Introduction to Setting Out

Definition
• A setting out survey involves the marking
out of any physical feature that appears on
an engineering plan, in its correct position
on the ground.
• These surveys are normally required
during the construction of Roads,
Pipelines, Concrete frames, Housing
developments and many more.
 Setting Out
• Critical that construction takes
place exactly as per the
engineering design drawings.
• Every physical component that
makes up the whole of a
construction is designed to be
constructed in a very definite
position and at a very definite
elevation.
• Setting out surveys ensures
exactly this. The position and
elevation of every physical
component is literally marked
out on site for accurate
construction thereof in it
designed position in space.
 Aims
• Understand the different roles of setting
out personnel
• Understand the aims of setting out
• Appreciate good working practices that
should be undertaken in order to fulfill the
requirements of setting out
• Set out design points using different
methods
 Definition of Setting Out

• Can be defined as marking the location of new

features or new construction

• ISO definition – the establishment of marks and lines

to define the position and level of the construction
work so that works may proceed with reference to
them

• Site surveying is location of physical and man made

features, whereas setting out is the positioning of new
features
 Aims of Setting out
• Begin with plan and end with some particular
engineering project, i.e. obtain an accurate 3D
representation of structure
• Structure must be correct size, correct position
and correct reduced level
• Must proceed quickly and efficiently without delay
to minimize construction costs

NB. Aim to get it right the first time, every time,

at the best possible speed commensurate with
the required accuracy and cost!
 Personnel involved in setting out
and construction
• Client, employer or promoter
– Person, company or government department
that requires the particular scheme (works) to
undertaken and finances the project.
• Engineer
– An expert commissioned by the employer to
provide professional expertise
– His responsibility is to investigate the
feasibility of the proposed project
Personnel involved in setting out
and construction
– Prepare various solution for the employers
consideration.
– Undertakes necessary calculations and
prepares the drawings, specifications and
quantities for the chosen scheme.
– Investigate the likely costs and programme for
the project.
– Prepares the invitation to tender (ITT)
documents.
 Personnel involved in setting out
and construction
• Contractor
– A contractor is chosen is chosen from the
tenders submitted and a contract is formed
between the employer and the contractor.
– The responsibility of the contractor is the
implement/execute the project.
– Engineer not legally a party to the contract
between the contractor and the employer, but
his duties are described in the same contract.
 Personnel involved in setting out
and construction
• During construction the job of an engineer
is to act as an arbiter and ensure that the
works are carried out in accordance with
the drawings and specification, and any
other condition laid in the contract.
• The engineer is represented by the
resident engineer and contractor is
represented by the agent.
 Personnel involved in setting out
and construction
• The responsibilities of the resident engineer,
engineer, agent, contractor and end employer
are described in the document known as the
conditions of contract.
• Although the engineer check works, the
setting out is the responsibility of the
contractor
• The cost of correcting an errors in the setting
out has to be paid for by the contractor,
provided the engineer has provided reliable
information.
Setting out Techniques Based on 3
Principles:
• Reference positions (Y, X) should be
established within/near site to enable
design point setting out

• Elevations relative to agreed datum

established within/near site to control
setting out of design elevations

• Accurate positioning techniques are

required to establish vertical and
horizontal control
Setting Out - Control
• Survey control:

– Before setting out can take

place, suitable horizontal and
vertical control have first to
be established on site to
enable the contractor to
establish set out information
for his construction
requirements
– All levels on Drawings are to
be based on DSM Height
Datum
– All coordinates are plane
based on the LO system
• Importance of control:

– The most important part of setting-out is the

control from which it is based. If the control is
correct, there should be no reason for the
setting-out not to be correct. If control is
wrong, the setting out is going to be wrong no
matter how precisely it is set-out relative to
the control.
 Types of horizontal control
• Three stages:
a) Primary control, generally done by a land
surveyor in secure, stable locations
b) Secondary control, since primary control may
be far from the site perimeter
c) Tertiary control, necessary to get into
awkward corners of the works; they do not
last for more than a day or few
• It is extremely important that all horizontal
control is checked at regular intervals
throughout the course of the project
 Setting out …

e.g. determining the location of a new construction on a site

 Setting out …

• Very important stage in construction

• Errors in setting out can be costly
– Use horizontal distances when setting out i.e.
dimensions measured, scaled or designed are always
horizontal
– Slope correction must always be applied, alternatively
slope must be allowed for in taping (Additive)
• Setting out marks and lines proposed
structures
 Setting out Using Coordinates

