UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

KNS 1073
ENGINEERING SURVEY PBL

NAME MAISARAH BINTI MOHD MERZAN

MATRIC NUMBER 64827
LECTURER DR ZAMRI BIN BUJANG
DATE OF SUBMISSION 11/4/2019
TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT PAGE

INTRODUCTION 2-3

METHODOLOGY 3-4

OBJECTIVES 4

EQUIPMENT NEEDED 4

PROCEDURE 5-7

RESULTS 8

CALCULATIONS 9-12

TRIANGULATION METHOD 13-15

TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELLING 16-17

DISCUSSION 18

CONCLUSION 19

REFERENCES 19

1
INTRODUCTION

Surveying is the process of making relatively large-scale of accurate

measurements of Earth’s surface which includes the determination of the
measurement, reduction, and interpretation of data to usable form, therefore
establishing relative position and size according to obtained measurements
(“Surveying”, 2016).

The method used to find the location and the coordinates of the top of the
tower is the triangulation method. This method is a surveying method that
measures the angles in a triangle formed by three control points and by using
trigonometry and a measured distance on one side of the triangle, we can calculate
the other distances (Anzlic Committee on Surveying and Mapping, 2018). In order
to find the height of the tower, also the reduced level at the top of the tower, the
method can be used is trigonometric levelling. For this method, a Bench Mark
(BM) with a known reduced level is utilised. Trigonometric levelling is used to
determine the differences in elevation of points using measured vertical angles
from a known distance by using a total station and it is practical to use this method
to established accurate elevation control in mountainous locations (National
Geodetic Survey [NGS], 2017) and where accurate elevations are not available or
when the elevations of inaccessible points must be determined (“Surveying”,
2016).

In determining the location of the tower, traverse survey is first conducted

to determine the distances and bearing from one control point to another. Traverse
survey is a method of establishing control points and the distances between the
control points is measured to determine the positions of any point and the angles
subtended at the various stations by their neighbouring stations (Schofield &
Breach, 2007). The bearings and distances are utilised in the triangulation method
in order to find the interior angles of the triangle and to be applied in trigonometry
sine rule. There are two types of traverse survey which are open and closed
traverse. An open traverse is when the traverse does not end at a point of known
coordinates while closed traverse begins and ends at points with known
coordinates.

Levelling is the process of determining the relative elevations of different

objects or points on the surface of earth by taking measurements in the vertical
plane (Satheesh, 2009). By doing levelling, the reduced level of each stations can
be
found. Reduced level (RL) is the height of a point above or below the reference
datum. Levelling is started by taking a reading using the automatic level to a
levelling staff that is place on a bench mark (BM) of a known reduced level. The
reduced level of the nearest control point to the tower can be used in determining
the height of tower and the reduced level at the top of the tower.

METHODOLOGY

The coordinates of a point at an inaccessible location can be determine

using triangulation method which uses trigonometry, the measured length of just
one side and the bearings of the control points, the other unknown distances from
a point to another point can be calculated. Before calculating using trigonometry,
the horizontal distances and angles from a control point to another are obtained
using the total station. Three points in the survey location are taken; the tower and
two control points, to create a triangle shape diagram. Sine Rule is generally used
in this method:

a B
C

b c
A

sin sin sin 𝑐

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑏 =
𝑎 = 𝐶
𝐴 𝐵

Figure 1 Sine rule

Before using the sine rule, the interior angle of the triangle is needed and which
can be calculated using the values of the bearing of the control point to the
adjacent point and to the tower. (Anzlic Committee on Surveying and Mapping,
2018).

Trigonometric levelling is used as the location of the tower is inaccessible.

In this method, a total station will be plumbed over the nearest control station to
the tower with known reduced level. Then, the vertical angle to the top and the
base of the tower is taken. The vertical angles and the distance of the control
station to the tower are used to calculate the height of the tower by using
trigonometry. The
reduced level of the base of the tower can be obtained by subtracting the sum of
reduced level of the control station and height of total station with the height of
bottom part of the tower calculated using the vertical angle to the base of the
tower.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the location and coordinates of the top of the tower.

2. To determine the height of the tower.

3. To determine the reduced level at the top of the tower.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

1. Total station

2. Prisms

3. Automatic level

4. Levelling staffs

5. Tripods
PROCEDURE

Traverse survey

1. 9 points are marked throughout the survey location and labelled as N18, N19,
N20, N21, N22, N23, N12, N11 and N10 respectively.

