This manual provides the structure for a one semester (45 hour) laboratory teaching the first undergraduate course in classical survey fundamentals (Surveying and Mapping) at the university/college level.

This manual covers important topics such as setting up and leveling a total station instrument, angle and direction measurement, taping, use of a compass, use of the Electronic Distance Measuring Instrument, the traverse, differential leveling, profile leveling, the plan and profile, topographic mapping, and statistics. Important appendices provide background information such as lab report format, significant digits, field book and noteform structure, the USGS 7 ½ minute map series, and elementary statistics for surveyors.

The great benefit of this laboratory manual for the university/college program is the standardization that it brings to the basic surveying course laboratory. The structure provided by this manual gives the course lecturer, laboratory instructor and students a common roadmap for the laboratory that facilitates a quality educational experience. There can be no argument about the necessity for all members of the surveying and mapping profession to understand the fundamental concepts and principles clearly developed in this manual.

This manual can be used independently of any elementary surveying textbook chosen for the lecture portion of the course. This manual is both textbook and surveying equipment neutral.

In addition, this manual will be of value to those surveying and mapping companies who are developing their own employees as technicians and licensed professionals. The structure given by the manual will be invaluable to these efforts. The objectives of each laboratory are clearly identified along with the equipment and supplies needed for each laboratory. The manual is written to facilitate a quality laboratory offering in the university/college setting as well as the training programs of government agencies and private survey firms.

This manual has been used to teach the first course in surveying at Troy University for seven years, and is now the standard for the growing four year degree program for the State of Nevada at Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada. Since the Nevada Program is based on a distance learning model, the structure provided by this manual is invaluable for assuring a quality laboratory experience for distance learning students.

About the author

Dr. James A. Elithorp earned a Ph.D. in Geomatics Engineering (1999) and a Masters of Science in Surveying Engineering (1996) from Purdue University; the Bachelors of Science in Surveying (1994) from the Oregon Institute of Technology; the Masters Public Administration (1980) from California State University, Sacramento, and the Bachelor of Arts in Government (1970) from Sacramento State College.

Dr. Elithorp became interested in the study of geomatics as the owner's representative on a hydroelectric plant construction project in eastern Oregon. He worked for the Alaska State Office of the Bureau of Land Management participating in the provision of cadastral surveys in the Alaskan bush. He worked for the Western Region of the Federal Highway Administration doing route surveys for highway construction. Dr. Elithorp taught geomatics courses at Purdue University for a year before accepting the challenge of building the four year Geomatics degree program for the State of Alabama at Troy University. In August 2005, Dr. Elithorp began the challenge of building the four year degree program for the State of Nevada based on a distance learning model.