Chapter 3 –

Chain
Surveying
• simplest form of survey in which linear measurements are
done in the field whereas angular measurements are not
taken.
• Chain survey is useful for
1. Small area
2. Ground surface is more or less levelled
3. Area with less details
Technical Terms used in Chain Survey
Main Station

Tie station

TIE LINE
1. Main Station: Station taken along the boundary of an area as controlling point. The lines
joining the main stations are called main survey lines. (In figure, A,B,C and D are main
stations).
2. Base line: The line in which framework of the survey is built is known as base line.
Generally the longest of the main survey line is considered as the base line. (In figure, BD
is the base line)
3. Tie or Subsidiary line: The line joining the subsidiary stations which are run to locate
details which are far away from the main survey lines are called tie or auxiliary or
subsidiary lines.( In figure, T1 T2 is the tie line)
4. Tie or subsidiary station: The stations joining the tie or subsidiary lines.(T1 and T2 are tie
stations).
5. Check line: The line joining the apex point of triangle to some fixed point on the base
line. It is taken to check the accuracy of a triangle. (As2 and CS1 are check lines)
Equipment used in Chain Survey
1. The Chain

2. Tapes: Different type of tapes are available in the market.

Generally of 10m, 20m,30m,50m.

Cloth/ linen Tape Steel tape Synthetic Tape

3. Cross Staffs: For making perpendicular.

4. Ranging Rods:2m,2.5m,3m long and painted red and white with a pointed steel shoe.
5. Arrows: 40cm long and 3-4 mm in diameter.

6. Pegs: Wooden(square or circular cross-section) and steel.

7. Plumb Bob: A metallic cone object used to erect vertical lines.

Well conditioned and ILL conditioned
Triangles
• A triangle is said to be well conditioned if no
any angles of the triangle is less than 30° and
more than 120 °.
• An equilateral triangle is the best condition of
well conditioned triangle and is called ideal
triangle.
• A well conditioned triangle is preferred as
their apex points are sharp and can be
located by single dot and there is no
possibilities of relative displacement between
the plotted points.
Offset
• The lateral measurement taken from an object to the chain line is known as offset.
They may be of two types.
1. Perpendicular offset
2. Oblique offset

1. Perpendicular offset: Any offset perpendicular to the chain line is said to be

perpendicular offset. Perpendicular offsets are preferred for following reasons.
• They can be taken very quickly.
• The entry of field book become easy.
• The plotting of offset also become easy.
2. Oblique offset
• Any offset not perpendicular to the chain line is said to be oblique
offset.
• Oblique offsets are taken when the objects are at a long distance
from the chain line or when it is not possible to set up right angle due
to some difficulties.
 Number of offsets

• There is no hard and fast rule regarding the number of objects.

• The offsets should be decided on field according to the nature of the object.
• Some guidelines are given below.
1. When boundary of the object is approximately parallel to the chain line,
perpendicular offsets are taken at a regular interval.
2. When boundary is straight, offsets are taken at both ends of it.
3. When boundary line is zigzag, offsets are taken at every point of bend.
4. When building is large and zigzag in shape, then the corners are fixed by
perpendicular or oblique offsets.
5. When the object is circular, offsets are taken at short and regular interval.
Selection Criteria of station
• The adjacent stations should be intervisible.
• The stations should be selected in such a way that well conditioned
triangle may be formed.
• The leg ratio should be maintained at 2:1.
• The station should be fixed on a fairly level ground.
• The station should be fixed near to the boundary line of the area to be
surveyed.
• Station should be selected such that obstacles to chaining are avoided
as far as possible.
• The survey lines should not be very close to main roads, as survey work
may then be interrupted by traffic.
• The base line should be the longest of the main survey lines.
Field book
• The notebook in which chainages, offset measurements and
sketches of detail points are recorded is called a field book.
• Two types of field books are used.
1. Single line field book
2. Double line field book
 Single line field book
1. A line is ruled down the middle of
each page which represents the
chain line or survey line.
• chainage are written on the line .
• Offsets are written opposite their
chainages to the left or right
according to their positions
whether on left or right of chain
line.
• Generally used for large scale
survey
2. Double line field book
• Two lines at a certain distance apart
are ruled down the middle of each page
which represents the chain line or
survey line.
• The chainages are written between the
lines.
• Offsets are written opposite their
chainages to the left or right according
to their positions whether on left or
right of chain line.
• Generally used for ordinary work.
 Ranging

• When the line is short or its end stations are clearly visible, the chain may be laid in a true
alignment.
• If the line is long or its end station is not visible due to undulating ground, it is required to
mark a number of points with ranging rod along the chain.
• The process of making a number of intermediate points on a survey line joining two
stations in the field so that the length between them may be measured correctly is called
ranging.
• Ranging may be classified as
1. Direct Ranging
2. Indirect Ranging
 1. Direct ranging

• The first and the last points are inter-

visible
• Whenever the intermediate ranging rods
are fixed on the straight line by direct
observations from the end stations, the
process is known as direct ranging
 Procedures
• Assume A and B are the two end stations, fix
the ranging roads at the two stations
• It is required to fix the ranging rod at
intermediate point C on the chain line in such
a way that A, B, and C are in same straight line
• Surveyor shall stands approximately 2 m
behind the station A and looking around AB
shall directs the assistant to move the ranging
rod right or left to the line AB until three
ranging rods come exactly in the same line
• surveyor shall bend down and look through
bottom of the rod to check the verticality of
rods
• If the ranging is perfect, three ranging rods
coincides and appear as a single rod
Indirect ranging/reciprocal
ranging
• Two stations are not visible due
to intervening ground like hill,
etc.
• Suppose A and B are two stations
that are not visible
• It is required to fix intermediate
points between A and B
Procedures
• Two chainman take up positions at C1 and D1
with ranging rods in their hands and one
surveyor at A and other at B
• Chainman at C1 directs his face towards B so
that he can see ranging rod at D1 and B
• Similarly chainman at D1 stands his face
towards to see C1 and A
• Chainmen proceed to range line by directing
each other alternatively
• Chainman at C1 directs at D1 to come to
position D2, so that C1, D2and B are in same
line
• Chainman at D2 directs at C1 to come to
position C2, so that C2, D2and A are in same
line
• This procedure continued until A, B, C and D
are in same straight line
 Field Instruction of Chain Survey

1. Reconnaissance (recce)
2. Selection of Stations
3. Running Surveying lines
4. Detailing
1. Reconnaissance(Recci)

• Primary investigation of an area to be surveyed to decide the

location of survey station and to prepare plan.
• During Recci, Surveyor walks around the area and should ensure that
the stations are intervisible and there is no difficulty in chaining and
ranging
2. Selection of Station

• The stations are marked as decided from Recci and they are fixed
using the wooden pegs.
• Referencing should be done for each stations with minimum 3
permanent structures and reference sketch should be drawn facing
north direction.
• The stations should be fixed following different criteria as discussed
earlier.
3. Running Survey Lines

• Ranging is done across the stations and chain is laid along the line.
• Various survey lines like base line, tie line, etc are laid in order to measure the
details.

4. Detailing
• Along the main line various structures are measured and sketch is drawn.
• All the measurements are recorded in field book.