Attachment to C-408/94-18
Section 686
July 12, 1995



COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Transportation
Harrisburg

CONSTRUCTION SURVEYING

Supplementing the Specifications
Publication 408 dated 1994


THIS IS A NEW SECTION.

686.1 DESCRIPTION - This work is construction surveying for roadways, roadway appurtenances, and structures.

Construction surveying is classified into six types as follows:

(a) Construction Surveying, Type A. Surveying for new construction based on precise horizontal and vertical geometry established from surveys and 25 scale or 50 scale topographic mapping referenced to the National Geodetic Reference System/Pennsylvania State Plane Coordinate System.

(b) Construction Surveying, Type B. Surveying for reconstruction where the alignment is based on, or related to, as-built plan horizontal and vertical geometry, or horizontal and vertical geometry produced on the existing roadway with minimal realignment. The planimetric features and cross sections may have been developed from mapping or by electronic survey.

(c) Construction Surveying, Type B Modified. Surveying for reconstruction where the alignment may have been based on various alignment data such as:

The vertical reference may have been based on:

(d) Construction Surveying, Type C. Surveying for general maintenance construction based on existing roadway alignment with no horizontal or vertical geometry. The drawings or detail sketches are developed using flatchain stations or segments/offsets for location reference. Grade and elevations relate to the existing roadway, unless otherwise indicated.

(e) Construction Surveying, Type D. Surveying for the construction or replacement of a bridge, culvert, arch, or special structure. The horizontal alignment is based on Second Order, Class II surveys, closure 1:10,000. Reference all work points shown on the structure stake-out plan.

(f) Construction Surveying, Type D, Modified. Surveying for the minor or major rehabilitation of a bridge, arch, or culvert. Bridge rehabilitation may involve repair or replacement of part of the substructure, or all or part of the superstructure. Rehabilitation of an arch or culvert may involve the repair and/or extension of the existing structure.

686.2 MATERIAL -


  • Tack
--Standard engineers tack
  • Stake
--Planed hardwood, 18”
  • Hub
--Planed hardwood, 18"
  • Nail
--Metal, lO pennyweight
  • Guard Stake
--Stake, 18", with space to identify the point guarded
  • Grade Point
--Hub with engineer's tack; or 60 penny-weight spike.
  • Reference for Bridge
--Hub with engineer's tack, or iron pin with Work center punch
  • Paint
--Latex; yellow, orange, or white
  • Flat
--Planed Hardwood, 36"
  • PK Nail
--Hardened Masonry Nails
  • Flagging
--Vinyl Material

686.3 Construction -

(a) General. All pertinent survey information will be provided at the preconstruction conference. Do not begin construction surveying work until on or after the Notice to Proceed date. Upon completion of the survey work, return all survey information to the Engineer.

The centerline and/or base lines, side road and channel alignments, plan base lines, and interchange alignments will be established during project design. Should there be an extensive time lapse between the design phase and the beginning of work, the Engineer will refurbish the alignment by marking and placing new guard stakes at the pre-established control points.

Be responsible for verification of the alignment, grades, elevations, and dimensions indicated.

Be responsible for documentation of any design error. Immediately notify the Engineer of any error, omission, or discrepancy upon discovery.

Provide all construction surveying services, material, and equipment needed to stake, mark, reference, and monitor the project. Provide the Engineer with any assistance requested for verification of lines, grades, widths, elevations, and measurements or for Quality Assurance verification. Record geometric or coordinate ties on all lines produced.

Employ a Professional Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer, registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, qualified in the use of highway and bridge plans; cross sections and specifications; and procedures for establishing line and grade, structure locations, and dimensions, as may be required. Assume full responsibility for dimensions and elevations taken from control stakes and for the setting of structure location and line and grade stakes.

