Project 3.4.

1 B Control Survey

Introduction
You already know that it is important to locate any new development accurately. In the construction phase of a project,
many activities require the accurate determination of elevation the site must be graded to provide adequate drainage,
the elevation of the building must be properly set, pipes must be installed at appropriate elevations to meet existing pipe
connections and allow gravity flow and to avoid frost damage, etc. Improper placement can be disastrous. How can you
make sure that the new construction is built at the appropriate elevation? To provide an accurate reference point within
easy access, a temporary benchmark is often set on the site. This control point must be securely placed and well
documented.

In this activity you will set a new temporary benchmark by completing a level loop from an existing control point to a
new temporary benchmark and establishing an accurate elevation.

Equipment
Pencil
Field Note Sheet
Control Data Sheet
Level or auto level
Leveling rod
100 ft measuring tape
Surveyors field notebook
(Optional) Handheld GPS unit

Procedure
The construction contractor for a new commercial facility has hired your firm to set a temporary benchmark on the
construction site. Using the available surveying equipment, establish the elevation of a temporary benchmark by
running a level loop from a known vertical control point.

1. Complete field notes to document your survey. Include a sketch.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 3.4.1B Control Survey Page 1
 2. Check the accuracy of the survey by calculating the closure error in the field notes. Label the error and
circle the error value.
3. Calculate the allowable closure error. Compare the actual closure error to the allowable error.
4. If the closure error is not within the allowable limit, discuss the results with your instructor. You may
need to rerun the survey.

5. If available, use a handheld GPS unit to determine approximate horizontal coordinates to help with
locating the control point if lost.
6. Document your control point on the Control Data Sheet. Be sure to include a drawing (created
electronically). Locate the control point from three permanent markers (if possible). An example control data
document is shown below.

Deliverables
Submit your final documentation, which will include the following.
1. A letter of transmittal to the construction contractor indicating transmittal of the Control Data Sheet for
his use. You may want to do some research to learn about letters of transmittal.
2. The completed Control Data Sheet.
3. Field notes for the level loop including a closure error check.

Conclusion
1. Why is it important to complete a loop when setting a vertical control point?

2. In addition to calculating the closure error, how can you use the sum of the foresights and the sum of the
backsight to ensure that the arithmetic has been performed correctly?
Leveling is more accurate since elevation differences are measured not calculated. Two readings
are taken at each position of the automatic level: a backsight towards a station located before the level on the traverse
and a foresight to the next station on the traverse. Thus the stadia rod occupies two stations, before and after the level
on the survey. The difference in elevation between successive stations if the difference between the backsight and the

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 3.4.1B Control Survey Page 2
foresight read from the stadia rod. For each position of the level, the lengths of the foresights and backsights
should be approximately the same since accuracy is a function of the distance of a sighting. The level operator
should anticipate the distance to the next station and set up the level midway along this distance (note: the
distance that can be sighted decreases with increase in slope, since the stadia rod will disappear above or below
the level line of sight). The lengths of backsight and foresight can be paced by the rod person or measured by the
interval between the upper and lower cross hairs (tachymetry).
http://uregina.ca/~sauchyn/geog411/topographic_surveying.html

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Project 3.4.1B Control Survey Page 3