SETTINGOUT

COURSEWORK 01
1(a) State the two main aims of setting out and briefly describe the three basic principles on
which setting out operations should be based in order that these aims can be achieved.

Answer,

The two main aims of setting out are that,

1. 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 minimized. It must always be remembered that the
contractor’s main commercial purpose is to make a profit – therefore setting out needs to be done
efficiently.
2. 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
The three basic principles on which setting out operations should be based in order that above
aims can be achieved are,

 Points of known position must be established within or near the site from which the
design points can be set out in their correct plan positions. This involves horizontal
control techniques.
 Points of known elevation relative to an agreed datum are required within or near the site
from which the design points can be set out at their correct reduced levels which involves
vertical control technique
 Accurate methods must be adopted to establish design points from the horizontal and
vertical control which involves positioning techniques.

(b) Discuss the various different types of plans and drawings that may be required when
undertaking setting out operations.

The various different types of plans and drawings that may be required when undertaking setting
out operations are as bellow,

 Architectural plan which consists of plan layouts of the building at different levels,
sectionals elevations with vertical reference levels and all of these drawings are drawn to
scale to be installed in the actual positions as shown on the site layout.
  Structural plans-These form the most important parts of the building since the most
important structural members such as columns and foundation footings are well identified
by the grid lines as indicated on the structural plan layouts.
 Survey plans and profile drawings. These identify the contour levels at different locations
on the proposed site layout; hence they form a basis for reference on exact levels to fix
the building levels.

(c) With the aid of illustrations, discuss the various types of horizontal control grids that can be used
during surveying and setting out operations.

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 easting and northing 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.

(d) Discuss the roles of temporary and transferred bench marks in surveying and setting
out operations. Include illustrations showing examples of TBMs and state the accuracies to
which they should be established.
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 leveling
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 leveling 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

(e) With the aid of illustrations, discuss the use of offset pegs in setting out operations.
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 these extra
pegs called offset pegs are used.
(f) With the aid of illustrations, briefly discuss how the following should be undertaken
 Setting out column position

 Setting out pile positions

 Transferring height from floor to floor

Reduced levels are 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 bellow.
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
leveling 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 leveling must be done as a check.
2. A pipeline is to be laid in a trench at a rising gradient of 1 in 150 from a point E to a point H.
The horizontal distance EH is 180.00 m. Long wooden stakes E, F, G, and H have been driven
into the ground at 60.00 m horizontal distance intervals on the line EH and sight rails are to be
attached to them for use with a 2.00 m traveller. The tops of the stakes are levelled as follows:
E = 45.78 m F = 45.92 m, G = 46.15 m, H = 46.61 m
The formation level of the bottom of the trench at E is to be 43.29 m.
Calculate the difference in level between the top of each stake and the position at which the
top edge of each sight rail must be set.

Solution,
 E F G H
RL1 RL4 RL7 RL10
HC
RL3 RL6 RL9 RL12
GL
Theodolite TBM
RL11
RL8
RL5
50)
lope(1:1
RL2
id to s
Pipe la
60m 60m 60m

Let;
RL1=Reduced Level of the stake at point E
RL4=Reduced Level of the stake at point F
RL7=Reduced Level of the stake at point G
RL10=Reduced Level of the stake at point H
Let;
RL2=Reduced Level of the bottom of trench at point E
RL5=Reduced Level of the bottom of trench at point F
RL8=Reduced Level of the bottom of trench at point G
RL11=Reduced Level of the bottom of trench at point H
Let;
RL3=Reduced Level of the site rail at point E
RL6=Reduced Level of the site rail at point F
RL9=Reduced Level of the site rail at point G
RL12=Reduced Level of the site rail at point H
Note;
Height of the Traveller = 2.0m

