DEBRE BIRHAN POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE

Introduction to Route Surveying

work) required to plan, design, and layout (construct) and any "Long and narrow"

transportation facility. This transportation facility could be road (high way), railways,

and pipeline and power transmission lines.

The "Shape" or geometry of any transportation route is called its alignment. This

includes both its horizontal alignment (i.e. a plan view), and its vertical alignment

(i.e., a profile view). The vertical alignment is also called the grade line. The centerline

of highway, rail road, or canal consists of series of straight lines, (tangents) connected

by curves for safe and comfortable ride.

The plan view should include:

 Bearing of the tangents

 Angle of intersection

 Stationing

 Geometric data for each horizontal curve

 Topography adjacent to the center line

 Existing structures affected by the project

The vertical alignment consists of straights (gradients) connected by vertical corves in

a vertical plane.

The profile view should include:

 The existing ground surface

 Proposed route grade line

 Grades (slopes0 of the tangents

 Vertical curve data

 Stations (chainages)

 Location of drainage structures

 Elevations of existing ground surface & proposed grade lines

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Department of Surveying and Drafting
 DEBRE BIRHAN POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE

 Different Mode of Transportation There are different modes of transportation:

 Road Way  Water way  Pipe way

 Rail way  Air way

Transportation by road is the only mode which could gives maximum service to one

and all.

Purpose of route survey

Route surveying is conducted for the purpose of selecting the best route between two

terminal or ends stations, to establish the horizontal and vertical alignments of the

selected route and to fix the center line and the road alignment

Basic Advantages of road

 Facilitate movement of men & materials from place to another Promotes growth of

trade and other economic activates Vital for national defense - both during war &

peace time Educational & Medical facilities & cultural contacts can be maintained.

Help in enforcement of law & order

 Road serve as feeders for railways, air ways & water ways the passengers and the

goods materials have to be first transported by road before reaching the reaching

the rail road station, air port or port.

 Natural resources are easily tapped & improved. E.g. mining of minerals.

 Essential for economic prosperity & general development

 Road transport requires a relatively small investment

Requirements of Highway alignment

The basic requirements of an ideal alignment b/n two terminal station are that it

should be:

1. Short

2. Easy

3. Safe

4. Economical

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Department of Surveying and Drafting
 DEBRE BIRHAN POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE

Short: It is desirable to have short alignment b/n two terminal stations. A straight

alignment would be the shortest path.

Easy: The alignment should be such that it is easy to construct and maintain the road

with minimum problems.

Safe: The alignment should be safe for construction and maintenance from the point

of view of stability of natural slope, embankment & cut slope and also foundation

drivers & passengers. /free of accident/.

Economical: The road alignment could be considerate economical only if the total cost

including initial cost, maintenance cost & vehicle operation cost is lowest.

Stages In Route Surveying

The survey may be completed in four stages:

1. Map Study

2. Reconnaissance

3. Preliminary Survey

4. Final location and detail surveys.

1) Desk study or Map Study:

If the topographic map of the area is available, it is possible to suggest the likely

routes of the road. The main feature like rives, hills, valleys etc are also shown in these

maps. By a careful study of such maps, it is possible to have an idea of several

possible alternatives routes so that further details of these may be studied later at the

site.

2) Reconnaissance or Site Visit & Study

After the preliminary office work, a site visit must be made to the road. When

potential route corridors have been identified from the desk study Analysis, then a

reconnaissance survey is usually employed to verify interpretations, to help

determine the preferred corridor, and to identify factors that will influence the

feasibility design concept & cost companions.

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Department of Surveying and Drafting
 DEBRE BIRHAN POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE

A team consisting of the following personnel makes a site inspection visit:

 Highway Engineer

 Soils & Materials Engineer

 Chief Surveyor

 Hydrologist

 Environmentalist

 Sociologist

 Local administrative Personnel

Reconnaissance survey data can either be recorded on to topographical maps & aerial

Photographs.

During the reconnaissance survey, the following information should be determined.

 Terrain classification

 Location of topographical constrains, such ax cliffs, gorges, ravines, any other

features not identified by the desk study

 Slope steepness

 Soil type

 Water sources, material sources & distribution

During the site inspection the team should examine all alternatives. This information

can be combined with the results of the desk study to determine the most appropriate

alignment alternative.

3) Preliminary survey

The main objectives of the preliminary survey are:

 To survey the various alternatives alignments proposed after reconnaissance

and to collect all the necessary physical information and details of topography,

drainages soil.

 To compare the different proposals in view of the requirements of a good

alignment.

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Department of Surveying and Drafting
 DEBRE BIRHAN POLY TECHNIC COLLEGE

 To estimate quantity of earthwork materials and other construction aspect and

to workout the cost of alternative proposal.

4) Final location and detail survey

The alignment finalized at the design after the preliminary survey is to be first located

on the field by establishing the centerline.

Survey teams can carry out the survey as follows:

 One team for the location of the control pls.

 One team to survey the C.L & the longitudinal profile

 One team to survey the cross sections, and

 One team for the land acquisition survey.

All Physical features adjacent to the line whether natural or artificial are to be

recorded with in a range of 25M either side of the centerline in open country and in

small village (market centers) & towns.

A benchmark is to be established every 300-500 meters along the line close to the right

of way, and at all major structures

Every benchmark is to be checked leveled by a forward run & 9 subsequent backward

run forming a closed "Loop"

The following standard of accuracy is to be maintained

C k

Where C= Maximum permissible error of closure in centimeters

K= distance b/n benchmarks in kilometers.

K (Km) 0.5 1.0 2.0 5.0 10.0

C (Cm)  0.7  1.0  1.4  2.2  3.2

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Department of Surveying and Drafting