Longitudinal and Cross

Sections

Sr SITI NUR ALIAA ROSLAN

KLIUC
 Outline of Lecture
 Introduction
 Definitions
 Methodology
 Calculation
 Output / Products
 Applications
 Introduction
Two other major uses of levelling are:

 Longitudinal sections
 Cross
Cross--sections
 Definition
Longitudinal sections
 The existing ground profile along a
particular line (normally the centre line of
existing proposed work)
 Centre line of railway, road, canal etc
 Staff reading to 0.01m is adequate
 Definition
Cross-sections
Cross-
 Are lines of levels or short profiles
perpendicular to the centre line of a project
 Provide info needed for estimating the
quantities of earthwork
 Methodology
 The process of determining a series of
elevations along a fixed line is referred to
as Profile Levelling
 Data are taken at regular intervals after
the setting out of Centre Line (CL)
 Methodology
The levels for the defining of the sections
may be obtained by one of the following
methods:
 Conventional levelling
 Tacheometric methods
 Interpretation from digital terrain models
 Methodology

 The fixed direction is usually of

significance such as the centreline of a
road or river
 Cross section may be taken at right
angles to this direction at a constant
interval
 Along the cross section levels are
measured at points, usually separated by
a fixed distance
 Methodology

 Similar to the usual process of levelling

except that more readings to the
Intermediate Sight (IS)
 In order to get more info about the land
profile
ISQ FS1
ISP 1
BSA Q

A
 Output / Products
 Longitudinal section plan
 Cross section plan
 Horizontal/vertical scale
 It is common to use a vertical scale larger
than the horizontal one (usually 10:1) in
order to make the elevetion differences
clear
 For eg: Horizontal scale = 1:20
Vertical scale = 1:20
Cross--section plan
Cross

Uniform slope – 3 readings sufficient

Some changes in slope – e.g. 5 readings

Significant changes in slope – e.g. 9 readings

 The typical cross sections

EXISTING GROUND PROFILE WATER LEVEL

FORMATION LEVEL
 Calculations

 Construction levelling: often involves relatively

short distances yet a large number (n (n) of
instrument stations
 In this case, an alternative criterion for E can
be used:
Max. acceptable misclosure E (in mm mm):):
E = ±D √n√n mm
5mm & 8mm: commonly adopted values for D
 Plotting the plans
- Longitudinal section
 Define the horizontal and vertical scale (e.g. vert – 1:20 ; horz – 1:500)
 Can use the engine ering ruler to do the plotting

RL of CLs

Datum = 40.000m
40.858

10.00 40.998

40.00 40.902

50.00 40.907

60.00 41.001
20.00 40.773

Ground Level (m) 30.00 40.758

0.00

Chainage (m)
 Plotting the plans
- Cross section
 Define the horizontal and vertical scale (e.g. vert – 1:20 ; horz – 1:20)
 To highlight both components
 Exercise:
 Draw both the longitudinal and cross-
cross-
section plans in accordance to exact scale
 Use the data provided in the lecture slide
 Advanced source of data
 LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
 It is rapidly emerging technology for determining
the shape of the ground surface plus natural and
man--made features
man
 LIDAR is combined with Geographic Information
System (GIS) data and other surveying
information to generate complex data
 Application of Long and Cross-
Cross-
sections
 In the construction and design of roads,
highways, railways, pipelines and drainage
systems
 Earthwork operations
 Cut and fill volume calculations
 Height of Collimation Method
 An alternative to the Rise and Fall method
 Normally used when a large number if
Intermediate Sights are observed
 The height of the telescope axis or height
of collimation (HC) is measured
 Example

BS IS FS HC RL Remarks
2.027 73.105 + 2.027 73.105 BH1
= 75.132 (73.105m)
2.109 75.132 75.132 – 2.109 =
73.023
2.543 75.132 75.132 – 2.543 =
72.589

4.681 75.132 75.132 – 4.681 =

70.451
 Example (Cont’d)

BS IS FS HC RL Remarks
2.133 4.427 70.705 + 2.133 70.451 – (4.681
(4.681-- D (CP)
= 72.838 4.427) = 70.705

3.246 72.838 72.838 – 3.246 = E

69.592
1.957 72.838 72.838 – 1.957 = F
70.881

3.159 0.681 72.157 + 3.159 72.157 G (CP)

= 75.316

2.988 75.316 75.316 – 2.988 = BH2

72.328 (72.328m)
 Arithmetic checks
 Sum of BS – FS = Last RL – First RL
 Sum RLs – First RL = [Sum (HCi) x ni] –
Sum IS – Sum FS

 Where: HCi is the i th height of collimation and ni is the no. of times

the i th height of collimation was used to compute RLs
 Applications of HC method
 Longitudinal and Cross-
Cross-sections
 Contouring using grid and levelling

 In general, it is applied when large no. of

IS are taken – e.g. in Earthwork levelling
 Contouring by
Grid and Levelling
 Contour
 A contour is a line drawn on a plan joining all
points of the same height above or below a
datum
 Contours cannot cross, split or join other
contours, except in the case of an overhang.
e.g. a cliff
 The height between successive contours is
called the vertical interval or the contour interval
 Contour
 Contour interval value depends on the variation in height
of the area being contoured
- the contour interval is kept constant for a plan or map

 The plan spacing between contour line indicates the

steepness of slopes
- Closely spaced lines indicates a steep gradient
- Widely spaced lines indicate a flatter gradient
 Example

5 10 15 20
25

25

20

15

10

5
 Productions of contours
 Direct method
 Finding points on the ground with the value of
the required contour

 Indirect method
 Random spot heights
 Grid of spot heights
Productions of contours
(indirect method)

From random spot heights

From a grid of spot heights

 For next practical
 Determine the cross-
cross-section and long-
long-
section for a road, with distance of 100m
 Contouring using the Grid and Levelling
method
 Use the rise/fall or HC method for data
calculation