ROUTE SURVEYING

AND EARTHWORKS
 CONTENTS
Module 1: Simple Curve
Module 2: Compound Curve
Module 3: Reversed Curve
Module 4: Symmetrical Parabolic Curve
Module 5: Unsymmetrical Parabolic Curve
Module 6: Spiral Curve
Module 7: Earthworks
a. Areas and Volumes of Earthworks
b. Haul and Mass Diagram
 ROUTE SURVEYING
A survey which supplies data necessary to determine the alignment,
grades, and earthworks quantities necessary for the location and
construction of engineering projects. This includes highways, drainage,
canal, pipelines, railways, transmission lines, and other civil
engineering projects that do not close upon the point of beginning.
 SIMPLE CURVE
An arc of a circle that joins two tangents together. Most commonly used
for highways and railroad construction. Circular arc, extending from
one tangent to the next.
 ELEMENTS OF SIMPLE CURVE
•
Vertex (P.I., V) - point of intersection of the tangents
•
Point of Curvature (PC) - beginning of curve
Lcu
•
Point of Tangency (PT) - end of curve
M
•
Radius (R) - radius of simple curve
LC LC

M
•
Tangent (T) - distance from the vertex to the P.C. or
P.T.
• Long Chord (LC) - length of chord from PC to PT
• Middle Ordinate (M) - distance from midpoint of curve to
midpoint of chord
• External Distance (E) - distance from PI to the curve
• Length of Curve (Lcu) - length of curve from PC to PT
• Degree of the Curve (D) - central angle subtended by a length of curve equal to one
station
• Angle of Intersection (I) - angle subtended by PC and PT at O is also equal to I; also
called central angle
• Offset Distance (x) - distance from tangent to the curve; Note: x is perpendicular to T
• Offset Angle (θ) - angle subtended at PC between PI and any point in the curve
• The back tangent is always equal with the forward tangent.
• Deflection angles from PC to another point on the curve is always half of the subtended angle from the origin.
• Stationing is always measure along the curve.
 FORMULA OF SIMPLE CURVE

Tangent distance (T) Long Chord (LC)

 FORMULA OF SIMPLE CURVE
Middle ordinate (M) External distance (E)
FORMULA OF SIMPLE CURVE
Length of the curve (Lcu)
 FORMULA OF SIMPLE CURVE
Degree of the curve (D)

Chord Basis Arc Basis

1 full station = 20m or 100ft

EXAMPLE 1
Back tangent (AB) - N85˚30'E
Forward tangent (BC) - S65˚30'E
Sta. V (B) - 4+360.2
Sta. PC - 4+288.4
Required:
a. R
b. E
c. M
d. LC
e. Lcu
f. Sta. PT
 The engineer decides to adjust the location of the PT such that it will
EXAMPLE 2 be 6.5m above the old PT without changing the degree of the curve.
D = 3˚
Required:
Forward tangent (BC) - a.z. 280˚
a. new R
Back tangent (AB) - N76˚E
b. Sta. new PC
Sta. V (B) - 2+040
c. Sta. new PT
EXAMPLE 3
The offset distance from PT to the tangent line passing
through the PC is 120.20m. If I=50˚, solve the following:
Required:
a. D
b. E
c. LC
 METHOD OF DEFLECTION ANGLES
• The most common method of laying out simple curves in the field
• Typically, the theodolite is set upped at the PC and the
deflection triangles are drawn from the tangent line

Arc length I
DEFLECTION ANGLE = X
Lcu 2
EXAMPLE 4
R = 400m
I = 12˚51'
Sta. V = 0+241.782
EXAMPLE 4 From the example, it can be observed that the
deflection angle at 0+200 is 0˚14'01". It means
that Sta. 0+200 can be located by placing a stake
Station Deflection Angle along the transit line at 0˚14'01" and measuring a
distance of 3.363m from PC.
Recall: LC = 2R sin I/2
0+196.738 (PC) 0˚

SUBCHORD = 2R sin def. angle

0+200 0˚14'01"

0+220 0˚14'01" + 1˚25'57" = 1˚39'58"

0+240 1˚39'58" + 1˚25'57" = 3˚05'55"

0+260 3˚05'55" + 1˚25'57" = 4˚31'52"

0+280 4˚31'52" + 1˚25'57" = 5˚57'49"

