Survey II 1

Lecture 6
Out lines 2

 Curves.
 Setting Out Methods
 Traditional methods.
 References.
 Setting Out Methods. 3
 Except for unusual cases, the radii of curves on route surveys are too
large to permit swinging an arc from the curve center.
 There are a number of methods by which the center line can be set
out, all of which fall into one of the following two categories.
 Traditional methods, which involve working along the center line
itself using the straights, intersection points and tangent points for
reference. The equipment required to carry out these methods can
include tapes, theodolites and total stations.
 Coordinate methods, which use control networks as reference. These
networks take the form of control points located on site some
distance away from the center line for use with theodolites, total
stations or GNSS receivers.
 Setting Out Methods. 4
Although both of the above categories are still used, coordinate
methods have virtually superseded traditional ones for all major
curve setting out operations for a number of reasons:
1. There is now widespread use of total stations on site and GNSS
equipment is increasingly being used for setting out purposes.
2. The universal adoption of highway design software packages,
which are invariably based on coordinate methods..
3. Coordinate methods have the advantage that relocating center
line pegs, which have been disturbed, is much easier to carry out
than by traditional methods.
 Setting Out Methods. 5
 Three traditional methods by which
pegs on the center lines of circular
curves can be set out on site from their
tangent points, which are:
1- The tangential angles (deflection
angles).
2- Offsets from the tangent lengths.
3- Offsets from the long chord.
 When traditional methods are being
used to set out the center line, it is
first necessary to locate the
intersection and tangent points on
site.
Setting Out Methods. 6
 Tangent Angle Method (deflection angles)
 This is the most accurate of the traditional methods and it can be used for any circular curve.
 The formula used for the tangential angles is derived as follows:

l=Sta. A – Sta. PC

𝑐
or sinØ=
2𝑅
 Horizontal Curves. 7
Example: Calculate the elements required to set out the
following curve:
Ø = 13 16’ , R= 600 m
o

I station = 27+45.72 , full station = 25m

Solution:
∅
T=𝑅𝑡𝑎𝑛 = 600 tan 13o16’/2 = 69.78 m
2
o
Ø𝑜
13 16’
CL = R = CL = 600 = 138.93m
57.296 57.296
 Horizontal Curves. 8
St. of PC = St. of I – T = 2745.72 – 69.78 = 2675.94 ( 26+75.94)

St. of PT = St. of PC + St. of PC = 2675.94+138.93 = 2814.87 ( 28+14.87)

C = 25

C1= First full station on curve – PC st. = 2700-2675.94 = 24.06m

C2 = St. of PT – Last full station on Curve = 2814.87-2800 = 14.87m

𝑐1 24.06
sinØ= = = Ø1 = 01o11’37”
2𝑅 2𝑥600

𝑐2 14.87
sinØ= = = 00o42’36”
2𝑅 2x600
 Horizontal Curves. 9
Table of Calculation:
Curve No.: …………… Project: ………….

T= 69.78 m , CL = 138.93 m Date: …………….

Point Station Chord Length Individual Tangential Acc. Tangential Angles

PC 26+75.94 00o00’00”
1 27+00 24.06 01o08’57” 01o08’57”
2 27+25 25 01o11’37” 02o20’33”
3 27+50 25 01o11’37” 03o32’10”
4 27+75 25 01o11’37” 04o43’47”
5 28+00 25 01o11’37” 05o55’24”
PT 28+14.87 14.87 00o42’36” 06o38’00” = ∅/2
∑=CL = 138.93 ∑= Ø/2
References 10
Ghilani, C. D. and P. R. WOLF (2014). Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics . New
Jersey, PEARSON.

Uren, J. and B. Price (2010). Surveying for Engineers. UK, PALGRAVE MACMILLAN.

Barry F. Kavanagh – 7th – ed. SURVEYING with Construction

Applications. PEARSON.
End of Lecture 6 11