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Topic 7: Setting out

Aims
-Understand the roles of the various different types of personnel who are involved
in the setting out process
-Understand the aims of setting out
-Refer to the different types of plans that may be used in the setting out process
-Appreciate the good working practices that should be undertaken in order that
the aims of setting out can be achieved
-Understand the procedures required to ensure that the horizontal and vertical
control requirements of setting out operations can be met
-Set out design points on site by a number of methods
-Apply horizontal and vertical control techniques to second-stage setting out
operations
-Appreciate the application of laser instruments in surveying and setting out
What is setting out?
A definition of setting out, often used, is that it is the reverse of surveying.
Whereas surveying is a process for forming maps and plans of a particular site or
area, setting out begins with plans and ends with the various elements of a
particular plan correctly positioned on site.
However most techniques and equipment used in surveying are also used in
setting out i.e. while surveying may be the opposite of setting out, the processes
and instruments are almost identical.
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) define setting out as:
Setting out is the establishment of the marks and lines to define the position and
level of the elements for the construction work so that works may proceed with
reference to them. This process may be contrasted with the purpose of
surveying which is to determine by measurement the position of existing features.
-Setting out is one application of surveying
-Most of the techniques and equipment used in surveying are also used in setting
out
-Mistakes in setting out can be costly
-For setting out to be undertaken successfully good work practices should be
employed
-There are three parties involved in the construction procedures: the employer,
the engineer and the contractor
-Although the engineer checks the work, the setting out is the responsibility of the
contractor
-The cost of correcting any errors in the setting out has to be paid for by the
Contractor, provided the engineer has supplies reliable information in writing
The aims of setting out
There are two main aims when undertaking setting out operations:
-The various elements of the scheme must be correct in all three dimensions
both relatively and absolutely, that is each must be its correct size, in its correct
plan position and correct reduced level
-Once setting out begins it must proceed quickly with little or no delay in order
that the works can proceed smoothly and the cost can be minimised. It must
always be remembered that the contractors main commercial purpose is to make
a profit therefore setting out needs to be done efficiently.
Principles of setting out
The main aim of setting out is to ensure that the various elements of the scheme
are positioned correctly in all three dimensions.
Horizontal control techniques
In order that the design of the scheme can be correctly fixed in position, it is
necessary to establish points on the site which the E, N coordinates are known.
These are horizontal control points and, once they have been located they can
be used with a positioning technique to set out E, N coordinates of the design
points.
Two factors need to be taken into account when establishing horizontal control
points.
1. The control points should be located throughout the site in order that all the
design points can be fixed from at least two or three of them so that the work can
be independently checked.
2. The design points must be set out to the accuracy stated in the specifications
The accuracy must be obtained throughout the whole network and this can be
achieved by establishing different levels of control based on one of the
fundamental tenets of surveying: working from the whole to the part.
In practice, this normally involves starting with a small number of very accurately
measured control points (known as first level or primary control) which enclose
the area in question and then using these to establish second level or secondary
control points near the site.
When establishing the control network care needs to be taken that the tolerances
specified are met.
An example if working from the whole to the part using two different levels of
control are shown in the next diagram. In this, the first level of control is provided
by a traverse which is run through the site in question to provide a number of well
positioned primary control points.
These in turn are used to establish a second level of control, in this case
secondary site points at each of a series of baselines which define important
elements of the scheme.
On some schemes the same control points that were used in the production of
the site plan prior to design work are used for setting out. These muse be re-
measured before setting out as positions may have changed for a number of
reasons.
Horizontal control points should be located as near as possible to the site in open
positions for ease of working, but well away from the construction area and traffic
routes to avoid them being disturbed.
The construction and protection of control points is very important. Wooden pegs
are often used for non-permanent stations.
For permanent control points it is recommended that they be constructed with
concrete as shown below.
Baselines
A baseline is a line running between two points of a known position. Any
baselines required to set out a project should be specified on the setting out plan
by the designer and included in the contract.
Baselines can take many forms: they can be simply two specified points joined,
they can run between two buildings, they can mark the boundary with an existing
building/development or they can mark the centre line for a new road.
