Surveying Making the Grade ©2004, 2011 Dr. B. C. Paul

Why This Class  ABET requires that Mining Engineers have a basic knowledge of surveying including unique aspects of surveying underground Last topic not commonly available in typical civil engineering courses  This is a One Credit Class It will not make you a professional surveyor (that is a 24 semester hour program to qualify for licensing) Class lecture work is light and will not train you in survey adjustments or special issues This is a hands on course intended make you familiar with how to survey and the instruments that are used to do it.

Approach of the Class  I Lecture on how to do something and introduce the instrument You then do a hands on with using the instrument and then a field lab where you perform some sort of survey with the instrument  I Introduce a variety of instruments so that you will have touched a bunch I may have you changing instruments or doing a few things in a lab that you would not do in a professional survey  Purpose is to get your hands on to instruments and doing things – not necessarily perfectly applied field tasks Repetition of tasks is weak compared to what one would do if really trying to train you to walk out and be a surveyor  (By contrast I had 6 hours of surveying for my degree)

Lab Based Class  1 Credit hour class intended to give you basic understanding needed for working level, non-professional mine site applications  Assignments in this class are Labs and Proficiencies No tests or conventional homework  Class time based on 15 “contact hours” 1 hour lecture = 1 hour 3 hours of field lab work = 1 contact hour This class is considered a lab so I will extract at least 45 hours out of your hides.

Difference Between a Proficiency and a Lab  Proficiency is an individual grade in some specific part of surveying Might be demonstrating instrument set up or angle reading Tend to be 15 minute or less tasks Proficiencies make up 35% of your grade  Labs are done as and graded as groups Involve performing surveys with equipment Can take hours  This is a “do it” class. I explain how or why something is done a certain way. You demonstrate mastery by going out and doing it

Assigning A Grade  Grade is based on % of points possible 90% A 80% B 70% C 60% D <60% now its really getting ugly  Round-up Rule All fractional points round up  89% = B  % = A Attempt to build in some tolerance for less than perfect grading

Group Work  Many tasks in surveying must be done by teams For Proficiency I can ask you individually to demonstrate some skill for me  Individually give you points For Projects you may have only one notebook, only one map  Teams graded on basis of work  Attendance adjustment – if you are not there to do the work – you will loose that part of the points (25%)  Participation adjustment – if its clear that you are not participating you will loose that part of the points (10%) Obviously a little subjective Complaints and observations based Instructors judgment is law

Attendance  Because this is a lab class and much of the work will be done during class Attendance is mandatory  I won’t take role directly but if I check to see if you are participating or have a particular skill and your body (and mind) is not there – you get zapped Don’t count on proficiencies being at the end of a lecture If your team has to work at lousy times because you didn’t show up you’ll get zapped by me and – well maybe we don’t want to discuss what your partner will do to you

Observation  this class plan uses all weeks of the semester No vacations No weather problems No sick time outs  If something goes wrong – you make it up  If your not fast enough to do things in time allowed You do over-time work