PLANE TABLE

SURVEYING
 DEFINITION

A plane table surveying is a

graphical method of surveying, in
which surveying and plotting are
done simultaneously helping the
surveyor to compare the plotted
details with actual features of the
ground
 ADVANTAGES
It is suitable for location of details for
large scale maps in the field

Chances of getting omission of any

detail from the field are less

The plotting details can be compared

with the actual objects present in the
field and the errors can be minimized

Only relevant details are located

because the map is drawn as the
survey progresses. Irrelevant details
get omitted in the field itself
 ADVANTAGES
The plane table survey is
generally more rapid and less
costlier than the other types of
surveys

As the instruments used are

simple, not much skill for
operation of instruments is
required.

This method of survey requires

no field book
 LIMITATIONS

Not possible in unfavorable

climates
Unsuitable for precise works
Time Consuming
Dependency on the drafting skills
of the surveyor
Not suitable for stations which
cant be sighted easily
 3H or
4H

PLANE TABLE SURVEYING

PLANE TABLE SURVEYING OPERATIONS

Fixing the Table:

Top of the tripod stand is fixed in level by eye
estimation at convenient height with its legs
uniformly spread and shoes fixed firmly into
the ground
The board is fixed to the tripod head by
tightening the clamping screw
Centering of the Plane Table
With reference to already plotted position of
the station
Pointed end of the upper arm of a U-fork is
held at the plotted position and the tip of the
plumb bob over the ground station
PLANE TABLE SURVEYING OPERATIONS

Leveling the Table

Eye estimation followed by using spirit level
at different positions on the table and if
needed, adjusting legs and clamping screw

Ensuring Perfect plane Board

(Sandpaper)
Perfectly straight fiducial edge of
the alidade
Ensuring the sight vanes of the
alidade perpendicular to its base
when fully open
PLANE TABLE SURVEYING OPERATIONS

Orienting the Plane Table

Using a trough compass
Back sighting
Resection
 METHODS OF PLANE TABLE
SURVEYING
Radiation
Intersection
Traversing
Resection
 RADIATION METHOD

D
INTERSECTION METHOD
TRAVERSING
 RESECTION
Purpose: To locate and plot the position of the
plane table during surveying

Results in the orientation of the plane table

Resection is opposite to intersection method

Resection can be done by

3-Point Problem
2-Point Problem
 3 POINT PROBLEM

Mechanical method Tracing Paper Method

Lehmanns Trial and Error method -

Popular

Bessels Graphical method

 RESECTION 3 POINT PROBLEM
Trial and Error Procedure Lehmans Rules
 RESECTION 3 POINT PROBLEM
Trial and Error Procedure Lehmans Rules

Possible Conditions
The position of plane table is
inside the great triangle
(Lehmans Rules)
The position of plane table is
outside the great triangle
(Lehmans Rules)
The position of plane table lies
on or near the circumference of
 RESECTION 3 POINT PROBLEM
Trial and Error Procedure Lehmans Rules
1. If the position of plane table station is inside
the great triangle, its plotted position should
be chosen inside the triangle of error

2. If the position of plane table station is outside

the great triangle, its plotted position should
be chosen outside the triangle of error

3. The plotted position of the plane table should

be so chosen that its distance from the
resectors is proportional to the distance of
plane table station from the field positions of
the considered objects
 RESECTION 3 POINT PROBLEM
Trial and Error Procedure Lehmans Rules

4. The plotted position of the plane table

should be so chosen that it is to the same side
of all the three rays.

(4a) If the position of plane table station is

outside the great circle, its plotted position
should be so chosen that It lies on the same
side of ray to the most distant point as the
intersection of the other two rays

The intersection of two rays to the nearer

points, is midway between the plotted position
of the station and the ray to the most distant
 RESECTION 3 POINT PROBLEM
Trial and Error Procedure Lehmans Rules

4b) If the position of plane table station

is outside the great triangle but inside
the great circle, the plotted position of
the station is so chosen that the ray to
the middle point lies between plotted
station position and the intersection of
the rays to the two extreme points
Table Outside the Great Triangle
and Inside the Great Circle
STEPS FOR 3 POINT PROBLEM
Let A, B, and C represent the ground location of the well
defined objects whose plotted positions are a, b, and c,
respectively. Let P be the plane table station whose
plotted position, say p, is to be determined.

