GE 102

Construction and
Industrial Surveys
Introduction to Construction and Industrial Surveys

Surveying?

- is the art and science of making field

measurements on or near the surface of the Earth.
(Kavanagh)

- is the science and art of determining relative

positions of points above, on, or beneath the
surface of the earth, or establishing such points.
(Brinker and Wolf)
Introduction to Construction and Industrial Surveys

Purpose of Surveying?
- Made to collect data, which can be drawn to
scale on a plan or map. (Preliminary Surveys)

- Made to layout dimensions shown on a design

plan in order to precisely define the field
location for the proposed construction facility.

The layouts of proposed property lines and corners as

required in land division are called “Layout Surveys”.
Introduction to Construction and Industrial Surveys

The layouts of proposed construction features are

called “Construction Surveys”.

Preliminary & Construction Surveys

Both surveys must be reference to a common base
for X, Y and Z dimensions.

The establishment of a base horizontal and vertical

measurements is known as “Control Surveys”.
Introduction to Construction and Industrial Surveys

Control Surveys
- Establish reference points and reference lines for
the preliminary and construction surveys.

- Vertical reference points called benchmarks, are

established using Leveling Surveys.

- Horizontal control surveys can be tied into

• State or Provincial coordinate grid monuments
• Property lines
• Roadway centerlines
• Arbitrary places baselines or grids.
Introduction to Construction and Industrial Surveys

Construction Surveys
- Provide line and grade for a wide variety of
construction projects (highways, streets,
pipelines, bridges, buildings, & site grading).

Line – horizontal location

Grade – vertical location/elevation
Introduction to Route Surveying

Measurement Definitions and Equivalencies

Line Measurements Foot Units

1 mile = 5280 feet 1 foot = 12 inches

=1760 yards 1 yard = 3 feet
=320 rods 1 rod = 16.5 feet
= 80 chains 1 chain = 66 feet
1 chain = 100 l inks

1 acre = 43560 ft2 = 10 square chains

Line Measurements Metric (SI) Units

1 kilometer = 1000 meters
1 meter = 100 centimeters
1 centimeter =10 millimeters
1 decimeter =10,000 m2
1 hectare =1,000,000 m2
1 square kilometer =100 hectares
Introduction to Route Surveying

Measurement Definitions and Equivalencies

Foot to Metric Conversion

1 ft = 0.3048 meters
1 km = 0.62137 mile
1 hectare (ha) =2.471 acres
1 km2 =247.1 acres
1 inch =25.4 m

Angular Measurement
= 360°
1 revolution
= 60’ (minutes)
1 degree
=60” (seconds)
1 minute
=400.0000 gon
1 revolution
(used in some European Countries)
Introduction to Route Surveying

Errors – Random and Systematic

Errors – difference between a measured or
observed value and the true value.
 Systematic Errors
-those errors for which the magnitude and
the algebraic sign can be determined.

 Random Errors (accidental errors)

- associated with the skill and vigilance of
the surveyor.
- are introduced into each measurement
mainly because no human can perform
perfectly.
Introduction to Route Surveying

Mistakes
- are blunders made by survey personnel.

Examples of Mistakes
 transposing figures
 miscounting the number of full tape lengths in
a long measurement
 measuring to or from a wrong point
Introduction to Route Surveying

Route Surveys
- Initially laid out as a series of straight lines
(tangents). Once the location alignment has
been confirmed, the tangents are joined by
circular curves that allow for smooth vehicle
operation at the speeds for which the highway is
designed.
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Circular or Horizontal Curves

A. Simple Curve Where;

PC = point of curvature
PI PT = point of tangency
Back Tangent I Forward Tangent
PI = point of intersection
E
T Lc L.C. = Long Chord
PC
I/2 L.C. m PT Lc = Length of curve
m = middle ordinate
E = external distance
D = degree of curve
R R
I = Angle of Intersection
I/2
T = tangent distance
R = radius of the curve
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Circular or Horizontal Curves

Methods of Analysis

1. Arc Basis – The length 2. Chord Basis – The

of arc of the central length of chord of the
angle “D” is equal to central angle “D” is
20m (100ft). equal to 20m (100ft).

20 m

10m 10m

D D/2 D/2
R R R R

10
2R 20m 1145.92  D  10 R
 R sin    D 
360 D D  2  R sin  
 2 
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Circular or Horizontal Curves

Formula’s
1. Tangent Distance, T 4. Middle Ordinate, m
I  I
T  R tan m  R1  cos 
2  2
2. Long Chord, L 5. Length of Curve,
I
L.C.
L  2 R sin
2
Lc  RI rad
3. External Distance, E
 I 
E  R sec  1
 2 
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Circular or Horizontal Curves

A. Simple Curve 1. Tangent Distance, T

I
Back Tangent
PI
I Forward Tangent
T  R tan
2
E
T Lc
I/2 L.C. m PT
2. Long Chord, L
PC
I
L  2 R sin
2

R R 3. External Distance, E
I/2  I 
E  R sec  1
 2 
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Circular or Horizontal Curves

A. Simple Curve
4. Middle Ordinate, m
PI
 I
Back Tangent I Forward Tangent m  R1  cos 
T Lc
E  2
PC
I/2 L.C. m PT 5. Length of Curve,
L.C.

