TS ISO 7078

TS ISO 7078 is a terminology standard for the terms used in setting out, measurement and surveying for buildings and civil engineering works. In practical project work, this kind of vocabulary reference helps teams use the same technical language when positions are marked on site, spatial data are measured, and plans or survey records are prepared.

How setting out, measurement and surveying fit together

In general technical use, setting out is the process of transferring design information to the ground so construction can be placed in the correct location. Measurement is the determination of distances, levels, angles and coordinates. Surveying is the broader discipline that gathers and interprets spatial information about land, structures and their relationships. These activities are closely linked in construction, but they serve different purposes: setting out places, measurement verifies, and surveying documents spatial reality.

What this vocabulary standard contributes

The document focuses on the terminology commonly used in these procedures. That matters because surveying and construction work often involve multiple specialists, instruments and deliverables, and consistent terminology reduces ambiguity in drawings, reports and site communication. TS ISO 7078 is therefore best understood as a controlled vocabulary for the field, rather than as a method standard that prescribes field procedures, tolerances or instrument settings.

• Applies to buildings and civil engineering works.
• Covers common terms used in setting out, measurement and surveying.
• Supports consistent interpretation of technical language.
• Serves as a vocabulary reference rather than a procedural standard.