Baselines can be used in a number of different ways:
- Where a baseline is specified to run between two points then once the points
have been established on site, the design points can be set out from the baseline
by offsetting using tapes (as seen below).
A design point D is to be set out at right angles to a baseline AB from point C
which lies at a distance y from point A. The required offset distance from C to D
is x. Distances x and y will be given by the designer and will usually be
horizontal distances.
- Primary site control points, such as traverse stations E & F in the figure below
can be use to establish a baseline AB by angle and distance l values.
Subsidiary offset lines can then be set off at right angles from each end of the
baseline to fix two corners R and S of building Z. Once R and S have been
pegged out, the horizontal length of RS is measured and checked against its
designed value. If it is within the required tolerance, points R and S can be used
as a baseline to set out the corners T and U.
- Design points can be set out by taping known as distances from each end of a
baseline as shown below.
At point A on building X is set out by taping dimensions 1 and 2 from the baseline
and point B by taping dimensions 3 and 4. As before, the set out lengths of AB is
then checked against its designed value and within tolerance, it can be used as a
baseline to set out corners C and D.
-In some cases, the designer may specify a baseline that runs between points on
two existing buildings. Design points are then set out from this line either by
offsetting at right angles or by measuring distances from points on the line. The
accuracy of this method depends upon how well the baseline can be established
and how the dimensions required to set out the design points are known.
The accuracy of the baselines method increases if two baselines at right angles
to each other are used.
Design points can be established either by measuring and offsetting from both
lines, or a grid system can be set up to provide additional control points in the
area enclosed by the baselines.
Reference grids
A control grid enables points to be set over a large area. Several different grids
can be used in setting out
-Survey grid: is drawn on the survey plan from the original traverse or network.
The grid points have known eastings and northings related either to some
arbitrary origin or to the national grid.
-Site grid: is used by the designer. It is usually related in some way to the
survey grid and should, if possible, actually be the survey grid, the advantage of
this being that if the original control stations have been permanently marked then
the design points will be on the same coordinate system and setting out is greatly
simplified.
- The structural grid is established around a particular building or structure which
contains much detail such as columns, which cannot be set out with sufficient
accuracy from the grid site.
-The secondary grid is established inside the structure from the structural grid
when it is no longer possible to use the structural grid to establish internal
features of the building as the vision becomes obscured.
Offset pegs
Whether used in the form of a baseline or a grid, the horizontal control points are
used to establish design points on the proposed structure.
Once excavations for foundations begin, the corner pegs will be lost. To avoid
this extra pegs called offset pegs are used
Vertical control techniques
In order that design points on the works can be positioned at their correct levels,
vertical control points of known elevation relative to some specified vertical datum
are established. To ordnance datum is commonly used and levels on the site are
reduced to a nearby OS benchmark.
Transferred or temporary benchmarks
The positions of TBMs should be fixed during the initial reconnaissance so that
their construction can be completed in good time and they can be allowed to
settle before levelling them in. In practice, 20mm diameter steel bolts and 100mm
long, driven into existing steps, ledges, footpaths etc are ideal.
If TBM are constructed at ground level on site, a design to that shown below
should be used.
There should never be more that 80m between TBMs on site and the accuracy of
levelling should be within the following limits:
Site TBM relative to the MBM 0.005m
Spot levels on soft surfaces relative to a TMB 0.010m
Spot levels on hard surfaces relative to a TBM 0.005m
Sight Rails
These consist of a horizontal timber cross piece nailed to a single upright or a
pair of uprights driven into the ground (see below)
The upper edge of the cross piece is set to a convenient height above the
required plane of the structure, usually to the nearest 100mm, and should be a
height above ground to ensure convenient alignment by eye with the upper edge.
Sight rails are usually offset 2 or 3 metres at right angles to construction lines to
avoid them being damaged as excavations proceed.
Travellers and boning rods
A traveller is similar in appearance to a sight rail on a single support and is
portable. The length of the upper edge to its base should be a convenient
dimension to the nearest half metre.
Travellers are used in conjunction with sight rails. The sight rails are set some
convenient value above the required plane and the travellers are constructed so
that their length is equal to this value.
