This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)
Module ARCH56530: Principles of Topographic Surveying
Department: Archaeology
ARCH56530: Principles of Topographic Surveying
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 4 | 30 | Not available in 2015/2016 | Durham |
Tied To
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- Students will acquire a theoretical grounding in principles of surveying, and a working knowledge of modern surveying insturments (total stations and GPS equipment) and software packages for data processing and the production of maps.
Content
- Using the library and the internet
- Academic writing skills
- Oral and poster presentation skills, including powerpoint
- Computing and statistics
- Research studentship, grant and job applications including writing C.V.s
- Macroscopic, radiographic, histological and biomolecular methods of analysis, and dating
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
Subject-specific Skills
- Learned the principles of operation of total station and GPS equipment
- Conducted their own field survey of an archaeological site using this equipment
- Learned to process the field data using a range of appropriate software packages
- Become acquainted with the range of Ordnance Survey digital data availavle via the Digimap system
- Produced a professional presentation quality set of site drawings integrating their own survey results with OS data
Key Skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lecutres, fieldwork and practical classes
- Lectures - Instruments and basic field procedures - Co-ordinate systems and control networks - Map Projection
- Practicals - Arcview software for mapping - AutoCAD (x2) - Dedicated surveying software - using Ordnance Survey digital data - Combining field survey results with OS data
- Fieldwork - Total station and GPS survey
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 3 | one a week | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Tutorials | 2 | fortnightly | 1 | 2 | |
| Seminars | 0 | ||||
| Practicals | 6 | 1 or 2 per week | 2:00 | 12 | Yes |
| Fieldwork | 4 | 1 per week | 2:00 | 8 | |
| Preparation & Reading | 0 | ||||
| Other: | 275 | ||||
| Total | 300 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% | Essay | 2,500 words | 50% | |
| Report | 20 pages | 50% |
Formative Assessment
A written description of either a total station of GPS equipment, and a set of drawings based on a small survey carried out under supervision (1500 words maximum).
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.