What Are The Classification Of
Surveying?
Surveying may be classified on the
following basis:
(i) Nature of the survey field
(ii) Object of survey
(iii) Instruments used and
(iv) The methods employed.
Classification Based on Nature of
Survey Field
On this basis survey may be classified
as land survey, marine or hydraulic survey and astronomical survey.
Land Survey. It involves measurement of
various objects on land. This type of survey may be further
classified as given below:
(a) Topographic Survey: It is meant for
plotting natural features like rivers, lakes, forests and hills as
well as man made features like roads, railways, towns, villages and
canals.
(b) Cadestal Survey: It is for marking
the boundaries of municipalities, villages, talukas, districts,
states etc. The survey made to mark properties of individuals also
come under this category.
(c) City Survey: The survey made in
connection with the construction of streets, water supply and sewage
lines fall under this category.
Marine or Hydrographic Survey. Survey
conducted to find depth of water at various points in bodies of water
like sea, river and lakes fall under this category. Finding depth of
water at specified points is known as sounding.
Astronomical Survey. Observations made
to heavenly bodies like sun, stars etc., to locate absolute positions
of points on the earth and for the purpose of calculating local time
is known as astronomical survey.
Classification Based on Object of
Survey
On the basis of object of survey the
classification can be as engineering survey, military survey, mines
survey, geological survey and archeological survey.
(a) Engineering Survey: The objective
of this type of survey is to collect data for designing civil
engineering projects like roads, railways, irrigation, water supply
and sewage disposals. These surveys are further sub-divided into:
Reconnaissance Survey for determining
feasibility and estimation of the scheme.
Preliminary Survey for collecting more
information to estimate the cost of the project, and
Location Survey to set the work on the
ground.
(b) Military Survey: This survey is
meant for working out plans of strategic importance.
(c) Mines Survey: This is used for
exploring mineral wealth.
(d) Geological Survey: This survey is
for finding different strata in the earth’s crust.
(e) Archeological Survey: This survey
is for unearthing relics of antiquity.
Classification Based on Instruments
Used
Based on the instruments used,
surveying may be classified as:
(i) Chain survey
(ii) Compass survey
(iii) Plane table survey
(iv) Theodolite survey
(v) Tacheometric survey
(vi) Modern survey using electronic
distance meters and total station
(vii) Photographic and Aerial survey
The survey is taught to students mainly
based on this classification.
Classification Based on Methods
Employed
On this basis surveying is classified
as triangulation and traversing.
(i) Triangulation: In this method
control points are established through a network of triangles.
(ii) Traversing: In this scheme of
establishing control points consists of a series of connected points
established through linear and angular measurements. If the last line
meets the starting point it is called as closed traverse. If it does
not meet, it is known as open traverse.
