CE120-02/F

(Fundamentals of Surveying)
ENGR. CIRILO C. MORILLO, JR.
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Route Surveying and Horizontal Curves

Course Outcome:
At end of the discussion, the
student must be able to
acquire a working knowledge
in design and lay-out of
horizontal curves in highway
or railway.

Alimusgan-Bai-Caganayan Access Road, Abra

salewisconstruction.com/residential-lots-2 dpwh.gov.ph
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Definition of Route Survey

A route survey supplies the

data necessary to determine
alignment, grading, and
earthwork quantities for
the design and construction
of various engineering
projects such as roads,
railroads, pipelines, and
utilities.

64 Lane-kilometers between Bulacan and Pampanga portions (2017)

facebook.com/watch/NLEXexpressways/
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Highway Curve

Alignment – “shape” or “geometry”

of any transportation route.
a) Horizontal Alignment
b) Vertical Alignment (grade line)

Reference: Nathanson, J. A., Lanzafama, M. T., & Kissam, P. (2011).

Surveying Fundamentals and Practices. Pearson_Prentice Hall.
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Highway Curve

Tangent Section
Curve Section

Reference: Google Maps

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Highway Curve
Horizontal Vertical Diaman-Dikildit Road, Aurora
dpwh.gov.ph
Curve Curve

Simple Summit
Curve Curve

Compound Sag
Curve Curve

Reversed
Curve

Spiral Curve
/ Transition
Curve
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Highway Curve

• Simple Curve
Horizontal • Compound Curve
Curve • Reversed Curve
• Spiral Curve / Transition Curve
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Highway Curve
Horizontal
Curve

Simple
Curve

Compound
Curve

Reversed
Curve

Spiral Curve
/ Transition
Curve Reference: Section 3-02 Horizontal Alignment and Superelevation,
dot.state.wy.us
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Highway Curve
Horizontal
Curve

Simple
Curve

Compound
Curve

Reversed
Curve

Spiral Curve
/ Transition Reference: Section 3-02 Horizontal Alignment and Superelevation,
dot.state.wy.us
Curve
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Simple Circular Curve

PC = Point of curvature/commencement
PT = Point of tangency
PI = Point of intersection (vertex)
T = Length of tangent from PC to PI or PI to PT
(subtangent)
R = Radius of simple curve
L = Length of chord from PC to PT
Lc = Length of curve from PC to PT
E = External distance
m = Middle ordinate or mid-ordinate
I = Deflection angle (angle of
intersection and central angle)
x = offset distance from tangent to the curve,
perpendicular to T
θ = offset angle subtended at PC between PI and
any point in the curve
D = Degree of curve is the central angle
subtended by an arc or length of curve (arc basis)
or chord (chord basis) equal to one station.
Sub chord = chord distance between two
adjacent full stations.
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Simple Circular Curve

Length of Curve
Length of Tangent
Radius

Reference: Google Maps

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Formulas for Circular Curves (Given: I and R)

Length of Tangent, T (subtangent)

External distance, E

Middle ordinate, m

Length of chord, L
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Formulas for Circular Curves (Given: I and R)

Length of curve, 𝑳𝒄 Degree of curve, D

Arc basis
𝐿𝑐 2𝜋𝑅
=
𝐼 360 20 2𝜋𝑅
=
𝐷 360
𝐿𝑐 = Stationing of PT
− Stationing of PC
𝑅
Chord basis

𝐷 20/2
sin =
1 station = 100 ft
2 𝑅
= 20 m
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Sharpness of Circular Curve

The degree of the curve will define the sharpness of the curve.
The smaller is the degree of curve, the flatter is the curve and
vice versa.

The sharpness of the curve is also determined by radius, R.

Large radius are flat whereas small radius are sharp.
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Minimum Radius of Curvature

Radius of curvature, R

𝑣2
𝑅=
𝑔(𝑒 + 𝑓)
where:
▪ radius, R in meter, 𝑚
▪ velocity, v in meter per second, 𝑚/𝑠
▪ superelevation, e = tan θ
▪ friction factor, f = tan ϕ
▪ acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2

Impact Factor, IF

𝑣2
𝐼𝐹 =
𝑔𝑅
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Minimum Radius of Curvature

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Minimum Radius of Curvature

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Simple Circular Curve

Problem 1: Given the following elements of a circular curve: middle ordinate =
2 m; length of long chord = 70 m. Find its degree of curve, use arc basis.

A. 4.5°
B. 5.3°
C. 2.9°
D. 3.7°
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Simple Circular Curve

Problem 2: The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 36° 30'. Compute the
radius if the external distance is 12.02 m.

