23 CONSTRUCTION SURVEYING
Asterisks indicate problems that have partial answers given in Appendix G.
23.1 What are the first requirements in a construction survey?
23.2 List the common steps for surveying engineers in a construction project.
process, and (5) a final as-built survey of the project.”
23.3 Describe how a plumbing level can be used to ensure verticality in the construction of a
tall building.
23.4 What details must the surveyor and contractor discuss before the start of a pipeline
project?
23.5 Discuss how a laser is used in pipeline layout.
From Section 23.4, paragraph 7: “If laser devices are used for laying pipes, the beam is
(*)
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23.6 What is a story pole and how is it used in pipeline layout?
23.7 Where should stakes be set closer on the stake out of a pipeline and why?
23.8 What information is typically conveyed to the contractor on stakes for laying a pipeline?
23.9 A sewer pipe is to be laid from station 10+00 to station 12+50 on a −0.50% grade,
starting with invert elevation 3344.23 ft at 10+00 Calculate invert elevations at each 50-
ft station along the line.
Station
Elevation (ft)
10+00
3344.23
10+50
3343.98
11+00
3343.73
11+50
3343.48
12+00
3343.23
12+50
3342.98
23.10* A sewer pipe must be laid from a starting invert elevation of 784.58 ft at station 9+25 to
an ending invert elevation 782.48 ft at station 12+75. Determine the uniform grade
needed, and calculate invert elevations at each 50-ft station.
Station
Elevation (ft)
grade
925
784.58
−0.60%
950
784.43
1000
784.13
1050
783.83
1100
783.53
1150
783.23
1200
782.93
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1250
782.63
1275
782.48
23.11 Grade stakes for a pipeline running between stations 0+00 and 5+64 are to be set at each
full station. Elevations of the pipe invert must be 868.25 ft at station 0+00 and 862.05 ft
at 5+64, with a uniform grade between. After staking an offset centerline, an instrument
is set up nearby, and a plus sight of 4.06 taken on BM A (elevation 873.25 ft). The
following minus sights are taken with the rod held on ground at each stake: (0 + 00,
5.51); (1 + 00, 5.67); (2 + 00, 5.03); (3 + 00, 7.16); (4 + 00, 7.92); (5 + 00, 8.80); (5+64,
9.10) and (A, 4.06). Prepare a set of suitable field notes for this project (see Plate B.6 in
Appendix B) and compute the cut required at each stake. Close the level circuit on the
benchmark.
Grade:
−1.10%
Station
+Sight
HI
−Sight
Ground
Elevation
Pipe
Invert
Cut/Fill
A
4.06
877.31
873.25
0+00
5.51
871.80
868.25
C3.55
1+00
5.67
871.64
867.15
C4.49
2+00
5.03
872.28
866.05
C6.23
3+00
7.16
870.15
864.95
C5.20
4+00
7.92
869.39
863.85
C5.54
5+00
8.80
868.51
862.75
C5.76
5+64
9.10
868.21
862.05
C6.16
A
4.06
873.25
23.12 If batter boards are to be set exactly 8.00 ft above the pipe invert at each station on the
project of Problem 23.11, calculate the necessary rod readings for placing the batter
boards. Assume the instrument has the same HI as in Problem 23.11.
Station
+Sight
HI
Rod
Reading
A
4.06
877.31
0+00
1.06
1+00
2.16
2+00
3.26
3+00
4.36
4+00
5.46
5+00
6.56
5+64
7.26
23.13 Assume there is a pipe where a change in direction of 20° occurs 30 ft from the
beginning of an 80-ft pipe. At this same location, the grade changes from +0.5% to
+15%. What is the appropriate bend angle in the pipe to the nearest decimal degree to
accommodate the change in horizontal direction and change in grade?
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23.14 What are the requirements for the placement of horizontal and vertical control in a
project?
From Section 23.3, paragraph 3: “The control points must be:
23.15 By means of a sketch, show how and where batter boards should be located: (a) for an
I-shaped building (b) For an L-shaped structure.
23.16 A building in the shape of an L must be staked. Corners ABCDEF all have right angles.
Proceeding clockwise around the building, the
required outside dimensions are AB = 80.00 ft, BC
= 30.00 ft, CD = 40.00 ft, DE = 40.00 ft, EF = 40.00
ft, and FA = 70.00 ft. After staking the batter boards
for this building and stretching string lines taut, check
measurements of the diagonals should be made.
What should be the values of AC, AD, AE, FB, FC,
FD, and BD?
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
80 30 85.44ft
40 30 50.00ft
40 70 80.62ft
80 70 106.30ft
80 40 89.44ft
40 40 56.57ft
40 30 50.00ft
AC
AD
AE
FB
FC
FD
BD
23.17* Compute the floor area of the building in Problem 23.16.
23.18* The design floor elevation for a building to be constructed is 1069.31 ft. An instrument
is set up nearby, leveled, and a plus sight of 5.34 ft taken on BM A whose elevation is
1070.58 ft. If batter boards are placed exactly 1.00 ft above floor elevation, what rod
readings are necessary on the batter board tops to set them properly?
23.21 Where is the invert of a pipe measured?
23.22 What is meant by stakeless construction?
23.23 How can horizontal orientation be achieved with a total station on a construction site?
23.24 How can vertical orientation be achieved with a total station on a construction site?
r
23.25 Discuss the advantages of combining digital elevation models with design templates in
staking out highway alignments with a data collector.
23.26 The base receiver in a GNSS survey is started in autonomous mode. What must occur
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23.27 What is the surveyor’s role on a construction site using machine guidance or control?
23.28 A highway centerline subgrade elevation is 660.67 ft at station 12+00 and 665.80 ft at
17+00 with a smooth grade in between. To set blue tops for this portion of the centerline,
a level is setup in the area and a plus sight of 5.19 ft taken on a benchmark whose
elevation is 665.96 ft. From that HI, what rod readings will be necessary to set the blue
tops for the full stations from 12+00 through 17+00?
HI =
671.15
g =
1.03%
Station
Subgrade Elevation
Rod Reading
12+00
660.67
10.48
13+00
661.70
9.45
14+00
662.72
8.43
15+00
663.75
7.40
16+00
664.77
6.38
17+00
665.80
5.35
23.29* Similar to Problem 23.27, except the elevations at stations 12+00 and 17+00 are 405.65
and 410.63 ft, respectively, the BM elevation is 406.36 ft, and the backsight is 5.66 ft.
HI =
412.02
g =
0.80%
Station
Subgrade Elevation
Rod Reading
12+00
406.65
5.37
13+00
407.45
4.57
14+00
408.24
3.78
15+00
409.04
2.98
16+00
409.83
2.19
17+00
410.63
1.39
23.30 Discuss the checks that should be made when laying out a building using coordinates.
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23.31 What are the advantages of an as-built survey using a laser scanner?
23.32 What procedures may be used to ensure verticality on a multistory building?
23.33 How should finished grades be established in machine control projects?
23.34 What is the minimum number of horizontal control points needed to establish finish–
grades using a robotic total station on a machine-controlled project that is 2 mi in length?
23.35 What is the minimum number of control points needed to guide machines using a GNSS
receiver on a machine-guidance project that is 6 mi in length?
39.37)
23.36 Do an article review on an application of machine control.
Independent study.
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