As excavation works proceeds, the traveller is sighted in between the sight rails
and used to monitor the cutting and filling.
Slope rails or batter boards
For controlling side slopes on embankments and cuttings slope rails are used.
For an embankment the slope rails usually define a plane parallel to the slope of
the embankment offset by a convenient distance:
For a cutting the slope rails can either be used to define the actual plane of the
slope or an offset plane as shown below:
The advantage of the above method being that additional slope rails may be
added as excavation proceeds.
The advantage of this method being that the slope rail can be lower in height
and may make it easier to sight along than the example above.
Positioning Slope Rails
In order to position slope rails we must first locate the toe of the embankment.
Consider the embankment below, which runs from A to B with a width of 12m.
Point C is on the existing ground level. The sides of the embankment are to
slope at 1 in s. the procedure is as follows:
1.From the Road Design / Plans obtain the reduced level of A.
2. Peg out point C by measuring a distance 6m horizontally from F at right
angles to the centreline.
3.Peg out points at 5m intervals from point C towards and beyond T.
4. Measure the reduced level on the ground surface at the first 5m peg
5.Calculate the proposed reduced level of on the embankment slope above this
point from:
6. Compare the measure and calculated values at the 5m point, if the ground
level measured is lower than the calculated slope level, the toe is located a
further 5m away from C.
7. Repeat the procedure for the 10m peg, the calculation becomes:
Once the Toe has been located the wooden uprights of the slope rails can be
hammered in at some offset from the embankment/cutting. The next stage is
to calculate the required reduced levels at which the tope edges of the slope
rails must be fixed to the wooden uprights.
For an embankment, assuming that a 1.5m traveller is to be used as shown, the
reduced levels of P and Q should be obtained using (it is assumed that the
RL at the toe is known):
For a cutting the reduced levels of R and S should be obtained using (it is
assumed that the RL at edge of the embankment is known):
Profile boards
These are similar to sight rails but are used to determine the corners and sides
of buildings. Offset pegs are normally used to enable building corners to be
relocated after foundation excavation. Profile boards are normally erected near
each offset peg and used in the same way as a sight rail.
A variation on corner profiles is to use a continuous profile all around the
building ser to a particular level above the required structural plane.
The advantage of a continuous profile is that the lines of the internal walls can
be marked on the profile and strung across to guide construction.
Coordinate positioning techniques
For setting out by coordinates to be possible, a control network consisting of
coordinated points (with heights) must be established on site. These are
obtained by using theodolites, tapes, GPS and total station.
Setting out using a theodolite and tape
To set out using coordinates by theodolite and tape, one of the following
procedures is used:
1. Angle and distance from two control points e.g. from point A below, can be
set out from a control point S using one of two methods:
Using the inverse calculation, determine the horizontal length l (SA) and the
whole circle bearings of ST and SA.
With the theodolite set up at S, sight T and set the horizontal circle to read zero
along this direction. Then the telescope is rotated through angle to fix the
direction to A and measure l along this direction to fix the position of A. This is
known as setting out by angle and distance.
An alternative method would be to: compute l, WCB (ST) and WCB(SA) as per
the first method. Sight T from S and set the horizontal circle of the theodolite to
read the WCB of ST. Rotate the telescope towards point A until the WCB of SA
is read on the horizontal circle.
The telescope line of sight is no defining the direction of A and the exact
position of A can be fixed by measuring a horizontal distance l along this
direction. This is setting out by bearing and distance.
2. Intersection with two theodolites, from four control points using angles or
bearings only. Intersection is shown below.
When setting out using coordinate-based methods with theodolites and tapes,
the situation may arise where there are no nearby control points available for
this. This is overcome by establishing a free station at any convenient place for
setting out. This is shown in the next FIG and it is essentially a resection.
Free station points are particularly applicable to large sites where the
coordinates of prominent features and targets on nearby buildings or parts of
the construction are known.
The following steps are used when setting up a free station point:
-The theodolite is set up at some suitable place in the vicinity of the points
which are to be set out hence the title free station as the choice of the
instrument position is arbitrary.
