Topography

Code:

EC0008

Acronym:

TOPO

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Transport Infrastructures

Instance: 2018/2019 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Transport Infrastructures Division
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEC	211	Syllabus since 2006/2007	1	-	6	75	160

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

JUSTIFICATION:
Topography knowledge is mandatory for the education of civil engineers, since they will often use them in their professional activity. The characteristics of the place where a structure will be built are a relevant factor in its conception, typically in the case of roads or railways. In these cases a simple interpretation of topographical data will be not enough because it is also necessary to specify the most appropriate ways to obtain a reality representation that has to be at the same time reliable, easy to understand and simple to handle, store and share among multiple users. Sometimes we may have the inverse problem of materialization of project markings in real space that allow the development of the work, from the early stages of foundation until the final stages of completion, which involves the use of specialized equipment and techniques in the case of large structures.

OBJECTIVES:
- Develop student’s knowledge on reading and comprehension of representations (on hardcopy or digital) of the terrestrial surface;
- Promote the knowledge on elementary quantities and methods, techniques and equipments of observation that allow a description of the place and implementation of construction and its control;
-Identify errors on observations, eliminate their effects, correct and/or compensate them.

Learning outcomes and competences

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Know and describe the elementary topographic quantities;
- Correctly describe the measuring equipment;
- Identify different methods of topographical observation;
- Interpret maps presented in hardcopy or digital support;
- Identify the errors in measurements;
- Evaluate the magnitudes of the land topographic descriptors.

Working method

Presencial

Program

UNIT 1 - Cartography
● Representation of the earth
Surfaces of reference; systems of cartographic projection
● Systems of coordinates;
Geographic coordinates; Plane coordinates; Concept of orientation
● Topographic maps
Representation of topographic information; Concept of scale; Area and volume measurement;
UNIT 2- QUANTITIES AND OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT
● Differential Levels
Observation methods: geometric and trigonometric; Equipments
● Angles
Types of angles; Equipments
● Distances
Direct and indirect methods; equipments; electromagnetic based processes
UNIT 3- CLASSIC OBSERVATION METHODS
● Geometric leveling
Procedures; expedite compensation
● Topographic surveying
Procedures; expedite compensation of closed circuits; implantation by polar coordinates
UNIT 4- TOPOGRAPHIC NETWORK
● Intersections
Types of intersections; simple direct intersection; inverse simple intersection; Hansen problem; multiple intersections
● Traversing
Type of traverse; Calculation and compensation of closed traverse
UNIT 5- Theory of observation errors
● Type of observation errors
Origin of the errors; type of errors
● Random errors
Concept of most probable value; decision parameters; Propagation of accidental errors
● Measurement compensation
Compensation of direct measurement of equal and unequal precision; compensation of indirect and conditioned measurement
UNIT 6- NON CLASSICAL OBSERVATION METHODS
● GPS – Global Positioning System
Overview on GPS; Components of the system; operation; positioning modes; system of coordinates
● Photogrammetric surveying
Aerial photography; photo coordinates; photogrammetric positioning; stereoscopic pairs; Photo triangulation.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE SYLLABUS COHERENCE WITH THE CURRICULAR UNIT'S OBJECTIVES:
Topography knowledge is mandatory for the education of civil engineers, since they will often use them in their professional activity. The characteristics of the place where a structure will be built are a relevant factor in its conception, typically in the case of roads or railways. In these cases a simple interpretation of topographical data will be not enough because it is also necessary to specify the most appropriate ways to obtain a reality representation that has to be at the same time reliable, easy to understand and simple to handle, store and share among multiple users. Sometimes we may have the inverse problem of materialization of project markings in real space that allow the development of the work, from the early stages of foundation until the final stages of completion, which involves the use of specialized equipment and techniques in the case of large structures.

Mandatory literature

Carlos Manuel Rodrigues; Topografia: Aulas teórico-práticas

Complementary Bibliography

José Gonçalves, Sérgio Madeira, J. Sousa; TOPOGRAFIA - Conceitos e Aplicações, Lidel, 2008. ISBN: 978-972-757-485-8
Wolf, Paul R.; Elementary surveying. ISBN: 0-321-01461-8
Schofield, W.; Engineering surveying. ISBN: 0-7506-4987-9
Gaspar, Joaquim Alves; Cartas e projecções cartográficas. ISBN: 972-757-151-4
Casaca, João Manuel Martins; Topografia geral. ISBN: 972-757-135-2

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes will be based on the oral presentation of themes of the course supported by slides. Theoretical-practical classes will be based on problem solving, where students can apply the concepts that have been taught during the semester. 7,5 hours of laboratory classes will be based on laboratory assignments, where students can apply classic methods of surveying using topographic equipment.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE COHERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The applied teaching methodologies are based on the presentation of the subjects and its fundamentals, the exemplification with typically problems using the learned concepts and the execution of field work using topographical equipment in order to properly use the equipment for measurement, correctly apply the methods of topographic observation, calculate numerical values and measuring with the use of topographic maps, calculate the planimetric position of notable points on the ground using the technique of coordinates transporting, calculate corrections and / or compensation of errors in measurements. So, it is expected the developing of results questioning attitudes and the ability to arguing scientifically.

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering > Infrastructures engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Teste	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	15,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	65,00
Total:	65,00

Eligibility for exams

Achieving final classification requires compliance with attendance at the course unit, according to the MIEC assessment rules. It is considered that students meet the attendance requirements if, having been regularly enrolled, the number of absences of 25% for each of the classes’ types is not exceeded.

Calculation formula of final grade

CF = Max {0,75*EX + 0,10*TI +  0,15*TL; 0,85*EX + 0,15*TL}

Where:
CF – Final classification;
EX – Classification of the final exam;
TI – Classification of the individual work (performed during a theoretical class);
TL – Classification of topographic works (geometric leveling and topographic surveying).

The test associated with the classifications TI is optional. If students don’t attend this test, the corresponding weight is added to EX.
Topographic works are mandatory and the improvement of classification is not possible.