2028EXQ Field Course Report: Highways and Surveying Module

This field course report documents surveying activities undertaken during a practical module on highways and surveying. The report details the aims and objectives of the course, including establishing horizontal and vertical control, conducting topographic surveys, and performing setting-out tasks. It outlines the tools and equipment used, such as tape measures, levels, and total stations, and describes various surveying methods like checking verticality, free stationing, intersection methods, and horizontal alignment settings. The report also covers setting out slope rails and considerations for accuracy. It explores topics such as topography, drainage setting out and the intersection method. The report concludes with an analysis of the results obtained and a discussion of the effectiveness of the methods employed in achieving the surveying goals. The document also includes references to relevant literature and appendices containing supplementary information.

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FIELD COURSE REPORT
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

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TABLE OF CONTENT
S
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
Aims and objectives.....................................................................................................................3
Tools and equipment....................................................................................................................3
Checking verticality.....................................................................................................................4
Topography..................................................................................................................................5
Free station and intersection........................................................................................................7
The intersection method...............................................................................................................7
Horizontal alignment settings......................................................................................................8
Setting Out Slope Rails................................................................................................................9
Accuracy....................................................................................................................................10
Results........................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................17
References..................................................................................................................................18
Appendix....................................................................................................................................19
Introduction

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The largest and the biggest park in the country war Memorial Park was established and opened in
July 1992.It acted as Coventry’s acknowledgement to the militaries who came in from the city
and died or lost their lives through the First World War. Before the establishment and
development of this park, the area occupied by the park mainly consisted of large thick grasses
which formed the Styvechale. This was a part and parcel of farmland, woodland and forest. The
sole owners and proprietors of the land was Lords of Styvechale Manor from the family of
Gregory-Hood (Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2017). The family of Gregory-Hood then sold the
land to the Municipal council so that the park could be established through its creation
Over the subsequent two decades, several different facilities and amenities have been put in
place as well as established including the 1927 war Memorial together with the designed
landscape gardens and field sports. Throughout this time and period, the park became friendly
thus creating a friendly home environment for the people home. The tall pavilions were built
during the same period as the laying out of the gardens. The gardens have been improved and
various cafes have been built on the land.
Volley balloons and anti-aircraft guns were commonly and majorly used during World War two.
Founded and established in the park, it’s possible to see large concrete block that are situated at
the area of Coat of Bridge Arms.
The Memorial War is about 90 feet high and was established in the 1927.A design competition
for the War Memorial was put in place to monitor and valuate the process of designing as well as
checking and selecting the best designs. This designs competition was worn by architect Mr.

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Tickner ( Committee on International Relations, 2015). The Inside of the Memorial is a room
known as the Silence Chamber .Its being opened every year on the day of remembrance Sunday.
Parks for People was mainly funded project by the Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery. It shows
the photographs of the 264 people killed during the First World War who have a memorial
plaque and tree in the park. Local historian Trevor harkin and the friends plays an important role
in the development and establishment of the park. The park is essential and vital object for
renovation of the environment or ecosystem.
Aims and objectives
The main aim of this study was to prepare a Group Field Course Report that presents a record of
the surveying activities undertaken and an assessment of the effectiveness of the group in
achieving their objectives during the implementation stage of the fieldwork element of the
module. In order to achieve the main aim of the study the following specific objectives were set?
1. To find out the Horizontal alignment settings
2. To find out setting Out Slope Rails
3. To carry out Free Station & Intersection
4. To differentiate the Free Station & Intersection
5. Establish the Intersection procedures (Bell, 2018)
6. To collect and record data during the study.
Tools and equipment.
The following tools and equipment were used during survey.
 Tape measure
 Cross staff

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 Pegs
 Ranging rods
 Triangle sets
 Optical square
 Dumpy level
 Gradient template
 Water manometer
 Straight-edge with spirit level
 Camber board
 Tube water level (Lisa, 2017)
Checking verticality.
The following instruments of surveying were used to vertically check the height of different
elements on site:
 Plumb Bob (For those objects that are less than 20m high).
 Theodolite
 Optical Plummet (A plastic sheet that is transparent. It is a target used for scrutinizing the
verticality of tall buildings).
Survey Activities
Photogrammetric surveys were conducted through creating measurements from aerial
photographs that were focused on properly to a few measurement fields to form a small-scale
dimensional model of artificial features of the surface of the earth, in a suitable equipment. The
elevation and location of these artificial features were acquired from the model by using stereo

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plotters. Several field measurements were required by conventional surveys in order to get data
and information.
Purposely, right-of-ways were performed for locating, monumenting and defining the newly
picked up lands to be utilized for development. This created a new section described by the right-
of-way limits. This kind of survey is not prepared to discover existing boundaries. It is prepared
to form the new right-of-way. Surveys are carried out as part of the wide scope of highway
project. It will be part of the stage in designing of the project (Great Britain. Patent Office,
2014).
To physically find a location in the field, a route survey was conducted. It consisted of locating
all artificial features in relation to the recognized roadway centreline in a manner that the
features can be showed accurately on the plans. Also included on the survey were elevations on
National Geodetic Survey (NGS) that was essential in locating grades compute excavation
magnitudes, bridges and culverts.
Topography
This is the study of gradient, slope and features on the surface of the land. It involves the
arrangement of natural, and artificial physical features and shapes and on the ground surface of
the land.
There are various types and systems of topography survey that is used to give a detailed and
precise information on data collected on regard to the topography. These topographic survey
types comprises of the following:
Land survey-This is a type of survey that is done or carried out on the land or earth surface to
evaluate the earths features.