-Any angular resection is carried out to fix the position of the free station point.
-The coordinates of the free station are calculated
Following this, setting out continues as before and the required design points
are ser out using the theodolite at the free station point.
Although setting out can be conducted using theodolites, tapes (and levels) in
what might be sometimes called traditional methods, a lot of work on site is
done using total stations and GPS equipment.
When setting out by so-called traditional methods, direct methods of angle and
distance are taken to position structures and other works from nearby control
points or from baselines.
Following this, offsets and profiles are put in place to define the main lines of a
building and provide vertical control for second stage setting out.
Despite their popularity on site, these well-established methods have the
disadvantages that the horizontal and vertical components of setting out have to
be done separately (levelling must be used for any heighting), they can be time
consuming if a lot of points have to be set out, and they require at least two
people to do the setting out.
Setting out by total station
To use a total station for setting out, it must be levelled and then centred over a
control point in the same way as for a theodolite. As before this must be done
correctly otherwise the subsequent readings taken with the instrument will not
give the correct results.
Having set up the total station, it has to be orientated horizontally to the site
coordinate system and it may also have to be orientated vertically. For
horizontal orientation, the coordinates of the control point at which the
instrument is set up are entered into the total station.
An adjacent control point is then chosen as a reference point (reference object)
and the coordinates for this site are also keyed in. To orientate the total station,
the RO is sighted and the horizontal circle orientation programme automatically
computes the bearing from the total station to the RO.
For vertical orientation, the height of collimation of the total station has to be
determined. If the height of the control point at which the total station is known,
this is entered into the instrument or is already stored in the control point data.
Once the total station has been orientated it can be used for setting out
horizontal positions either using the coordinates of the points to be set out
directly or using bearing and distance values calculated from these coordinates.
Two approaches can be used.
-When the coordinates of the point to be set out are used, these are usually
contained in the file together with the coordinates of the control points for the
project, and this is downloaded to the total station before work commences.
-If the bearing and distance to be set out are known, these can also be used for
setting out. They are entered into the total station and, as soon as the
appropriate key(s) are pressed to activate this is setting out mode, the
instrument once again displays the difference between the entered and
measured bearing values.
Setting out by GPS
For setting out by GPS, an RTK system is required consisting of two geodetic
receivers working in precise relative mode.
One of these will be permanently located at a base station and the other (the
rover) will move around the site and take the measurements needed for
positioning design points.
In common with all other setting out methods, GPS is based on a control
network, which must be in place before any work can start.
Control points with positions defined on the site grid are needed for base
stations, for determining transformation parameters when deriving site
coordinates from GPS coordinates.
Depending on the site, control can be local and based on an arbitrary
coordinate system or it can be connected to a national system.
For small local sites a control network consisting of at least three but preferably
five points with known site coordinates and heights is required for determining
transformation parameters.
This can be surveyed using a total station and traverse methods.
On large sites, whether they cover an extensive area or are long linear sites
such as those occurring on road and railway projects, site control is often based
on national control.
Applying the principles of setting out
Stages in setting out
As the works proceed, the setting out falls into two broad stages.
First stage setting out
In practice, first stage setting out involves the use of many of the horizontal and
vertical control methods and positioning techniques . The purpose of this stage
is to locate the boundaries of the works in their correct position on the ground
surface and to define the major elements. In order to do this, horizontal and
vertical control points must be established on or near the site.
Second stage setting out
Second stage setting out continues on from the first stage, beginning at the
ground floor slab, road sub-base level etc. Up to this point, all the control will be
outside the main construction, for example, the pegs defining building corners,
centre lines and so on will have been knocked out during the earthmoving work
and only the original control will be undisturbed.
Examples of setting out
Setting out a pipeline
This operation falls into the first category of setting out.
General considerations: sewers normally follow the natural fall in the land and
are laid at gradients which induce self-cleansing velocity. The figure below
shows a sight rail offset at right angles to a pipe line laid in a granular bedding
trench.
Horizontal control: the working drawings will show the directions of the sewer
pipes and the positions of the manholes. The line of the sewer is normally
pegged at 20 to 30m intervals using coordinate methods of positioning from
reference points or in relation to existing detail. The direction of the line can be
sighted using a theodolite and pegs.