2. A total station is plumbed over N19 and accurately levelled. Prisms are plumber
over N18 and N20.

3. N18 is sighted on face left by the total station to set the required horizontal
angle. The reading is recorded.

4. N20 is sighted on face left by the total station and the horizontal angle is recorded.

5. The total station is set to face right and the reading to N18 is taken again.

6. N20is sighted on face right by the total station and the reading is taken.

7. To measure the distance, centre of prism at N20 is collimated. The reading is

recorded.

8. The total station is moved over to the tripod plumbed over N20 and prisms are
plumbed over N19 and N21. N19 is sighted on face left with total station set to the
reading taken from step 4 above.

9. N21 is sighted on face left and the horizontal angle is recorded.

10. The total station is set to face right and N19 is sighted again, then N20 is
sighted and the reading is recorded.

11. The centre of the prism is collimated at N21 and the distance is recorded.

12. Step 8 to 11 is repeated until the final position is at N10.

Triangulation method

In this method, two control points from the traverse survey with obtained bearings
and distances is used. For example, N21 and N22.

1. A total station is plumbed over N21 and it is sighted to the tower and the
bearing from N1 to tower is recorded which is 221°25′10".
2. The total station is moved over to N22 and it is also sighted to the tower. The
bearing from N22 to tower is recorded which is 198°53′19".

3. By using the bearings obtained, the interior angle from the tower is calculated.

Levelling

1. The levelling staff is placed on the bench mark (BM), which has a determined
reduced level (RL) of 35.100 m.

2. The automatic level is set up as the bench mark (BM) can be seen.

3. The reading from the levelling staff is taken when it is held vertically. This
point is taken as backsight (BS).

4. The levelling staff is moved to N23 and the reading is taken. This reading is
recorded as intermediate sight (IS).

5. Another levelling staff is moved to another point that have the same distance as
the automatic level with initial point. This point is the first change point (CP1) and
the reading is taken. The reading is recorded as foresight (FS). The levelling staff
is remained still to make sure that the point is maintain at the same level.

6. The auto level is set up at another point with the same distance as before with
CP1. The levelling staff on CP1 is carefully turned so that it faces the auto level
and the reading is taken. The reading is recorded as BS.

7. The levelling staff is moved to point N21 and the reading is taken. The reading
is recorded as IS.

8. The levelling staff is then moved to another change point (CP2) and the reading
is taken. The reading is recorded as FS because after the reading is taken, the auto
level is moved to a new position and the levelling staff is left at CP2.

9. Step 6 to 8 is repeated until the final staff position is returned to the starting
point which is the bench mark.
Trigonometric levelling

1. A total station is plumbed over the nearest control point to the tower with
known reduced level after conducting levelling.

2. The total station is sighted to the base of the tower and the vertical angle is taken.

3. The total station is then sighted to the top of the tower and the vertical angle is
recorded.
RESULTS
Traverse survey
Table 1 Bearings, distances and coordinates of traverse

STN BEARING DISTANCE REF. LATITUDE DEPARTURE COORDINATES

FROM TO N+ S- E+ W- N E
N19 5463221.365 2198281.112
N20 246°30′20" 115.333 45.979 105.772 5463175.386 2198175.340
N21 292°45′10" 149.675 57.888 138.028 5463233.274 2198037.312
N22 312°20′30" 162.931 109.742 120.429 5463343.016 2197916.883
N23 333°04′40" 120.553 107.488 54.584 5463450.504 2197862.299
N12 274°55′00" 178.025 15.258 177.370 5463465.762 2197684.929
N11 251°40′10" 196.987 61.952 186.991 5463403.810 2197497.938
N10 275°30′50" 225.818 21.698 224.773 5463425.508 2197273.165

8
CALCULATIONS

Latitude and Departure:

𝑳𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆, ∆𝑳 = 𝑳 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽, 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, ∆𝑫 = 𝑳 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
From N19 to N20,
∆𝐿 = 115.333 cos 246°30′20"
= −45.979
∆𝐷 = 115.333 sin 246°30′20"
= −105.772
From N20 to N21,
∆𝐿 = 149.675 cos 292°45′10"
= 57.888
∆𝐷 = 149.675 sin 292°45′10"
= −138.028

From N21 to N22,

∆𝐿 = 162.931 cos 312°20′30"

