CONSTRUCTION

SURVEYING
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
 Construction surveys provide the horizontal and vertical layout
for every key component of a construction project. This
provision of line and grade can only be accomplished by
experienced surveyors familiar with both the related project
design and the appropriate construction techniques.
 A knowledge of related design is essential to interpret the
design drawings effectively for layout purposes, and a
knowledge of construction techniques is required to ensure
that the lay out is optimal for both line and grade transfer and
construction schedule.
 On any construction site, it is general practice to construct
firstly the roadways and sewers, in order to provide a) access
to the site and b) main drainage to all buildings.
 INTRODUCTION
 It provides the alignment, grades, and locations which guide
the construction operations. The construction operations
include clearing, grubbing, stripping, drainage, rough grading,
finish grading, and surfacing.
 Note the following suggested distances.
 Keep centerline established 1,500 feet or 450 meters ahead of
clearing and grubbing.
 Keep rough grade established and slope stakes set 1,000
feet or 300 meters ahead of stripping and rough grading.
 Set stakes to exact grade, 500 feet or 150 meters ahead of
finish grading and surfacing.
 INTRODUCTION
 Surveying is an essential part in construction industry.
 More than ½ of all surveying relates to the construction industry
1. Residential subdivisions 11. Canals
2. Site development 12. Airports
3. Highways 13. Transmission lines
4. Drainage ditches 14. Commercial buildings
5. Storm & Sanitary Sewer 15. Industrial plants
6. Culverts 16. Reservoirs
7. Bridges 17. Water & sewerage treatment plants
8. Landfills 18. Dams
9. Pipelines 19. Mines
10. Railroads 20. Quarries
WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION SURVEYOR

 A boundary survey, planimetric site features and preparation

of necessary topographic maps are commonly the initial steps
in the construction process.
 The duty of the surveyor is to set the required horizontal or
vertical position of structures.
 Construction surveying involves transfer of the dimensions on
the drawing to the ground so that the work done in its correct
position. (Setting Lines & Grades )
 Layout Work – this is the work of the surveyor for construction
projects.
 Field Engineer – used in place of the term surveyor.
WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION SURVEYOR

 Construction surveying begins before actual construction and

continues until the project is completed
 Construction drawings shows the sizes and positions of
structures to be erected, such as buildings, roads, parking lots,
storage tanks, pipelines and so on.
 The job of the construction surveyor is to establish a reference
datum allowing contractors to locate these planned features
in their desired position in the ground.
 WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION SURVEYOR

A construction project requires four kinds of surveys for its completion:

1. A property or boundary survey by a registered land surveyor to
establish the location and dimensions of the property.
2. A site survey to determine the existing conditions, such as contours,
man-made and natural features, streams, sewers, power lines,
roads, and nearby structures.
3. The construction surveys, which determine the position and
elevation of the features of the construction works.
4. There surveys that determine the positions of the finished structures.
These are the “as-built” surveys and are used to check the
contractor’s work and show the locations of structures and their
associated facilities (water lines, sewers, etc.) that will be needed
for future maintenance, changes, and new construction.
WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION SURVEYOR
WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION SURVEYOR
PRELIMINARY SURVEY

 To prepare the plans for a site or building the engineer-

architect needs a map of the site so that the building and
related facilities will optimally located. These maps are
typically shown at a large drawing scale, such as 1in = 10ft or 1
in = 20ft, depending on the project size and complexity.
 Information included are:
1. Property lines
2. Elevations for the preparation of contour lines
3. Locations and sizes of existing buildings on the site
adjacent to it and materials from which they were
constructed
4. Location of any immovable objects
5. Location of existing streets, curbs, and sidewalks
6. Location of hydrants
PRELIMINARY SURVEY

 Information included are:

