College of Engineering

Visayas State University

Baybay, Leyte

GEng 111, Exercise 1

Determination of Pace Factor

TITLE

I. Introduction:When you don't have any measuring device, you can measure a

distance by your own pace factor or by pacing. By this, you can measure a distance by counting your steps (paces). Distance is determined by multiplying the paces by your pace factor. Pace factor is the number of inches or feet per pace. The pace factor is determined by getting the product of the sum of steps by the known value of the line or course. From getting the pace factor by pace or one step, or by the stride or double step, you can use your own pace factor to measure a line or a course.

It is advantage because it is simple and low tech. It does not also require any specialized equipment. While it can be disadvantage because an individuals’ pace factor will change from one day to the next and even with the shoes he/she wore.

II. Objectives:1. To determine the individual pace factor on level and sloping ground.

III. Instruments and Accessories:Steel tape, Markers

IV. Procedure:A. Pace Factor on Level Ground

1. Look for a place having a level ground. Measure 50 meter straight and level course and designate the end points as point A and B.

2. Walk over the course at natural pace with either heel or toe and count the paces made from point B to A, then A to B, until you reach five trials. Record the paces made.

TRIAL LINE LENGTH OF LINE AB

# OF PACES

MEAN # OF PACES

PACE FACTOR

1 AB

50 meters

78

76.6 0.65274152 BA 75.53 AB 77.54 BA 74.55 AB 77.5

B. Pace Factor on Sloping Ground1. Look for a sloping course and measure 25 meters from the end points C & D.2. Walk over the course at natural pace with either heel or toe and count the

paces made from point C to D. Walk only one direction; that is uphill, until you reach five trials. Record the paces made.

TRIAL LINE LENGTH OF LINE AB

# OF PACES

MEAN # OF PACES

PACE FACTOR

1 CD

25 meters

39

37.5 0.66666672 CD 37.53 CD 374 CD 36.55 CD 37.5

V. Computations:A. On Level Ground

B. On Sloping Ground

VI. Discussion: The easiest and quickest way to measure distance is to walk or pace the distance and

record the number of paces. Pacing consists of counting the number of steps, or paces, in required distance. A pace is defined as the length of a step in walking. It may be measured steps; and if the steps are counted, distances can be determined if the length of a step is known. Pacing furnishes a rapid means of checking measurements taken by other methods. It is suitable in determining approximate distance in situations where a low precision of measurement is sufficient. Distances by pacing are sufficiently accurate for small-scale mapping, for locating details and traversing with the plane table, and in reconnaissance surveys. It is also used for many purposes in geology, forestry, engineering, and agriculture.

The first field work done last Tuesday, June 5, 2012, is all about pacing on level grounds in which we are asked to layout the steel tape and as the procedure directs, we measured a 50-meter distance in which every member of the group is to walk along the said length. After five intervals we consequently got the first data needed to determine the individual's pace factor. We measured one pace from toe-to-toe and approximately 0.65m was produced from my data as my pace factor. On the second part of the field work, is the determination of an unknown distance on sloping grounds by the use of pacing. We are asked to layout the steel tape measuring 25-meter distance in which every member of the group is to walk along the said length uphill. After five intervals, we measured one pace still from toe-to-toe and approximately 0.67m was produced as my pace factor.

VII. Conclusion:Therefore, my pace factor has an average of approximately 0.66 meter.

VIII. Sketch:

IX. Questions and Application Problems:1. What is Pacing? State the importance/purpose of conducting pacing.

- Pacing is another way of measuring distance by counting steps/paces. It is very useful in the field of engineering specifically in civil engineering in the field of surveying when you don’t have an instrument or you’ve forgotten to bring a meter tape or any measuring device on the site to be used to measure the length of the course, you can still compute the distance with the help of your own pace factor.

2. What is the accepted precision for measuring distance by pacing? If the computed relative precision of the set of measurement is greater than the accepted precision, what must the pacer do?

- The accepted precision for measuring distance by pacing is 1/300.