Vertical control: involves the erection of sight rails some convenient height
above the invert level of the pipe.
Erection and use of sight rails: the sight rail uprights are hammered firmly into
the ground, usually offset from the line rather than straddling it. Using a nearby
TBM and levelling equipment, the reduced levels of the tops of the uprights.
Where the natural slope of the ground is not approximately parallel to the
proposed pipe gradient, double sight rails can be used as shown in the next fig.
Often it is required to lay storm water and foul water sewers in adjacent
trenches. Since the storm water pipe is usually at a higher level than the foul
water pipe, it is common to dig one trench to two different levels as shown in
fig 2 on the next slide.
Both pipe runs are then controlled using different sight rails nailed to the same
uprights.
Pipe laying: on completion of the excavation, the sight rail control is transferred
to pegs in the bottom of the trench as shown below
Setting out a building to ground-floor level
This process falls into the first category of setting out. It must be remembered
when setting out that, since dimensions, whether scaled or designed, are
almost always horizontal, slope must be allowed for in surface taping on sloping
ground. The steps involved in setting out a building are as follows:
-Two corners of the building are ser out from a baseline, site grid or control
points
-From these two corners, the two other corners are ser out using a theodolite to
turn off the right angels as shown below
-Diagonals are checked
-Profile boards are placed at each corner
Setting out bridge abutments
Structures such as bridge abutments can be set out by a combination of
horizontal control methods and coordinate positioning. The following procedure
should be used:
-The centre line of the two roads are set out
-The bridge is set out in advance of the road construction
-The bridge is set out in advance of the road construction. If GPS techniques
are to be used, the abutment points A, B, C and D can be set out directly.
-However, if total stations or theodolites and tapes are to be used then it will be
necessary to establish secondary site control points around the area containing
the abutments. These secondary points could either be in the form of a
structural grid
-TBMs are set up as separate levelled points or a control point can be levelled
and used as a TBM.
If a structural grid in used (as in a), the distances from the secondary site
control points to abutment design points A, B, C and D must first be calculated.
They are then set out either using a theodolite to establish the directions and
steel tapes to measure the distances or by using a total station.
-If coordinates are used as shown (b), the bearings and distances from the
secondary site control points to A, B, C and D are calculated from their
respective coordinates such that each design point can be established from at
least two control points.
-Once points A, B, C and D have been set out, their positions should be
checked by measuring between them and also measuring to them from control
points not used to establish them initially.
-Offset pegs are established for each of A, B, C and D to allow excavation and
foundation work to proceed and to enable the points to be relocated as and
when required.
-Once the foundations are established, the formwork, steel or precast units can
be positioned with reference to the offset pegs.
Controlling vertically
One of the most important second stage setting out operations is to ensure that
those elements of the scheme which are designed to be vertical are actually
constructed be so, and there are a number of techniques available by which this
can be achieved.
Particular emphasis is placed on the control verticality in multi-storey structures.
In order to avoid repeating information earlier in this chapter, the following
assumptions have been made.
- Offset pegs have been established to enable the sides of the building to be
located as necessary.
-The structure being controlled has already had its ground floor slab constructed
and the horizontal control lines have already been transferred.
Plumb-bob methods
The traditional method of controlling verticality is to use plumb-bobs, suspended
on piano wire or nylon. A range of weights is available (from 3 kg to 20 kg) and
two plumb-bobs are needed in order to provide a reference line from which the
upper floors may be controlled.
In an ideal situation, the bob is suspended from an upper floor and moved until
it hangs over a datum reference mark on the ground floor slab.
If it is impossible or Inconvenient to hang the plumb-bob down the outside of the
structure, holes and openings must be provided in the floors to allow the plumb-
bob to hang through, and some form of centring frame will be necessary to
cover the opening to enable the exact point to be fixed.
Theodolite methods
These methods assume that the theodolite is in perfect adjustment so that its
line of sight will describe a vertical plane when rotated about its tilting axis.
Controlling a multi -storey structure using a theodolite and targets
A and B are offset pegs. The procedure is as follows.
