Survey Practical Report 28th November 2024

B.Sc. Civil Engineering

Surveying III

Reg No Name
1 ENC 211-0069/2021 Adrian Otieno
2 ENC 211-0418/2021 Steve Kaguchwa
3 ENC 211-0426/2021 Johnson Saruni
4 ENC 211-0301/2021 Simon Gathige
5 ENC 211-0375/2021 Abednego Mirikau
6 ENC 211-0071/2021 Brian Kyalo
7 ENC 211-0021/2021 Peter Ndung’u Kinyua
8 ENC 211-0311/2022 Samuel Ogutu
9 ENC 211-0029/2021 Elisha Otieno

1
 SETTING OUT CURVES

OBJECTIVES:

1. To understand the methods and techniques used in setting out horizontal curves on the
ground.
2. To apply theoretical knowledge of curve geometry to real-world survey situations.
3. To gain hands-on experience with survey instruments such as theodolites, tapes, and total
stations.
4. To minimize errors in curve setting and improve accuracy through practical
implementation.
5. To identify potential sources of errors and adopt necessary precautions to ensure
precision.

THEORY:

Setting out curves is an essential procedure in surveying and civil engineering. It involves
transferring the designed curve layout from the drawing or design plan onto the ground, ensuring
that the construction aligns with the intended geometric and functional requirements. Horizontal
curves are particularly crucial for roads, railways, pipelines, and canals to provide a smooth
transition between straight sections.

Types of Horizontal Curves

1. Simple Curve: A single circular arc connecting two straight sections of a route.
2. Compound Curve: Two or more circular arcs with different radii that are joined
tangentially.
3. Reverse Curve: Two arcs with opposite curvatures connected by a common tangent.
4. Transition Curve: A curve that gradually changes its radius from infinity to a finite
value to provide a smooth entry or exit.

Key Elements of a Horizontal Curve

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 1. Radius (R): The distance from the center of the curve to any point on the curve.
2. Length of Curve (L): The arc length of the circular segment.
3. Deflection Angle (Δ): The angle subtended by the curve at its center.
4. Tangent Length (T): The distance from the point of tangency to the point of intersection
(PI).
5. Chord Length (C): The straight line connecting two points on the curve.

Methods of Setting Out Curves

1. Offsets from Chord Produced

o This method uses a series of offsets measured perpendicular to chords of the
curve.
o Convenient for simple curves but less accurate for complex designs.
2. Rankine’s Deflection Angle Method
o Based on deflection angles calculated for specific points on the curve.
o Requires a theodolite to measure angles accurately.
3. Tangential Angle Method
o Angles are measured tangentially from a reference line at regular intervals.
o This method is suitable for curves of long radii.
4. Total Station Method
o Modern equipment like total stations can simplify setting out by directly inputting
coordinates.
o Provides high accuracy and efficiency.

Calculations for Curve Setting

Key formulas involved in curve setting include:

1. Radius (R):

R=LΔ×π/180R = \frac{L}{\Delta \times \pi/180}R=Δ×π/180L

2. Deflection Angle (θ\thetaθ):

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 θ=Δ2\theta = \frac{\Delta}{2}θ=2Δ

3. Length of Curve (L):

L = πRΔ180L = \frac{\pi R \Delta}{180}L=180πRΔ

4. Chord Length (C):

C=2Rsin⁡Δ2C = 2R \sin \frac{\Delta}{2}C=2Rsin2Δ

Importance in Civil Engineering

1. Ensures alignment precision in infrastructure projects.

2. Provides a smooth and safe transition between directional changes.
3. Minimizes land acquisition and environmental impact through optimal alignment.
4. Reduces maintenance costs by preventing misalignments during construction.

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PROCEDURE:

1. Preparation
o Study the design plan and obtain necessary curve data (radius, deflection angles,
etc.).
o Set up control points along the tangent lines.
2. Establish Tangent Points
o Identify the points of tangency (PT and PC) using measured distances.
o Mark these points clearly on the ground.
3. Set the Instrument
o Position the theodolite at the point of intersection (PI) or a suitable offset.
o Ensure the instrument is leveled and oriented correctly.
4. Angle Measurement
o Measure deflection angles at regular intervals.
o Use these angles to set out intermediate points on the curve.
5. Stake Curve Points
o Mark the positions of curve points using stakes or flags.
o Confirm the accuracy of each point before proceeding.
6. Verify Alignment
o Use a total station or another precise instrument to cross-check curve alignment.
o Make corrections for any deviations observed.

