Visayas State University

College of Engineering

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Visca, Baybay City, 6521-A, Leyte, Philippines
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Vision:
The premier university of science and technology in the Visayas.
Mission: Provide excellent instruction, conduct relevant research and foster community
engagement that produce highly competent graduates necessary for the
development of the country.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GEng 111c
General Surveying I

TAPING OVER UNEVEN AND SLOPING GROUND

Exercise No. 6

Name: Kharla C. de Leon

Laboratory Schedule: MW 7-10
Group No. : 5
I.

Date Performed: Sept. 5, 2016

Date Submitted: Sept. 14, 2016

Introduction
Taping is the process of directly measuring distances with the use of
graduated tape. The usual procedure of taping will involve the process of aligning
the tape, stretching it, plumbing selected tape marks, marking and recording tape
lengths.
It is standard to practice to hold the tape horizontally above ground
and to plumb at one or both ends when taping on sloping and uneven terrain
surfaces. This requires the measurement of shorter distances which are
accumulated to total a full tape length. The procedure is referred to as breaking
tape.

II.

Objectives:
1. To measure the horizontal length of a line using a measuring tape over an
uneven and sloping ground by the method of breaking tape; and
2. To acquire an acceptable relative precision of the measured horizontal
length of a line in surveying operations.

III.

Instruments and Accessories:

30 meters or 50 meters steel tape/measuring tape, chaining pins, range

poles, pegs or hubs, chalk or marking crayons and plumb bob
IV.

Procedure:

A. Measuring Uphill.
1. The professor/instructor will designate two points A (downhill) and B (uphill)
approximately 150 to 300 meters apart in an uneven and sloping ground to be
measured using the breaking the tape method.
2. Set or hold range poles behind points A and B and along intermediate points to aid
the students to travel in a straight path along the course AB.
3. The head tapeman unreels and spreads out the tape and pulls the zero mark uphill
along the line from point A. The rear tapeman raises the 30-m or 50-m end of the
tape breast high while the head tapeman moves back to a place on the line near a
full meter (or foot) mark where the ground surface is as high as the other raised
end of the tape. The head tapeman stays by the side of the line measured and
holds a chaining pin on the ground.
4. The rear tapeman temporarily releases end of tape and signals head tapeman to
either move to the right or to the left in order to align him. When the pin of the head
tapeman is in line with the range pole held over point B, the head tapeman is then
signalled to stick the pin vertically into the ground.
5. The rear tapeman plumbs from point A to the terminal mark of the tape with a
plumb bob and maintains this plumb bob steadily over A while head tapeman pulls
the tape taut, and making sure that the tape is on line by bringing one of its edges
in contact with the previously aligned pin. The head tapeman then moves the pin
opposite the nearest full meter or foot mark of the tape and he sticks it firmly into
the ground.
6. The rear tapeman leaves his end of the tape, moves up the slope and gets hold of
the tape at the point previously held by the head tapeman. The next measurement
is made horizontally from the pin stuck in the ground by the head tapeman as done
at point A.
7. The process is repeated until the whole tape length is used up thus finishing the
measurement of one tape length of horizontal distance.
8. From the pin marking the end of one tape length measurement, the horizontal
measurement is continued until point B is reached. The last partial tape length is
measured with the rear tapeman holding the tape until he has a full meter (or foot)
mark at his end while the head tapeman pulls the tape taut and takes note of the
fractional measurement. Then the number of tape lengths and the last partial
measurement are totalled to determine the horizontal length of the line measured.

Figure 1. An illustration of the breaking tape method in downhill measurement

B. Measuring Downhill.
1. In measuring down the slope, the tape is reversed to bring its zero end forward in
the direction of point A along the line. Horizontal measurement starts from B with
the rear tapeman holding his terminal meter (or foot) mark of tape in level with B.
2. After the plumb bob of the head tapeman has been aligned with the range pole
held at A, the head tapeman drops the plumb bob causing it to leave a mark on the
ground. He then sticks a pin at the ground mark left by the plumb bob.
3. The next horizontal measurement starts from the pin until one whole tape length is
measured. As in measuring up the slope, the number of tape lengths plus the
partial tape length at the end of the line determines the total horizontal length of the
line.
4. Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying
sample format for the tabulation of data.

