University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1927 The triangulation method of stadia transit topographic surveying adapted to landscape architecture Kenneth Boyd Simmons University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Simmons, Kenneth Boyd, "The triangulation method of stadia transit topographic surveying adapted to landscape architecture" (1927). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 1965. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/1965 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. [Win inniffll FIVE COLLEGE DEPOSITORY ' -I V 111 I'i LV).^i This thesis is not to be loaned outside the library building. For this purpose, use the copy in the department where the work of the thesis was done THE THIANGULATION METHOD OF STADIA TRANSIT TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYING ADAPTED TO IANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ILLUSTRATED WITH A HiACTICAL PROBLEM BY KENNETH B. SIMMONS, B. S. THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS. JUNE 1927 . THE TRIANGULA TION METHOD OP STADIA TRANSIT TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYING ADAPTED TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ILLUSTRATED WJRH A PRACTICAL fllOBLEM A. GENERAL 1. Reasons for seleotion of subjeot. 2. Requirements of topographic surveys for use by Civil Engineers. S. Limitation to one kind of surveying. 4. Requirements of topographic surveys for use by Landscape Architects. B. FIELD WORK 1 . General (a) Size of survey party and dis- tribution of men. (b) Instruments and requisite characteristics of each. (c) Precision of ihe measurements 2 . Horizontal Control (a) Familiarization with area and decision as to method. (b) Triangulation (1) Advantages (2) Measuring base linos (3) Relative importance of angles (4) Azimuth - Advantages and disadvantages of oarrying continuous azimuth. (o) Vertical Control (a) General (Limits of accuracy, etc.) (b) Datum (1) Government Bench (2) Assumed Datum (o) Methods of carrying levels (1) Direot levels over bench marks and stations (2) Trigonometric levels over bench marks and stations Stadia side shots (a) General (1) Accuracy of stadia (2) Objects to be looated (3) location of points (b) Azimuth (o) Distances (Focal corrections, etc.) (d) Vertical readings (e) Remarks and references (f ) Views arid photo stations 6. Points requiring special care or accuracy (a) Triangles (b) Truly level "set-up" for trigonometric levels (c) Measuring base lines (1) Slope distanoes (2) Temperature correction (d) Measurement of height of in- strument above the hub. (e) Permanent Backsight (f) Referencing 6. Sources of errors in each side shot. 7. Checking field work. OFFICE WORK 1* General (a) Party and distribution (b) Advantages and disadvantages of plotting in "field office" and in "headquarters' office". (c) Instruments 2 . Computations (A) Horizontal control (1) Balancing angular closures 8 . (2) Computing and balancing intra- station lines. (3) Computing station oo-ordinates (B) Vertical Control (1) Computing direct and trigonometric love 1 (2) Balancing station elevations (C) Side Shots (1) Corrections for distance (2) Corrections for differences in elevations (3) Computation of elevations (D) Filing and checking Computations (1) Filing (2) Cheoking (3) Errors Plotting and Finishing (A) General (1) Drawing paper (2) Conventional signs (B) Horizontal control (1) Key map to determine sise and layout of sheets. (2) Laying off co-ordinates (3) Plotting stations and intra-station lines - 5 - (C) 5jde shots (1) Instruments and Plotting (2) Precedence of notes in reading (3) Care in plotting referenced points (D) Inking and Checking (1) Co-ordinates and traverse oontrol (2) Trees and Buildings (3) Elevations (4) Lettering (E) Contours (1) Selection of interval (2) Interpolation (3) Inking (P) Finishing (1) Title (2) Soale (3) Other features (0) Points Requiring Special Care and /icouracy (1) Assurance of correct scale (2) Proper orientation and lo- cation of protractor (H) Checking (I) Tracing COST OF TOPOGRA PKIC SURVEYS (1) General (Conditions determining cost, etc.) (2) Field v/ork (3) Office work - 7 - THE TACTICAL PROBLEM A TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY FOR JOHN N. MI LEY - CINCINNATI, OHIO. A. Statement of Problem B. Reasons for selecting this particular topographio survey C. Description of Property 0. Uethod of procedure (A3 explained in Part I.) E. Cost of the Survey (1) Fiold work (2) Office work F. Presentation of Plans • Acknowledgements H. Bibliography 1. Appendix (1) Compiled Data (2) Plans THE TRIANOULATION METHOD OP .STADIA TRANSIT T0P008APHIP SURVEYING ADAPTED TO IAHDSCAPE ARCHITKdURE Topographic surveying as particularly applied to landscape architecture is a subject on whioh there is a noticeable meagreness of published informa- tion. L'any books on plane surveying are available for the use of the landscape architect and such publica- tions