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 TABLE OF ANALYZED RESULTS
Assumed benchmark reduced level is 1555.300 m
Back intersigh reduced
Sight t fore sight fall rise level point
1.4 1555.3 Bench Mark
1.351 1.56 0.16 1555.14 Left path side close to tree 4
1.507 1.375 0.024 1555.116 Right side of the football pitch
1.141 1.397 0.11 1555.226 Left goal post
1.437 0.296 1554.93 -15 m from A
1.501 0.36 1554.866 -10 m from A
1.48 0.339 1554.887 -5 m from A
1.37 0.229 1554.997 5 m from A
1.263 0.122 1555.104 10 m from A
1.291 0.15 1555.076 15 m from A
1.301 1.384 0.243 1554.983 Point A
1.513 0.212 1554.771 -15 m from T
1.51 0.209 1554.774 -10 m from T
1.504 0.203 1554.78 -5 m from T
1.253 0.048 1554.983 5 m from T
1.314 0.013 1554.97 10 m from T
1.306 0.005 1554.978 15 m from T
1.406 0.105 1554.878 Point T
1.562 0.261 1554.722 -15 m from T1
1.525 0.224 1554.759 -10 m from T1
1.485 0.184 1554.799 -5 m from T1
1.498 0.197 1554.786 5 m from T1
1.381 0.08 1554.903 10 m from T1
1.49 0.189 1554.794 15 m from T1
1.326 1.534 0.233 1554.75 Point T1
1.192 0.134 1554.884 -15 m from T2
1.247 0.079 1554.829 -10 m from T2

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 1.335 0.009 1554.741 -5 m from T2
1.348 0.022 1554.728 5 m from T2
1.392 0.066 1554.684 10 m from T2
1.414 0.088 1554.662 15 m from T2
1.46 1.224 0.102 1554.852 Point T2
1.497 0.037 1554.815 -15 m from T3
1.563 0.103 1554.749 -10 m from T3
1.598 0.138 1554.714 -5 m from T3
1.551 0.091 1554.761 5 m from T3
1.555 0.095 1554.757 10 m from T3
1.537 0.077 1554.775 15 m from T3
1.495 1.521 0.061 1554.791 Point T3
1.535 0.04 1554.751 -15 m from T4
1.52 0.025 1554.766 -10 m from T4
1.535 0.04 1554.751 -5 m from T4
1.47 0.025 1554.816 5 m from T4
1.47 0.025 1554.816 10 m from T4
1.487 0.008 1554.799 15 m from T4
1.307 1.507 0.012 1554.779 Point T4
1.382 0.075 1554.704 -15 m from T5
1.394 0.087 1554.692 -10 m from T5
1.35 0.043 1554.736 -5 m from T5
1.402 0.095 1554.684 5 m from T5
1.545 0.238 1554.541 10 m from T5
1.548 0.241 1554.538 15 m from T5
1.873 1.373 0.066 1554.713 Point T5
1.684 0.189 1554.902 -15 m from T6
1.935 0.062 1554.651 -10 m from T6
1.992 0.119 1554.594 -5 m from T6
1.575 0.298 1555.011 5 m from T6
1.647 0.226 1554.939 10 m from T6

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 1.765 0.108 1554.821 15 m from T6
1.457 1.564 0.309 1555.022 Point T6
1.382 0.075 1555.097 -15 m from T7
1.493 0.036 1554.986 -10 m from T7
1.473 0.016 1555.006 -5 m from T7
1.496 0.039 1554.983 5 m from T7
1.555 0.098 1554.924 10 m from T7
1.571 0.114 1554.908 15 m from T7
1.448 1.53 0.073 1554.949 Point T7
1.3 0.148 1555.097 -15 m from T8
1.313 0.135 1555.084 -10 m from T8
1.341 0.107 1555.056 -5 m from T8
1.312 0.136 1555.085 5 m from T8
1.292 0.156 1555.105 10 m from T8
1.334 0.114 1555.063 15 m from T8
1.587 1.305 0.143 1555.092 Point T8
1.411 0.176 1555.268 -15 m from U
1.474 0.113 1555.205 -10 m from U
1.493 0.094 1555.186 -5 m from U
1.339 0.248 1555.34 5 m from U
1.34 0.247 1555.339 10 m from U
1.356 0.231 1555.323 15 m from U
1.209 1.389 0.198 1555.29 Point U
1.487 1.459 0.25 1555.04 Point close to tree
1.308 1.539 0.052 1554.988 Marshy point close to SP
1.4 1.194 0.114 1555.102 Open field opposite football pitch
1.45 1.296 0.104 1555.206 Right path side close to tree 4
1.395 0.055 1555.261 BM

Computational check:
Sum of back sight = 25.507m

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Sum of fore sight = 25.546 m

Sum of back sight – sum of fore sight = Difference in Bench Mark reduced level

25.507−25.546=1555.261−1555.3

−0.039=−0.039

Thus checked.

