Types of Chains and Tapes in Civil Surveying Engineering

Types of Surveying Chains

Following are the various types of chain in common use:

1. Metric chains
2. Steel band or Band chain
3. Gunter's chain or surveyors chain
4. Engineers chain
5. Revenue chain

1. Metric Chain:

• Metric chains are made in lengths 20m and 30m. Tallies are fixed at every five-meter length and brass rings are provided at every meter length except where tallies are attached.

2. Gunter’s Chain

• Length = 66’ (22 yards), No of links = 100, Each link = .66’
• Used for measuring distances in miles or furlongs (220 yards), acres (Area).

3. Engineer’s Chain

• Length = 100’, No of links = 100, Each link = 1’
• Used in all Engineering Surveys.

4. Revenue Chain

• Length = 33’, No of links = 16
• Commonly used for measuring fields in cadastral Survey.

Types of Measuring Tapes in Surveying

Tapes are made of different materials:

1. Cloth or linen tape

• Used for subsidiary measurements
• Very light, easy to handle
• May effect by moisture

2. Metric steel tape

• Made of steel
• Outer end is provided with a ring for holding

3. Invar tape

• Used for high precision work
• Made of alloy steel

4. Synthetic tape

• Made of glass fiber with PVC coating
• These are used for short measurements