include complete discussions of topographic sur- veying. However these books are written primarily for the use of the civil engineer and deal with the subject from his point of view. The oivil engineer is more interested in the development of artificial features, such as bridges, waterworks, railroads, and the like, than in the development of natural features. Generally his problem is one of mass quantities of earthwork, with li tie or no attention being paid to the small varia- tions in the terrain which are interesting to the land- scape architect. Over a very large area these varia- tions usually balance one another and therefore do not alter the engineer's estimate of earthwork quantities. The basic principles and methods as used by the civil engineer are also used by the landscape architect, but spocifio instanoes of their application to his particular requirements and problems are not found in the literature on the subject. For this rea- son the landsoape arohitect has gradually evolved nu- merous methods of variations of methods, and specific applications of principles, which are especially suited to his requirements. It is the purpose of this paper to at- tempt to bridge the gap between the abundance of infor- mation on the subject of topographio surveying as a whole and the scarcity of information available to the landscape architect in his particular field. More or le3S unguided by text-books on this subject, the land- scape architect has created oertain procedures all his own which enable him, efficient Jy and economically, to make topographic surveys. while these methods of surveying, as adapted by the landscape architect, are universally used, they vary in detail according to the conditions in dif- ferent locations and in different landsoape organiza- tions. - 10 - It is safe to say that with any one method no two organizations uso the samo procedure as to d tail. Therefore, no attempt will bo made to de- scribe all the variations used in the triangulation method of topographic surveying. The proceduro de- scribed herein is sound and practicable, based upon the practice of one organization and not upon the v7hol e field of landsoapo architecture. It may be followed explicitly or nay be changed as to detail more nearly to suit conditions in other organizations. An officiant topographio survey is one which fully 3erves every purpo o for which it is made. Its value depends more upon the accuracy of the information which is represented rather than upon the minuteness or quantity of detail. It ia the purpose of the landscape ar- chitect to improve land for human use and enjoyment in such a way as to combine the maximum of utility with the maximum of beauty. There foro all existing inforraa- tion which will assist him in accomplishing this aim should be shown by the topographic survey. Such infor- mation will include locations, descriptions and sizes of trees, location of swales, brooks, lodges and other 11 - related features^ soil conditions, (marsh, gravel, etc.), character of undergrowth, mass foliage outlines where the growth is not of sufficient size or importance to warrant detailed location, possible house sites, photo stations and important views, and all artificial fea- tures such as fencos, buildings and roads. Accurate elevations should also be shown for all of these fea- tures. field mm A well organized survey party should consist of one transitman, one note keeper and two rodraen, the chief of the party being any one of the four but preferably the note keeper. Every man in the party 3hould be capable and experienced; that is of vital importance and determines the acouracy of the survey since one careless or incapable person practioal- ly nullifies the efforts of all the others. The ohances of error in the field v.ork of a survey are so numerous that each person is required to be responsible only for his own duties and cannot be expected to check the work of others. On any observation the transitman is liable to make an error through incorrect azimuth, distance or elevation, the notekeeper night erroneously record the azimuth, distance, elevation, description - 12 - or some reference, and, fina] iy, the rodman night hold the rod inoorreotly, miscall trees, etc. or give incorrect references especially by confusing "right" and "left". These possible chances of error will be described in more detail on page 37. Any standard make of transit with plate and tolesoope bubbles, stadia hairs as vo 1 as vertical and horizontal cross-hairs, vortical arc and with a six inch or seven inch cirole graduated con- tinuously from zero to three hundred sixty degrees is satisfactory for stadia transit topographic sur- veying. The telesoopo should be of excellent quality with flat field and good illumination; the magnifying power should be twenty-five or thirty. It is also ad- visable to uso a collapsible tripod for ease in shipping as woll as in regulating the height of the "set-up" in the field.