R
Lc  RI rad
R

I/2
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Sample Problems
1. The bearings of the tangents has an angle of intersection
of 141°23’. If the degree of curve is 20° for a chord distance
of 20m. Find the tangent distance.

Solution:

Back Tangent
PI PI
I Forward Tangent 141°23’
E
T T=?
Lc
I/2 L.C. m PT 141°23’/2 m PT
PC PC

10m 10m
R R R 141°23’/2 R
I/2 D/2 D/2
R R
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Sample Problems
1. The bearings of the tangents has an angle of intersection
of 141°23’. If the degree of curve is 20° for a chord distance
of 20m. Find the tangent distance.

Solution:
10
R
First find R:  D 
PI sin  
141°23’  2 
T=?
R = 57.59 m
141°23’/2 m PT
PC

I
find T: T  R tan
10m 10m
2
R 141°23’/2 R
D/2 D/2
T = 164.37 m
R R
Introduction to Route Surveying: Simple Curves

Sample Problems
2. In a railroad simple curve, if the angle of intersection of
tangents is 63°04’. And its tangent distance of 70.40 m. What
is the length of the long chord?

Solution:
I
First find R: T  R tan
PI 2
63°04’

R = 114.73 m
LC m PT
PC
L/2

find L:

R
10m 10m Sin 31°32’ = L/2
R R
D/2 D/2
R R
L = 120 m.
Introduction to Route Surveying: Compound Curves

B. Compound Curve
Consist of two (usually) or more circular arcs between two
main tangents turning in the same direction and joining at
common tangent points.
Introduction to Route Surveying: Compound Curves

B. Compound Curve Elements:

T = T1 + T2 = length of
PI
I=I1+I2

the common tangent

T1 PCC T2
T1
Lc1 Lc2 T2 PCC = point of
PC Long Chord PT compound curvature

LC = length of long chord

Lc1 = length of curve 1
R2
R1 I2
I1
Lc2 = length of curve 2
Introduction to Route Surveying: Compound Curves

Sample Problems
1. A compound curve laid on their tangents have the following
data : I1 = 31° , I2 = 36 °, D1 = 3° and D2 = 5 °. Find the length
of the common tangent passing thru the P.C.C.

Solution: PI 1145.92
I=I1+I2 First find the R’s: R
D

T1 PCC T2 R1 = 381.972 m R2 = 229.183 m

T1 T2
PC Long Chord PT

find L:
R2
R1
I1
I2 Sin 31°32’ = L/2
R

L = 120 m.

T = T1 + T2 = length of the common tangent

Introduction to Route Surveying: Compound Curves

Sample Problems
2. Two simple curves having angles of intersection of the
tangents equal to 36° and 68°45’ respectively are joined to
form a compound curve where the P.T of the first curve
becomes the PCC of the compound curve. If the length of
curve of the first curve is 427.14 m. and the length of curve
for the second curve is 235.21 m., find the length of curve
from the P.C, to the new compound curve.
Introduction to Route Surveying: Compound Curves

Solution:

PI I=I1+I2

T1 PCC T2
I1/2 I2/2
T1 I1/2 Lc1 Lc2 I2/2 T2 Lc1 ø Lc2

PC PT
Long Chord L

Cosine Law:
R2 L2= (Lc1)2 + (Lc2)2 -2 (Lc1) (Lc2)cos ø
R1 I2
I1 L = 643.30 m
Introduction to Route Surveying: Reverse Curves

C. Reverse Curve

Note:
I2 PRC = pint of reverse curvature

Cases:
PI1
1. Reverse curve w/ equal
radii and parallel tangents
Lc1 PRC PT 2. Reverse curve w/ unequal
PC radii and parallel tangents
Lc2 3. Reverse curve w/ equal
radii and converging
tangents
4. Reverse curve w/ unequal
PI2
radii and converging
tangents
I1
Introduction to Route Surveying: Reverse Curves

Sample Problems
1. Given the lines and direction as follows: AB = 57.6 m due east,
BC = 91.5 m., N 68° E, CD = 102.6 m., azimuth of 312 °. A
reverse curve is to connect these three lines thus forming the
center line of a new road. Compute the length of the common
radius of the reverse curves.

T1 = R tan 11 °
Solution:
T2 = R tan 32 °

T1 + T2 = 91.5 °

R tan 11 °+ R tan 32 ° = 91.5 °

R = 111.69 m
That’s all for today.