Surveying Topics on FE Exam

Civil Afternoon Session of Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam approximately 11% of the test
content is surveying questions (Distances, Angles, Trigonometry, Area Computations, Closure,
Coordinate Systems, Level, Earthwork Volume computations and curves (horizontal & vertical)
1. Distances (http://faculty.unlv.edu/jensen/CEE_121/index.htm#FEdistances)
a. Given the coordinates of two points, Point A (125,25) and Point B (155,65), determine
the length between them.
i.
b. Given: Measurement of 1372.13 ft at temperature of 13F. Find the
measured distance adjusted for the correction. (Schaum's Outlines -
Introductory Surveying, by James R. Wirshing and Roy H. Wirshing, Problem
3.11, p. 58)
i. see lecture notes on Steel Tape Temperature Corrections
ii. corrected distance = 1372.13' + 0.00000645(13 - 68)1372.13'
iii. Solution: 1371.64 ft
iv. Correct Distance = record distance + C
T

1. "Note: ambient temperature greater than the standard temperature
makes the tape longer than its standard length, thereby recording a
lesser tape reading (negative error), and the correction should be
added (positive correction)." (Kaplan AEC Education - Civil
Engineering FE/EIT Preparation, 4th Edition, Indranil Goswami, p.
105)
2. C
T
is negative for temperatures below 68F
3. C
T
is positive for temperatures above 68F
v. C
T
= k(T
1
- T)L
1. C
T
= Correction of Length for Temperature
a. "When measuring an unknown distance, if the tape is too
short, subtract the correction; if the tape is too long, add the
correction"
b. "When laying out a given distance, if the tape is too short,
add the correction; if the tape is too long, subtract the
correction." (Surveying Fundamentals and Practices, 6th
Edition by Nathanson, Lanzafama and Kissam, p. 73)
2. k = the coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction of the
steel tape. Approximately 0.00000645 (6.5X10
-6
) per unit length
per degree Fahrenheit. Approximately 0.0000116 (1.16X10
-5
) per
unit length per degree Celsius.
3. T
1
= tape temperature at time of mesaurement
4. T = tape temperature when it has standard length.
a. "The tapes are standardized for 68F (20C). At 68F the
tape should be the correct length." (Schaum's Outlines -
Introductory Surveying by James R. Wirshing and Roy H.
Wirshing, p. 50)
5. L = the observed/recorded length of the line measured with the
steel tape
vi.
vii.
c. What is the horizontal distance by stadia from the automatic level and the
leveling/Philadelphia rod in the below figure? Answer 28 feet
i.

2. Angles and Trigonometry
(http://faculty.unlv.edu/jensen/CEE_121/index.htm#FEangles)
a. Given a triangle with a=45.0, b=67.0, and angle C=145, solve for side c and angles A
and B. (Surveying Fundamentals and Practices, 6th Edition by Nathanson, Lanzafama, &
Kissam, Example 3-15, p. 48)
i. Law of Cosines
1. a
2
= b
2
+ c
2
- 2bc cos A
2. b
2
= a
2
+ c
2
- 2ac cos B
3. c
2
= a
2
+ b
2
- 2ab cos C
4.
ii.
b.
c. Convert between DD and DMS
i.
d. Convert between Azimuths and Bearings
i.
e. Adding angles
i.

2. Area Computations
(http://faculty.unlv.edu/jensen/CEE_121/index.htm#AreaTraverse)
a.
b.
c.


3. Closure
(http://faculty.unlv.edu/jensen/CEE_121/index.htm#TraverseCompassRuleMisclosure)
a. "The angular misclosure for an interior-angle traverse is the difference between
the sum of the observed angles and the geometrically correct total for the
polygon." (Elementary Surveying, 12th Edition, Ghilani & Wolf, p. 232)
b. Misclosure is also known as angular error
c.
d. What is the Linear Error of Closure (LEOC) on a traverse with a total length of 2466
feet and a misclosure error of 0.081 feet?
i. "After measuring 2466 feet, the traverse had an LEOC of 0.081 feet. Expressed
as a ratio, 1 foot in 30000 feet means that if the field crew had measured 30000
feet using the same techniques and precision, they would have been off 1 foot."
(Construction Surveying and Layout, 3rd Edition by Wesley G. Crawford,
Creative Construction Publishing, Inc. p. 14-24)
ii.

e.
4. Coordinate Systems
5. Level

6. Earthwork
(http://faculty.unlv.edu/jensen/CEE_121/index.htm#Earthwork)
a.
b.
c. Given just black portion of the above figure in the problem description. The
volume of the embankment per 100-ft length is most nearly equal to? (Civil
Engineering Problems and Solutions , 14th Ed, Donald G. Newnan, p. 12-26 and
13-31)
i. 5000 ft
3

ii. 8250 ft
3

iii. 52,000 ft
3

iv. 82,500 ft
3
(correct answer)
v. 102,800 ft
3

d.
e.
f. Two level sections 75 ft apart with center heights 4.8 and 7.2 ft in fill, base width
30 ft, side slopes 2:1. (Elementary Surveying, 13
th
Edition by Ghilani & Wolf,
Problem 26.4, p. 795)
7. Two level sections 75 ft apart with center heights 4.8 and 7.2 ft in fill, base width 30 ft,
side slopes 2:1. (Elementary Surveying, 13th Edition by Ghilani and Wolf, Problem 26.4,
p. 795)
8.


9. Curves
a.
b. T = tangent distance from PC to PI
c.