reversible movement. Initially the bearing is placed at the mid-point of the upper bearing plate without considering the directional effect of irreversible movement. However, as irreversible movement normally takes place at one direction only, the bearing is displaced/presetted a distance of (irreversible movement/2) from the mid-point of bearing in which the length of upper plate length is equal to the length of bearing + irreversible movement + 2 x reversible movement. In this arrangement, the size of upper plate is minimized in which irreversible movement takes place in one direction only and there is no need to include the component of two irreversible movements in the upper plate. Note: “Preset” refers to the displacement of a certain distance of sliding bearings with respect to upper bearing plates during installation of bearings.