CE 221L – Fundamentals of Surveying 2 (Route Surveying)

Activity No. 1
LAYING OUT A SIMPLE CURVE BY DEFLECTION ANGLE METHOD

Name: Virgelio L. Ruiz Jr. Group: 02_________

I. INTRODUCTION
Route surveying, which involves mapping out and defining the course for roads,
railroads, pipelines, and other linear infrastructure, is an essential task in civil
engineering and building projects. One common task in route surveying is laying out
simple curves, which involves using the deflection angle method to accurately define the
curve's alignment and curvature. Simple curves are one kind of curve that is commonly
used in route surveying; they have a constant radius along their length. Surveyors can
produce accurate and effective design plans for the project by using this method to
calculate the angle at which the curve's alignment deviates from a straight line.

II. OBJECTIVE
 1) To know the elements of a simple curve.
 2) To lay out asimple curve using Deflection Angle Method.

III. INSTRUMENTS/ITEMS
2-Range Poles/Stadia Rod
10-Flaglets – used in marking the stations
1-Theodolite/Total Station – to find the angle of the tangents
1-Tripod – holds the total station inplace
1-Measuring Tape – to find the exact place for the stations
1-Long Rope – to visualize the length of the curve and its curvature

IV. PROCEDURE
First thing that we have done is selecting a point on the field and marked it as PC
( Point of Curvature). We set up and leveled the instrument in PC and calculated the
length of the Tangent in order to find and mark PI (Point of Intersection) with also the
use of the given angle of intersection. We calculated the long chord and plotted it on the
field, sighted the PI with the total station and set the angle reading to zero. With the
sight to PI as zero, we rotated the total station to the calculated deflection angle of the
first station , sight the stadia and measured 20 meters to from the station to the stadia,
marked it with flag and named it the first station. Do this again but now its 40 meters
and 60 meters from the station, there’s a +20 meters every full station from PC. , the last
station must not exceed the long chord. Angle from the long chord to PI must be equal to
the Angle of PI. We can determine the error by Comparing the values of the Computation
and Values in the Field Activity.
V. DATA AND RESULT

Sample Given:
Central Angle (I) = 29°
Degree Curve (D) = 08°45’ = 8.75°
Sta PI = 5 + 600

TABLE 1.1 Actual Layout using the deflection angles computed:

Sub-chords (in meters) Deflection Angle

Station PC

Station 1 20m 4° 22’ 00”

Station 2 20m 8° 45’ 00”

Station 3 20m 13° 7’ 30”

Station PT 5.28m 14° 30’ 00”

Calculation:

1145.916 1145.916
R= = =130.96
D 8 ° 45 ’

I 29 °
T =Rtan =130.96 tan =33.97
2 2

Sta PI = 5 + 600 + 33.97 = 5 + 633.97

D 8 ° 45 ’ ' 20 65.58
i 1= = =4 ° 22 30 i4 = = x=28 ° 41' 28.5
2 2 8 ° 45 ’ x

2 D 8 ° 45 ’
i 2= = =8 ° 45 ’ i 4 =14 ° 20 ' 44.2 5
2 1

3 D 3( 8° 45 ’ )
i 3= = =13 ° 7' 30
2 2
TABLE 1.2 Using the formula:

Subtended Angle Deflection Angle

Station PC 5+600

Station 1 5+620 8° 45’ 4° 22’ 30”

Station 2 5+640 17° 30’ 8° 45’ 00”

Station 3 5+660 26° 14’ 50” 13° 7’ 30”

Station PT 5+665.58 29° 14° 20’ 44.25”

VI. DISCUSSION
In surveying, simple curves are utilized to find dimensions of a
curved path, since curve paths differ are much harder to measure using
only conventional means. From our activity the simple curve that we have
laid out is from the given central angle and the degree of curve. We can
find its radius with the use of the given degree of curve. Since we now
have the radius we can now calculate the almost every dimensions and
stations of the simple curve such as the length of the tangent, the length
of the curve and its stations (full stations, PC and PT), long chord and etc.
To test if our calculations are correct, we laid out a simple curve in a field
using the deflection angle method. Deflection angle method is a method
that uses the calculated deflection angles to mark the full stations along
the curve. Every full stations are 20m, 40m, 60m from the surving
instrument, in our case it’s a total station. We can manually measure the
length of the curve using a rope or a tape measure. From the results so
far there is not that much difference in the calculations and from the
results of the activity.

Documentation:
VII. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the route surveying activity for simple curves has provided
valuable information about the horizontal dimensions of a curved path. Curve Paths
generally are harder to measure since it is not a straight line. Using deflection angle
method, we can easily determine and measure accurately the length of a curve. This can
be done by finding and sighting the computed deflection angle on the total station then
measure a 20m distance from the the instrument to the stadia, this serves as a small
chord for the station, the deflection angle and the 20m distance must be in sync. Repeat
the process by adding 20m to the chord of every station, repeat the process until the
point of the last station is near the PT or the Point of Tangency, this is basically the other
end of the curve.We can manually measure the curve with a tape or we can compute its
length with the use of formulas. The process of setting out the curves, determining their
radii and lengths, and calculating the central angle has helped in planning and
constructing a well-designed and efficient transportation route.

VIII. SKETCH Draw the final figure from your activity.