Plane Surveying

The document is an exam paper for a Civil Engineering course at AIU, focusing on the subject of surveying. It begins with an introduction that outlines the key topics to be covered, including the two main types of surveying: plane surveying and geodetic surveying. The exam requires students to answer questions in complete paragraphs, providing examples to illustrate their understanding and application of the concepts in real-life scenarios.

One of the primary topics discussed is levelling, defined as the art of determining the relative heights of points on the earth’s surface. The document explains the significance of levelling in civil engineering, emphasizing its role in ensuring accurate measurements for construction and land development. It also lists different types of benchmarks used in surveying, including Great Trigonometrical Survey benchmarks, permanent benchmarks, arbitrary benchmarks, and temporary benchmarks.

In addition to benchmarks, the document identifies the instruments used for levelling, specifically the dumpy level and levelling staff. It outlines two methods for calculating reduced levels of points: the height of collimation method and the rise and fall method. Furthermore, it provides a formula for calculating area using Simpson’s rule, which is essential for various surveying applications.

The document also addresses contouring, defining a contour as an imaginary line connecting points of equal elevation. It explains the concepts of contour interval and horizontal equivalent, highlighting the differences between the two. A contour interval is the vertical distance between consecutive contours, while horizontal equivalent refers to the least horizontal distance between them. The document describes how to distinguish between a depression and a hill using a contour map, noting that depressions are indicated by widely spaced lines, whereas hills are represented by closely packed lines.

In conclusion, the document reflects on the knowledge gained about contour intervals, horizontal equivalents, and levelling, emphasizing their practical applications in civil engineering projects. The author expresses an intention to apply this knowledge in personal construction projects, such as surveying land before building a house, which will enhance their skills and potentially increase their salary as a civil engineer. The document is supported by a bibliography reference to a textbook on basic civil and mechanical engineering.