S.K.A.K.

D Samaraweera CE2006
150347 Assignment 02

OBJECTIVES

a. Understand the concepts of setting out of a building.

b. Setting out the foundation of a building on the ground using given
instruments.

PRINCIPLE OF SETTING OUT

Whole to part setting out was done based on the principle of whole to part
in order to that errors and mistakes of one portion do not affect the remaining
portion.

Accordingly outline of the foundation trench was marked first and then
the inner line of the foundation trench was marked.

INTRODUCTION

Setting out is the process of transferring the distances, bearing,

coordinates from a plan which was already prepared to the ground before the
beginning of a construction. Plan was designed and prepared to give a correct
position of setting out on the ground. Setting out also means the privation of
marks, levels, profiles and other information which will enable other members
of the construction team to carry out their works.

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S.K.A.K.D Samaraweera CE2006
150347 Assignment 02

LOCATION

At Viharamahadevi park in front of town hall, Colombo.

EQUIPMENTS USED

Tape
Poles
Pegs
Hammer
Marking tread

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S.K.A.K.D Samaraweera CE2006
150347 Assignment 02

PORCEDURE

11.8 m

0.9 cm

10 m

7.8 m
6m

Setting out the outer line

According to the given plan (fig 01) It was required to mark the lines of
foundation for a room size 10m x 6m with the trench of 0.9 on the ground. First
a Suitable place for the purpose was selected. Next using the tape, the length
of the line AB = 11.8 m was measured and two pegs were placed at the points
A and B. As the angle BAD is a right angle to mark the right angle at A method
of 3,4,5 was used.

Fig 02

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S.K.A.K.D Samaraweera CE2006
150347 Assignment 02

3,4,5 method ,
This is a method used in surveying to mark a right angle when there is only tape
and poles. For the purpose three persons are needed. As shown in fig 02 three
persons are in three points of a triangle each person having the distance of 3m
,4m, 5m in between them. Then the angle at the person 1 (fig 02) will be a right
angle.

After taking the right angle at the point the length of line AD (7.8m) was
measured and a pig was placed at the point D. Similarly, the perpendicular
AB(11.8m) length was measured.

After that a pole was placed at point D and same as the point A with the
use of 3,4,5 method, a right angle was set at D. Then the length DC (11.8 m)
was measured using the tape. As the same way the right angle was set at the
point C. Then the 0 mark of the tape was kept at the point C and measured the
length towards B (C to B = 7.8 m). As the point B marked from C was coincided
with the point B marked from A, we concluded that the setting out of outer line
is correct. Finally, the diagonal of the outer line was measured and compared
with the actual value 14.14m. As there was not much difference in the actual
length and the measured length there we assumed that there was no error in
the setting out of outer line.

Setting out the inner line

For setting out the inner line, the 0 point of the tape was kept at
point A and measured the distance of 0.9 (width of foundation) toward B and
mark a point E on the AB line. From that mark a perpendicular EO to AB and
marked the point O. To take the perpendicular line EO the 3,4,5 method was
used. Mark F from the point B on the line AB and mark the BF = 0.9. similarly
mark the FP = 0.9 perpendicular to AB. As the same way mark the points Q and
R by setting out perpendicular KQ and LR to CD line for length of 0.9. Then the
boundary of the inner line OPQR was marked.

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S.K.A.K.D Samaraweera CE2006
150347 Assignment 02

Errors
understanding the causes of errors and making conscious efforts
towards eliminating them during construction is very important. some of the
errors which might happen during the setting out are follows;

Improper squaring - There can be measuring errors when taking right

angles using 3,4,5 methods.
Poor arrangement and positioning of pegs.
Errors in lines and instruments used.
Not holding the measuring tape parallel to the ground could make
errors in the measurements.

CONCLUTION

This is a method of setting out of a building manually by using tape and

other basic instruments when there is no instrument like digital theodolite or
total station.

If we read the markings of the measuring tapes wrongly at some point, that
error transferring to the other parts of the building area and if you make
multiple errors, thereby it makes a mess of the whole process.

It is important to check for squareness of the area that is being set-out a

by taking diagonal measurements which should always tally with what obtains
on the plan. That will help to point out measuring errors.

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150347 Assignment 02

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