Daniel Grycz

HNC Built Environment

HNC BUILT ENVIRONMENT:

Construction Site Surveying

Survey Report

Prepared for:
Daniel Kudom
Author:
Daniel Grycz
30023976
11/10/2016

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Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

Contents Page
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Introduction
Equipment used
Date, Location, Weather and Team Members
Two Peg Test
3-4-5 Method
Permanent benchmark
Levelling
Conclusion
Appendices

Introduction
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Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment

Levelling in construction is a branch of surveying, the aim of which is to find the

elevations of given points with respect to a given height above sea level (datum).
This is required to enable the works to be designed and for the setting out of all
kinds of engineering works. Levelling deals with measurements in a vertical plane.

Equipment used
-

PPE
Tripod stand
Measuring staf
Hammer
Surveying level
Wooden pegs
Tape measure 60M
Chisel
Spirit level
Marker spray

Date, Location, Weather and Team

Members
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Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment
The tests and leveling was carried out on the 6 th October 2016 at a field in
Balnagask, Aberdeen as a part of practical assessment for unit L02 in
Construction Site Surveying. The weather was clear and sunny ofering good
opportunity to carry out the work which took approximately 2 hours to complete
and was supervised by Daniel Kudom and Charlie Ferris. Before the practical
assessment began the team had to ensure that adequate PPE was worn. Author
of this report was the group leader the other three group members were:
-

Megan Naysmith
Glen Thomson
Euan Stewart

Two Peg Test

Before the leveling can start a test to check if the equipment is working correctly is
required. A common and easy method to do so is the two peg test, this test is
designed to check for errors within a surveying level. Collimation error is the
diference between what the level hairs in the scope say is level, and what is
actually level.

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Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment
To run the test the group put two pegs (measuring staf) 20m apart from each other,
then place the level halfway between the two pegs and took readings on both pegs
to find the diference in elevation. Secondly the group moved the level 3m past one
of the pegs and took readings again to find the diference in elevation. If the
elevation is diferent from the first readings, then there is a collimation error. There
is an allowable discrepancy of 4mm when carrying out the two peg test. All readings
were recorded on the two peg test rise and fall method sheet provided to the
group by Daniel Kudom (this sheet is included in appendices)

3-4-5 Method
Before the grid can be set up measuring tape needs to be tested for accuracy, this
can be done by calibrating the fabric tape against a steel tape which is only used as
a comparison and does not stretch. This calibration test was not carried out by the
group therefore it is possible for discrepancy between the two tape measures used.
The grid was set out using the 3-4-5 Method with a total area of 30m x 40m. Based
on the mathematical principle that a triangle which has sides measuring 3, 4 and 5
units of length it must be a right angle with a corner of 90 degrees between the two
shorter sides. By using two triangles proportionally ten times bigger the group were
able to obtain a square of 30m x 40m with a diagonal of 50m. This rectangle was
then divided into a grid with a total of twenty 10m x 10m squares using blue
marking spray.

Permanent Benchmark
There are three permanent benchmark for this site, author of this essay chose one
in the form of a cut located on a side wall of St. Fitticks church 0.5m above ground
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Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment
level. The code for this area is NJ9604 and by typing it into the online benchmark
locator (www.benchamrks.ordnancesurvey.co.uk) the other two can be located.
Official reading for this OSBM is 10.897m above sea level.

Levelling
Before the leveling could start a temporary benchmark closer to the site had to be
established, this was done by placing measuring staf on a chisel resting on the
OSBM cut and a measurement of 2.929m was taken and recorded. The level was
then rotated towards the grid and a peg was driven into the ground to serve as a
TBM. Measuring staf was then placed on top of the peg and another measurement
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Daniel Grycz
HNC Built Environment
(0.968) taken and recorded. A simple calculation (BS-FS=TBM) allowed to establish
the TBM as 12.858. (see appendix)
After establishing the TBM the group has taken readings for 20 points (Intermediate
Sight) marked on the grid and recorded them in the sheets provided by Daniel
Kudom followed by last measurement (Fore Sight) of TBM. Every reading is taken by
two group members to avoid errors, each reading taken with a precision of three
decimal points in a meter. Once all the readings were taken and recorded the group
started working on calculations to establish height of collimation and reduced level
points for the entire grid (see appendix)

Conclusion
This assessment has allowed this group to better understand and appreciate how
important surveying and leveling is. It allows to record how the land falls and
establish the formation levels or calculate amounts of ground to be excavated for
foundations. The author of this report has successfully learned how to set up and
operate leveling equipment and use mathematical calculations to produce reports
on ground levels.

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