FIELDWORK NO.

3: TAPING ON A SLOPING GROUND

MASALUNGA, Kimberly T.

OBJECTIVE
1. To develop the skills in determining the
horizontal distance of a sloping ground by
breaking the tape method up and down the
slope.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Instruments to be used:
1. Two range poles
2. Chalk and/or one set of marking pins
3. 2 plumb bobs
4. 50 meter tape
PROCEDURE:

tapeman holds the reeled out tape while the 0mark elevated by about breast high is held by the
rear tapeman directly over point A with the use of
the plumb bob.
3. Front tapeman aligns himself along the course
AB with the aid direction given by the rear
tapeman. The front tapeman while holding the
end of a tape length pulls the tape taut to make
the tape horizontal. (Note: Extra care is needed
to make sure that the tape is along AB and the
ends of the tape are on one horizontal level.)
4. Front tapeman drives a marking pin on the
ground or marks a chalk on the pavement once
the tape is horizontal and the course is a straight
path from A to B.

BREAKING THE TAPE METHOD

1. The professor designates two points on a
sloping ground to be measured by the students
and marks the lower point down the hill as A and
up hill as B. ( Note: Make sure that point A with a
range pole will be visible from B to keep the path
straight. )
2. Set or hold range poles behind points A and B
or outside the course AB. These poles will aid the
students to travel in a straight path. Front

5. The rear tapeman leaves point A and moves

up the slope to the pin previously driven by the
front tapeman. Front tapeman now moves further
upward.
6. Procedures 3-4 are repeated until all possible
full tape length can be accommodated by the
course.
7. The last partial tape length is measured if
possible with the 0-mark of the tape now held at

B. All data must be carefully recorded on the

computation sheet provided for this field work.

is hanging free and not moving, the cord is

vertical.

MEASURING DOWN THE SLOPE

The term breaking tape is used to describe the

procedure for measuring directly horizontal
distance on sloping ground, or through obstacles
that do not permit the use of a full tape length.
The procedure used in breaking tape is the same
as ordinary chaining on level ground, except that
the distances are measured by using portions of
a tape.

1. The same two points will be used by the

students but this time the 0-mark is now held by
the front tapeman and they are to travel down
the slope on a course from B to A.
2. Set or hold range poles behind points A and B
or outside the course AB. These poles will aid the
students to travel in a straight path. The front
tapeman now must hold the 0-mark about a
breast high with the aid of a plumb bob.
3. The rear tapeman on the upper hill B now
guides the front tapeman to straighten his path.
The rear tape man holds the end of the full tape
length.
4. Once the alignment is attained, the front
tapeman drops the plumb bob and drives a
marking pin or marks the pavement with a chalk
where the plumb bob dent is found.
5. The rare tapeman leaves point B and moves
down the slope to the pin previously driven by
the front tapeman. Front tapeman now moves
further downward.
6. Procedures 3-4 are repeated until a full length
can be accommodated by the course.
7. The last partial tape length is measured if
possible with the 0-mark of the tape now held at
B. All data must be carefully recorded on the
computation sheet provided for this field work.
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
Range pole is a surveying instrument used for
marking the position of stations and for sightings
of those stations as well as for ranging
the straight lines. A plumb bob is used to check if
objects are vertical. A plumb bob consists of a
piece of metal (called a bob) pointing downwards,
which is attached to a cord. When the plumb bob

I can say that the field work that I have

conducted with my group mates was successful
because the data that we have gathered are
good. And the distance we have computed is near
to the actual distance of the ramp. For the
improvement of this field work, it is important to
follow the procedures correctly and to set the
materials properly because wrong set up might
cause inaccurate results.
After conducting the activity, I have learned how
to use the tape method in measuring the
horizontal distance of a sloping ground. Also, I
have learned that in able to have accurate result
the tape should be both making 90 degrees with
the range pole. Also, to avoid sagging of the
tape, tape should be maximized at 10 meters.
The sources of errors may occur in (a) tape may
differ in actual length from its nominal graduates
length because of a defect in manufacture or
repair, repair, or as a result of kinks. (b) Natural
errors: The horizontal distance between end
graduations of tape varies because of the effects
of temperature, wind, and weight of tape itself.
(c) Personal errors: Tapeman setting pins,
reading the tape, or manipulating the equipment.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT & REFERENCE

I would like to express my deepest appreciation

to all those who provided me the possibility to
complete this report. A special gratitude I give to
our Professor, Engineer Cervantes, for guiding us
in the field work and explaining the methods and
technique in conducting the activity.

Furthermore I would also like to acknowledge

with much appreciation the crucial role of the
staff CEGE Department of Mapua, who gave the
permission to use all required equipment and the
necessary materials to complete the field work. A
special thanks goes to my group mates who
helped me in finishing the activity successfully
and providing me the data needed in completing
this report. I would like to acknowledge their
effort to accomplish the activity successfully
though it is very hot outside.

I would like to thank God for the wisdom and

strength that He has given me to do all the
activities.

To the following sites, for the having similarly

been among the references that oriented the
body, the framework, of this report:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/r7021e/r7021e02.ht
m

http://web.itu.edu.tr/tari/surveying-I/week_3.pdf
http://engineeringtraining.tpub.com/14069/css/1
4069_419.htm