CRAIG JOSEPH

AC1900736

CONSTRUCTION SURVEYING FUNDAMENTALS B05V

ASSIGNMENT #8

DATE; December 28, 2021

The installation of a sewer line includes the first step of determining how far the pipe

needs to go and the various depths that each end of the pipe. Depth of each end can also

be referred to the elevation. The sewer pipe starts where the residential unit main drain

exits the foundation and slopes to a connection on the main sewer line called a tap. The

slope or gradient of the flow line is a factor to consider in the flow capacity of diameter

of the pipe being used. Finding the proper slope is critical to the design of the sewer. This

information can be found on the engineering drawings, and are accessible to the

contractor, who has to excavate to the indicated depth. Pipes on steeper slopes have larger

capacities versus those on shallow slopes. Slopes should have a minimum of 2 feet of

drop per 100 feet run. Too steep a slope and the liquid will flow too quickly leave the

solids behind, and a slope that is too gentle does not allow for proper drainage due to low

velocity.

At each instance where a sewer changes in diameter of the pipeline, or slope or direction,

a manhole is a necessary. The distance between two manholes is called the reach. These

chambers allow for maintenance and inspection of the sewer line and are built from

reinforced concrete or masonry units. Inspection of the sewer may also include sampling
and measuring the flow. To guide the builder in placing the pipeline at the right slope, he

refers to the invert elevation at the end of each reach. The invert point can be found on

the bottom of the inside of the pipeline or sewer channel.

Batter boards are used to use to temporarily mark out or reference building corners or

other structures such as slabs and foundations. Another use of this simple horizontal

wooden plank, supported by two vertical posts, is to give line and grade for the flow of

the pipeline. To locate the pipes, stakes are placed intervals of fifty feet and there is also

an offset between three and six feet from that center line of the pipe. Batter boards also

have the function of controlling grade and line of works and is used by both the builder or

the surveyor. Batter boards are built away from the corners and in that way the opposite

boards support whatever material is used to make the line whether it be wire, building

twine/carpenter’s line. This line is so run, so as to fall directly in the center of the

pipeline. The boards themselves are at a constant level above the pipeline or works that is

being marked out. With the advent of technology lasers are used more and more.

Surveyors are taught to use notebooks to store field data, even when modern day

technology allows for electronic storage. The devices used such as transits, total station,

or a theodolite are used for measurement of distances and angles and offer means to store

and manipulate data. When it comes to field notes, redundancy is key. These books are so

ruled to appropriately organize the data collected. The entries must be legible and a

timestamp is necessary for each entry. If there is an error with an entry it must be neatly

lined out and corrected. The error should remain legible after the correction is done, per

adventure there would be a need to refer to it. A profile drawing is a graph illustration of

elevations, on a vertical axis, with a corresponding set of stations plotted on a horizontal

axis. A type of paper called profile paper is used to plot this data in the field book. There

must be proper labels for each axis of the graph complete with dates and other useful

information.

Sewer trench excavation is dug between two points, and as previously stated this length is

called the reach. The excavation process must be done properly so as to not disturb the

soil above and around the trench. After compacting the bottom of the trench, a sand bed

is laid to offer proper support throughout the length of the pipe. Sand is also very good at

settling, if in case there is any movement or settlement.

Nathanson J., Lanzafama M.T., Kissam P., 2011, Surveying Fundamentals and

Practices, 6th Edition, Pearson Education.