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Boundary survey-These are surveys that is carried out on an areas or regions of a given land
Construction projects-They are surveys that are conducted before construction of a given or a
specific project on earth.
A typical topographical survey process includes:
The process and phases of topography survey includes:
i. Collection and gathering of information for example the physical and ecological area
ought to be inclusive and precise as well as the output of detailed data be included as part
of the information or data (Price, 2018).
ii. Planning and schedule of time and pricing should be undertaken in the system
iii. Collection and gathering of the survey information and data on the site

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iv. Dispensation, processing and preparing of data to aid in the finalizing and confirmation
of the outcome of the survey.
v. Assurance and guarantee provision of the internal quality through senior staff
apprehension
vi. Ensure potential delivery of the concluding survey outcome to client.
Free station and intersection
While surveying, free stationing is a process of finding a location of one unknown place in
relation to known places or points. A total station is used to refer a zero point or place of
reference ( Geological Survey, 2001). The instrument may be positioned freely in order for all
survey points are at an appropriate view from the instrument.
Intersections are used to describe a collection of planar surveying calculations where two control
points are used. In case of resection, three are recommendable. There should be coordinates
known and certain distance or angle measurements to calculate the coordinates of the unknown
point.
Setting Out Drainage
1.Set out the position of the manhole centres and the centre line of the drain excavation using
pins or pegs.
2. Drive stakes in plumb at a suitable offset with the distance between them no greater than 20 m,
perpendicular to the line of the drain excavation. When determining the offset, consider the
required working room of machinery excavating and any need for access/spoil storage.
3. Take levels on top of each of the stakes and the existing ground level at each manhole
position, recording in your field book.
4. Determine the level of the drain relative to each stake position.

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5. Using the ground levels taken at the manhole positions, determine the maximum depth of
excavation
The intersection method.
Where it is not possible to measure the ground distances like cases of mountainous areas, the
intersection method can be applicable (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities,
2018). Therefore, the method is useful in locating and identifying inaccessible areas, rivers,
broken boundaries, fitting survey stations, etc.
I. The method and procedure of intersection method include;
II. Selecting two points A and B. The points to be located on the paper should be seen
easily from the two points (Saikia, 2016).
III. Plotting line AB that is referred to as the base line on the paper.
IV. From point A, draw rays for stations X, Y, etc.
V. Shift the table to point B and after correct coordination; take away rays of points X, Y,
etc.
VI. The joining of rays from points A and B gives points x, y on the Paper.
To perfectly handle faults of loop traverse networks for the high-speed railway tunnels like the
less terminated observations, high sensitivity on adjacent refraction, large lateral inaccuracy and
problematic usage of regulator points, another method is used. The method uses free-station
linear-angular network intersection for horizontal survey control inside the tunnel (Geological
Survey of Denmark and Greenland bulletin, 2017).
method has been proposed to calculate models for the two indexes, work out the relative mean
square error of distance and the error of lateral breakthrough. These are the calculations that were

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recognized for the intersection network which is linear angular. Replication results demonstrate
that the inaccuracies of the two indexes are able to meet the accuracy desires of the rail-speed
specification survey.
Horizontal alignment settings
The alignment of a flat rolling terrain can horizontally be set out a number of various straight
lines. Curves are used later on in joining these lines.
Straight lines settings
The center-line of the road on a flat ground is initially set out as a sequence of straight lines. For
this specific purpose, pegs and ranging rods are applied (United States. Dept. of Agriculture,
2014). There should not be more than 20m distance between the center line pegs.
Setting out curves
Various methods can be used in setting out curves. Yet, when designed roads in rural areas for
low traffic capacities are set out, normally it is satisfactory to survey the current tracks and where
necessary improve them (Arthur, 2018). Two modest methods to set out circular and parabolic
curves by only using pegs, strings and a tape measure.
Setting Out Slope Rails
The installation of the gradient stake encompasses of the 4objects. These objects include:
 The 1st rail post-Pre-calculations takes place here
 2nd rail post-Used in aiding in the measurements and calculation of the 1st rail post.
 A slope rail-Determines the precise scale of the design gradient
 Set rails-This is a rail used in the placement of U-ditch (Chandra, 2017)

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Fig: Shows the present process in the stake slope installation (James, 2011)
Pre-calculation is necessary to calculate the coordinates (x, y) of the temporary stake and the 1st
rail post. The design data essential for the pre-calculation are horizontal alignment data and cross
section data. The present method is also computerized, and once you put the design data, the
coordinates are automatically calculated. However, it requires time to check the calculated value
and takes time if alignments get longer (Eric, 2016).
Slope stake installation there are 6 processes to set the slope stake. The first 3 steps need Total
Station. The rest is done by tools. This installation depends on natural surface but generally takes
15 to 18 minutes. The ratio of Total Station used is 1/3 to 1/5 of the total processes.
Accuracy
The precise of the gradient of the stake installation is identified and analyzed through various
gradient rails and the design line of the slope gradient stake.

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The employees and the workforce as a large uses the rail of the slope gradient hence the results
always depends on the rail gradient. The main instruments and devices which are used have
effects on the precise and accuracy in both the calculations and pre-calculations of the total
station, tape of surveying and the slant viant (Florence & Burton, 2016). Various measurements
and parameters affect the accuracy and preciseness of the calculations.
Results
The data collected during the survey was recorded in the data sheets as shown in the figures
below.