CM 130: Surveying Methods and Applications

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 90
Lecture Hours : 36
Lab Hours: 54
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 72
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Prerequisite: CM 110.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course covers the theory and practice of plane surveying, use of tools, instruments, materials and methods for measuring distances, angles, elevations, cuts, fills, topographic information, building and civil construction layout. 36 lecture hours, 54 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • Given specific building survey data, demonstrate ability to identify building and civil improvement boundaries.
  • Demonstrate ability to interpret surveying documents including elevations provided on drawings, topographies, grade/cut sheets and survey marking provided on field survey staking and markers.
  • Conduct survey measurements of distances, cuts, fills, and alignment for civil construction sites.
  • Understand the layout of building and civil construction.
  • Apply Differential Leveling techniques.
  • Understand layout of civil improvements on sites.
  • Given actual field survey markers, demonstrate ability to identify and interpret basic field survey data and nomenclature.
  • Analyze survey data, sheets and calculations for accuracy and completeness.
  • Explain and demonstrate proper use of most commonly used surveying tools & materials.

Major Course Content

  1. Use of Survey Tools and Materials

  2. Differential Leveling

  3. Fundamentals of Traverses

  4. Distance Measuring

  5. Area Partitions

  6. Horizontal Curves – Formulas, Calculations, Areas

  7. Legal Descriptions and Rules of Boundary Construction

  8. State Plane Coordinates-Projections, Terminology, Surface To Grid Conversions, Traverse Calculations, Areas

  9. Global Positioning Systems – System Components & Procedures, Error Sources, Applications

  10. Construction Field Survey Markers

  11. Construction Staking Procedures

  12. Establishing Line and Grade

  13. Layout of building foundations and Civil improvements

  14. Establishing stringlines using various techniques

  15. Use of Engineer's Tape

Lab Content

  1. Participate in a construction field surveying Safety Orientation.
  2. Learn the proper and safe use of surveying tools and equipment
  3. Perform a Differential Leveling project in teams.
  4. Establishing basic construction staking for a pipeline project
  5. Layout of a basic building foundation.
  6. Learn how to layout survey staking and stringline using various tying techniques 
  7. Estimate an earth volume based on measured elevations.

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Read instructor-assigned articles on the use of Satellites to support modern surveying techniques.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Write a report that addresses the challenges of laying-out the different types of construction projects.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Given basic survey data sheet handouts on a building and/or civil improvement, students will review and identify the basic layout and dimensions.

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture, Online Education Lab, Online Education Lecture