CE101-3: Route

Surveying

Prepared by:

ALFONSE IRENEO T. ESTIBAL

Introduction
Greetings, Engineer under construction! Welcome to CE101-3:
Surveying II – Route Surveying!
Being enrolled in this course, I can really say that you are indeed
perseverant because you have now worked your way through at least halfway
of the Civil Engineering Program. It’s still a long way to go, so I expect that you’d
be patient and continue to work hard not only in this course, but for the rest of
your journey as a CE student.
Introduction
In this course, we’ll be dealing with the design and layout of
horizontal and vertical curves for highway and railway construction.
We’ll also be dealing with line grade, earthwork volumes, mass
diagram, overhaul and estimate cost.
Introduction
This course will be a way to develop your sense of ethical
responsibility and will require you to make crucial calculations and
intelligent decisions so that the safety and efficiency of your design
will not be compromised. I am very confident that this course will
help you to become prepared for your future career as a licensed
civil engineer, especially if you choose to specialize on
transportation engineering.
Objectives for Week 2 to Week 3
a. Familiarize the different terminologies and methods used in Route
Surveying.
b. Understand the concept and types of Horizontal Curves and its importance
on roadway safety and design.
c. Be able to analyze, solve, and plot a Simple Curve.
What is Route
Surveying?
A Route Survey is defined as
being the required service and
product that adequately locates the
planned path of a linear project or
right of way which crosses a
prescribed area of real estate,
extending from at least one known
point and turning or terminating at
another known point. Adequate
location shall mean substantial
compliance with the conditions and
tolerances expressed in this standard.
What is Route Surveying?
A route survey which defines new or proposed boundaries shall be
conducted as a boundary survey and must adhere to the rules and regulations
of a country’s professional land surveying board.
What is makes it unique from other
surveying methods?
Unlike any other surveying methods, route surveying is a basically
topographic survey specifically required for the planning of a right of way, the
acquisition of fee or easement property and for eventual construction layout
work. The location of the facilities within the right of way are often held in
respect to the center line or a right of way line.
A Route Survey is made on the ground to provide for the location of right
of way lines, a centerline, or reference lines in relation to property lines and
terrain features.
 What is makes it
unique from other
surveying methods?
Route surveys involve
measuring and computing
horizontal and vertical angles,
elevations, and horizontal
distances. The results of these
surveys are used to prepare
detailed plan and profile base
maps of proposed roadways. In
addition, the elevations
determined in the survey serve as
the basis for calculation of
construction cut and fill
quantities, and in determining
roadway banking.
Route Surveying
Terminologies
This section presents a review of
basic terminology, concepts, and
standard procedures used in highway
surveys. The review begins with some
basic definitions. Highway curves can
be either circular arcs or spirals.
Horizontal Curves
Horizontal curves are provided to change the direction or
alignment of a road. Horizontal Curve are circular curves or circular
arcs. The sharpness of a curve increases as the radius is decrease
which makes it risky and dangerous. The main design criterion of a
horizontal curve is the provision of an adequate safe stopping sight
distance.
Simple curve
A simple curve is a
circular are connecting two
straight lines (tangents).
Compound curve

A compound curve
consists of two or more circular
arcs of different radii tangent to
each other with their centers on
the same side of the common
tangent. Compound curves
where two circular areas having
centers on the same side are
connected by a short tangent are
called broken-back curves.
Reverse Curve
A reverse curve is
two circular arcs tangent to
each other but with their
centers on opposite sides of
the common tangent.
Spiral Curve

A curve whose radius

decreases uniformly from infinity
to that of the curve it meets is
called a spiral curve. Spiral
curves with the proper
superelevation (banking) provide
safe and smooth riding qualities.
Circular and spiral curves
are used for curves in the
horizontal plane.
Vertical Curves
Tangents in the vertical plane are
joined by parabolic curves (also referred to
simply as vertical curves). Vertical curves
are used in highway and street vertical
alignment to provide a gradual change
between two adjacent grade lines. Some
highway and municipal agencies introduce
vertical curves at every change in grade line
slope, whereas other agencies introduce
vertical curves into the alignment only when
the net change in slope direction exceeds a
specific value (e.g. 1.5 percent or 2 percent).
To understand more about the different types
of curves in Highway Design, click the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIe8vLaowPc
Route Surveying Processes
A route surveying system usually contains four separate but interrelated
processes:

1. Reconnaissance and planning

2. Works design

3. Right of way acquisition

4. Construction of works
1. Reconnaissance and planning
Reconnaissance survey is done to examine the general character of the area for the
purpose of determining the most feasible route or routes for furthermore detailed
investigations.

Data collected from reconnaissance survey is used for feasibility study of all different
routes, preparation of approximate estimates of quantities and costs. This helps in selection
of most suitable alternatives. This survey also helps in determining any deviations required
in the basic geometric standards to be adopted for the highway facility.
1. Reconnaissance
and planning
Reconnaissance survey is generally
not required for the work consisting of
improvements to existing roads unless
bypass roads are involved.
The reconnaissance survey methods may
be conducted in the following sequence.
a) Study of topographical survey
sheets, agricultural, soil, geological
and meteorological maps and
aerial photography.
b) Aerial photography wherever
necessary and feasible, and
c) Ground reconnaissance including
another round of serial reconnaissance
for inaccessible and difficult stretches,
where required.
2. Works Design
An arrangement in the workplace that has
the objective of overcoming employee alienation
and job dissatisfaction that comes about from
mechanical and repetitive tasks in the workplace.
Work design is used by organizations to boost
productivity by offering employees non- monetary
rewards such as satisfaction from a greater sense of
personal achievement. Thus, this is an important
factor in whatever scale of route surveying it is.
 Right-of-way (ROW) acquisition is the act of
3. Right of Way taking the land from its original owner by another party,
Acquisition with legal rights to take the real property, by providing a
monetary compensation for the value of the property.
4. Construction
of Works
It basically sets out
that construction work includes
building work, civil engineering or
engineering construction work
development which includes or is
intended to include construction work.
Any works that involve preparation of
an area for a building or structure
would be considered
as construction work. In the case of
route surveying, the construction of
works depends on the goal of the
survey. Whether it is to construct a
drainage system or simply a roadway
design.
END OF PART 1 - INTRODUCTION