Unit Outline

The fundamental role of a surveyor is to measure and map urban and natural environments using specialist equipment and geometric computations. In this unit, you will learn about the fundamentals of surveying data collection, reduction and analysis techniques employed across all sectors of the profession. During the semester, you will develop theoretical and technical knowledge alongside the practical, field-based skills required to undertake basic surveying tasks. The unit will introduce you to fundamental surveying topics such as introduction to specialist instrumentation; basic data collection methodologies; measurement of length, direction and angles; statistical and error analysis of measurement data. In this unit, you are given multiple opportunities to implement your technical and theoretical knowledge via weekly practical classes where you will use levels and total stations to undertake basic survey tasks and solve simple real-world problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Apply survey methodologies to collect spatial data.
2	Analyse survey data using a range of computational methodologies.
3	Appraise error sources that affect survey outcomes.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Practical classes are now scheduled after seminars and later in the week.

Assessment instructions have been revised/clarified.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Levelling Practical Test	Week 4	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Levelling Survey Reports	Week 4	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Basic Survey Techniques Reports	Week 7	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Join and Radiation Survey Reports	Week 10	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 5:	Traverse Survey Reports	Week 13	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 6:	Total Station Practical Test	Week 13	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Levelling Practical Test

Task Description:

You will have 1.5 hours of class time in week 4 to complete a short level run, reduce your observations, determine and distribute the misclose and explain the error sources in your survey.

This assessment is a unit hurdle task.

Task Length:

1.5 hours of practical, computational and written tasks.

Due Date:

Week 4 (19/Feb/2026)

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect survey data using a level.	LO1
2	Collect survey data using standard levelling procedures.	LO1
3	Reduce levelling data using standard computational techniques.	LO2
4	Assess and correct errors in the survey data.	LO2, LO3
5	Explain error theory relevant to levelling surveys.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Levelling Survey Reports

Task Description:

Over a series of 3 practical classes you will use basic levelling equipment to collect field survey data and then apply fundamental computational techniques to reduce the data and determine height values.Error analysis of the survey results will be undertaken after the field work and reductions have been completed.

You will submit a portfolio of technical reports describing the instruments, methodology, data reduction, results and analysis of survey data from a series of in-class practical exercises. The portfolio will consist mostly of computational examples and short written analyses.

Task Length:

approximately 4-6 pages of written information, computations and drawings plus appendices

Due Date:

Week 4 (22/Mar/2026)

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect data using survey methodologies.	LO1
2	Compute reductions for measured survey data.	LO2
3	Assess the quality of survey results.	LO3
4	Record survey field notes.	LO1
5	Identify factors that influence the outcomes of surveys.	LO3
6	Collect data using specialist equipment	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Basic Survey Techniques Reports

Task Description:

Over a series of 2 practical classes you will use total stations and tapes to collect angular and distance field survey data and then apply fundamental computational techniques to reduce the data. Error analysis of the survey results will be undertaken after the field work and reductions have been completed.

You will submit a portfolio of technical reports describing the instruments, methodology, data reduction, results and analysis of survey data from a series of in-class practical exercises. The portfolio will consist mostly of computational examples and short written analyses.

Task Length:

approximately 5 pages of written information, computations and drawings plus appendices.

Due Date:

Week 7 (19/Apr/2026)

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect data using survey methodologies.	LO1
2	Compute reductions for measured survey data.	LO2
3	Assess the quality of the survey results	LO3
4	Record field notes.	LO1
5	Identify factors that influence the outcomes of surveys	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Join and Radiation Survey Reports

Task Description:

Over a series of 2 practical classes you will use total stations to collect survey data, then apply computational techniques to reduce the data and solve a series of coordinate-based problems. Error analysis and a review of the survey outcomes will be undertaken after the field work and reductions have been completed.

You will submit a portfolio of technical reports describing the instruments, methodology, data reduction, results and analysis of survey data from a series of in-class practical exercises. The portfolio will consist mostly of computational examples and short written analyses.

Task Length:

approximately 4-6 pages of written information, computations and drawings plus appendices.

Due Date:

Week 10 (10/May/2026)

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect data using survey methods.	LO1
2	Compute reductions for survey data.	LO2
3	Assess the quality of survey results.	LO3
4	Record field notes.	LO1
5	Identify factors that influence the outcomes of surveys.	LO3
6	Collect data using specialist equipment	LO1

Assessment Task 5: Traverse Survey Reports

Task Description:

Over a series of 3 practical classes you will use total stations to collect traverse survey data, then apply computational techniques to reduce the data and determine coordinates of survey marks. Error analysis and a review of the survey outcomes will be undertaken after the field work and reductions have been completed.

You will submit a portfolio of technical reports describing the instruments, methodology, data reduction, results and analysis of survey data from the in-class practical exercises. The portfolio will consist mostly of computational results and short written analyses.

Task Length:

approximately 4 written pages plus tables, figures and appendices.

Due Date:

Week 13 (25/May/2026)

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect data using survey methodologies and equipment	LO1
2	Compute reductions for measured survey data.	LO2
3	Assess the quality of the survey results.	LO3
4	Record survey field notes.	LO1
5	Identify factors that influence the outcomes of surveys.	LO3
6	Collect data using specialist equipment.	LO1

Assessment Task 6: Total Station Practical Test

Task Description:

You will have 2.5 hours to complete a total station survey, reduce your observations, determine and correct the errors and explain the error sources in your survey.

This assessment is a unit hurdle task.

Task Length:

2.5 hours of practical, computational and written tasks

Due Date:

Week 13 (28/May/2026)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect survey data using a total station.	LO1
2	Collect data using standard total station survey procedures.	LO1
3	Reduce distance and angular data using standard computational techniques	LO2
4	Assess and correct errors in the survey data.	LO2, LO3
5	Explain error theory relevant to total station surveys.	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Lane 1 tasks in this unit are the 2x in-person practical tests (i.e. the unit hurdle tasks).

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

You will need to download a copy of the following online PDF-book:

Harvey, B.R. (2017). Survey Computations. School of Surveying and Spatial Information Systems, The University of New South Wales, Sydney.
https://www.sage.unsw.edu.au/sites/sage/files/u112/BRH_Survey_Comps%20textbook.pdf