Surveying and Geographic Information Systems

Code:

L.EC010

Acronym:

TSIG

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Complementary Sciences/Technologies

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.EC	182	Syllabus	1	-	6	58,5	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

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

Knowledge and Understanding
- Know and describe the elementary topographic quantities to be observed;
- Describe correctly the measuring equipments;
- Identify the different methods of topographic observation;
- Interpret topographic maps produced in paper or digital support;
- Identify the errors committed in measurements;
- Evaluate the topographical quantities that describe the terrain.

Engineering Analysis
- Organize a procedure of surveying information collection using different types of equipment;
- Distinguish and select the most adequate topographic observation method;
- Process and analyse data concerning the topographical quantities observed.

Engineering Design
- Develop solutions in different engineering contexts based on the fundamentals learned.

Engineering Practice
-Use measuring equipment correctly;
- Use surveying observation methods correctly;
- Calculate numerical values and perform measurements using topographic maps;
- Calculate the planimetric position of remarkable points of the terrain, applying the coordinate transport techniques.
- Calculate corrections and/or compensations for errors committed in measurements;
- Combine the information collected in the field work in order to produce topographic maps;
- Design an implantation plan on the terrain of the defining points of the geometry of a work.

Making Judgments
-Develop attitudes of questioning the results obtained as well as the ability to argue based on scientific grounds.

Communication and Team Work
-Communicate effectively in a team context based on the general knowledge acquired and for different professional actors.

Life Long Learning
-Develop skills with autonomy adjusted to the professional reality.

Working method

Presencial

Program

UNIT 1 - REPRESENTATION OF THE EARTH

• Reference surfaces: Geoid; Ellipsoid; Sphere; Plane.
• Systems of coordinates: Geographical coordinates; Plane coordinates.
• Cartographic projection systems.

 

UNIT 2- TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

• Representation of topographical information.
• Areas measurement.
• Volumes measurement.
• Digital Terrain Models.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

 

UNIT 3 - QUANTITIES AND OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT

• Differential Levels: Observation methods; Equipment.
• Angles: Types of angles; Equipment.
• Distances: Direct and indirect methods; Electromagnetic processes; Equipment.

 

UNIT 4 - CLASSIC OBSERVATION METHODS

• Geometric levelling: Procedures; Expedite compensation.
• Topographic surveying: Procedures; Expedite compensation of closed circuits; Implantation by polar coordinates.

 

UNIT 5 - TOPOGRAPHIC NETWORK

• Rectangular coordinate problems.
• Irradiation.
• Triangulation.
• Intersections - Simple direct intersection. Simple inverse intersection.
• Traversing: Types of traverse; Calculation and compensation of closed traverse.

 

 

UNIT 6 - NON-CLASSICAL OBSERVATION METHODS

• Global Positioning System (GPS): General characterization; Operating principle; Observation modes; Procedures.
• Aerophotogrammetric survey: Basic elements; Stereoscopic view; Pairs of photographs; Restitution.

 

UNIT 7 - OBSERVATION ERRORS

• Types of observation errors: Origin of errors; Types of errors.
• Random errors: Most probable value; Precision parameters; Propagation of accidental errors.
• Compensation of direct measurements of equal and unequal precision.
• Conditional measurements: Examples.

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, António Júlio Afonso de Vasconcelos; Topografia na Engenharia Civil - Conceitos e Métodos, 2023
Carlos Manuel Rodrigues; Topografia e Sistemas de Informação Geográfica - Exercícios, 2025

Complementary Bibliography

José Gonçalves, Sérgio Madeira, J. Sousa; TOPOGRAFIA - Conceitos e Aplicações, Lidel, 2008. ISBN: 978-972-757-485-8
Casaca, João Manuel Martins; Topografia geral. ISBN: 972-757-135-2
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

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 hours of laboratory classes will be based on laboratory assignments, where students can apply classical and non-classical methods of surveying using topographic equipment, namely total stations and GPS devices.

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.

Software

QGIS

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering > Infrastructures engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Teste	12,50
Trabalho laboratorial	12,50
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	52,00
Trabalho laboratorial	6,50
Estudo autónomo	103,50
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Calculation formula of final grade

CF = Máx {0,75*EX + 0,15*TI + 0,10*TL; 0,9*EX + 0,10*TL}


Where:
CF – Final classification;
EX – Classification of the final exam;
TI – Classification of the individual work;
TL – Classification of topographic works.

The evaluation component associated with TI classification is optional.
The evaluation component associated with TL classification is mandatory and the improvement of classification is not possible.