• Best method – requires turning off an angle

• Design points can be located by the
following techniques:

– Bearing/angle and distance (polar). At least 3 control

points to each design point should be used
– Setting out angle α and distance d calculated from
coordinates
 Setting out Principles …
• To locate plan information using Coordinates:

A
α
d

Building
RO
 Setting out Principles
e.g. determining the location by offsetting from one or more
baselines
By intersection, with two theodolites from
two control points …
• Technique has advantages:
– does not require linear measurements hence adverse ground
conditions can be avoided
– No tape corrections required, 2nd theodolite checks

Proposed
structure
 Precautions
a) All angles must be set with correctly adjusted theodolite
otherwise observe on both faces
b) Since design dimensions will be in the horizontal plane,
any distance set out with steel tape should be stepped
to plumb line or computation of the slope distance will be
necessary
c) Each design point must be set out from at least 3 control
stations – this increases accuracy since effect of one
control point being out position is reduced
d) Use pegs to mark design points e.g. wooden or iron
pegs
e) Set out right angles by theodolite on FL & FR
 Personnel in Setting Out
• Client, Employer – company,
government department or person
– Client/Employer often has no engineering
background, solicits services of engineer
– Engineer investigates project feasibility,
prepares various solutions for employer –
calc., drawings, specs., quantities,
programme of works
– Project put to tender, Contractor invited to
put a price for work.
• Engineer not party to contract
between client and contractor, is a
facilitator, an independent arbiter and
ensures work is carried out as per
specifications
 Survey Conditions of Contract
• Contractor responsible for true and
proper setting out of works,
correctness of position, levels,
dimension, alignment of works and
provision of necessary instruments
and labour.
• Consulting Engineer is responsible for
checking correctness of setting out by
Contractor and levels at various
stages of the work.
• If error in setting out is made by
Contractor, rectification is at the
contractors expense and likewise if
error is in the part of the Consulting
Engineer, rectification is at the
employers expense.
 Survey Conditions of Contract …

• Checking the setting out by the Engineer does not

relieve the contractor of their responsibility for the
correctness of setting out

• It is important for the Contractor to preserve

benchmarks, sight rails and other references used
in setting out
Conditions of Contract - Survey
Information:
• Contractor shall be responsible for the
preservation of all permanent survey marks in
their true position within site.
• Contractor shall advise the Engineer in writing of
any such survey marks that must be removed to
allow the work under the contract to proceed. The
Engineer shall engage a Licensed Surveyor at the
Client’s expense to offset such marks.
• If Contractor destroys any survey mark, that
survey mark shall be reinstated by the Licensed
Surveyor at the Contractor’s expense.
 Setting Out Information
• Can be found on:
– Site plans
– Setting out plans
– Long sections
– Cross sections
• Will consist of:
– Full horizontal geometry and reduced levels
– X-sections showing RLs and offsets of each point on
the design x-section relative to the reference line
– Any other information required to construct the
proposed work, e.g. location and levels of all drainage
works, traffic islands etc.
Good Working Practices
• Keep records safely
• Adopt sensible filing procedures
• Take care of instruments and use them
safely
• Check drawings and make
reconnaissance of the site and compare
the two
• Fix and preserve control
• Inspect site regularly for removed control
points
• Work to schedule, specifications and
required accuracy
 Good Working Practices …
• Check work – each setting out work phase should have a
checking procedure

– Point fixed from one point checked from another

– Corners of building checked by measured diagonals
– Levelling to start and finish at known points
– Set out distance measured twice, once in each direction
– Points set out by intersection checked by measurement of
appropriate distances

• Communication - have good communication between all parties

involved in the project in order to minimize disputes.
Application of Coordinate Methods

• Coordinate methods can be

used to set out virtually any civil
engineering construction

– e.g. pipelines, bridges, roads,

dams, power lines, power
stations, housing estates, etc.
Advantages of coordinate methods
a) Building setting out
An engineer can set out any part of the works
as an individual item, rather than wait for the
overall establishment of a setting out grid
b) Road setting out
i. Coordinate methods can be carried out by
anyone who is capable of using a theodolite &
tape. No prior knowledge of curve design is
necessary.
ii. Computers produce setting-out data in
coordinate form – hence the methods are
popular
 Advantages …

b) Road setting out …

iii. Coordinate computations perceived to be

difficult in the past, but now modern
calculators can handle them very easily

iv. Can by-pass obstructions/obstacles easily.

Not the case with traditional methods
Introduction to Setting Out