A. 203.74 m
B. 253.72 m
C. 226.94 m
D. 214.67 m
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Simple Circular Curve

Problem 3: The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 45° 30' and its radius is
198.17 m. PC is at Sta. 0 + 700. Compute the right angle offset from
Sta. 0 + 736.58 on the curve to tangent through PC.

A. 2.98 m
B. 3.37 m
C. 3.09 m
D. 3.87 m
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Minimum Radius of Curvature

Problem 4: A curving roadway has a design speed of 60 km/hr. At one horizontal curve, the
superelevation has been set at 6% and the side friction is found to be 10%. Determine the:

a) Minimum radius of the curve that will provide safe vehicle operation (Answer: R = 176.97m)
b) Impact factor (Answer: IF = 0.16)

𝑣2
𝑅=
𝑔(𝑒 + 𝑓)

𝑣2
𝐼𝐹 =
𝑔𝑅
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Compound Curve

A compound curve consists of two (or

more) circular curves between two main
tangents joined at point of compound
curve (PCC).

Curve at PC is designated as 1 (R1, L1, T1,

etc) and curve at PT is designated as 2 (R2,
L2, T2, etc).

V = vertex of curve
I = angle of intersection = I1 + I2
θ = 180° - I
x and y from triangle V1-V2-PI.
L from triangle PC-PCC-PT
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Compound Curve
Problem: Station PT of a compound curve is at 15+480.14, I1 = 30°, I2 = 36°,
D1 = 4°, D2 = 5°. What is the stationing of PCC. Use arc basis.

A. 15+319.63
B. 15+336.14
C. 15+325.28
D. 15+342.50
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Reverse Curve (or "S" curve)

PC = point of curvature
PT = point of tangency
PRC = point of reversed curvature
T1 = length of tangent of the first curve
T2 = length of tangent of the second curve
V1 = vertex of the first curve
V2 = vertex of the second curve
I1 = central angle of the first curve
I2 = central angle of the second curve
Lc1 = length of first curve
Lc2 = length of second curve
L1 = length of first chord
L2 = length of second chord
T1 + T2 = length of common tangent
measured from V1 to V2

Finding the stationing of PT:

Given the stationing of PC: Sta PT=Sta PC+ Lc1 + Lc2
Given the stationing of V1: Sta PT=Sta V1 − T1 +Lc1 + Lc2
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Reverse Curve (or "S" curve)

T2
T1 T1
T2
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Reverse Curve (or "S" curve)

Problem: Two parallel tangents 12 m apart are connected by a reversed curve
of equal radii. If the length of the chord from PC to PT is 140 m, determine the
total length of the reversed curve

A. 160.95 m
B. 151.83 m
C. 122.39 m
D. 140.17 m
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

no spiral
The spiral curve or transition curve is
used to:
• provide gradual change in curvature
from tangent to circular curve sections;
• provides a better transition for
superelevation;
• improves driver safety, comfort, and with spiral
the road appearance.

Different types of transition curve may be

used but the most common is Euler
Spiral.
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

TS = Tangent to spiral
SC = Spiral to curve
CS = Curve to spiral
ST = Spiral to tangent
LT = Long tangent
ST = Short tangent
R = Radius of simple curve
Ts = Spiral tangent distance
Tc = Circular curve tangent
Ls = Length of spiral
L = Length of spiral from TS to any point
along the spiral
PI = Point of intersection
I = Angle of intersection
Ic = Angle of intersection of the simple curve
Es = External distance of the spiral curve
p = Length of throw or the distance from
tangent that the circular curve has been
offset
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

Xc = Offset distance (right angle distance)
from tangent to SC
X = Offset distance (right angle distance) from
tangent to any point on the spiral
Yc = Distance along tangent from TS to point
at right angle to SC
Y = Distance along tangent to any point on
the spiral
θs = Spiral angle from tangent to SC
θ = Spiral angle from tangent to any point on
the spiral
is = Deflection angle from TS to SC
i = Deflection angle from TS to any point on
the spiral, it is proportional to the square of its
distance
Dc = Degree of simple curve
D = Degree of spiral curve at any point
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Formulas for Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

Length of spiral in terms of k (in kph):

0.036 𝑘 3
Ls =
𝑅
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Formulas for Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Formulas for Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Formulas for Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

Problem 1: A spiral easement curve has a length of 100 m with a
central curve having a radius of 300 m. Determine the offset
distance from the tangent to the second-quarter point of the spiral.

A. 0.84 m
B. 0.52 m
C. 0.69 m
D. 1.04 m
 CE120-02 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Spiral Curve (or Transition curve)

Problem 2: The tangents of spiral curve intersect at an angle of 25°
at Sta 4+072. The radius of the central curve is 300 m and the
length of the spiral curve is 52.71 m. Determine the stationing of
the point where the spiral starts.

A. 3+911.36
B. 3+962.28
C. 3+907.77
D. 3+979.05