0+286.448 5˚57'49" + 0˚27'42" = 6˚25'31" I/2

EXAMPLE 5
Three tangent lines AB, BD, & CD of a traverse have azimuths 228˚15', 251˚30', 315˚18' respectively.
Sta. B - 10+585
Sta. PC - 10+885
Required:
a. R
b. Lcu
c. Sta. PT
 COMPOUND CURVE
• Composed of two or more consecutive simple curves having different
radii but whose center lie on the same side of the curve
• The simple curves are joined together by a common tangent
 ELEMENTS OF COMPOUD CURVE
• PC - point of curvature
• PT - point of tangency
• PI - point of intersection
• PCC - point of compound curve
• 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
• I - angle of intersection = I1 + I2
• Lc1 (Lcu1) - length of first curve
• Lc2 (Lcu2) - length of second curve
• L1 (LC1) - length of first chord
Finding the stationing of PT
• L2 (LC2) - length of second chord
Given the stationing of PC: • LC - length of long chord from PC to PT
Sta.PT = Sta.PC + Lc1 + Lc2 • T1 + T2 - length of common tangent measured from V1 to V2
• θ = 180° - I
Given the stationing of PI:
Sta.PT = Sta.PI − x − T1 + Lc1 + Lc2 • x and y can be found from triangle V1-V2-PI.
• L (LC) can be found from triangle PC-PCC-PT
EXAMPLE 1
FT - az. 282˚50' Required:
BT - az. 247˚50' a. R2
CT - az. 268˚30' b. Sta.PC
AB - 76.42m c. Sta.PCC
D1 = 4˚ (chord basis) d. Sta.PT
Sta.A - 43+010.46 e. LC
EXAMPLE 2
On the roadline, two tangents intersect at Sta.10+243 so as to form a compound curve with
I = 36˚28'
D1 = 4˚ (chord basis)
I1 = 17˚
Sta.PC - 10+163
Required:
a. R2
b. Sta.PC
c. Length of
tangent from the
vertex to the PT
(b+T2)
 Required:
EXAMPLE 3
D1 = 3˚30' a. If the compound curve is to be replaced by a simple curve that shall end at the
D2 = 4˚ same PT, find R.
I1 = 16˚20' b. If the compound curve is to be replaced by a simple curve that shall be tangent to
I2 = 13˚30' the 3 lines, find R.
Sta.A - 1+125.92 c. Sta.PC (for b)
 REVERSED CURVE
• Composed of two consecutive circular simple curves having a common
tangent but which centers lie on the opposite side of the curve.

POINT OF REVERSED CURVATURE (PRC)

• The point along the common tangent to which the curve reversed in
its direction
 4 TYPES OF REVERSED CURVE
• Reversed Curve with Parallel 2. Reversed Curve with Parallel
Tangents and Equal Radii Tangents and Unequal Radii
 4 TYPES OF REVERSED CURVE
3. Reversed Curve with 4. Reversed Curve with
Converging Tangents Diverging Tangents
EXAMPLE 1
In a railroad layout, the centerline of two tracks are connected by a reversed curve with parallel
tangents and unequal radii. The distance between the parallel track is 27.60m.
Sta.PC - 15+420
R2 - 290m
I - 16˚
Required:
a. R1
b. LC
c. Sta.PT
EXAMPLE 2
Two converging tangents have azimuths 300˚ and 90˚ respectively. The azimuth of the common tangent is
320˚ and the distance from the point of convergence of the tangents to the vertex of the curve passing
through the PT is 100m.
Sta.V1 - 10+432
R1 - 285.4m
Required:
a. R2
b. Sta.PRC
c. Sta.PT
VERTICAL PARABOLIC CURVE
• curves that are used to connect two intersecting grade lines
• employed to prevent the abrupt change in the vertical direction of
moving vehicles.

Types:
a. Symmetrical Parabolic Curve
b. Unsymmetrical Parabolic Curve
 SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC CURVE
• a vertical/parabolic curve wherein the horizontal distance from the
PC to the vertex is equal to the horizontal distance from the vertex
to the PT.
GUIDING PRICIPLES FOR SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC CURVES
• Any given grade or slope (in %) is the rate of which the vertical
distance changes in the horizontal distance.

2. The vertical offset from the curve to the tangent is proportional to

the square of the horizontal distance from the point of tangency.
(Squared property of parabola)
GUIDING PRICIPLES FOR SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC CURVES
3. The curve bisects the distance between the vertex and the midpoint
of the long chord connecting PC and PT.

4. Algebraic Difference of Grades

GUIDING PRICIPLES FOR SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC CURVES
5. The number of stations on the left of the vertex is equal to the no
of stations on its right side.
6. The slope of the curve varies uniformly along the curve.

