Chain Survey/Tape and offset

Oldest and simplest form of carrying out plane

surveying
Method derives the its name from the fact that
the principal equipment used is the measuring
chain.
Chain survey relies directly on the
measurement of horizontal length (distance)
and the principle of trilateration.

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The measuring chain has now been replaced by
measuring tape.
The method is meant for surveying small areas
where high precision is not necessary
Angles are not measured except for occasional
right angles or degree of slope.
Limits of the measurements in chain survey are
dictated by the scale to which it is plotted.
Assuming a draughtsman can plot to 0.2mm, at
a scale of 1:1000, then the field measurement
should be made 0.0002 x 1000, i.e 0.2m.

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What are the principles involved?
Working from whole to part
Trilateration
Use of rigid survey framework
Choice of baseline

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Properties of survey framework
The area should consist of baseline which
runs through as much details as possible.
The area should be divided into a network of
triangles.
The framework should have well conditioned
triangles i.e should have angles between 30º
and 120º ; not too acute or obtuse.

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The selected lines must provide each portion
of the survey with adequate checks.
The location of the lines should provide short
offset to the details.
The line should run along the longer side of
the building.
The lines should run over level ground and
avoid obstacles to ranging and chaining.
General topography will dictate the actual
layout of the triangle, but use a few chain lines
as necessary

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Basic Terminology
Base line
It is the line which forms the base of the
triangulation scheme.
Usually the longest passing through centre of area.
Should be laid as accurate as possible, should be
measured twice.
Accuracy of network depends upon its accuracy

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Check line
These are the line selected to check the accuracy
of the network of triangles.
The measured length should agree with the plotted
length.
Tie line
This is a line selected to pass closer to details
which are otherwise aware from the main survey
lines to avoid long offset.
Can also be used as a check line at same time.

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Perpendicular offsets
short measurement taken at right angles from the
survey line to the point of detail to be surveyed
Measured with tape and an optical square.

Chain line

Feature to
be surveyed

offset

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Ties
These are lines used in pairs from point of detail to
two different points on the chain line; only tape is
used.

Chain line feature

Tie lines

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Survey station
A survey station is a point of importance at the
beginning or end of a chain line.
Detail
A detail involves features below and above ground
level and at ground level
There two types of detail
 Hard details - man made such as roads walls and other
constructed features
 soft detail - natural features such as rivers, vegetation etc.

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Field Procedure
Reconnaissance
consulting previous maps
walking around for site familiarisation
choice of survey stations
station marking/construction
station referencing

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Conducting the survey
measuring of the baseline and chain lines
measuring of details using either offset or tie lines
establishing and measuring check lines
determining the the slope angles where necessary
orientation of the base line using a compass

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Recording/booking of survey
Two methods can be applied
 single line method
 double line method

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 Procedure of taking field notes
booking must accurate and clear. Do not sketch a
detail ahead of a measurement. Notes should
recorded as if another will doing the plotting.
Line should numbered consecutively
sketches must be clear with no doubt about the point
to which the offset is taken
Only tie lines and cross measurement are sketched in
the field book - offsets are not.

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The offset distance is recorded clearly besides the
point which the measurement was taken
Leave nothing to memory: include explanatory notes
on details such as street names, house number

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Procedure of Plotting
The plan should be interpreted with the north
pointing towards the top of the paper.
A compass should be used to orient the base
line.
From the base line direction the north can be
determined
The survey should be plotted such that it is central
on the drawing paper.

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The scale of the drawing should be indicated
at the bottom of the drawing paper.
A scale line will help to detect possible
shrinkage/expansion of the drawing material.
The baseline should plotted first taking into
account its orientation.
The other chain lines can then be plotted
using a beam compass.

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Check lines should also be marked and their
distances scaled off to see if they correspond
with their measured ground distances.
Lastly details along each chain line are
plotted.

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