Surveying

Welcome to your one-stop resource for mastering surveying fundamentals! Whether you’re preparing for the FE exam surveying section or reviewing essential concepts for class, this page offers clear, easy-to-follow resources to help you build your skills. From basic terminology to advanced calculations, you’ll find everything you need to feel confident working through surveying problems. These resources were created with students in mind, offering practical examples and explanations that simplify even the most challenging topics.

Surveying is one of the oldest and most essential skills in the engineering and construction industries. Accurate land measurement is vital for mapping, boundary determination, infrastructure development, and site layout. This page offers practical, easy-to-follow explanations for core surveying concepts and methods. Whether you’re a student, a new professional, or someone brushing up on your skills, our general surveying help resources simplify complex topics and equip you with reliable techniques used in the field every day.

Topics Covered in Surveying

This page covers a full range of surveying topics designed to support both coursework and FE exam prep. Key areas include surveying measurements, leveling, traversing, error analysis, distance and angle calculations, coordinate geometry, and area computations. In addition, you’ll explore contour mapping, curve calculations, and construction surveying techniques. Each section provides video tutorials, written examples, and practice problems to help you work through the material step-by-step and build lasting confidence.

Surveying Help Videos

Our surveying video tutorials turn complex concepts into clear, step-by-step lessons you can watch anytime. These videos visually guide you through each problem-solving process, making it easy to follow along and learn at your own pace. Whether you’re calculating a traverse adjustment or finding the area of an irregular shape, these tutorials show exactly how to apply formulas and procedures correctly. Students love using these videos to reinforce classroom learning and prepare for tough exam questions.

What is a Traverse in Surveying?

A traverse is a series of connected lines whose lengths and directions are measured in the field. Traverses are classified as either open or closed. In an open traverse, the series of lines doesn’t return to the starting point, typically used for route surveys. A closed traverse, however, starts and ends at the same point or connects to a known location, allowing surveyors to check the accuracy of their work. Traverses are popular for establishing control networks, boundary surveys, and property division, offering a dependable way to map an area by breaking it into manageable segments.

Distance Measurements in Surveying

Measuring distances accurately is foundational in any surveying project. Traditional methods include pacing, chaining, and taping, but modern surveying relies on advanced tools like Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) instruments and total stations. Understanding how to measure distance in surveying involves selecting the proper technique based on project size, terrain, and required precision. Surveyors must also account for errors like temperature, slope, and tape sag to maintain accuracy over long distances.

Measuring Angles and Directions in Surveying

Angles and directions form the backbone of land measurement and mapping. Horizontal angles help determine the relative position of different points, while vertical angles are used for measuring slopes and elevations. Theodolites, total stations, and digital levels are common tools for angle measurement. Bearings and azimuths are methods for expressing direction, with bearings typically confined within a 0° to 90° range relative to cardinal points and azimuths measured clockwise from the north. Mastery of these concepts ensures precise plotting of traverses, property lines, and construction layouts.

EDM Surveying Basics

Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) instruments revolutionized surveying by providing faster, more accurate measurements over long distances. EDMs work by transmitting a beam of light or radio signal to a reflector and measuring the time it takes for the signal to return. This technology eliminates many of the manual errors associated with traditional chaining or taping and is particularly effective in rugged, inaccessible, or hazardous areas. Modern total stations incorporate EDM technology with angle measurement capabilities, making them a staple in contemporary surveying practices.

Distance Corrections in Surveying

When measuring distances in the field, several factors can cause deviations from true horizontal distance, including slope, temperature, tension, and tape calibration. Surveyors must apply distance corrections to their raw measurements to obtain precise results. For example, slope corrections adjust measurements taken along an inclined surface to reflect horizontal distance, while temperature corrections compensate for tape expansion or contraction. Properly accounting for these variables ensures data accuracy and project reliability.

Differential Leveling in Surveying

Differential leveling in surveying involves determining the difference in elevation between two or more points using a level instrument and a leveling rod. This technique is critical for establishing grades, designing drainage systems, and setting elevations for foundations and roadways. The process requires careful observation, precise instrument setup, and systematic recording of backsight and foresight readings. By transferring elevations across a site, surveyors can create detailed topographic maps and profiles essential for planning and design.

Horizontal Curves in Surveying

Horizontal curves are essential elements in roadway, railway, and pipeline design, allowing paths to change direction smoothly and safely. Surveying for horizontal curves involves calculating parameters such as the radius, central angle, length of the curve, tangent distances, and chord lengths. Techniques like deflection angle and chord offset methods are used for setting out these curves in the field. Accurate curve layout ensures infrastructure follows planned alignments, minimizes environmental impact, and meets safety standards.

Quick-Review YouTube Shorts for On-the-Go Study

For fast, effective study sessions, check out our Surveying YouTube Shorts. These short, focused videos cover key definitions, formulas, and calculation tips in under a minute. They’re perfect for reviewing before a quiz or brushing up on important concepts while on a break. Thanks to their quick format, you can easily refresh your memory on topics like bearing calculations, leveling corrections, or error types without digging through a textbook.

Detailed Written Examples for Surveying Problems

In addition to videos, we’ve included written surveying examples for every major topic. These clear, step-by-step problem solutions help you see how each problem is structured and solved using the correct formulas and techniques. Whether you’re working through an area computation or adjusting a traverse, these examples offer a reliable guide you can reference as you practice and study. Combined with our videos and quizzes, they deliver a complete, flexible learning experience.

We’d Love Your Feedback — Share Your Suggestions!

We’re always looking to improve our resources and cover the topics you care about most. If you have a suggestion for a new topic, a question you’d like answered, or feedback on a resource you’ve used, click the feedback button below to send us your ideas. Your input helps us enhance this page and create new tutorials to support fellow students like you. Don’t hesitate — your voice truly matters here!

Join the Conversation on Our Discussion Boards

Surveying can get tricky, and that’s why our discussion boards are here for you. Whether you’re stuck on a bearing calculation or curious about how others handle leveling adjustments, jump into our community and ask away! It’s a great place to swap study tips, share problem-solving strategies, and help each other succeed. Don’t miss out — join the conversation and be part of a supportive, student-focused learning environment.