7. The vertical offset (H) is 1/8 of the length of the curve multiplied
by the difference of grades.
GUIDING PRICIPLES FOR SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC CURVES
8. Location of the highest/lowest along the curve:
EXAMPLE 1
A parabolic curve has a descending grade of -0.8% meeting an ascending grade of +0.4% at Sta.10+020, el.
240.60m. The max allow rate of change of grade per 20m station is 0.95.
Required:
a. L
b. el. l.p.
c. el. of curve at Sta.10+000
EXAMPLE 2
A vertical summit parabolic curve has a vertical offset of 0.375m from the curve to the tangent at
Sta. 050. If g1 = +4% & g2 = -2% and the stationing of PC is 10+000. Solve for the ff:
Required:
a. L
b. Sta. and elev. of the vertical curve
turning point if PT has an elevation of
86.42m.
 UNSYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC CURVE
• composed of one symmetrical curve from the PC to the vertex &
another symmetrical curve from the vertex to the PT. The two
symmetrical curves are connected by a common tangent/grade.
EXAMPLE 1
An outcrop is found at Sta.6+740 & elev. of the top of the outcropis 108.40m.
g1 = +5% L1= 40m Sta.PC= 6+720
g2 = -3% l2= 60m el. PC= 110m
Required:
a. height of fill needed to
cover the outcrop
b. el. h.p.
c. el. PT
 SPIRAL BASEMENT CURVE /
CLOTHOID
• A curve of varying radius introduced at the outer edges of the
roadway or track in order to allow the vehicle or train to pass
gradually from the tangent to the circular curve.
• A curve used to provide gradual transition from the super elevation
of the tangent to the maximum superelevation of the simple curve.
SPIRAL CURVE FORMULA
EXAMPLE 1
A spiral curve has 80m spirals at its ends. The angle of intersection of the tangents is 42% & the
degree of the central curve is 6˚.
Required:
a. ST
b. LT
c. Es
d. P
e. velocity that a
car could pass
through the curve
without skidding
EXAMPLE 2
Two tangents with azimuths 240˚ & 282˚ are connected by an 80m spiralcurve with a 6˚ simple curve. If
the roadway is 10m & the design speed is 60 kph, solve the ff:
Required:
a. superelevation of
the quarter points
b. ic
c. Es
 VOLUME OF EARTHWORKS
• EARTHWORKS – the construction of large open cuttings or excavations
involving both cutting and filling of material other than rock.
• EXCAVATION – is the process of loosening and removing earth or rock
from its original position in a cut and transporting it to a fill or
to a waste deposit
• EMBANKMENT – the term embankment describes the fill added above the
low points along the roadway to raise the level to the bottom of the
pavement structure material for embankment commonly comes from
roadway cuts or designated borrow areas.
VOLUME OF EARTHWORKS
EXAMPLE 1
Given the ff. cross-sectional notes for a proposed highway project. Assume both sections to have the
same side slope & width.
Required:
a. side slope for
both areas
b. value of x if A2
is 14.64m2
c. V = Ve-Vcp
EXAMPLE 2
Consider the ff. cross-sectional notes.
Required:
a. Area @ 1+040
b. Area @ 1+100
c. Difference
in volume b/w
cut & fill
EXAMPLE 3
Required:
a. Area @ 1+020
b. Area @ 1+040
c. Volume b/w
the stations
 HAUL AND MASS DIAGRAM
• HAUL – is the product of volume of earth excavated and the distance it is
transported to form an embankment or to be disposed as waste.
• FREE HAUL DISTANCE – a fixed distance within which the hauling of materials is
not paid but is assumed to be already included in the cost of excavation. This
is usually 200 meters long.
• OVERHAUL – the product of the volume in excess of the free haul mass and the
length of overhaul, in which payment is already required.
• LENGTH OF OVERHAUL – the distance between the center of gravity of the mass of
excavation beyond the free haul mass and the center of gravity of the resulting
embankment minus the free haul distance.
• LIMIT OF ECONOMICAL HAUL – it is the distance within which it is more
economical to haul materials than to throw them as waste or beyond which it is
more economical to borrow than to haul. At this limiting distance the cost of
haul is approximately equal to the cost of borrow.
EXAMPLE 1
Required:
a. Station of limits
of free haul
b. Sta. LOH
c. OH Volume
d. LOH
e. Cost of haul
f. Cost of waste
g. Cost of borrow
EXAMPLE 1 (CONT.)
Required:
a. Station of limits
of free haul
b. Sta. LOH
c. OH Volume
d. LOH
e. Cost of haul
f. Cost of waste
g. Cost of borrow
EXAMPLE 2
Required:
a. Station of limits
of free haul
b. Sta. LOH
c. OH Volume
d. LOH
e. Cost of haul
f. Cost of waste
g. Cost of borrow
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!