Surveying Questions

• Traverse geometry: what is a deflection angle? Select the definition that correctly relates a traverse deflection angle to the interior (included) angle between two successive lines.
• Levelling by Height of Instrument (H.I.) method: check relations Which statement correctly expresses the standard H.I. method relation between back-sights, fore-sights, and the change in reduced level (R.L.) from first to last station?
• Automatic/engineer’s level: at what location is the tangent to the liquid surface in the bubble tube parallel to the axis of the tube? Select the correct condition used for precise levelling.
• Simple circular curve geometry in highway/rail alignment Let Δ be the total deflection (intersection) angle of a simple circular curve, and T1 and T2 be its tangent points. What is the angle between the initial tangent at T1 and the long chord T1–T2?
• Optical square principle in chain surveying The construction of an optical square, used to set out right angles for offsets, is based primarily on which optical principle?
• Parallax and telescope focusing in surveying instruments Which combination of statements about parallax and the eyepiece objective focusing is correct for eliminating parallax when sighting a target?
• Highway transition curve (lemniscate) in polar form If α is the angle between the polar ray and the tangent at the point of commencement of a lemniscate transition curve, which polar equation correctly represents the lemniscate used in geometric design?
• Tacheometry with inclined sights (staff held normal): sign convention in the horizontal distance formula In the expression D = s cos θ + (f + d) cos θ ± h sin θ for horizontal distance with staff held normal to the line of sight, which sign applies to the term h sin θ for angle of elevation vs. depression?
• Map projections and grids: to what are grid lines (eastings and northings) parallel in a standard grid system used on maps? Choose the most appropriate reference.
• Chain surveying – correcting a measured distance when the chain length is erroneous In practical chaining, if the chain/tape has an actual length different from its nominal (standard) length, how do you obtain the correct horizontal distance from the measured distance?
• Traverse coordinates – name of the component measured perpendicular to the parallel In latitude–departure (coordinate) computations, the coordinate of a point measured perpendicular to the parallel (i.e., along the meridian) is called:
• Levelling methods – eliminating curvature and refraction effects Which levelling method is specifically used to determine the difference in elevation between two points while eliminating the effects of Earth’s curvature and atmospheric refraction?
• Contours and elevation accuracy – interpolation limit from a contour map The accuracy with which the elevation of points can be obtained from a contour map (by interpolation) is typically limited to approximately what fraction of the contour interval?
• Optical materials in lenses – properties and pairing of flint glass with crown glass Which statement best describes flint glass in relation to crown glass and its use in achromatic doublets for chromatic correction?
• Slope correction for chaining on sloping ground – exact expression using height difference If h is the difference in elevation between the endpoints of a measured sloping line of length l, what is the required slope correction C_s (to be subtracted from l) to obtain the horizontal distance?
• Graphical check using a pivot station – interpreting intersection of rays When angles to a given pivot station are observed from multiple traverse stations and, upon plotting, the rays to the pivot intersect at a single common point, what does this indicate?
• Route surveys – appropriate contouring method for a long linear project For preparing a contour plan along a proposed route (such as a road, canal, or pipeline), which method is most appropriately used?
• Compass bearings – definition of reduced bearing (RB) Reduced bearing of a line is the angle between which two directions under the quadrantal (NE, SE, SW, NW) system?
• Time variation of magnetic bearings – behavior of a survey line's magnetic direction How does the magnetic bearing of a survey line at a given place behave over time?
• Compass surveying fundamentals: What is the horizontal angle between the true meridian and the magnetic meridian called in geodetic and engineering surveying?