FS - Fundamentals of Surveying Surveying Processes and Methods Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a differential leveling circuit, a surveyor starts on a benchmark with a known elevation of 100.00 ft. The first backsight reading is 4.56 ft, and the first foresight reading to a turning point is 3.21 ft. What is the elevation of the turning point?
- 101.35 ft (Correct answer)
- 98.65 ft
- 100.00 ft
- 104.56 ft
Correct answer: 101.35 ft
The Height of Instrument (HI) is calculated by adding the backsight (BS) to the known elevation (Elev): HI = Elev + BS = 100.00 ft + 4.56 ft = 104.56 ft. The elevation of the new point (turning point) is then found by subtracting the foresight (FS) from the HI: New Elev = HI - FS = 104.56 ft - 3.21 ft = 101.35 ft.
Question 2: A surveyor is performing a closed traverse survey. After measuring all interior angles and distances, they compute the latitudes and departures and find a linear misclosure. Which of the following methods is commonly used to adjust the latitudes and departures to achieve a mathematically closed figure?
- Least Squares Method
- Three-Wire Leveling
- Compass Rule (Bowditch Method) (Correct answer)
- Double Meridian Distance
Correct answer: Compass Rule (Bowditch Method)
The Compass Rule, also known as the Bowditch Method, is a standard and widely accepted method for adjusting a closed traverse. It distributes the linear misclosure among the latitudes and departures of the traverse legs in proportion to the length of the legs themselves.
Question 3: Which of the following errors in surveying is classified as a systematic error?
- Reading the wrong number on the leveling rod (e.g., 5.34 instead of 4.34).
- An improperly calibrated steel tape that is consistently 0.02 ft too short. (Correct answer)
- A sudden gust of wind moving the instrument during an observation.
- The tripod settling unevenly into soft ground during a single setup.
Correct answer: An improperly calibrated steel tape that is consistently 0.02 ft too short.
A systematic error is an error that, under the same conditions, will always be of the same size and sign. An incorrectly calibrated tape that is consistently too short will introduce a predictable, cumulative error in all measurements made with it. The other options are examples of blunders (mistakes) or random errors.
Question 4: A surveyor is using a total station with a stadia multiplier (K) of 100 and an additive constant (C) of 0. The upper stadia hair reading on a vertically held rod is 6.89 ft, and the lower stadia hair reading is 4.51 ft. The vertical angle is +2° 30'. What is the horizontal distance from the instrument to the rod?
- 237.8 ft (Correct answer)
- 238.0 ft
- 10.9 ft
- 238.5 ft
Correct answer: 237.8 ft
First, calculate the stadia interval (s): s = 6.89 ft - 4.51 ft = 2.38 ft. The formula for horizontal distance (HD) using stadia with an inclined sight is HD = K * s * (cos(α))^2, where α is the vertical angle. HD = 100 * 2.38 * (cos(2°30'))^2 = 238 * (0.99904)^2 = 237.77 ft, which rounds to 237.8 ft.
Question 5: Which of the following instruments combines an electronic theodolite and an electronic distance meter (EDM) to measure horizontal angles, vertical angles, and distances from a single setup?
- Automatic Level
- GNSS Receiver
- Digital Theodolite
- Total Station (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Total Station
A Total Station is an integrated surveying instrument that combines the angle measurement capabilities of an electronic theodolite with the distance measuring capabilities of an EDM. This allows for the efficient determination of coordinates (northing, easting, and elevation) of a point.
Question 6: During a construction layout survey, the primary task is to:
- Determine the legal property boundaries for a new parcel of land.
- Create a detailed topographic map of the existing ground conditions.
- Stake out the locations of proposed structures, such as buildings and roads, based on design plans. (Correct answer)
- Measure the as-built locations of completed infrastructure for final records.
Correct answer: Stake out the locations of proposed structures, such as buildings and roads, based on design plans.
Construction layout surveying involves translating design plans into the physical world. Surveyors mark the ground (stake out) to guide construction crews, ensuring that buildings, utilities, roads, and other features are built in their correct horizontal and vertical positions as specified in the engineering or architectural drawings.
