Instruments for chain surveying

1. Chain
2. Tape
3. Arrows
4. Ranging rods
5. Cross staff

6.
7.
8.
9.

Plumb bob
Hammer/Wooden mallet
Offset rods
Pegs

a)

b)

c)

d)

10. Chains
11. It is used to measure the distance between two points on the ground. The
chain is composed of 100 (or) 150 pieces of galvanized mild steel wire
4mm in diameter called links. The ends of each link are bent into a loop
and connected together by means of three rings. The ends of the chain
are provided with brass handles for dragging the chain on the ground.
Metallic tags are fixed at various distinctive points of the chain to facilitate
quick reading. The length of the chain is measured from the outside of one
handle to the outside of the other.
Metric chains
12.
Metric chains are either 20m (or) 30m in length. One metre is
divided into 5 links each of 0.2m. The least count of metric chain is 0.2m. The
length of the link is the distance between the centers of the two consecutive
middle rings. To enable the reading of fractions of a chain without much difficulty,
tallies are fixed at every five meter length for chains of 20m and 30m lengths.
(See.fig.) Small brass rings are provided at every meter length, except where
tallies are attached. In metric chains readings are started from ends, increasing
towards the centre. The tallies in the chain are as shown in fig below.
Engineers chain
13.
The Engineers chain is 100ft. long and consists of 100links, each
link being 1ft long. It is used in all engineering surveys.
Gunters chain
14.
The Gunters chain is 66ft. long and is divided into 100 links each
0.66ft long. It is very convenient for measuring distances in miles and furlongs.
Revenue chain
1
15.
Revenue chain is 33 ft long and consists of 16 links each of 2 16
ft long. This chain is mainly used for cadastral survey.

16.
17. Tape
18. Tapes are used to measure the lengths to decimal places accuracy. It is
also used to measure the offset distance from main survey line. Tapes are
made of various materials and are, therefore divided into 4 classes

1.
2.
3.
4.

Cloth (or) Linen tape

Metallic tape
Steel tape
Invar tape
19. Cloth (or) Linen tape
20.
There are closely woven linen (or) synthetic material and are
varnished to resist the moisture. A metal ring is attached to the outer end of the
tape it includes the length of the tape. These are available in 10m, 20m & 30m.
Each metre length is divided into 10 parts each part is also divided into 10
divisions. Each division have a length of 1cm or 0.01m, therefore least count of
the tape is 0.01m. It is easily affected by damp. Its length gets altered by
stretching and is likely to twist and tangle during measurement due to used
therefore not used in precise measurements.
21. Metallic tape
22.
It is linen tape with brass (or) copper wires woven into it
longitudinally to reduce stretching. As it is varnished, the wires are not visible.
These are available in 2m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20 and 30m lengths. The
measurements are marked as like in linen tape. It is commonly used for
measuring offsets.
23. Steel tape
24.
These are available as like all length in metallic tape and are 6 to
16mm wide. The markings in this tape are little different from metallic tape. Every
meter is divided into 10 parts each is called 1 decimeter. Each decimeter is equal
to 10cm. For first 10cm measurements are further divided into 10parts.
25. Invar tape
26.
This is made of an alloy of nickel 36% and steel 64%, having very
low coefficient of thermal expansion. It is 6mm wide and available in lengths of
30m, 50m & 100m. It is soft so it can be handled carefully. It cannot be used for
ordinary work.
27. Arrows
28.
It is used to mark the points on the ground or to mark the end of
each chain during the chaining process. It is made of hardened and tempered.
steel wire 4mm in diameter and length of 400mm. These are pointed at one end
whereas a circular ring is formed at its other end as shown in fig. It is important to
mark the chain lengths in chaining operation. In general, ten arrows are given to
one chain.

29.

30. Ranging Rod

31.
These are made of well seasoned straight grain timber (or) steel
tubular rods. These are used for marking a point in such a way that the position
of point can be clearly and exactly seen from some distance away. These are
3cm to 5cm in diameter and 2 or 3m long. To fix the ranging rod on ground its
bottom end is pointed by providing cross-shoe. These are painted with alternate
bands of either red and white or white and black of 200mm length. Sometimes
these are used to mark the permanent points. In order to make them visible at a
distance, they are painted alternatively black and white (or) red and white
successively. When they are at a considerable distance, red and white (or) while
and yellow flags about 25cm square should be fastened at the top.
32. Cross staff
33.
This instrument is used for finding the foot of the perpendicular from
a given point to a line, and setting out a right angle at a given point on a line. To
set out a right angles the following two type of cross staffs are used.
i. Open cross staff
ii. French cross staff
34. Open cross staff
35.
The simplest form of cross staff is the open cross staff shown in fig.
In consist of two pairs of vertical slits providing two lines of sight mutually at right
angles. Each pair consists of 2 vanes one is eye vane and there one is objects
vane.
36. French cross staff
37.
It consists of an octagonal brass tube with slits on all eight sides. It
has an alternate vertical right slit and an opposite vertical window with a vertical
horse hair or a fine wire on each of the four sides. These are used for setting out
right angles. On the other sides are vertical sits, which are at 450 to those
previously mentioned, for setting out angles of 450.

38.
39. The base carries a socket so that is may be fitted on the pointed staff
when the instrument is to be used.
40. Plumb bob
41.
It is used while measuring distances on sloping ground and transfer
to the leveled ground. It is made of steel in a conical shape with a thread
connected at the centre. It is generally used for centering.

42. Hammer
43.
It is used to give blows to fix the peg on the ground.
44. Offset rod
45.
It is similar to the ranging rod but is usually 3m long. The top is
provided with a stout open ring recessed hook for putting or pulling the chain
through a hedge or other obstruction.

