Surveying

Academic unit or major

Undergraduate major in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Instructor(s)

Wataru Nakanishi / Yasuhito Niina / Itoe Wakasugi

Class Format

Lecture (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

3-4 Mon (W5-106) / 3-4 Thu (W5-106)

Class

-

Course Code

CVE.M203

Number of credits

200

Course offered

2026

Offered quarter

4Q

Syllabus updated

Sep 28, 2026

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course provides a comprehensive overview of surveying techniques, which form the basis for the planning, design and construction of social infrastructure. Firstly, it covers the history of surveying, fundamental concepts such as coordinate systems, the theory of errors, and methods for processing measurement data. Secondly, it provides an overview of surveying techniques as a branch of spatial information science, which has seen the increasing adoption of digital technology, including Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS), digital photogrammetry, laser surveying, GIS and remote sensing. By providing an overview of surveying—a fundamental technology in civil and environmental engineering—whilst incorporating examples of the application of the latest technologies, this course aims to develop students’ basic expertise in this field.

Course description and aims

By taking this course, students will acquire the following skills.
1) Be able to explain the history of the development of surveying and spatial information technologies.
2) Be able to explain methods of representing the position of features, such as coordinates systems.
3) Be able to explain the errors arising from measurement and the handling of measurement data containing such errors.
4) Be able to explain recent surveying and spatial information technologies, such as GNSS, GIS, laser surveying and remote sensing.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

A surveyor from a surveying firm explains the latest surveying techniques, using practical examples from the field.

Keywords

Surveying, Error analysis, Data processing, Photogrammetry, Laser measurement, GNSS, GIS, Remote sensing

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The course will generally be taught in a lecture format. Demonstrations and the viewing of images and videos will be incorporated as appropriate. Students will deepen their understanding through report assignments. The course will conclude with a final examination.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None required

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Materials will be given by the instructor.

Evaluation methods and criteria

(1) The fundamentals and terrestrial surveying modules will be taught by a member of the department’s academic staff (Nakanishi), and assessment will consist of 20% report(s) and 80% final examination.
(2) The applied surveying and latest spatial information technology modules will be taught by practitioners (Niina and Wakasugi), and assessment will consist of 50% report(s) and 50% final examination.

The examinations for (1) and (2) will be held together during the 15th (final) class. The marks for (1) and (2) will be weighted on a 1:1 basis to form the final mark.

Related courses

• CVE.M230 Practice in Surveying

Prerequisites

No prerequisites