- The theodolite is set over offset peg A, carefully levelled and aligned on the
reference line marked on the side of the slab
- The line of sight is transferred to the higher floor and a target accurately
positioned at point C.
- A three-tripod traverse system is used and the target and theodolite are
interchanged. The theodolite, now at C, is sighted onto the target at A, transited
and used to line in a second target at D. Both faces must be used and the mean
position adopted for D.
- A three-tripod traverse system is again used between C and D and the
theodolite checks the line by sighting down from D to the reference mark at B,
again using both faces.
- It may be necessary to repeat the process if a slight discrepancy is found.
- The procedure is repeated along other sides of the building.
Transferring height from floor to floor
Reduced levels must be transferred several times during the second stage
setting out operations as the construction proceeds from floor to floor. One
method by which this can be done is to use a weighted steel tape to measure
from a datum in the base of the structure as shown in FIG A.
The base datum levels should be set in the bottom of lift wells, service ducts
and so on, such that an unrestricted taping line to roof level is provided. The
levels should be transferred to each new floor by always measuring from the
datum rather than from the previous floor.
Each floor is then provided with TBMs in key positions from which normal
levelling methods can be used to transfer levels on each floor. Alternatively, if
there are cast-in situ stairs present, a level and staff can be used to level up and
down the stairs, as shown in FIG B. Note that both up and down levelling must
be done as a check.
Setting Out Example 1 : Setting Out a pipeline using sight rails and a
Traveller
An existing sewer at P is to be continued to Q and R on a falling gradient of 1 in
150 for plan distances of 27.12m and 54.11m consecutively, where the position
of P, Q and R are defined by wooden uprights.
Level reading to staff on TBM (RL 89.52m) = 0.39m
Level reading to staff on top of upright at P = 0.16m
Level reading to staff on top of upright at Q = 0.35m
Level reading to staff on top of upright at R = 1.17m
Level reading to staff on invert of existing sewer at P = 2.84m
All readings are taken at the same instrument position.
Solution
Height of collimation of instrument = 89.52 + 0.39 = 89.91m
Invert level at P = 89.91-2.84 = 87.07m
This gives:
Sight rail top edge level at P = 87.07 +2.5 = 89.57m
Level of top of upright at P = 89.91 0.16 = 89.75
Hence
Upright level sight rail level = 89.75 89.57 = +0.18m
Therefore the top edge of the sight rail at P must be fixed 0.18m below the top
of the upright.
Fall of sewer from P to Q = -27.12 x (1/150) = -0.18m
Invert level at Q = 87.07 0.18 = 86.89m
Sight rail top edge level at Q = 86.89 +2.50 = 89.39m
Level of top of upright at Q = 89.91-0.35=89.56m
Upright level sight rail level = 89.56 89.39 = 0.17m
Therefore the top edge of the sight rail must be fixed 0.17m below the top
upright at Q.
Fall of sewer from P to R =
Invert level at R = 87.07 - 0.54 = 86.53m
Sight rail level at R = 86.53 + 2.50 = 89.03m
Level of top of upright at R = 89.91 -1.17 = 88.74m
Upright sight rail = 88.74 - 89.03 = -0.29m
Therefore the top edge of the sight rail must be fixed 0.29m above to the top of
the upright at R, i.e. the upright must be extended.
m 54 . 0
150
11 . 54 12 . 27
=

Setting Out Example 2 : Setting Out by intersection


A rectangular buildings having plan sides of 75.36 and 23.24m was set out with
its major axis aligned precisely east-west. The design of the coordinates of the
SE corner were (348.92, 591.76) and this corner was fixed by theodolite
intersection from two stations P and Q whose respective coordinate were
(296.51, 540.32) and (371.30, 522.22). The other corners were set out by
similar methods.
When setting out was completed, the sides and the diagonals of the building
were measured as a check. To help with this the existing ground levels at the
four corners of the proposed structure were determined by levelling:
SE(152.86m) SW(149.73m) NE(151.45m) NW(146.53m)
Calculate the respective horizontal angles (to the nearest 20) that were set off
P relative to PQ and at Q relative to QP in order to intersect position SE.
