This research systematically examines traditional methodologies commonly utilized in topographic surveying; alongside innovative techniques developed through advancements in emerging technologies. It delves into the technical principles underlying these approaches, highlights their key advantages, and introduces a simplified surveying method specifically designed for public application. The feasibility and practicality of this simplified method have been rigorously evaluated. By employing tools and datasets that are more accessible and easier to process compared to conventional approaches, the proposed method achieves a measurement accuracy with an error margin of ± 0.064 m, fully complying with the tolerance thresholds established by MLIT standards. Furthermore, this method exhibits notable advantages in applications such as vegetation distribution analysis. Most importantly, it can enhance public involvement, fostering greater participation in essential domains such as terrain management, environmental monitoring, and coastal erosion assessment. We thought this approach represents a practical and effective means of integrating public efforts into topographic surveying practices.