Junior Clinic I
Topographic Mapping Around Rowan Hall
Team Members
Amy Ross
David Marks
Charles Emering
Project Managers
Ralph Alan Dusseau, Ph.D., P.E
Carlos Sun, Ph.D. (co-PM)
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Table of Contents
Objective ............................................................................................................................. 3
Freshman Clinic Surveying Module ................................................................................... 4
User Manual for Self Adjusting Levels .............................................................................. 6
How to Create a Topographic Map using Microsoft Excel ................................................ 9
Topographic Surveys ........................................................................................................ 12
Rowan and Wilson Halls Topographic Map ..................................................................... 13
North Side of Rowan Hall (between Pond and Drainage Culvert) ................................... 14
Elevation Profile Between Pond and Drainage Culvert .................................................... 15
References ......................................................................................................................... 16
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Objective
The primary objective of this Junior Engineering Clinic project was to develop a module
for Freshman Clinic I that utilizes a level to develop a topographical map around Rowan
Hall.
The tasks that we performed are as follows:

Used the level to develop two topographical maps: one for the field between
Rowan and Wilson Halls, and one for the field between Rowan Hall and
Bowe Blvd.

Formulated a problem statement for the Freshman Clinic surveying module.

Developed a user's manual that will enable freshmen to accumulate data using
a level.

Developed a user's manual to form a topographic map using Microsoft Excel.

Created a set of lab instructions for the Freshman Clinic surveying module.

Designed a web page that linked our project to people around the world.
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Freshman Clinic Surveying Module

Problem Statement
The Rowan Pond is dirty, as I’m sure you’ve all noticed. This is due to being fed solely
by ground water. This makes for a slow flow through the pond, creating stagnant water.

Possible Solution
A possible solution may be diverting water from the stream into the pond, and then
redirecting it into the culvert and back into the creek further downstream. By
constructing a dam in the creek, we can direct the normal flow of the stream into the
pond. In the event of flooding, a weir cut into the top of the dam would allow overflow
to continue through the old streambed.
At the other of the pond, a pipe would be
installed that would take water from the pond down to the culvert. The water would then
travel back to the stream from here.

Objective
Determine whether running a pipe from the pond to the culvert would successfully
channel water out of the pond.

Method
By doing a topographic survey of the area between the pond and the culvert, you can
determine the elevation of the pond, the culvert, and the land between. This survey can
be done using a direct level or a total station. You will be conducting this topographic
survey using a direct level. The instruction manual for using the direct level will be
provided. The elevation points that are collected in the field can then be entered into
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Excel to create a topographic map. This survey can then be used to determine if water
from the pond will flow into the culvert. Since water flows downhill, the culvert would
need to be lower than the pond.

Other Considerations
If the culvert isn’t lower than the pond, are there any other solutions to the problem?
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User Manual for Self Adjusting Levels

Set up the Tripod
Try to choose a flat area for setting up your tripod, and loosen the wing nuts on each leg
clamp. Keeping the legs together, raise the mounting plate to approximately chin level.
Then tighten the wing nuts so that the legs remain at their new length. Spread the legs so
that the tripod is sturdy and at a height that all group members can see through when the
level is in place. Remove the mounting plate cover by unscrewing the mounting bolt
underneath it.

Set up the Level
Place the level on top of the tripod. Tighten the mounting bolt into the bottom of the
level. To level the level, rotate two leveling pins at the same time in opposite directions
until the bubble is in the center parallel to the two pins. Then rotate the third pin by itself
until the bubble is centered.

Laying out the Grid
The Grid used for the topographic mapping will be laid out in 10-ft intervals. This allows
you to map an accurate topographic survey of the site. The origin of the grid will be at
the intersection of the sidewalk and exit facing Triad Apartments. The one axis will be
labeled alphabetically and the other axis will be labeled numerically. It is important that
the axes be perpendicular. A stake should be driven into the ground at 10-ft intervals
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along each axis. At each gridline intersection place a pin so that an elevation
measurement can be taken.