For Type A, Type B. Type B Modified, Type D, and Type D Modified construction surveying, provide a surveyor or engineer, to work under the direction of the registered Professional Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer, having, as a minimum, highway surveying knowledge, skills, and abilities equivalent to those of the Commonwealth's Surveyor Technician Supervisor Job classification or having experience in the prerequisite work elements of the NICET Transportation Engineering Technician/Highway Surveys Level III Technician.

References herein to “minor structure work” or “minor roadway work” are to be construed to mean structure or roadway work representing 20% or less of the total contract price.

For all projects, including those with unsuitable and borrow excavation material, the Department will provide all cross sections needed to compute quantities for payment purposes.

(b) Type A Construction Surveying. The centerline and/or base lines, side road and channel alignments, plan base lines, and interchange alignments will be established, on the ground, at 50-foot intervals and at major control points. All major control points will be referenced and vertical benchmarks will be established at appropriate locations.

Be responsible for the construction stake-out of the project, using the horizontal and vertical control established by the Department.

Be responsible for relocation and/or preservation of all horizontal references of major control points and vertical benchmarks established by the Department.

Provide the Engineer with a comprehensive stake-out schedule for development of the project, listing areas or grading sections by plan designation or station location.

Be responsible for checking the cross section (original ground and template intersection) on each side of the grade point(s) at each station for accuracy and acceptance. Forward documentation to the Engineer of any cross sectional or template discrepancy.

Where the finished grade is 5 feet or more vertically above or below existing grade, place an offset grade point with a guard stake at right angles to the centerline or base line controlling the grade point(s), or at 90 degrees from the tangent to the curve, at each 50-foot or 25-foot station. Offset grade points from the intersection of the cross section template and original ground. Mark guard stakes according to the rounding, station, offset right or left of centerline/base line, and offset from the intersection of the template and original ground.

Be responsible for relocation and or preservation of all horizontal references of major control points and vertical benchmarks established by the Department.

Establish a finished grade control line offset, parallel to the centerline or base line, by setting grade points at 50-foot intervals. Establish grade points at 25-foot intervals for arcs/curves of 16 degrees or greater.

Furnish the Engineer with grade sheets for all grade points and finish grade points. Show the grade point elevation, finish grade elevation, and offset right or left of the grade point or finish grade point from the centerline or base line.

Be responsible for staking the plan alignments and grade points for temporary construction easements and temporary roadways or crossovers.

Be responsible for staking legal right of way lines and temporary easement lines when required.

Provide the Engineer with all coordinate networks used in staking the project, including coordinate geometry, horizontal geometry, and referenced network points.

(c) Type B Construction Surveying. Provide this type of surveying for roadway construction with minor structure work. Construction surveying required for the minor structure work, if any, will be considered incidental. Perform incidental surveying as specified for the applicable type.

The centerline and/or base lines and side road and channel alignments will be established at 50-foot intervals and at major control points. Vertical benchmarks will be established at appropriate locations.

Be responsible for the construction stake-out of the project, using the horizontal and vertical control established by the Department.

Be responsible for relocation and or preservation of all horizontal references of major control points and vertical benchmarks established by the Department.

Establish all base lines, grade lines, parallel lines, traverse lines, and reference lines deemed necessary by the Engineer to control construction operations.

Be responsible for staking the plan alignment and grade for temporary roadways and crossovers.

Responsible for staking legal right of way lines and temporary easement lines as required to construct the project. Stake the lines based on plan data.

Provide the Engineer with all coordinate networks used in staking the project, including coordinate geometry, horizontal geometry, and referenced network points.

(d) Type B Modified Construction Surveying. Provide this type of surveying for roadways construction with minor structure work. Construction surveying required for the minor structure work, if any, will be considered incidental. Perform incidental surveying as specified for the applicable type.

The centerline and/or base lines will be established at 50-foot intervals and at major control points. Vertical control will be established at appropriate locations.

Legal right of way lines or temporary easement lines will be established, as required, at project locations controlled by flatchain stations. The Department will stake R/W on flatchain projects, when curved alignments or complex configurations are beyond the scope of the flatchain survey.

