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ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIB - 2012/2013

Module 4M9 - Surveying Field Course

Leader:	Mr A L Johnson (alj3@eng)
Timing: Dates:	Long Vacation between Part IIA and Part IIB 1 - 14 July 2012 (30 June - 13 July for 2013/2014)
Prerequisites:	Surveying experience, e.g. from IIA Engineering Area Activity or Fieldwork project.
Structure:	Coursework (at a site in Scotland)
Capacity:	16 students. If over-subscribed, a ballot will be held in May, but with preference given to Area 4 students.
Assessment:	*Material / Format + Timing / Marks* Coursework / Participation in a 2-week residential course / 100 %

AIMS

This module gives students experience in surveying to a high accuracy, on a larger scale than is possible near Cambridge. The exercise includes three-dimensional position-fixing and setting-out in a hilly location, and involves the use of first-order surveying instruments and precise computation.

LECTURE SYLLABUS

Throughout the course, short lectures will be given as necessary to explain the theory needed for the practical work in hand. Topics covered will include: geoids, ellipsoids, projections and grids; the theory and practice of GPS, including the verification of Geoid models; reduction of angles and distances; least-squares adjustment.

COURSEWORK

The Course runs continuously over a two week period, and includes the following:

Exercise planning and siting of control stations;
Fixing of control stations using GPS;
High-accuracy traversing and resectioning;
Fixing of heights by precision digital levelling and trigonometric heighting;
Long-range distance measurement;
Three-dimensional setting out;
Adjustment, computation and record keeping.

The output of this course will be a set of numerical calculations leading to the setting-out of one or more points in the field. Since incorrect answers will be systematically eliminated from this result, assessment will be based on the course demonstrators' estimation of each student's ability to:

Take accurate readings efficiently with the equipment provided;
Make a neat and decipherable record of other students' readings;
Produce accurate and well laid-out calculations;
Check the calculations of others;
Plan and manage the activities of the team;
Generally contribute to the efficiency and productivity of the team.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of the module students should:

Be able to plan the work for a complex setting-out exercise;
Know how to use high-accuracy and long-range surveying equipment;
Understand the role of GNSS in modern survey;
Know the calculation methods needed for the reduction of three-dimensional survey data;
Have experience in leading a survey team, and the planning of logistics;
Understand the effects of small errors in measurement, and how to minimise their effects;
Understand the need for long-term record keeping, and the information to be recorded.

REFERENCES

Please click here for the references for this module.

Last updated: July 2012

teaching-office@eng.cam.ac.uk