Reading the Rod
To obtain the reading from the rod, determine where the middle crosshair lies on the rod.
The dimension in feet is the large red number lower than the crosshair. The number of
tenths is the black number below the crosshair. The hundredths dimension can be found
by counting the divisions above the tenth. The pointed ends of the marks are either 0 or 5
hundredths. The tops of all marks are even hundredths, while the bottoms of all marks
are odd hundredths.
Figure 1. Direct Reading Rod
(Moffit 88)
In the picture above, x can be read as 4.11 ft. Y is approximately 4.14, and z is 3.96 ft.

Take the Benchmark
A benchmark is a point of known elevation that has been previously established. Take a
rod reading at the benchmark.
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
Take the Foresight
Foresights are taken at each point.

Calculate Elevation
Take your known elevation, add your rod reading from the back sight, and then subtract
the foresight reading.
Figure 2. Differential Leveling
(Moffit 66)
In figure 2, 7.0ft is the backsight reading at point A and 3.0ft is the foresight reading at
point B. For example, assume the elevation at point A is 150ft.
Elevation at Point B = 150.0ft + 7.0ft – 3.0ft
= 154.0ft
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How to Create a Topographic Map using Microsoft Excel
1. Open Excel
Click Start, Go to Network Applications, Click on Microsoft Excel
2. Load Data
Go to File, Click on Open, Pull Down Menu to Drive A, Click on Topo.xls.
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3. Highlight Data
4. Click on Chart Wizard
5. In Chart Types, Highlight Surface.
6. Highlight Bottom Right Chart Sub-Type: Wireframe Contour.
7. Hit Next.
8. Hit Next again.
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9. Add a Chart Title.
10. Click Next again.
11. Click Finish
12. Click on Chart.
13. Print Preview
Go to File, Click on Print Preview
14. Select Print
Be sure that chart is sent to the correct printer.
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Topographic Surveys
To create a master survey, we conducted a full topographic survey of the fields between
Rowan and Wilson Halls and Rowan Hall and Bowe Blvd. To ensure accuracy we set up
a grid in ten-foot intervals. The field between Rowan and Wilson Halls, which is over
50,000 square feet, took us approximately 15 hours to survey. To improve our efficiency
we developed a faster method to conduct the survey. By using nylon cord marked in tenfoot intervals we were able to complete the field between Rowan Hall and Bowe Blvd in
5 hours. The total square footage of the portion we needed to survey the field is 30,000
square feet.
We surveyed the field between Rowan and Wilson Halls for a proposed amphitheater.
By knowing the topography of the field the amphitheater can be designed for maximum
viewing and listening pleasure.
We needed to survey the other field to determine if it is possible for water to flow from
the pond to the drainage culvert. From our profile we concluded that the culvert is about
one foot lower than the pond. Additionally we found that the site can be surveyed for a
possible freshman clinic project.
Our two topographic maps and the profile are included.
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Rowan and Wilson Halls Topographic Map
Line O
Line N
Line M
Line L
Line K
SIDEWALK
Line J
Line I
Line H
Line G
Line F
Line E
Line D
Line C
Line B
ROWAN HALL
123-124
124-125
125-126
126-127
LINE 39
LINE 37
117-118
LINE 35
LINE 33
LINE 31
116-117
LINE 29
LINE 27
LINE 25
115-116
LINE 23
LINE 21
LINE 19
114-115
LINE 17
LINE 15
LINE 13
113-114
LINE 11
LINE 9
LINE 7
112-113
LINE 5
LINE 3
LINE 1
Line A
118-119
119-120
120-121
1
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North Side of Rowan Hall (between Pond and Drainage Culvert)
Line L
Line K
Line J
Rowan Pond
Line I
Line H
Line G
Line F
Line E
Line D
Line C
Line B
Line A
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
106-107
107-108
108-109
109-110
118-119
119-120
120-121
121-122
110-111
111-112
112-113
113-114
114-115
115-116
116-117
117-118
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Elevation Profile Between Pond and Drainage Culvert
Feet from Pond
36
0
33
0
30
0
27
0
24
0
21
0
18
0
15
0
12
0
90
Series1
60
0
120
118
116
114
112
110
108
106
30
Elevation (ft)
Profile
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References
Moffitt, Francis H., and Bossler, John D. Surveying. New York, New York: AddisonWesley Longman, Inc., 1998.