= 109.742
∆𝐷 = 162.931 sin 312°20′30"
= −120.429

From N22 to N23,

∆𝐿 = 120.553 cos 333°04′40"

= 107.488
∆𝐷 = 120.553 sin 333°04′40"
= −54.584
From N23 to N12,

∆𝐿 = 178.025 cos 274°55′00"

= 15.258
∆𝐷 = 178.025 sin 274°55′00"

9
 = −177.370

From N12 to N11,

∆𝐿 = 196.987 cos 251°40′10"

= −61.952
∆𝐷 = 162.931 sin 12°20′30"
= −186.991

From N11 to N10,

∆𝐿 = 225.818 cos 275°30′50"

= 21.698
∆𝐷 = 225.818 sin 275°30′50"
= −224.773

Final coordinates:
The initial coordinates of N19 is 5463221.365 N, 2198281.112 E.

Final coordinates of N20,

𝑁𝑁20 = 𝑁𝑁19 + ∆𝐿𝑁19−𝑁20

= 5463221.365 + (−45.979)

= 5463175.386

𝐸𝑁20 = 𝐸𝑁19 + ∆𝐷𝑁19−𝑁20

= 2198281.112 + (−105.772)

= 2198175.340
Final coordinates of N21,

𝑁𝑁21 = 𝑁𝑁20 + ∆𝐿𝑁20−𝑁21

= 5463175.386 + 57.888

10
 = 5463233.274 �21 = 𝐸𝑁20 + ∆𝑁20−𝑁21

� = 2198175.340 + (−138.028)
�
� = 2198037.312

Final coordinates of N22,

𝑁𝑁22 = 𝑁𝑁21 + ∆𝐿𝑁21−𝑁22

= 5463233.274 + 109.742

= 5463343.016

𝐸𝑁22 = 𝐸𝑁21 + ∆𝐷𝑁21−𝑁22

= 2198037.312 + (−120.429)

= 2197916.883

Final coordinates of N23,

𝑁𝑁23 = 𝑁𝑁22 + ∆𝐿𝑁22−𝑁23

= 5463343.016 + 107.488

= 5463450.504

𝐸𝑁23 = 𝐸𝑁22 + ∆𝐷𝑁22−𝑁23

= 2197916.883 + (−54.584)

= 2197862.299
Final coordinates of N12,

𝑁𝑁12 = 𝑁𝑁23 + ∆𝐿𝑁23−𝑁12

= 5463450.504 + 15.258

= 5463465.762

𝐸𝑁12 = 𝐸𝑁23 + ∆𝐷𝑁23−𝑁12

= 2197862.299 + (−177.370)

11
 = 2197684.929

Final coordinates of N11,

𝑁𝑁11 = 𝑁𝑁12 + ∆𝐿𝑁12−𝑁11

= 5463465.762 + (−61.952)

= 5463403.810

𝐸𝑁11 = 𝐸𝑁12 + ∆𝐷𝑁12−𝑁11

= 2197684.929 + (−186.991)

= 2197497.938

Final coordinates of N10,

𝑁𝑁10 = 𝑁𝑁11 + ∆𝐿𝑁11−𝑁10

= 5463403.810 + 21.698

= 5463425.508

𝐸𝑁10 = 𝐸𝑁11 + ∆𝐷𝑁11−𝑁10

= 2197497.938 + (−224.773)

= 2197273.165

12
TRIANGULATION METHOD

Bearing of N21 to N22 = 312°20′30"

Bearing of N21 to tower = 221°25′10"

Bearing of N22 to tower = 198°53′19"

Figure 2 Location of N21, N22 and tower.

Calculating interior angles,

∠𝑁21 = 312°20′30 − 221°25'10 = 90°55'20"

∠𝑁22 = 198°53′19 − (312°20'30" − 180°0′0") = 66°32′49"

∠𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 180°0′0 − 66°32'49" − 90°55′20" = 22°31′51"

 Figure 3 Interior angles of the triangle (N21-N22-Tower)

Using sine rule,

Distance of N21 to tower, A

𝐴 162.931
=
sin(66°32′49") sin(22°31′51")

𝐴 = 390.079 𝑚
Distance of N22 to tower,
B 𝐵 162.931
=
sin(90°55′20") sin(22°31′51")

𝐵 = 425.151 𝑚
Coordinates of tower,

𝑁𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑁𝑁21 + 𝐴 cos 𝜃𝑁21−𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

