ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

INTRODUCTION
• Construction surveying or building surveying

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(otherwise known as "staking", "stake-out", "lay-out" or "setting-
out") is to stake out reference points and markers that will guide
the construction of new structures such as roads or buildings.
These markers are usually staked out according to a suitable
coordinate system selected for the project.

A Construction Survey is basically a survey that presents

locations and marks for construction activities; the process
of executing evaluation and estimation prior to or during
construction activities.

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Survey

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Survey

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

INTRODUCTION
Construction Staking, also known as a Site Layout Survey, is the process of

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interpreting construction plans and marking the location of proposed new
structures such as roads or buildings. Construction staking is performed to ensure
a project is built according to engineering design plans. The staked reference points
guide the construction of proposed improvements on the property, and will help to
ensure the construction project is completed on schedule, on budget and as
intended.

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The role of the Land Surveyor in Construction Staking

Accurate construction staking is a critical step in ensuring the success of a
construction project. Engaging an experienced and licensed surveyor will

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guarantee accuracy and reliability of results.

During site development, the land surveyor takes the engineer’s or

architect’s design shown on their plans and places (stakes) their correct
location on the ground so the contractors can place the buildings, roads,
fences, electrical and other underground utilities, etc. in their correct
location.

Construction staking may consist of Rough Grade Staking to map the

general location on improvements at a site, or precise Site Layout Surveys
for actual construction purposes.

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

The role of the Land Surveyor in Construction

Staking

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Rough Grade Staking Rough Grade Staking defines the location
of the site improvements with their respective reference to the
location and final grade elevation. This is done for the construction
of slopes, building outlines, parking lots and roadways, and
enables the contractor to grade and prepare the site for the next
sub-contractor to commence his work.

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

The role of the Land Surveyor in Construction

Staking
Site Layout Staking Once the site has received inspection and

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approval from the local agency, the contractor can move right into the
various stages of construction of the underground utilities, retaining
walls, buildings, site lighting and parking lot or street paving.
This Site Layout Staking phase typically begins with those features that
are underground such as sanitary sewer lines, storm drain lines, water
lines, electrical lines etc. Once all underground utilities are installed the
above ground features are staked for construction. The building corners
are staked along with any interior grid lines throughout the building, as
well as onsite items such as fire hydrants, curb and gutter,
walls/planters, catch basins and area drains.
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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Stages and Measurements of CS

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•Design stages: topographic Surveying, and site maps
•Construction stage:
•Setting-out and positioning works.
•involves establishing lines and grades by means of stakes
and string lines to guide the contractor
•During and after construction: as built drawings, a record
and a check.
•Measurements involved: Horizontal and vertical angles,
elevations, horizontal distances.
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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Horizontal & Vertical Control

Field surveying activities typically begin with the establishment of

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horizontal and vertical control points. This process includes research of the
public records to identify survey monuments in the vicinity of the project
area that are identified on recorded maps.

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Horizontal & Vertical Control

• Before Construction: new control points around the

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site must be established with high accuracy. Additional
points inside the site are then established. All points
must be “tied out” for repositioning. These initial points
should:
• Meet certain accuracy standards
• Be clearly marked, referenced, and recorded
• Be far enough to be safe during construction.
• During Construction: additional control is extended
by the contractor as needed, around or inside the
structure. These additional points should be close
enough to the structure so that workers with simple
equipment can use them
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Setting out of Structures

Setting out of Buildings: it involves the transfer of the architect’s plan from
paper onto the actual site. The object of setting out a building is to provide the

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builder with clearly defined outlines for excavations.

Two methods are generally used for setting out a building:

1. By using a circumscribing rectangle:
1) Preparation of the foundation trench plan showing the width of the
foundation for various walls.
2) Temporary pegs are driven at the actual corner points of the foundation
plan .
3) Then using these pegs as reference , a parallel line say PQ of required
length is set out at and arbitrary selected distance (i.e. 2m ) from the
actual center line
4) A cord is stretched between the pegs P and Q .At P , a line is set out
perpendicular to PQ .On this line , the position S is marked by setting a
peg.
5) Step 4 is repeated at point Q so as to obtained point R .

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Setting out of Structures - Buildings

1. By using a circumscribing rectangle:
Having now set out the reference rectangle PQRS , the actual corners

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6)
can be marked using the sides of the reference rectangle PQRS.
7) Once all the points are staked , a cord is pass around the periphery of
the rectangle and the actual excavation lines are marked using lime.

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Setting out of Structures - Buildings

2. By use of rectangle formed by center lines of the outer walls of a
building:

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1) The temporary stakes are fixed at the points that represent the corers
of the center line rectangle. The process is similar to the one used in
the first method while plotting the circumscribed rectangles.
2) Since these pegs are not permanent and will be lost during
excavations, the sides of the rectangle are produced on both the
sides and permanent stakes are fixed on each of the prolongations at
a fixed distance say 2 m as shown in figure.
3) By using these stakes, the position of any point can be obtained by
plotting its coordinates using the reference stakes.

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Setting out of Structures - Buildings

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Setting out of Structures - Buildings

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

Setting out of Structures - Buildings

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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

EXAMPLE:

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DESCRIBE THE PROCEDURE OF SETTING OUT OF
TWO STORYED BUILDING WITH 200mm THICK LOAD
BEARING WALLS ALL AROUND. THE FOUNDATION
WIDTH IS 750mm. THE BUILDING IS ABSOLUTELY
RECTANGULAR AND OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS ABOVE
PLINTH LEVEL ARE 12000mm x 18000mm. DRAW THE
FOUNDATION PLAN OF THE OUTER WALLS SHOWING
ALL THE DIMENSIONS (NOT TO SCALE).

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SOLUTION:
17,800mm

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200mm

11,800mm
12,000mm

18,000mm

THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS ARE:

12,000 mm x 18,000 mm
WITH WALLS 200mm THICK, CENTERLINE DIMENSIONS ARE:
(12,000 – 100 – 100) x (18,000 – 100 -100)
11,800 x 17,800
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ADVANCED ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 10: Construction Surveys

WITH FOUNDATION WIDTH OF 750mm, THE OUTSIDE

DIMENSIONS ARE:

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(11,800 + 375 + 375) x (17,800 + 375 + 375)
12,550 mm x 18,550mm
17,800mm

750mm

11,800mm
12,550mm 11,050
?

17,050
?

18,550mm

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STRINGS

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