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 This
manual provides the structure for a one semester (45 hour) laboratory
teaching the second undergraduate course in classical survey fundamentals
(Surveying and Mapping) at the university/college level.
Most college and university programs offer one year or two semesters
of classical survey fundamentals. These courses have many titles:
popular titles are often "Elementary Surveying for the first semester
and "Advanced Surveying" for the second semester. Separate laboratory
manuals are available for each course. This laboratory manual
is for the second semester or the advanced study of classical
survey fundamentals.
This manual covers important topics on calibration,
instrument error, error propagation, calibration of the EDMI,
control leveling, astronomical observations for azimuth, topographic
mapping, and the use of data collectors. The appendices provide
background information on total station instrument errors, error
propagation to determine the precision of angular measurements,
the operation and calibration of the EDMI, examples of the use
of solar and Polaris observations to determine the azimuth of
a baseline, and the Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) Program
for Topographic Mapping.
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 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.
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.
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