DATA USED IN DRAWING CROSS SECTION USING AUTOCAD

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Chaina Distan Reduced
ge ce Level
-15 1554.771
-10 1554.774
-5 1554.78
0 1554.878
5 1554.983
2055.70 10 1554.97
2 15 1554.978
-15 1554.722
-10 1554.759
-5 1554.799
0 1554.75
5 1554.786
10 1554.903
2060 15 1554.794
-15 1554.884
-10 1554.829
-5 1554.741
0 1554.852
5 1554.728
10 1554.684
2080 15 1554.662
-15 1554.815
-10 1554.749
-5 1554.714
0 1554.791
5 1554.761
10 1554.757
2100 15 1554.775
-15 1554.751
-10 1554.766
-5 1554.751
0 1554.779
5 1554.816
10 1554.816
10
2120 15 1554.799
-15 1554.704
DATA USED IN DRAWING LONGITUDINAL SECTION

EARTH Aggregate
reduced VOLUME volume m3
chainage level m3
2055.702 1554.878 0 0
2060 1554.75 +5.641 +5.641
2080 1554.852 +30.6 +36.241
2100 1554.791 +31.05 +67.291
2120 1554.779 +8.85 +76.141
2140 1554.713 +19.8 +95.941
2160 1555.022 +92.7 +188.641
2180 1554.949 +129.15 +317.791
2200 1555.092 +150.15 + 467.941
2215.263 1555.29 +192.62 +660.561

In calculation of the volumes of the volumes of cut from the longitudinal section, the centre level
is assumed to be relatively same across each point in the longitudinal section length thus :
The formation width = 30 m
volume=area of thelongitudinal section btwn the chainages × formation width
volume=area of thelongitudinal section btwn the chainages ×30

DATA ANALYSIS
Calculation of longitudinal areas and the volumes of cut using trapezium rule
Refer to the drawing for longitudinal section for diagram
At chainage 2055.702 m:
Formation level = 1554.77025m and formation width =30 m
volume = 0 m3 ..no cross sectional area
At chainage 2060 m:
height
area= ( ∑ of thetwo∥sides of the trapezium)
2

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 ( 2060−2055.702 )
area= { ( 1554.878−1554.77025 ) +(1554.75−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 0.188 m
volume=area× formation width=0.188 ×30
3
¿ 5.641 m
At chainage 2080 m:
( 2080−2060 )
area= { ( 1554.852−1554.77025 ) +(1554.77025−1554.75)
2
2
¿ 1.02 m
volume=area× formation width=1.02× 30
3
¿ 30.6 m
At chainage 2100 m:
( 2100−2080 )
area= { ( 1554.791−1554.77025 ) +(1554.853−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 1.035 m
volume=area× formation width=1.035 ×30
3
¿ 31.05 m
At chainage 2120 m:
( 2120−2100 )
area= { ( 1554.779−1554.77025 )+(1554.791−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 0.295 m
volume=area× formation width=0.295 ×30
3
¿ 8.85 m
At chainage 2140 m:
( 2140−2120 )
area= { ( 1554.77025−1554.713 )+(1554.779−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 0.66 m
volume=area× formation width=0.66 ×30
3
¿ 19.8 m
At chainage 2160 m:

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 ( 2160−2040 )
area= { ( 1555.022−1554.77025 ) +(1554.77025−1554.713)
2
2
¿ 3.09 m
volume=area× formation width=3.09 ×30
3
¿ 92.7 m

At chainage 2180 m:
( 2180−2160 )
area= { ( 1554.949−1554.77025 )+(1555.022−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 4.305 m
volume=area× formation width=4.305 ×30
3
¿ 129.15 m
At chainage 2200 m:
( 2200−2180 )
area= { ( 1555.092−1554.77025 ) +(1554.949−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 5.005 m
volume=area× formation width=5.005 ×30
3
¿ 150.15 m
At chainage 2215.26 m:
( 2215.26−2200 )
area= {( 1555.29−1554.77025 )+(1555.092−1554.77025)
2
2
¿ 6.421 m
volume=area× formation width=6.421× 30
3
¿ 192.62 m

Calculation of areas of the cross sections at each chainage using Trapezium rule
Refer to the drawing attached for diagrammatic appearance of the cross sections:
height
area= ( first ordinate+last ordinate+2 ( ∑ of middleordinates ) )
2
At chainage 2055.702m
A=2.5 ¿
¿ 3.19 m2(cut)

