Surveying is the backbone of Civil Engg. Without surveying no Civil Engg. project can be accomplished. Surveying is the first step for initiating any Civil Engg. project. The success of any Civil Engg. project, be it Highway Project, Irrigation Project, a Construction Project, an Environmental Engg. Project, a Water Resource Project or any project, depends on how accurately the initial surveying has been done. In other words, accuracy of surveying decides the degree of precision of the Civil Engg. Project.

                       Surveying, probably started from the dawn of civilization of human existence. In the primeval days the ancient people used to live in jungles by constructing hutments. during those days when they wanted to move out of their huts, they used to measure the distances by steps or paces, and direction from a fixed point/line. Gradually they learnt the use of chains and tapes for distances and angles/direction from a given fixed line.

                          With the advancement of civilization and increase in knowledge. They learnt better methods and devices for the measurement of distances and directions. People learnt the use of steel tapes, invar tapes and tachometers. They also knew the method of ranging, alignment and calculation of long distances. The persons who learnt about these methods of observation, measurement and calculation were known as Surveyors.

                          Surveyors learnt the art of measurements of elevation. Relative elevation and absolute elevation or undulation in the terrain were elaborately and precisely determined by Surveyors. Thus the relative position of points in rolling or hilly terrains were found out and these points were precisely recorded. They devised various methods of representing relief and relative elevations. For measurement of elevations, a dater was needed, and for this Survey Of India(S.O.I.) determined Mean Sea Level(M.S.L.) and established a G.T.S. Bench Mark at Karachi, and there after at Bombay, after independence.

                          The development and researches in the field of Conventional ground surveying were being done at a very past pace. The art of measurement and plotting continued at a very past pace. Sophisticated instruments like Electronic theologize, Electronic Distance Measurement(EDM) instruments, Total stations etc. were devised and perfected for accurate measurement of distances angles, elevation and coordinates.

                          Though conventional ground surveying is very much improved and accurate maps can be prepared and used successfully in the projects, still there are many problems and handicaps due to the hazards of the weather. During winter, at certain places it is very cold, during summer season it is very hot at certain places, during monsoon also it is not possible to carry out an outdoor surveying work