---
title: "Advantages and disadvantages of plane tabling"
subject: "Surveying I"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_3/surveying_i:advantages-disadvantages-plane-table"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/surveying_i/advantages-disadvantages-plane-table
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Advantages and disadvantages of plane tabling

Surveying I · Chapter 6: Plane Table Survey

- Asked in: 2066 Jestha, 8 marks; 2074 Asoj, 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Advantages & Disadvantages of Plane Table Surveying](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqSxI-dBu40) — Learn Civil Tech & Tricks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/surveying_i/advantages-disadvantages-plane-table
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/surveying_i/chapter-6

## Question

Write the advantages and disadvantages of plane table survey.

## Short answer

Advantages: fieldwork and plotting done together, so mistakes are caught on site; no angular booking; not affected by local attraction when oriented by back-sighting; quick for small-scale maps. Disadvantages: unsuitable in bad weather, heavy to carry, less accurate than theodolite surveys, plan cannot be redrawn to a different scale, and paper shrinkage may occur.

## Answer

**Advantages**
- Fieldwork and plotting are done together, so omissions and mistakes are detected on the spot.
- Contours and details can be drawn directly by looking at the ground.
- Less field book work; no angular booking is needed.
- Not affected by local attraction when oriented by back-sighting.
- Quick and economical for small and medium-scale maps.
- Inaccessible points can be plotted by intersection and resection.
- Needs less skill than theodolite surveying and the instruments are simple.

**Disadvantages**
- Not suitable in rainy, windy, foggy weather or in thick forest and built-up areas where intervisibility is poor.
- Instruments are heavy and many accessories must be carried; difficult to transport.
- Less accurate than a theodolite survey for large areas; accuracy depends on drawing quality.
- The whole work depends on the plan only; a plan cannot be re-drawn to a different scale from field data as there are no field notes.
- Paper may shrink or expand with weather.
- Plotting is done in the field, so work stops in bad weather, and an unskilled person may make a poor drawing.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why are errors and omissions less likely in plane tabling?
   A. Fieldwork and plotting are done together, so the plan is compared with the ground on the spot
   B. Angles are measured to the nearest second
   C. The paper never changes size
   D. Several verniers are read at each station
   Answer: A. Simultaneous plotting and observation allows immediate checking. (Key point: Advantage)

2. Which is a disadvantage of plane tabling?
   A. Large amount of angular booking is needed
   B. Not suitable in rainy, windy or foggy weather or in thick forest and built-up areas
   C. The compass needle cannot be used at all
   D. It requires more skill than a theodolite
   Answer: B. Weather and poor intervisibility limit its use. (Key point: Disadvantage)

3. Why can the plan not be re-drawn to a different scale from the field data?
   A. The sheet is always printed at fixed scale
   B. Distances are not measured at all
   C. The work depends on the plan only; there are no field notes
   D. The alidade can only plot one scale
   Answer: C. Since nothing is booked, the original sheet is the only record. (Key point: No field notes)

4. How does accuracy of plane tabling compare with a theodolite survey for large areas?
   A. It is more accurate because plotting is direct
   B. It is equally accurate
   C. It is accurate only if the paper is wet
   D. It is less accurate and depends on drawing quality
   Answer: D. Graphical plotting limits accuracy, and paper may also shrink or expand. (Key point: Accuracy)

## Related in Surveying I

- [Methods of plane table survey](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Amethods-of-plane-table-survey) — Surveying I, chapter 6, asked 6×
- [Working principle of plane table survey](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aworking-principle-plane-table) — Surveying I, chapter 6
- [Intersection versus resection in plane tabling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aintersection-vs-resection-plane-table) — Surveying I, chapter 6
- [Two-point resection in plane tabling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Atwo-point-resection-plane-table) — Surveying I, chapter 6
- [Orientation in plane tabling; reliable method](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aorientation-more-reliable-method) — Surveying I, chapter 6, asked 2×
- [Plane table principles; orientation by back sighting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aorientation-back-sighting) — Surveying I, chapter 6, asked 4×