This edition of Elementary Surveying has been considerably expanded, to conform with the actual content of surveying courses now being given to students in geology, forestry, and all engineering curricula other than civil engineering. Ample material is also included for the courses offered to civil engineering students at many colleges and universities.
The book has been completely rewritten and extensively rearranged. Greater emphasis is placed upon the theory of errors and optics, the use of significant figures, and practical field methods.
All chapters presuppose that essentially engineering and surveying involve practical operations, not theoretical and academic manipulations of numbers. Proper field procedures to obtain a desired precision are stressed. Although little time is available in most modern curricula for drill on techniques, the classroom work must be supplemented by demonstrations on the part of the instructor, and student practice in the field.
Engineers, architects, geologists, and foresters must be able to make measurements and to analyze the precision and accuracy of the results obtained by other people. They should also be qualified to properly locate and set machinery; to lay out houses, buildings, and other common structures; and to understand and prepare simple topographic maps. Each of these skills is discussed in this edition.
Considerations of economy are introduced in the text in order that the student will be more likely to associate this important factor with the theory learned in later courses. All surveying is a constant fight to eliminate or isolate errors and mistakes. In each chapter the student is reminded of this point, through lists of typical errors and mistakes. Also, methods of checking field and office work are accented.
The chapters are arranged in the order found most convenient at the various colleges with which the authors are familiar.