 Difference in level at point E

RL3=RL2+Height of Traveller Difference in level at point E
RL3=43.29+2.0=45.29m Δ=RL1-RL3=45.79-45.29=0.5m
 Difference in level at point F
Reduced level of bottom of Difference in level at point F
1:150
trench at point F, Y1 Δ=RL4-RL6
RL5=RL2+0.4=43.29+0.4=43.69 60m =45.92-45.69=0.23m
Y1=(60/150)=0.4m
m
 Reduced level of site rail at F,
RL6=RL5+ Height of Traveller
RL6=43.69+2.0=45.69m
 Difference in level at point G
Reduced level of bottom of Difference in level at point F
1:150
trench at point G, Y1 Δ=RL7-RL9
RL8=RL5+0.4=43.69+0.4=44.09 60m =46.15-46.09=0.06m
Y1=(60/150)=0.4m
m
Reduced level of site rail at G,
RL9=RL8+ Height of Traveller
RL6=44.09+2.0=46.09m

 Difference in level at point H

Reduced level of bottom of Difference in level at point F
1:150
trench at point H, Y1 Δ=RL7-RL9
RL11=RL8+0.4=44.09+0.4=44.49 60m =46.61-46.49=0.12m
Y1=(60/150)=0.4m
m
Reduced level of site rail at H,
RL12=RL11+ Height of Traveller
RL6=44.49+2.0=46.49m

3. A new sewer is to be laid to drain a housing development to a manhole on an existing sewer.

The centres of three proposed manholes A, B and C on the new sewer have been pegged out on
site and the levels of the tops of the pegs were measured as follows:
A = 98.13 m B = 98.23 m C = 98.68 m
The new sewer is to be constructed to fall into the manhole on the existing sewer at a gradient of
1 in 200. The horizontal distance between the manhole on the existing sewer and proposed
manhole A is 80.00 m, with successive horizontal distance intervals between AB and BC being
66.00 m and 52.00 m, respectively. The cover level of the manhole on the existing sewer is 97.53
m and the formation level at the bottom of this manhole is 1.87 m below its cover level. If a 3.00
m traveller is to be used during the construction of the trench for the new sewer,
Calculate the height of the sight rail required above the cover of the existing manhole and
also the heights of the sight rails required above the tops of the pegs defining proposed
manholes A, B and C.
Solution,

Site Rail Site Rail Site Rail Site Rail

level level level level
A B C
Peg level Peg level Peg level Peg level
HC

GL Cover level
97.53
Theodolite TBM
RL4
Existing RL3
MH RL2
RL1 (1:200)
to slope
Pipe laid
80m 66m 52m

1:200 1:200 1:200

Y1 Y2 Y3

80m 66m 52m

Y1=(80/200)=0.4m Y2=(66/200)=0.33m Y3=(52/200)=0.26m

Reduced level at bottom of existing manhole

RL1=97.53-1.87=95.66m.

Height of traveller=3.0m

 Height of site rail required above the cover of existing manhole;

=Height of site rail at the existing manhole-The level of the cover of the existing manhole.

But Height of site rail at the existing Manhole=RL1+Height of traveler=(95.66+3.0)=98.66m

Hence height of site rail required above the cover of existing manhole=(98.66-97.53m)=1.13m

 Height of site rail required above the top of the peg at Manhole A;

But the level of peg at Manhole A=98.13m

Also,RL2=RL1+0.4=95.66+0.4=96.06m

Height of site rail at Manhole A= Rl2+Height of traveler=96.06+3.0=99.06m

Height of site rail at Manhole A-The level of the peg at Manhole A=(99.06-98.13m)=0.93m

 Height of site rail required above the top of the peg at Manhole B;

But the level of peg at Manhole B=98.23m

Also,RL3=RL2+0.33=96.39m

Height of site rail at Manhole B= RL3+Height of traveler=96.39+3.0=99.39m

Height of site rail at Manhole A-The level of the peg at Manhole A=(99.39-98.23m)=1.16m

 Height of site rail required above the top of the peg at Manhole C;

But the level of peg at Manhole B=98.68m

Also,RL4=RL3+0.26=96.39+0.26=96.65m

Height of site rail at Manhole B= RL4+Height of traveler=96.65+3.0=99.65m

Height of site rail at Manhole A-The level of the peg at Manhole A=(99.65-98.68m)=0.97m