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At chainage 2060
A=0.5 ×0.02875 × (3.5937 +2.9337 ) + ( 0.5 × 2.1875× 0.1575 ) +2.5( 0.01575+0.02375+2 ( 0.13275 ) )
¿ 0.8735 m 2(Cut )
A=2.5 ( 0.04825+0.01125 )+ ( 0.5 ×1.4063 ×0.01125 ) + ( 0.5 × 0.02025× ( 2.0663+2.8125 ) )
¿ 0.2060 m 2(Fill)
At chainage 2080
A=( 0.5 × ( 0.11375 +0.05875 ) ×5 )+ ( 0.5 ×3.3381 ×0.05875 ) +(0.5 ×(3.6824+3.2964 )× 0.08175)
¿ 0.8146 m 2 ( Cut )
A=( 0.5 × ( 1.6619+1.3176 ) × 0.2925 ) + ( 0.5 × 1.7036× 0.04225 ) +¿
¿ 0.8871 m2( Fill )
At chainage 2100
A=( 0.5 ×3.3902 ×0.04475 )+¿
¿ 0.1257 m 2(Cut )
A=( 0.5 ×1.6098 ×0.2125 )+ ¿
¿ 0.4219 m 2(Fill)
At chainage 2120
A=( 0.00875 ×1.5625 ×0.5 )+ ¿
¿ 0.5581 m2(Cut )
A=¿
¿ 0.1506 m 2(Fill)
At chainage 2140
A=(2.5 × ( 0.06625+0.23225 ) +2 ( 0.07825+0.0325+ 0.05725+0.08625+0.22925 ))
¿ 3.1725 m2(Fill )
At chainage 2160
A=( 0.5 ×2.6245 ×0.13175 )+ ( 0.5 ×2.9410 ×0.25175 )+(2.5 × (25175+ 0.05075 ) +2 ( 0.024075+0.16875 ))
¿ 3.3469 m2( Cut)
A=( 0.5 ×2.3755 ×0.11925 ) +¿
¿ 1.0618 m2( Fill )
At chainage 2180
A=(2.5 ( 0.32675+ 0.13775 ) +2 ( 0.21575+0.23575+0.17875+ 0.21275+0.15375 ) )

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 ¿ 6.145 m2 (Fill )
At chainage 2200
A=(2.5 ( 0.32675+ 0.29275 ) +2 ( 0.31375+0.28575+0.32175+ 0.31475+0.33475 ) )
¿ 9.4025 m 2(Cut )
At chainage 2215.263
A=(2.5 ( 0.49775+ 0.55275 ) +2 ( 0.43475+0.41575+0.51975+ 0.56975+0.56875 ) )
¿ 15.17 m 2(Cut )

SOURCES OF ERRORS:

1. Instrumental Errors: Calibration issues with theodolites or total stations.

2. Human Errors: Incorrect angle measurements or improper handling of equipment.
3. Environmental Factors: Wind, uneven terrain, or poor visibility during fieldwork.
4. Data Errors: Misinterpretation of design data or errors in calculations.
5. Cumulative Errors: Small individual errors adding up to significant deviations.

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Calibrate instruments before use to ensure accuracy.

2. Double-check all measurements, particularly angles and distances.
3. Minimize distractions and ensure a focused working environment.
4. Use appropriate techniques to stabilize instruments on uneven ground.
5. Record observations meticulously to prevent loss or misinterpretation of data.

CONCLUSION

The analysis using the trapezium rule effectively determined longitudinal and cross-sectional
volumes, providing key insights for earthworks:

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 1. Accurate Calculations:
The trapezium rule ensured precise area and volume computations, suitable for evenly
spaced data points.

2. Volume Variations:
o Minimal volumes were seen at chainages with little elevation change (e.g.,
2055.702 m).
o Larger volumes occurred in areas with significant elevation differences, such as
2160 m (92.7 m³) and 2215.26 m (192.62 m³).
3. Cut and Fill Balance:
Some chainages required both cut and fill (e.g., 2080 m and 2100 m), emphasizing the
need for material reuse to minimize costs.
4. Cross-Sectional Variability:
Cut areas were highest at 2215.26 m (15.17 m²), while significant fills were seen at 2180
m (6.145 m²). Accurate estimation is vital for proper resource allocation.
5. Earthwork Planning:
These results guide efficient resource use, balancing cut and fill to reduce environmental
impact and costs.

REFERENCES:

Bannister, A., Raymond, S., & Baker, R. (1998). Surveying. Pearson Education.

Ghilani, C. D., & Wolf, P. R. (2017). Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to

Geomatics. Pearson.

Schofield, W., & Breach, M. (2007). Engineering Surveying. CRC Press.

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Government of Australia. (2020). Survey Standards and Guidelines. Australian
Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation.

Institution of Civil Engineers. (2022). Setting Out for Engineers.

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