7. Size and locations of gas and water lines and storm and
sanitary sewers, including manhole locations and invert
elevations
8. Locations of power lines, telephone lines, light poles, trees
and other items
 Building plot plan
 The preliminary survey may include a survey of existing
structures on the site and perhaps by structures on adjacent
property that might be affected by the new construction.
 INSTRUMENTS
 All roads, buildings, drains and sewers are set out using standard
surveying equipment comprising:
1. Steel tapes: it must always be used for setting out purposes as they
are not subject to the same degree of stretching as are Fibron
tapes. The accuracy of setting out work is largely dependent up on
the condition of the tape and or course, the expertise of the user.
2. Levels: automatic levels are used on most sites. They compare
favorably in price with optical levels and produce much more
reliable results.
3. Theodolites: a wide variety of theodolite is now available but, as
with levels, the more automation that can be provided, the greater
will be the accuracy of the setting out. Thus, it is a good practice to
use theodolite with optical plumbing, automatic vertical circle
indexing, electronic readout and electronic two axis leveling.
 INSTRUMENT
4. Total station: most setting out work, particularly road ways, can be
readily and accurately accomplished by the method of
coordinates. An EDM instrument is required to set the distances and
total stations can set out horizontal distances with ease.
5. Autoplumb instruments: These instruments are used to set a vertical
line in high-rise buildings. They are much more convenient to use this
purpose than theodolites. They save much time and greatly
increase accuracy.
6. Pegs: these are either wooden 50mm X 50mm X 500mm stakes for
use in soft ground or 25mm X 25mm X 300mm angle irons for hard
standing.
7. Profiles: is a wooden stake to which a cross-piece, painted in
contrasting coloured stripes, is nailed. For sewer work, goalpost-type
profiles, called sight rails, are preferable. The profiles are elected
over the offset pegs in order to remain clear of the excavation.
 INSTRUMENT
8. Travelers: are really mobile profile boards used in conjunction with
sight rails. The length of the traveler equals the sight rail level- sewer
invert level. The length of 0.25 meters and travelers are usually
about 2 meters long.
9. Corner profiles: during the construction of buildings, the pegs
denoting the corners of the buildings are always removed during
the construction work. The corner positions have, therefore, to be
removed some distance back from the excavations on to corner
profiles. These are constructed from stout wooden stakes 50mm X
50mm, on to which wooden boards 250mm X 25mm X 1.00m long
are securely nailed.
Setting out pegs and profiles
Setting out a Peg on a Specified Distance and Bearing

Setting out on level ground

 Setting out a Peg on a Specified Distance and Bearing

Setting Out On Level Ground

Procedure
1. The theodolite is set over station B and
correctly leveled and centered. On face
left, a back sight is taken to station A
with the type theodolite reading zero
degrees (the method varies with the
type of theodolite).
2. The horizontal circle is set to read 65°30’;
thus the theodolite is pointing along line
BC.
3. The end of the tape is held against the
nail in peg B and laid out approximately
along the line BC by the assistants.
 Setting out a Peg on a Specified Distance and Bearing

Setting Out On Level Ground

Procedure
4. The 10.25 m reading on the tape is held
against the SIDE of the proposed peg C(In
figure 9.2b), the tape is tightened and slowly
swing in an arc, until the surveyor sees it clearly
through the telescope of the theodolite.
5. The peg is carefully moved, on the observer’s
instructions, until the bottom, front edge of the
peg is accurately bisected. The peg is then
hammered home.
6. The tape is again held at peg B, by assistant 1,
while assistant 2 tightens it and marks a pencil
line across the peg C at distance 10.25 m.
 Setting out a Peg on a Specified Distance and Bearing

Setting Out On Level Ground

Procedure
7. A pencil is held vertically on this line by an
assistant and is moved slowly along the line
until the surveyor sees it bisected by the line
of sight through the theodolite. The assistant
marks this point on the peg.
8. The distance of 10.25 m is checked and the
operation is repeated on face right. If all is
well, the two positions of point C should
coincide or differ by a very few millimeters.
The mean is accepted and a nail hammered
Itinto thegood
is not peg to denote to
practice point C. the end of the tape over the nail at
hook
peg B when setting out the distance, as excessive tension on the
tape will move the nail head or even move the peg.
 GRADE STAKES

 Grade Stake – is a stake that is driven into the ground

until its top is located at the elevation desired for the
finished job or until the elevation of the top has definite
relation to the desired elevation
 When earth grading operations are nearing their desired
finished location, it is possible to drive stakes until their
tops are at specified final elevation.
 Blue tops - In road or grading work the surveyor sets
stakes and paints their tops blue to represent the
required elevation. Graders then work to just cover the
blue tops of the stakes.
 Are commonly used for grading operations along the
edges of highways, railroads, and so on.
 REFERENCING POINTS FOR CONSTRUCTION

 Stake – is usually thought of as a approximately

1 x 2 x 18 in. ( or longer) piece of wood
sharpened at one end to facilitate driving into
the ground.
 Hub – approximately 2 x 2 in piece of wood of
variable length driven flush or almost flush with
the ground and used for horizontal control.
 The references used should be fairly
permanent. Markers may consists of crosses or
marks chiseled into concrete pavements or
curbs or sidewalks, or nails and caps driven into
bituminous pavements.
 REFERENCING POINTS FOR CONSTRUCTION

