Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics (12th Edition) [Hardcover]

Charles D. Ghilani (Author), Paul R. Wolf (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 013615431X | ISBN-13: 978-0136154310 | Publication Date: January 10, 2008 | Edition: 12

Updated throughout, this highly readable best-seller presents basic concepts and practical material in each of the areas fundamental to modern surveying (geomatics) practice. Its depth and breadth are ideal for self-study. Includes a new Chapter 16 on Kinematic GPS. Features several new sections on machine control, localization of GPS surveys, and construction staking using GPS added to Chapters 16, 19, and 23. Moves Astronomical observations chapter to Appendix C to reflect that in recent years, kinematic GPS has replaced astronomical observations for position and azimuth.  Emphasizes total stations as the instruments for making angle and distance observations. A useful reference for civil engineers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

ELEMENTARY SURVEYING:

An Introduction to Geomatics

Twelfth Edition

Charles D. Ghilani and Paul R.Wolf

 

 

"The material in the text is accurate and current. It is refreshing to have access to a textbook that is current with technological advances. The topice covered were covered well and organized effectively." - MARLEE A. WALTON, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

 

"It is a good beginning/intermediate text on surveying. I like the GPS-related chapters. Good job." - DOUGLAS E. SMITH, MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

 

" Elementary Surveying is a great textbook for teaching, but it is also a great reference book for surveyors, engineers, and contractors." - CRAIG S. MOORE, VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY

About the Author

Dr. Charles Ghilani is a Professor of Engineering in the B.S. Surveying Engineering and A.S. Surveying Technology programs at Penn State. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.S. degree in mathematics and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has been involved in education since 1974; teaching at various levels from elementary through graduate school.

Dr. Ghilani has received numerous awards including: a Campus Innovation Award (1991) and Professional Development Award (1994), P.S.L.S. presidential commendation in 1990, Outstanding Club Advisor in 1992, a Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors in 1995, an American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) fellowship (1999), and the Earle J. Fennell Award (2001) for outstanding service in surveying and mapping education from ACSM. He is a member of the graduate faculty at Penn State and University of Maine.

Dr. Ghilani is a member of the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping, the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, and the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors. Dr. Ghilani has authored several professional publications, including Adjustment Computations: Statistics and Least Squares in Surveying and GIS, 5th Edition, and Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics, 13th Edition.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 960 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 12 edition (January 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013615431X
• ISBN-13: 978-0136154310
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wolf: Elementary Surveying (an educator's point of view), August 24, 2000

By 

R. B. Skaggs (Laramie, Wyoming) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary Surveying (Hardcover)

As an educator of over 20 years, I have used many elementary texts on surveying. This is by far the most comprehensive and easy to understand book for the student wishing to learn from the basics to advanced surveying topics. One of the things that I like about this book is that I have found it is applicable to both the on campus courses at the University of Wyoming as well as the off campus courses that we offer to experienced, practicing surveyors around the country. The topics are just as suited for my students in Florida as they are in New York, California, Mississippi or Hawaii, and that's saying a lot since the laws are different in all regions of the country. I have found that using this book has been very easy to present material useful to students taking the classes in any state while preparing for the FLS or LS exam, because it covers the topics to about the right amount of depth as the exam expects the examinee to comprehend. The only downfall of the book as I see it is that there are numerous wrong answers (in the back of the book)to the selected homework problems that answers are provided for. This can be frustrating at times as you can imagine. If you can find me, I'd be happy to forward a list of these erroneous answers, and the correct answers. This might be very useful for other educators. As per the rules of posting reviews, I can't put my email address on here. Bummer.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars surveying : The foundations of surveying explained., January 2, 2000

By 

Jonathan Macrae "jammac" (Perth, australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elementary Surveying (Hardcover)

Surveying is the foundation of all of civilisations. The world would not be the same without the methods of surveying used by proffessionals.

This book was an essential refference during my study at university and is still used in my professional carrer.

From the first page you will be learning varrious ellements of surveying. The explination of fundumental elements of surveying methods and the changes to surveying caused by technology are explained at the start to give a foundation from which to work from. The different types of surveying is explained in good detail covering the concepts of bearings, angle measurement and lots of others. The covering of work related area's and problems are discussed and covered. This includes curves and roads, mapping and photogrammetry along with sections relating to area and volume determination.

There is numerous pictures, illustrations and diagrams used to show the equipment and show the concepts covered.

If I was starting my education in surveying or wishing to have a good refference then this should be reccomended as a text worth holding in your library.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Way too many errata for a recommendation, June 26, 2005

By 

L. Knight - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics, 10th Edition (Hardcover)

I have been using this book for six months in two different courses, and have nearly completed it.

While the content is fine, the number of errata in this book should not be tolerated.

On the book's web page, numerous errata are listed, but there are many more that have not been reported or compiled. While trying to study this book, the errata keep getting in the way of understanding the material, as there are wrong equations, bad tables, etc.

This book is in its tenth printing, and it is simply inexcusable that this many errata are allowed to remain in the book after so many printings.

Another reviewer (an educator who has the edition with answers in the back) mentioned the number of incorrect answers in the educators edition as well.

So, if you have a choice, look elsewhere for an elementary surveying text. The authors and/or publishers of this one obviously do not care enough to correct the numerous errors which confuse the student.