(i) Select a plane table position inside the great triangle

ABC and set up the table over P and orient it by
judgment so that apparent line ab is approximately
parallel to the imaginary side AB.

(ii) Pivoting the alidade on a, b, and c bisect the signals

placed at A, B, and C in turn and draw rays. If the
orientation of the table is correct, the three rays will
meet at one point which is the desired location of p on
the sheet. If not, the rays will form a triangle of error
(Figure in the Next Slide)
STEPS FOR SOLVING A 3 POINT
PROBLEM
STEPS FOR 3 POINT PROBLEM
Choose a point p' inside the triangle of error such that
its perpendicular distances from each ray is in
proportion to the respective distances of P from the
three ground objects. For selection of location of p',
Lehmann's rules (1) and (3) need to be applied.

Align the alidade along p' a (assuming A to be the

farthest station) rotate the table till flag at A is
bisected, and clamp the table.

Pivoting the alidade on a, b, and c repeat the process

as in step (ii) above. If the estimation of p as p' is
correct, the three rays will intersect at a point
otherwise again a triangle of error will be formed but of
smaller size and within the previous triangle of error. .
STEPS FOR 3 POINT PROBLEM

Estimate again the location of p' in the

new triangle of error applying the
rules, (i) and (iii), and repeat the steps
(iv) and (v)

The method is repeated till all the

three rays intersect at a point. The
point of intersection is the required
location p of the plane-table station P
STEPS FOR SOLVING A 3 POINT
PROBLEM
 TWO POINT PROBLEM

Two well-defined points whose positions have

already been plotted on the plan are selected.

Then, by perfectly bisecting these points, a new

station is established at the required position
 TWO POINT PROBLEM
Suppose
Suppose P P and
and Q
Q are
are two
two well-defined
well-defined points
points whose
whose positions
positions
are plotted
are plotted on
on map
map as
as pp and
and q.
q. It
It is
is required
required to
to locate
locate aa new
new
station at
station at A
A by
by perfectly
perfectly bisecting
bisecting P P and
and QQ

An
An auxiliary
auxiliary station
station B
B is
is selected
selected at
at aa suitable
suitable position.
position. The
The
table is
table is set
set upup at
at B,
B, and
and leveled
leveled and
and oriented
oriented by
by eye
eye
estimation. It
estimation. It is
is then
then clamped.
clamped.

With
With the
the alidade
alidade touching
touching p
p and
and q,
q, the
the points
points PP and
and Q
Q are
are
bisected and
bisected and rays
rays are
are drawn.
drawn. Suppose
Suppose these
these rays
rays intersect
intersect at
at b
b
 TWO POINT PROBLEM
With the alidade pivoted at b, the ranging rod at A is
bisected and rays is drawn. Then, by eye estimation,
a point a1 is marked on this ray.
The table is shifted and centered on A with a1 just
over A. It is leveled and oriented by back sighting.
With the alidade touching p, the point P is bisected
and a ray is drawn. Suppose this ray intersects the
line ba1 at point a1, as was assumed.
 TWO POINT PROBLEM
With the
With the alidade
alidade centered
centered on
on aa11 the point Q is bisected and a
ray is drawn. Suppose this ray intersects the ray bq at a
ray
point q
point q11. The triangle pqq11 is
is known
known as as the
the triangle
triangle of error,
and is
and is to
to be
be eliminated.
eliminated.

The alidade
The alidade is
is placed
placed along
along the
the line
line pq
pq11 and
and aa ranging
ranging rod
rod R
R
is fixed
is fixed at
at some
some distance
distance from
from the
the table.
table. Then,
Then, the
the alidade
alidade is
is
placed along
placed along the
the line
line pq
pq and
and the
the table
table is
is turned
turned to
to bisect
bisect R.
R.
At this position
At position the
the table
table is
is said
said to
to be
be perfectly
perfectly oriented.
oriented.
 TWO POINT PROBLEM
Finally, with the alidade centered on p and q, the
points P and Q are bisected and rays are drawn.
Suppose these rays intersect at a point a. This would
represent the exact position of the required station
A. Then the station A is marked on the ground.
TWO POINT PROBLEM
CONCLUDING REMARKS