Calculate the surface check measurements that should have been obtained for
the four sides and two diagonals (assuming even gradients along the surface).
Calculation of and
Let the corner SE of the building be X:
Easting of X 348.92 Northing of X 591.76
Easting of P 296.51 Northing of P 540.32
E
PX
+52.41 N
PX
+51.44
Therefore by rectangular to polar conversion:
Bearing PX = 45
o
3207
Easting of X 348.92 Northing of X 591.76
Easting of Q 371.30 Northing of Q 522.22
E
QX
-22.38 N
QX
+69.54
Therefore by rectangular to polar conversion:
Bearing QX = 342
o
0937
Easting of Q 371.30 Northing of Q 522.22
Easting of P 296.51 Northing of P 540.32
E
QP
+74.79 N
QP
-18.10
Therefore by rectangular to polar conversion:
Bearing PX = 103
o
3617
This gives:
Angle = bearing PQ bearing PX = 58
o
0410
Clockwise angle to be set off P relative to PQ = 360
o
- 58
o
0410 = 301
o
5600
Angle = bearing QX bearing QP = 58
o
3320
Clockwise angle to be set off P relative to PQ = 360
o
- 58
o
0410 = 301
o
5600
(angles rounded to nearest 20 as specified)
Calculation of surface checks
Recall that slope correction = + (h
2
/2L):
From SE to SW, h = 156.82 149.73 = 7.09 h
2
= 50.27
From NE to NW, h = 151.42 146.53 = 4.92 h
2
= 24.21
From SE to NE, h = 156.82 151.42 = 5.37 h
2
= 28.84
From SW to NW, h = 149.73 146.53 = 3.20 h
2
= 10.24
Hence the slope distances for all four sides should have been:
SE to SW =
NE to NW =
SE to NE =
SW to NW =
m 59 . 75 33 . 0 36 . 75
36 . 75 2
27 . 50
36 . 75 = + =

+
m 52 . 75 16 . 0 36 . 75
36 . 75 2
21 . 24
36 . 75 = + =

+
m 86 . 23 62 . 0 24 . 23
24 . 23 2
24 . 28
24 . 23 = + =

+
m 46 . 23 22 . 0 24 . 23
24 . 23 2
24 . 10
24 . 23 = + =

+
For the diagonals:
Horizontal diagonals = m
From SE to NW, h = 156.82 146.53 = 10.29 h
2
= 105.88
From SW to NE, h = 151.45 149.73 = 1.72 h
2
= 2.96
Slope distances:
SE to NW =
SW to NE =
86 . 78 ) 24 . 23 ( ) 36 . 75 (
2 2
= +
m 53 . 79 67 . 0 86 . 78
86 . 78 2
88 . 105
86 . 78 = + =

+
m 88 . 78 02 . 0 86 . 78
86 . 78 2
96 . 2
86 . 78 = + =

+
Setting Out Example 3 : Using Site Rails
The six corners of a proposed L shaped excavation shown below have been set
out on site and offset pegs haven been established to help define the sides of
the excavation.
The proposed formation level of the surface of the excavation at point R is
95.72m. The surface is to fall at 1 in 150 from R to W and is to rise at a slope of
1 in 100 at right angle to the line RW.
To help with excavation sight rails are to be erected above the offset pegs for
use with a 2m traveller.
Given the reduced levels of the offset pegs calculate the heights of the sight
rails to be used at P
1
, P
2
, P
3
and P
4
.
