The main object of shore line survey is to prepare a topographical map of the shore line.

i. Determination or delineation of shore lines. ii. Location of the shore-line details prominent topographical features to which soundings may be connected. iii. Location of light houses, churches, temples, etc. to be used as reference points later. iv. Determination of high and low water lines for average spring sides.

 Location of the shore line is usually done by following method Chain survey Plane table survey Compass survey The shore line elevation is located by a level party as a trace contour.

The details are generally located by the tacheometry survey or the plane table survey. All irregularities in shore line should be located accurately. All prominent features of topography and man-made features which are clearly visible from the water surface are selected as reference points i.e. temples, churches, light houses, wind mills, flag poles, etc. and their locations are plotted precisely. This features can be used as references in range lines and sounding work.

 Method of shore line survey The determination or delineation of shore lines is done by traversing along the shore and taking offsets to the water edge by tape or plane table or stadia method. If the river is narrow,both the banks may be located by running a single line of traverse on one bank. For wide rivers, traverse may be run along both the banks. The traverse should be connected at convenient intervals to check the work.[Refer fig.1]

 Method of shore line survey The two traverse XY and X1Y1 along the two opposite banks may be checked by taking observation from A and B to the points C and D. When the instrument is at A, angles CAB and DAB can be measured. When the instrument at B, angles ABC and ABD can be measured. From the measured length of AB and the four angles, the length CD can be calculated.

Method of shore line survey If this length equal to the length of RS,the work is checked. In the case of tidal water, it is necessary to locate the high and low water lines. Determination of high - water line is done by locating the points on the shore at the time of high tides. These points can be easily located from the visible marks on permanent rocks after the high tide has subsided.

Method of shore line survey The imaginary line connecting all such points is the high water line. Determination of low water line is rather difficult because the low water line does not remain exposed for a long period. The low water line is usually determined indirectly by interpolation from sounding.

References:- Book of survey (R.B.Khasiya)