Short Answer:
Human errors in surveying occur due to mistakes like wrong reading, poor instrument handling, or carelessness in recording values. These errors are not intentional but can affect the accuracy and reliability of measurements during a survey.
To adjust for human errors, surveyors follow standard procedures, double-check readings, repeat measurements, and maintain focus during fieldwork. Using clear communication, proper training, and regular field checks also helps reduce these mistakes and improve overall survey quality.
Detailed Explanation:
Adjusting for human errors in surveying
Human errors in surveying are mistakes made by the surveyor or assistant while using instruments, recording data, or performing calculations. These errors are generally unintentional and arise from inattention, fatigue, poor communication, or lack of training. Although they are not as predictable as systematic errors, human errors can still be identified and corrected if proper practices are followed.
Surveying requires a high level of care and concentration, as even small mistakes can lead to significant problems like incorrect layout, wrong boundary marking, or elevation mismatch. To ensure that these errors do not impact the final result, surveyors must follow specific methods for adjusting or minimizing human errors.
Types of human errors in surveying
- Reading errors: Misreading the value on an instrument scale or display.
- Recording errors: Writing the wrong number in the field book or computer.
- Handling mistakes: Holding the staff tilted, using an unsteady tripod, or not leveling the instrument properly.
- Communication gaps: Misunderstanding instructions between team members.
- Calculation errors: Mistakes in arithmetic or entering wrong inputs during data processing.
These errors can affect distances, angles, elevations, and the overall quality of the survey work.
Ways to adjust or reduce human errors
- Repeat observations
Measuring the same value more than once and taking the average helps eliminate accidental mistakes. - Use check lines and back sights
Surveyors often remeasure a part of the survey in the opposite direction to confirm the correctness of previous readings. - Maintain a clear and complete field book
Writing neatly and recording data immediately after observation reduces the chance of forgetting or mixing up numbers. - Proper training and awareness
Surveyors must be trained in using instruments correctly and staying alert throughout the survey process. - Use of electronic equipment
Digital instruments like total stations and GPS reduce the chance of manual error during observation and data recording. - Field supervision and teamwork
Supervisors can monitor junior staff and cross-check work. Good teamwork ensures that mistakes are caught early. - Set routines and follow procedures
Standard survey procedures like leveling the instrument properly, centering it on the station, and maintaining sight distances help in avoiding common mistakes. - Avoiding work in poor conditions
Tiredness, low light, or bad weather can increase the chance of mistakes. Work should be planned during suitable conditions. - Use of data entry validation tools
In digital data collection, software can be used to check values automatically and prevent wrong inputs. - Immediate corrections
When an error is identified, surveyors should correct the affected part immediately instead of adjusting the next readings based on the mistake.
Surveying also includes field note reviews at the end of each day to verify that all readings make sense and follow a logical pattern.
Conclusion:
Adjusting for human errors in surveying involves being careful, repeating checks, and using proper methods and instruments. Since these errors come from human actions, discipline, teamwork, and good habits play a big role in reducing them. By staying alert, following standard practices, and verifying results, surveyors can avoid costly mistakes and ensure accurate survey data.