The basic principle of surveying are
i. Working from whole to part
ii. Location of a point by measurement from two control points
The principles of surveying are explained below:
I. Working from whole to part:
According to this principle when area is to be surveyed first a system of control points is to be established covering the whole area with high precision then minor details are located by less precise method.
The main objective of working from whole to part is to prevent accumulation of errors and to localize minor errors within the frame of centered point.

II. Location of a point by measurement from two control points
According to this principle the relative position of a point to be surveyed should be located by measurement from at least two points of reference the position of which have already been fixed.

Here, P and Q are control points and R is to be surveyed.