46.
47. Pegs
48.
There are used to mark definite points on the ground. These are
made of hard timber and are tapered at one end. They are usually 15cm length
with 3 to 5cm diameter circular in shape (or) 3 to 5cm square in shape. The
pointed end of peg is covered by iron shine for easy driving into the ground.
49. Ranging
50.
The operation of establishing intermediate points on a straight line
between the terminal points is known as ranging. If the line is short or the end
station is clearly visible, it is easy to put the chain in true alignment. But if it is
long or the end station is not clearly visible, it is necessary to place intermediate
ranging rods to maintain the direction. It may be done by eye (or) instrumentally
by using a line ranger or a Theodolite.
51. Types of ranging: Ranging is of two kinds: i) Direct ranging ii) Indirect ranging
52. Direct Ranging:
53.
This is done, when the two ends of the survey lines are inter-visible,
is quite common in flat country. In such cases, ranging can either be done by eye
or through some optical instrument such as a line ranger or a Theodolite.

54.
Fix the ranging rods at the two given stations, where pegs are already driven on the
ground.
The follower stands behind station A and directs the leader, with ranging rod to come
in line with AB by signals of ranging
When the ranging rod comes in the line of AB the follower directs the leader to fix the
ranging rod in position.
Let the intermediate point be C which should be less than 20m / 30 m.
Now the leader taken another ranging rod and stands between A & B about 2/3
distance from A.
The follower directs the leader to come in line of AB by using signals of ranging.
As and when the point is located in the line of AB the follower instructs to fix the
ranging rod in position.
Let the other intermediate position be D which is less than 20 m / 30 m from B
Now A, B, C and D are in one line.
55. Now the leader and follower measure the distance by measuring along A,
C, D, and B.
56. Indirect Ranging:
57.
Indirect (or) reciprocal ranging is resorted to when both the ends of
the survey line are not inter-visible either due to high intervening ground or due to
long distance between them.
58. The end points are not inter-visible due to
1) Rising ground between the ends
2) Hill between the ends
3) Long distance between the ends

59.
Fix the two ranging rods at the given stations A and B which are not inter-visible due
to rise in the ground level.
Select two intermediate points M1 and N1 such that from each point both A and B are
visible.
The person at M1 directs the person at N1 to move to a new position N 2 in line with
M1B.
The person at N2 then directs the person at M 1 to move to a new position M2 in line
with N2A.
The person at M2 directs the person at N2 to a new position N3 in line with M2B.
The person at N3 directs the person at M2 to a new position M3 in line with N3A.
The process is repeated till the points M and N are located in such a way that M
finds the person at N in line with AB and the person at N finds the person at M in line
with AB.
After fixing the points M and N, other points are also fixed by direct ranging and the
length of the line is measured.
60.

61. Use of Distomat/Electronic Distance Meter (EDM)

62.
Nowadays for measuring distances electronic equipments called
electromagnetic distance measurement (EDM) instruments have come in the
market. They rely on the measurement of electromagnetic waves and measuring
even fraction of wavelength by phase difference technique. They even display
the distance measured. They are costly and delicate. Hence for ordinary
surveying they are not used commonly.

63.
64. CHAIN SURVEYING
65. Chain survey is suitable in the following cases:
66. (i) Area to be surveyed is comparatively small
67. (ii) Ground is fairly level
68. (iii) Area is open and
69. (iv) Details to be filled up are simple and less.
70.
Principle of chain survey is triangulation. In chain surveying only
linear measurements are made. Since triangle is the only figure that can be
plotted with measurement of sides only, in chain surveying the area to be
surveyed should be covered with a network of triangles. Figure shows a typical
scheme of covering an area with a network of triangles. No angle of the network
triangles should be less than 30 to precisely get plotted position of a station with
respect to already plotted positions of other station. As far as possible angles
should be close to 60. However, the arrangements of triangles to be adopted
depends on the shape, topography, natural and artificial obstacles in the field.

71.
72.

Networks of triangles

73. Station: Station is a point of importance at the beginning or at the end of a

survey line. Main station: These are the stations at the beginning or at
the end of lines forming main skeleton. They are denoted as A, B, C etc.
74. Subsidiary or tie stations: These are the stations selected on main lines
to run auxiliary/secondary lines for the purpose of locating interior details.
These stations are denoted as a, b, c, ...., etc., or as 1, 2, 3, ... etc.
75. Base line: It is the most important line and is the longest. Usually it is the
line plotted first and then frame work of triangles is built on it.
76. Detail lines: If the important objects are far away from the main lines, the
offsets are too long, resulting into inaccuracies and taking more time for
the measurements. In such cases the secondary lines are run by selecting
secondary stations on main lines. Such lines are called detail lines.
77.
78. Check lines: These are the lines connecting main station and a
substation on opposite side or the lines connecting to substations on the

sides of main lines. The purpose of measuring such lines is to check the
accuracy with which main stations are located.
79.
80. Selection of Stations
81. The following points should be considered in selecting station points:
82.

(i)It should be visible from at least two or more stations.

83.

(ii) As far as possible main lines should run on level ground.

84.

(iii) All triangles should be well conditioned (No angle less than 30).

85.

(iv) Main network should have as few lines as possible.

86.

(v) Each main triangle should have at least one check line.

87.

(vi) Obstacles to ranging and chaining should be avoided.

88.
(vii) Sides of the larger triangles should pass as close to boundary lines as
possible.
89.
90.

(viii) Frequent crossing of the roads should be avoided.