Solution: for line P
1
RWP
2
Formation level at P
1
= 95.72 + (3/150) = 95.74m
Formation level at P
2
= 95.72 (48/150) = 95.40m
For offset peg P
1
Required top of sight rail level = 95.74 + 2.00 = 97.74m
Actual to of peg level = 96.95m
Therefore, distance above P
1
= 0.79m
For offset peg P
2
Required top of sight rail level = 95.40 + 2.00 = 97.40m
Actual to of peg level = 96.45m
Therefore, distance above P
1
= 0.95m
Solution: for line P
4
UTP
3
Formation level at Z = 95.72 - (15/150) = 95.62m
Formation level at P
3
= 95.62 (28/100) = 95.90m
Formation level at P
4
= 95.62 - (3/100) = 95.59m
For offset peg P
3
Required top of sight rail level = 95.90 + 2.00 = 97.90m
Actual to of peg level = 97.12m
Therefore, distance above P
1
= 0.78m
For offset peg P
4
Required top of sight rail level = 95.59 + 2.00 = 97.59m
Actual to of peg level = 96.75m
Therefore, distance above P
1
= 0.84m
Setting Out Example 4: Using Slope Rails
An embankment was constructed with a formation width of 36m and a formation
level of 103.59m. The traverse slope at right angle to the centre line was 1 in 12
and the side slopes 1 in 2. Slope rails were used with a 1.50m traveller held
vertically to monitor the formation of the embankment.
The point R (ground level at CL) had a level of 85.08m. the slope rails on either
side of the embankment were attached to verticals A and B on the left and C
and D on the right. These were positioned as shown above. The tops of the
vertical stakes A, B, C and D were levelled as 80.54m, 80.81m, 90.59m and
89.89m respectively.
Using this information calculate the slope that were set out along the ground
surface from point P at right angle to the centre line to establish the centres of
stakes A, B , C and D.
Calculate the Vertical distances that were set out from the tops of the stakes A,
B, C and D to fix the top edges of the sight rails in their correct positions.
Solution
The parameters of the embankment are : h = (103.59 - 85.08+ = 18.51m; n = 2
S = 12; b = 18m
For a two level cross section :
Wg = greater side width
WL = lesser side width
h = depth of cut on the centre line from the existing to the proposed levels
1 in n = side slope
1 in s = ground on the traverse slope
b = formation width
The slope distances set out were:
For stake A = W
G
+ 1.0 + 1.0 = 68.02m
For stake B = W
G
+ 1.0 = 67.02m
For stake C = W
L
+ 1.0 = 48.16
For Stake D = W
L
+ 1.0 + 1.0 = 49.16m
m
n s
nh b s
W
G
02 . 66
2 12
) 51 . 18 ) 2 ( 18 ( 12
) (
) (
=

+
=

+
=
m
n s
nh b s
W
L
16 . 47
2 12
) 51 . 18 ) 2 ( 18 ( 12
) (
) (
=
+
+
=
+
+
=
But the transverse slope = 1 in 12 hence:
Transverse slope =
Therefore to the centre of stake A =
To the centre of stake B =
To the centre of stake C = 48.33m and centre of stake D = 49.33m
Vertical distances:
For stake B:
RL of the top of the rail = RL
P
+ 1.50 0.50
RL
P
= existing RL on the centreline (W
G
/12)
RL of the top of rail = 85.08 (66.02/12) + 1.50 0.50 = 80.58m
RL of the top of the stake was given as 80.81m
' ' 49 ' 45 04 cos
12
1
tan
1 o
=

m
o
26 . 68
' ' 49 ' 45 04 cos
02 . 68
=
m
o
25 . 67
' ' 49 ' 45 04 cos
02 . 67
=
vertical distance = (80.58 - 80.81) = -0.23m.
the top edge of the slope rail must be set 0.23m below the top of the vertical
stake B.
For Stake A:
The top of the rail is 0.50m below the top of the rail at stake B, hence:
RL of the top of the rail = 80.58 0.50 = 80.08m
Vertical distance = (80.08 80.54(given)) = -0.46m
Therefore the top edge of the slope rail at A must be fixed 0.46m below the top
of the stake.
For stake C:
RL of the top of the rail = RL
Q
+1.50 0.50
RL
Q
= existing RL at R + (W
L
/12)
85.08 + (47.16/12) + 1.50 0.50 = 90.01m
Vertical distance = (90.01 90.59(given)) = -0.58m
Therefore the edge of the slope rail at C must be fixed 0.58m below the top of
the stake.
For Stake D:
The top of the rail is 0.50m below the top of the rail at stake C, hence:
RL of top of the rail = 90.01 0.50 = 89.51m
Vertical distance = (90.01 90.59) = -0.38m

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