 Locate a sufficient number of

reference points.
 Important points must be
recorded and description on field
notes so in the event of that the
markings are obliterated or the
reference points themselves are
disturbed.
Different Methods
1. Three reference points
2. Referencing using corners of the
building
3. Random reference points
 SITE LAYOUT
BUILDING LAYOUT
 The objectives of surveying for building construction are to lay out
the proposed structure according to prepared plans and to mark
the controlling points of the structure in the manner that is most
useful to the construction forces.
 This marking consists of indicating the corners of the building and
other horizontal and vertical positions by means of stakes, batter
boards with string lines, drill holes, cut-and-fill notations, and similar
conventional methods.
 The actual layout of the building is usually preceded by some form
of reconnaissance and location survey.
 The following procedures are typical of major building projects:
 Performing reconnaissance (aerial, map, and ground).
 Selecting site (paper and instrument).
 Establishing control (horizontal and vertical).
 Taking topography (plane table or transit stadia).
 SITE LAYOUT

BUILDING LAYOUT PROCEDURE:

FIGURE A
 The plans for construction of a building give location
and the elevation of the work relative to existing
utilities and survey control marks. The dimensions of
the building are part of the (the necessary data for
establishing line and grade. Figure A, illustrates a
typical building layout using the following steps:
1. Establish baseline AB and locate CD by
measurement
2. At point C, turn 90° from B and locate corner stakes E
and F by measurement.
3. Locate points H and G from point D in the same way.
4. Check diagonals (EH and FG) by the formula 𝑐 =
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2
5. Install batter boards.
6. Establish line and grade
SITE LAYOUT
BUILDING LAYOUT
 SITE LAYOUT
STAKING OUT A BUILDING
• First step is to locate the building by boundary
surveying. Stakes are placed temporarily at the
corners as a check.
• In a small size building, a set of batter boards and
reference stakes are first set. The boards are around
the building corners and nailed at a full number of
feet above the footing base or at first floor elevation.
• Nails are driven into the batter board tops so that a
string connecting them will define an outside wall
• See fig 23-7, and the example which illustrates
staking out the building in fig 23-8.
• In a larger building, radial methods, the one you
used to lay out piles, are used Fig 23-9
BASE LINES
BASE LINES
BATTER BOARDS
 After hubs are set for the corners of a building, they may be secured
by means of references set just outside the work area in the form of
butter boards.
 Consist of wooden frameworks that have nails driven into their tops
(or have notches cut into them) for which string lines or wire
references are stretched to outline the position of the building lines
and perhaps the outside of the foundation walls.
 Are not only used for building corners but also for the construction of
culverts and sewer lines, for brick laying and for many construction
jobs.
 Should be placed firmly in the ground and should be well braced.
 They should be placed at a sufficient distance from the excavation
so that they will be located in undisturbed ground, yet close enough
so that strings may conveniently stretched between them.
BATTER BOARDS
 BUILDING LAYOUT: Contractor Method
1. The property corners are located.
2. A 1 x 4 stake is placed at each corner and nylon strings are
stretched along the property lines.
3. The setback distances are obtained from the site and floor plans are
laid off, thus establishing one of the building corners and two of its
sides.
4. From the corner and sides established in step 3 the building is laid
out as a larger rectangular box. The 90° corners for this box are
established with a tape.
5. The building corners are marked on the ground and batter boards
are driven with the offsets of about 6-9 ft.
6. Nails are driven into the batter boards and nylon string lines are
placed over the corners previously marked on the ground making
use of a plumb bobs.
 BUILDING LAYOUT: Contractor Method
7. Tapes are used to measure the exterior lines and diagonals are
actually checked. Offsets are measured from the building lines.
8. Nylon string lines are carefully laid out to the outside of the
foundation wall. The earth beneath the string lines is scratched with
some type of rod or a reinforcing bar.
9. The batter boards are set to the desired finished floor elevations.
10. The nylon string lines are then removed and footing excavations
made.
11. The placing of the reinforcing bars followed by the inspection and
then the placement of the concrete complete the foundation
subcontractor’s work.
 AS-BUILT SURVEYS
 As-built surveys are performed after a construction project is
completed, to provide the positions and dimensions of the project
features and built facilities as they were actually constructed.
 They survey not only provide a record of what was constructed but
also provide a quality control check to see if the work was
completed in accordance with the design plans.
 A detailed map is prepared showing all changes made during
construction.
 Laser levels are particularly useful for conducting as-built surveys.