C. Computations:
1. The first discrepancy for the measurement is the difference between the first
measurement and the second measurement.

Discrepancy=Measured Length ABMeasured Length BA

2. The mean length of the measured line is determined by adding the two
measurements and dividing the sum by two. This is also known as the most
probable value of the length of the line.

Mean Length=MVP=

Measured Length AB+ Measured Length BA

2

3. The relative precision (RP) of the measurement is determined by dividing the

discrepancy by the mean length, where the numerator is reduced to unity or 1.
Relative precision is expressed in fractional form and the denominator is rounded
to the nearest hundredth. The acceptable precision should be at least 1/1,000. If
this is not attained the measurement should be repeated.

RP=

Discrepancy
Mean Length

Guide Questions:
1. What are the common sources of errors in taping using the breaking tape method
and how would you lessen if not eliminate these errors?
The common sources of errors in taping using the breaking tape method are
incorrect tape length and sag. These errors can be lessen by detecting the
corrections and applying it to the observed length.
2. How would you eliminate the effect of sag in taping a sloping ground?
Sag shortens the horizontal distance between end graduations since the tape
length remains the same. Thus, when a stretched tape sags, the actual
distance between the points is something less than the reading on the tape.
The correction due to sag is difference in length between the arc formed by
the tape and the subtending chord.
V.

Results and Discussion:

table 1. Relative precision of a sloping and uneven ground.
Trial
Line
Length
Difference
Mean
1
2

AB
BA

131.61 m
131.58 m

0.03 m

131.595 m

Relative
Precision
1/4387

Table 1 shows that the gathered data for line AB is prcised because of its
high precision value which is 1/4387. The most probable value or the most
probable distance of line AB is 131.595 m, computed as what the computations
stated. As the group who conducted this exercise follows the procedure, they
realized into good and acceptable data.
VI.

Conclusion and Recommendations:

VII.

Thus, following the respective procedures correctly and setting up the

instruments properly to come up with an acceptable data.
References:
La Putt, J.P. (1985). Elementary Surveying Lab Manual. Baguio Research and
Publishing Center. Baguio City, Philippines.

La Putt, J.P. (1987). Elementary Surveying. 3rd Edition. National Book Store.
Philippines.

Remarks, Hints and Precautions

1. The procedure of breaking tape involves the measurement of short horizontal distances
and accumulating these distances to total full tape length. This is done when a 30-m (or
100-ft) tape cannot be held horizontal without plumbing from above shoulder length.

2. Except for the use of a plumb bob, the process of taping over uneven and sloping ground
is similar to taping over smooth and level ground.
3. It is important to determine if the tape is held nearly horizontal since it is the usual
tendency to hold the downhill end of the tape too low.
4. A hand level should be used to check if the tape ends are held correctly so as to have a
good horizontal measurement.
5. A firm stance is important during taping. The tapeman should position the plane of his
body parallel to the tape, with his legs well apart. His forearm should be in line with the tape,
and he should snub it against his body comfortably.
6. If a hand level is not available, the tape maybe estimated to be horizontal by eye. It is
usually sufficient to compare the tape with some level line or have the two ends in line with
the horizon.
7. The tape sags between supports when taking horizontal measurements over uneven and
sloping ground thus making the tape shorter. To eliminate the effect of sag, the tape should
be standardized, corrected for sag, or normal tension is used.
8. As a variation to breaking tape, the line may also be measured by short and segmented
individual distances and these distances are added up to determine the total length. This
practice, however, requires continuous recording of each partial length measured and may
also lead to mistakes in addition.
9. The designated line should be measured in two trials, once uphill and once downhill. The
ratio of discrepancy to length should be determined. The acceptable precision should be at
least 1/1,000. If this is not attain the measurement should be repeated.