CHAPTER 06

CONSTRUCTION SURVEY
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Construction survey carries a major enrolment at a construction project. Accuracy of the
construction greatly depends on the accuracy of survey. So it must have knowledge &
experienced staff and also required amount of skilled labors for surveying.
It was used two major references to locate all the features of the construction
1. Thousand level
2. Grid Lines

- Vertical Reference
- Horizontal Reference

6.2 THOUSAND LEVEL

It had been established some reference levels around the site with correspond to Mean Sea
Level. Using this levels it had been located the thousand levels from the floor level in each
floor. All the vertical measurements in the site were taken referring these thousand levels.

6.2.1 Shifting a Thousand Level to an Upper Floor

This was done through the sleeves which had been positioned on the slab. A rigid
shaft, two level machines & a band tape were used to carry this task.
The rigid shaft was kept vertically &the band tape was attached to the shaft
as shown (Fig 6.1)
One level machine was placed on the down floor & set to the known
thousand level. Then the band tape reading was taken.
Other level machine was placed on the upper floor & set to be at the
-

thousand level according to the floor height difference. Then it could be

marked thousand level on the upper floor.
Finally the marked thousand level was re-checked from the control point, using the
Theodolite or the Total Station.

Level
Upper
to be
Floor
marked
Level

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Floor Height
Level
Down
Difference
Known
Floor Level

Fig 6.1 Shifting a Thousand Level to an Upper Floor

6.3 GRID LINES

It had been established three control points around the site. The grid system was
established correspond to those control points. In each floor it was marked the grid system.
All the horizontal measurements in the site were taken referring this grid system.

6.3.1 Shifting the Grid System to an Upper Floor

It was placed sufficient number of sleeves on the slab at suitable positions to
observe the down floor grids.
The Main Grids had been located to go through the control points.
A theodolite was placed on the top slab, as to observe both the control point and
the down floor main grid. (Fig 6.2)
Then the T.L was clamped to rotate only around the vertical plane which goes
through the main grid.
Then it could be marked out the main grid line on the top floor.

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Control
Point

Control
Point

Fig 6.2 Shifting a Grid System to an Upper Floor

The perpendicular grid to the established grid was marked out by rotating the T.L in
90 degrees of horizontal angle.
Other grid lines were located using a band tape & the T.L.
Those grid lines were rechecked referring other control points & also the down
floor grids.

At the site it was used 1000mm off lines from the grid lines instead of grids.

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6.4 SURVEY FOR A CONCRETING OF A SLAB

Surveyor has to carry a great enrolment for a concreting of a slab. It is impossible to do this
job accurately without using survey techniques. Fallowing tasks were carried out for a
concreting of a slab by the survey group.
Before Concreting,

Leveling of slab formwork.

Providing the markings for columns.
Providing the markings for other special edges and openings.
Check the top covering for the slab.

At the time of Concreting,

Provide the top level of the slab.
After Concreting,
Establishment of grid lines.

6.4.1 Leveling of Slab Formwork

Leveling of slab form work before concreting is very important. It takes a much
time. But it results a finer slab surface and also it saves the cost of concrete by
optimizing the concrete volume.

Fig 6.3 Leveling a Slab Formwork

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The procedure for the leveling of a slab formwork was as fallows.

The leveling instrument was set to 1503mm from the floor level.
The Staff was held under a G.I. pipe. Holding point should be very close to
the adjusting point.
Formwork was adjusted to the required level by adjusting the supports.

H2

t
12 mm
Ply wood

50 mm G.I Pipe

h = H2 - H1 - 1503 - 62 - t

Staff

1503 mm
H1

Fig 6.4 Leveling a Slab Formwork

6.5 SURVEYING FOR FINISHING WORKS

Grid lines & thousand levels were used as references to mark out the finishing work. Only
after it was provided the markings, masons & other workers are allowable to start the
construction.
Although it consist a range of work in Survey for Finishing Work, in my training I got the
chance to involve only in marking of brick walls & marking of plastering.

6.5.1 Makings for Brick Walls

Markings for brick walls were done referred to grid lines.
Marking was done for possible edges of the wall and also a 200mm offline was
established for each edge.
Openings were marked by a cross on the wall marking.

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6.5.2 Markings for Plastering

Markings for plastering were done referred to grid lines and also the levels were taken
referred thousand level markings. In this case specially it had to be marked out the sizes of
openings.
Sizes of the openings were provided by a 200mm off line from the edges of the
opening.

6.6 SURVEY INSTRUMENTS USED AT THE SITE

For various kind of purposes it was mainly used the Total Station, Theodolite & Level
Machine. I got the chance to get experience in all these instruments.

6.6.1 Total Station

This was very easy, faster & accurate. It could be able to be used for many survey tasks at
the site.
It carries fallowing functions.

Locating a point.
Observing the coordinates of a point.
Observing an area.
Observe angles (as a Theodolite)
Etc.

The total station was generally used at the site to,

Locate Curves.
Locate pile positions.
Check out the thousand levels & Grid lines.
The Total Station is also call as the EDM (Electromagnetic Distance Measurement).

6.6.2 Theodolite

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The Theodolite was generally used at the site to,

Establish the grid lines.

Measure angles
Check out the thousand levels.
Check out the verticality of structural elements.

It was used two types of T.Ls at the site.

1. Digital Theodolite
2. Optical Theodolite

6.6.3 Level Machine

The Level Machine was generally used at the site to,

Mark out thousand levels.

Level the slab & beam formwork.
Check out the top covering for slab reinforcement
Provide the top level of a concreating.

It was used two types of Level Machines at the site.

1. Auto Level
2. Engineering Level

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