Fundamentals of Surveying Exam (FS) Construction, Engineering, and Specialty Surveys Syllabus

Construction, Engineering, and Specialty Surveys syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Construction, Engineering, and Specialty Surveys in Fundamentals of Surveying Exam (FS), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Construction Surveying

   3 topics

   • Construction Staking
     • Layout of buildings, utilities, and offsets
     • Cut and fill stakes and grade computations
   • Control for Construction
     • Primary and secondary control networks
     • As-built and record surveys
   • Earthwork and Quantities
     • Average end-area and prismoidal volumes
     • Mass haul and grading
2. 2

   Route and Horizontal/Vertical Curves

   3 topics

   • Horizontal Curves
     • Degree of curve, radius, tangent, and length
     • Deflection angles and curve stationing
   • Vertical Curves
     • Symmetrical parabolic curves
     • High/low point and elevations on the curve
   • Spiral (Transition) Curves
     • Spiral geometry and superelevation
3. 3

   Geodetic and High-Precision Surveys

   3 topics

   • Control Survey Standards
     • Orders and classes of accuracy
     • FGCS and NGS specifications
   • Deformation and Monitoring Surveys
     • Structural and ground movement monitoring
     • Repeat observation and analysis cycles
   • Hydrographic and Bathymetric Surveys
     • Sounding methods and tidal datums
     • Shoreline and underwater feature mapping

Construction, Engineering, and Specialty Surveys flashcards for Fundamentals of Surveying Exam (FS)

23 of 51 cards from the Construction, Engineering, and Specialty Surveys deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is construction staking (construction layout)?

   The process of transferring the locations, lines, grades, and dimensions shown on design/construction plans onto the ground using stakes and marks, so contractors can build features in their correct horizontal and vertical positions.

2. On a typical grade/offset stake, what do the markings 'C 2.5' and 'F 1.0' indicate?

   'C' means cut (the point is below the stake reference, so material must be removed) of $2.5$ ft, and 'F' means fill (point is above, material must be added) of $1.0$ ft. The number is the vertical distance from the reference mark to design grade.

3. Why are offset (reference) stakes used in construction staking instead of staking directly on the line?

   Because stakes set directly on the centerline or feature would be destroyed during excavation/construction. Offset stakes are placed a known horizontal distance to the side so they survive grading and can be used to re-establish line and grade.

4. Define 'blue top' stakes in construction grading.

   Stakes driven so that the top of the stake (marked with blue keel/paint) is exactly at finished subgrade or finished grade elevation, allowing equipment operators to grade directly to the stake tops.

5. What is a slope stake?

   A stake set at the catch point (where the cut or fill slope intersects the existing ground) that records the cut/fill, the slope ratio, and the offset distance from centerline to that intersection.

6. How is a slope ratio such as 2:1 interpreted in earthwork?

   As horizontal:vertical. A $2{:}1$ slope rises $1$ unit vertically for every $2$ units horizontally, i.e., a grade of $\frac{1}{2}=50\%$.

7. What three coordinate/position elements must construction control provide for layout work?

   Accurate horizontal position (Northing/Easting), accurate vertical position (elevation), and orientation (azimuth/bearing), all tied to a consistent project datum and coordinate system.

8. Why must construction control be established to a higher accuracy than the features being staked?

   Because layout error accumulates from the control. The control network should be at least one order of accuracy better so that errors in control are negligible relative to the construction tolerances of the staked features.

9. What is a primary vs. secondary construction control network?

   Primary control consists of a few highly accurate, permanent, widely spaced monuments establishing the project framework; secondary control consists of densified working points set from the primary network, closer to the work for daily layout.

10. Why are control monuments for construction placed outside the active construction/grading limits?

    To prevent disturbance, burial, or destruction by heavy equipment and excavation so they remain stable and usable throughout the project.

11. What is the average end area method for computing earthwork volume between two cross sections?

    $$V=\frac{L}{2}\left(A_{1}+A_{2}\right)$$ where $A_{1}$ and $A_{2}$ are the cross-sectional areas and $L$ is the distance between the two sections.

12. Write the prismoidal formula for earthwork volume and state when it is preferred over the average end area method.

    $$V=\frac{L}{6}\left(A_{1}+4A_{m}+A_{2}\right)$$ where $A_{m}$ is the area at the midsection. It is more accurate for prismoidal (warped/curved) solids; the average end area method overestimates volume for these shapes.

13. What is a shrinkage factor in earthwork, and how does it affect the volume of fill required?

    Shrinkage accounts for the fact that excavated soil compacts in fill to less volume than in its undisturbed (in-situ) state. Because compacted fill is denser, more bank-volume material is needed; a $10\%$ shrinkage means $1.10$ cubic yards of cut produce $1.0$ cubic yard of compacted fill.

14. What is the swell factor in earthwork?

    The volume increase of soil when excavated and loosened relative to its in-place (bank) volume. Loose/hauled volume exceeds bank volume, so swell is used when computing truck haul quantities.

15. On a mass haul diagram, what does a rising curve segment represent, and what does the maximum/minimum of the curve indicate?

    A rising segment represents an excavation (cut) region (cumulative volume increasing). Maxima and minima of the mass diagram occur where the ground passes through grade (cut changes to fill or vice versa).

16. On a mass haul diagram, what does a horizontal balance line indicate?

    A horizontal line cutting the curve where it intersects at two points indicates a balanced haul: the cut volume equals the fill volume between those stations, so no net import or export of material is required over that reach.

17. Convert 1 acre and 1 cubic yard to the units commonly used in earthwork in the US customary system.

    $1\ \text{acre}=43{,}560\ \text{ft}^{2}$ and $1\ \text{cubic yard}=27\ \text{ft}^{3}$.

18. Define the degree of curve by the arc definition for a horizontal circular curve.

    The central angle subtended by an arc of $100$ ft. By the arc definition, $$D=\frac{5729.58}{R}$$ (degrees), where $R$ is the radius in feet.

19. For a simple horizontal circular curve, give the formulas for tangent distance $T$ and length of curve $L$ in terms of $R$ and deflection angle $\Delta$.

    $$T=R\tan\frac{\Delta}{2},\qquad L=R\,\Delta\,\frac{\pi}{180}=\frac{100\,\Delta}{D}$$ where $\Delta$ is the central (intersection) angle.

20. Give the formulas for the long chord $LC$, external distance $E$, and middle ordinate $M$ of a simple horizontal curve.

    $$LC=2R\sin\frac{\Delta}{2},\quad E=R\left(\sec\frac{\Delta}{2}-1\right),\quad M=R\left(1-\cos\frac{\Delta}{2}\right)$$

21. In horizontal curve geometry, what do PC, PI, and PT stand for?

    PC = Point of Curvature (beginning of curve, where tangent meets curve); PI = Point of Intersection (where the two tangents intersect); PT = Point of Tangency (end of curve, where curve meets the forward tangent).

22. How is the station of the PT computed from the station of the PC and the curve length?

    $$\text{Sta}_{PT}=\text{Sta}_{PC}+L$$ The PT is found by adding the curve length $L$ along the curve to the PC station (NOT by adding $2T$ through the PI).

23. What is the deflection angle to any point on a horizontal curve from the PC, in terms of the arc length $\ell$ to that point?

    $$\delta=\frac{\ell}{2R}\ \text{(radians)}=\frac{D\,\ell}{200}\ \text{(degrees)}$$ The deflection from the back tangent equals half the central angle subtended by the arc.

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