= 5463233.274 + (390.079)(cos 221°25′10")

 = 5462940.759
= 2198037.312 + (390.079)(sin 221°25′10")
𝐸𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐸𝑁21 + 𝐴
sin 𝜃𝑁21−𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 2197779.249

Rechecking using the coordinates of 𝑁22,

𝑁𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑁𝑁22 + 𝐵 cos 𝜃𝑁22−𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

= 5463343.016 + (425.151)(cos 198°53′19")

= 5462940.759

𝐸𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐸𝑁22 + 𝐵 sin 𝜃𝑁22−𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

= 2197916.883 + (425.151)(sin 198°53′19")

= 2197779.249
TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELLING

Table 2 Rise and Fall Levelling Booking

BS IS FS RISE FALL RL REMARKS

3.290 30.100 BM101

3.372 0.082 30.018 N23

0.339 0.587 2.785 32.803 CP1

0.515 0.179 32.624 N21

1.585 4.848 3.585 29.039 CP2

1.001 0.584 29.623 N22

0.524 0.477 30.100 BM101

Figure 4 N21 to tower

Distance of N21 to tower = 390.079 m

RL of N21 = 32.624 m

Height of total station, HTS = 1.500 m

𝐻1 = 390.079 tan 5°01′03"

= 34.247 𝑚

𝐻2 = 390.079 sin 3°50′14"

= 26.105 𝑚

𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = (𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑁21 + 𝐻𝑇𝑆) − 𝐻2

= (32.624 + 1.500) − 26.105

= 8.019 𝑚

𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐻1 + 𝐻2

= 34.247 + 26.105

= 60.352 𝑚

𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 + 𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

= 60.352 + 8.019

= 68.371 𝑚
DISCUSSION

The coordinates of the control point can be obtained in the traverse survey
by using the initial coordinates of the first control point which is 5463221.365 N,
2198281.112 E and the calculated latitude and departure of a control point from
another control point. After the coordinates of each control points are obtained,
the coordinates of the tower can be calculated by using triangulation method.
First, the nearest distance from a control point to the tower is determined which is
N21 with a distance of 390.097 m. With the bearing and the distance to the tower,
the latitude and departure can be calculated by the following formula:

∆𝐿 = 𝐿 cos 𝜃

∆𝐷 = 𝐿 sin 𝜃

Where L is the horizontal length and 𝜃 is the horizontal angle.

Then, the coordinates of the tower are obtained by adding the latitude and
departure to the coordinate of N21. The coordinates calculated can be rechecked
using the coordinate of another control point in the triangle.

As the nearest point to the tower is obtained through triangulation method;

in this case, N21, it is also used in trigonometric levelling as its horizontal
distance to the tower is known. Levelling is done so that every reduced level of
the control stations can be calculated. The levelling is started with the bench
mark (BM) of
30.100 m. The readings are recorded using the Rise and Fall Method. The reduced
level of each point is calculated by adding the previous RL of a point with either
the value of rise or fall. After the reduced level of N21 is known, the vertical angle
towards the top and the base of the tower is needed. A total station is placed on
N21 to sight to the tower. Using basic trigonometry, the height of the tower can be
calculated using the obtained vertical angles and horizontal distance.

To calculate the reduced level at the top of the tower, obtaining only the
height of the tower is not sufficient as there is an elevation at the base of the
tower. Hence, we need to find the reduced level of the base of the tower first. The
reduced level at the top of the tower would be the height of the tower including
the reduced level of the base of the tower.
CONCLUSION

By using triangulation method, the distance of the nearest control point,

N21 to the tower is 390.079 m. The coordinates of the top of the tower is
5462940.759 𝑁, 2197779.249 𝐸. The height of the tower is calculated to be
60.352 𝑚. As the height of the tower is determined, the reduced level at the top of
tower is 68.371 𝑚.

REFERENCES

Anzlic Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM). (2018). Surveying

methods. Retrieved from https://www.icsm.gov.au/education/fundamentals-
mapping/surveying- mapping/surveying-methods

National Geodetic Survey (NGS). (2017). Geodetic levelling. Retrieved from

https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/heightmod/Leveling/

Satheesh, G. (2009). Basic civil engineering. New Delhi, India: Pearson Education.

Schofield, W., & Breach, M. (2007). Engineering surveying (6th ed). Oxford, UK:
Elsevier Ltd.

Surveying. (2016). In Encyclopaedia Britannica online. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/technology/surveying