ROUTE SURVEYING

LABORATORY
Laboratory #2:
Laying out Simple Curve by Mid-Ordinate Method

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for

CE 2238

Submitted to:
Engr. Robert A. Romero

Submitted by:
Eljen Grace M. Colanggo

Date Submitted:
December 6, 2019
INTRODUCTION:
Whenever it is necessary to change the course of a road or railway line, curves are
given between the intersecting straights. This is important for vehicles to move smoothly and
safely and for passenger comfort. The appropriate curves may be in the horizontal or vertical
planes.

In this field of work, the emphasis was on the mid-ordinate method of laying out
simple curve. At the beginning there is a curve with two straight lines or tangents. These
strains are extended until they intersect and the point of intersection is called P.I. The first
tangent is known as the back tangent, and the second tangent is known as the forward
tangent. Mid-ordinate method is done through getting mainly the corresponding midpoints of
the curve.

OBJECTIVES:
To set or lay out a simple horizontal curve by mid-ordinate method.
To master the skill in leveling, orienting and using the transit effectively.

INSTRUMENTS:
Flags- used for marking positions and sighting of those stations
50 meter Tape- designed for most conventional measurements in surveying and
engineering works.
Transit level with tripod- a surveying instrument with a rotating telescope for
measuring horizontal and vertical angles.

METHODOLOGY:
1. A transit is set up at the point designated vertex or point of intersection (PI).
2. Establish on the ground the PC by laying out with a tape, then measure the tangent
distance (T) from the PI. The intersection angle (I) at the PI and the distance carried
through the forward tangent will also be needed to get the PT.
3. Compute all the datas that were gathered and solve for the radius (R). Solve the long
chord (𝑪𝟏 ) to get the PT. Then, mark the station afterwards.
4. Compute the center midpoint (𝑴𝟏 ), then mark the point on to the ground. Getting the
length of chord from PC to (𝑴𝟏 ), compute for the second chord (𝑪𝟐 ).
5. Solve the next midpoint 𝑴𝟐 and mark its point on the ground. Just like earlier, solve
for the third chord (𝑪𝟑 ), it’s a length of chord from PC to 𝑴𝟐 .
6. Solve and position the mark in the ground for the third midpoint 𝑴𝟑 . Then get the
fourth length of chord (𝑪𝟒 ). from PC to 𝑴𝟑 by solving. To make sure that computed
length of chords for every mark point of midpoints are correct, measure it through
tapes.
7. With all the gathered and computed datas, solve for all the necessary intersecting
angles of every stations. For every midpoints that have marked from PC to PT, you’ll
call it your 1st station and so on. So for the data below, the group has made 8 stations
including the PC and PT.
GATHERED DATAS: 𝐼
𝑪𝟐 = 2Rsin 4
96°28′
Tangent distance = 16m. 𝑪𝟐 = 2(14.29) sin 4
I = 180° - (44°20’ + 39°12’) 𝑪𝟐 = 11.68 m.
I = 96°28’

𝐼
𝑴𝟐 = R (1-cos4)
COMPUTATIONS: 96°28′
𝑴𝟐 = (14.29) (1-cos )
4
𝑴𝟐 = 1.25 m.
𝑇
𝑅= 𝐼
𝑇𝑎𝑛
2 𝐼
𝑅=
16 𝑪𝟑 = 2Rsin 8
96′28′
𝑇𝑎𝑛 96°28′
2
𝑪𝟑 = 2(14.29) sin
𝑅 = 14.29𝑚 8
𝑪𝟑 = 5.97 m.
𝐼
𝐸 = 𝑅(𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 − 1)
𝐼
96′28′ 𝑴𝟑 = R (1-cos8)
𝐸 = (14.29)(𝑠𝑒𝑐 − 1)
2 96°28′
𝐸 = 7.16𝑚 𝑴𝟑 = (14.29) (1-cos )
8
𝑴𝟑 = 0.32 m.
2IπR
𝑳=
360°
2(96′ 28′ )π(14.29) 𝑪𝟒 = 2Rsin 16
𝐼
𝑳=
360° 96°28′
𝐿 = 24.06 𝑪𝟒 = 2(14.29) sin 16
𝑪𝟒 = 3.00 m.
𝐼
𝑪𝟏 = 2Rsin2
96°28′
𝑪𝟏 = 2(14.29)sin 𝐼 96′28′
2 = = 48′14′
2 2
𝑪𝟏 = 21.32 m. 𝐼 96′28′
= = 27′7′
4 4
𝐼 96′28′
𝑴𝟏 = R (1-cos2)
𝐼 = = 12′3′
8 8
96°28′
𝑴𝟏 = (14.29) (1-cos )
2 STA PI = PC + L
𝑴𝟏 = 4.77 m.
STA PI = 1+000 + 24.06
STA PI = 1+024.06
RESULTS:

STATION POINT MIDPOINTS CHORD CURVE

LENGTH DATA
1+000.00 PC - - - T=16m
+003.00 1 𝑴𝟑 = 0.32 m. 𝑪𝟏 =21.32 3 R=14.29m
+006.00 2 𝑴𝟐 = 1.25 m. 3 E=7.16m
+009.00 3 𝑴𝟑 = 0.32 m. 𝑪𝟐 =11.68 3 M=4.77
+012.00 4 𝑴𝟏 = 4.77 m. 3 C=24.06m
+015.00 5 𝑴𝟑 = 0.32 m. 𝑪𝟑 =5.97 3 PC=1+000
+018.00 6 𝑴𝟐 = 1.25 m. 3 PT=1+024.06
+021.00 7 𝑴𝟑 = 0.32 m. 𝑪𝟒 =3.00 3
+024.06 PT - 3.06

ANALYSIS:
There are a lot of ways to lay out simple curve not just only by deflection angle
method but also other alternative methods which are easier and most convenient to the
surveyors and one is the mid-ordinate method.
Mid-ordinate method is one of the strategies for getting a simple curve. In this
method, by using the midpoint of a curve, chords are staked and equally divided into the
curve form station PC to PT. The curve is set using pegs at a regular interval equal to the
regular chord length. The curve can be staked out through this method without actually
getting the deflection angles of PC and PT. The distance from the PC and PT is measured and
set out as C1. This then will become the basis in equally distributing the corresponding
stations. You can put as many stations or marks as you want but it also requires you
computing a lot more of the possible mid points. The M1 is divided into 2 which it makes
you have 2 midpoints, then continuing the cycle if you’ve wish to have a lot of stations then
just solve and staked out more midpoints you get. The length of the midpoints through each
others are measured through the equation just to make sure that each stations of the curve gets
an equal partition.
Base on my understanding, mid-ordinate method is just simply getting the midpoint of
a curve and solving the rest of the divided mid-points and with proper knowledge of doing
the whole process of solutions and applications with less error in doing so, then you can lay
out a perfect simple curve for highways and roadways.

CONCLUSION:
As described in the analysis and objectives of the operation, it was possible to
calculate the sections of the simple curve by a mid-ordinate method and to lay down a simple
curve through the positions of the stations by the midpoints. Based on the results we've
obtained after doing the field work, I would say we've been able to achieve the objective. The
process we followed was just a compilation of the basic skills we gained from our previous
discussions and field work experiences such as placing the measuring tape properly and
setting up, leveling and correctly using the transit. With that experience, it was easy for us to
execute and perform the process, but just like any other survey activities, errors usually occur
and that was very much expected. Given these failures, we were still able to come up with
appropriate outcomes and were also able to learn new stuff like setting out a basic mid-
ordinate method curve.

DOCUMENTATIONS: