Free Surveying MCQs with Answers
77 Surveying MCQs from Civil Engineering, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Surveying covers measurement of distances, angles and elevations, traversing, levelling, contouring, plane table work, theodolites, total stations and basic photogrammetry. It includes error adjustment, coordinate calculations, area and volume determination, and the distinction between accuracy and precision, as well as between temporary and permanent adjustments.
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77 questions · page 2 of 4
- A. To make the vertical axis truly vertical
- B. To measure the length of the survey line
- C. To determine the magnetic bearing
- D. To remove local attraction from the compass
Explanation: Levelling makes the vertical axis of the instrument truly vertical and allows the horizontal circle to represent horizontal directions.
Correct answer: To make the vertical axis truly vertical22. In the repetition method of measuring a horizontal angle with a theodolite, the main benefit is to:
- A. Determine the height of the instrument
- B. Increase the angle-reading precision
- C. Measure the staff intercept directly
- D. Eliminate the need for centring
Explanation: The repetition method measures an angle several times successively and reads the accumulated angle, reducing the relative effect of…
Correct answer: Increase the angle-reading precision- A. Radial traverse
- B. Open traverse
- C. Closed traverse
- D. Chain traverse
Explanation: A closed traverse provides geometric or coordinate closure because its endpoint is known.
Correct answer: Closed traverse- A. L divided by cos θ
- B. L sin θ
- C. L tan θ
- D. L cos θ
Explanation: Latitude is the north-south component of a line, so it equals L cos θ when the bearing is measured from north.
Correct answer: L cos θ- A. Horizontal equivalent
- B. Contour interval
- C. Vertical interval
- D. Contour gradient
Explanation: The horizontal equivalent is the horizontal distance between consecutive contour lines.
Correct answer: Horizontal equivalent- A. Weight of a suspended measuring tape
- B. Travel time or phase change of electromagnetic waves
- C. Difference between two staff readings
- D. Deflection of a magnetic needle
Explanation: EDM instruments send electromagnetic waves to a target and determine distance from their travel time or phase difference.
Correct answer: Travel time or phase change of electromagnetic waves- A. H plus f
- B. H divided by f
- C. f divided by H
- D. f multiplied by H
Explanation: For a vertical photograph over level ground, the representative scale is approximately focal length divided by flying height above the…
Correct answer: f divided by H- A. Ignoring small differences between readings
- B. Applying the same fixed correction once
- C. Using a longer station name
- D. Repeating the measurement and taking the mean
Explanation: Random errors vary in magnitude and sign, so repeated independent observations can partly cancel when their mean is used.
Correct answer: Repeating the measurement and taking the mean- A. Shoelace formula
- B. Bowditch method
- C. Double meridian distance method
- D. Rise and fall method
Explanation: The shoelace formula computes polygonal area from the ordered eastings and northings by taking cross-products of successive coordinates.
Correct answer: Shoelace formula- A. 15 degrees
- B. 30 degrees
- C. 45 degrees
- D. 60 degrees
Explanation: A well-conditioned triangle has angles that allow accurate plotting and checking, with no angle less than about 30 degrees or greater than…
Correct answer: 30 degrees- A. Exactly 90 degrees
- B. Exactly 180 degrees
- C. More or less than 180 degrees
- D. More or less than 360 degrees
Explanation: In the absence of local attraction, fore and back bearings differ by 180 degrees.
Correct answer: More or less than 180 degrees- A. Sum of BS plus sum of FS equals last RL
- B. Sum of BS minus sum of FS equals last RL
- C. Sum of BS plus sum of FS equals first RL minus last RL
- D. Sum of BS minus sum of FS equals last RL minus first RL
Explanation: The arithmetic check is ΣBS minus ΣFS = last reduced level minus first reduced level.
Correct answer: Sum of BS minus sum of FS equals last RL minus first RL- A. Make the table parallel to its former position
- B. Measure the length of a ray
- C. Determine the reduced level of a point
- D. Locate the magnetic meridian directly
Explanation: Backsighting rotates the table until a previously plotted line aligns with the corresponding ground line.
Correct answer: Make the table parallel to its former position- A. A horizontal axis by 90 degrees
- B. A horizontal axis by 180 degrees
- C. A vertical axis by 180 degrees
- D. A vertical axis by 360 degrees
Explanation: Transiting, or plunging, turns the telescope about its horizontal axis through 180 degrees.
Correct answer: A horizontal axis by 180 degrees- A. A staff intercept only
- B. A contour interval
- C. An electronically measured distance
- D. A magnetic declination
Explanation: A total station combines electronic angle measurements with an electronically measured slope distance.
Correct answer: An electronically measured distance- A. Systematic error
- B. Cumulative error
- C. Instrumental constant error
- D. Random error
Explanation: Random errors vary in sign and magnitude, so repeated observations may partly cancel through averaging.
Correct answer: Random error- A. Planimeter
- B. Pantograph
- C. Clinometer
- D. Reflecting prism
Explanation: A planimeter measures the area enclosed by an irregular boundary on a map or plan.
Correct answer: Planimeter- A. Ground nadir is always marked
- B. Camera optical axis meets the photograph
- C. Horizon line crosses the photograph
- D. Aircraft flight path meets the ground
Explanation: The principal point is the intersection of the camera's optical axis with the photograph.
Correct answer: Camera optical axis meets the photograph- A. n × 180°
- B. (n + 2) × 180°
- C. (n − 2) × 180°
- D. (2n − 1) × 180°
Explanation: For a closed polygonal traverse, the interior angle sum is (n − 2) × 180°.
Correct answer: (n − 2) × 180°- A. D = kc ÷ s
- B. D = k + cs
- C. D = s ÷ (k + c)
- D. D = ks + c
Explanation: The stadia distance equation is D = ks + c, where k is the multiplying constant, s is the staff intercept and c is the additive constant.
Correct answer: D = ks + c