Be responsible for the construction stake-out of the project, using the alignment established by the Department.

Be responsible for the relocation and/or preservation of any major control point or vertical benchmark.

Be responsible for placing and maintaining all grade points, guard stakes, nails, hubs, or paint marks necessary to control construction of the project.

Be responsible for staking plan alignment and grade for temporary roadways and crossovers.

Be responsible for staking legal right of way lines or temporary easement lines where controlled by horizontal geometry. Stake the lines based on plan data.

(e) Type C Construction Surveying. The limits of work only will be established by marking the beginning and ending station, or the beginning and ending segments and offsets. The limits of work will be established only once during the life of the contract.

For Group Contracts, the limits of work will be established using State Route and segment markers.

Establish the stationing and/or segments and offsets at 100-foot intervals, between the limits of work, by flatchain measurements. Establish stationing at the centerline or edges of pavement with paint marks, or by placing stakes at right angles to the station or segment/offset.

Place additional stakes or marks as necessary to control construction operations.

(f) Type D Construction Surveying. Provide this type of surveying for structure construction with minor roadway work. Construction required for the minor roadway work, if any, will be considered incidental. Perform incidental surveying as specified for the applicable type.

All centerline and/or base line structure control points will be established on the ground.

Be responsible for the construction stake-out of bridges, arches, culverts, and other special structures, as required to facilitate and control the work, using the horizontal and vertical control established by the Department.

Review, with the Engineer, the structure stake-out plan sheet designating work points to be referenced, prior to performing the field stake-out.

Obtain the Engineer's approval for any variance or exception to the field stake-out plan, prior to performing the work.

Reference all designated work points. Reference each work point on a direct line through any adjacent work point(s). Establish three reference points for the work point at each corner of abutments and at each end of wingwalls. Establish three reference points for work points on proprietary or other walls. For land piers, establish three reference points, on each side of the substructure, for work points on the centerline of bearing. The distance between a work point and its first reference point is to be less than 100 feet, with the exception of centerline pier reference.

Establish a Second Order, Class II traverse network, at each structure site, coordinating abutment and pier reference. Show the precision ratio, and comparisons of longitudinal distances.

Furnish the Engineer with a field stake-out sketch, based on the structure plan stake-out, showing only centerline/base line stations, span lengths, reference angles, and reference lengths. Show two described vertical benchmarks.

Furnish the Engineer with a sketch showing a triangulation network or traverse network at each structure site. For waterbound piers, include base line control showing length of sides tea" and "b" and interior angles A and B.

Include the date, structure description, contractor's name, and person responsible for the stake-out, on field stake-out sketches.

(g) Type D Modified Construction Surveying. Provide this type of surveying for structure construction/rehabilitation with minor roadway work. Construction surveying required for the minor roadway work, if any, will be considered incidental. Perform incidental surveying as specified for the applicable type.

All centerline and/or base line structure control points will be established, on the ground.

Be responsible for the construction stake-out of the structure rehabilitation, using the horizontal and vertical control established by the Department.

Review, with the Engineer, the structure stake-out plan sheet designating the work points to be referenced, prior to performing the field stake-out.

Reference all designated work points. Reference each work point on a direct line through any adjacent work point(s). Establish three reference points for the work point at each corner of abutments and at each end of wingwalls. For land piers, establish three reference points, on each side of the substructure, for work points on the centerline of bearing or as indicated on the structure plan stake-out. The distance between a work point and its first reference point is to be less than lOO feet, with the exception of pier reference. For water-bound piers, use base line reference.

Furnish the Engineer with a field stake-out sketch, based on the structure plan stake-out, showing reference points, lengths, vertical control, and pertinent plan data.

Furnish the Engineer with a separate sketch showing a triangulation network or traverse network, or methodology for a mathematical check of the survey produced.

686.4 MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT -

(a) Construction Surveying. Lump Sum

For the type indicated.

Paid as specified in Section 110.05, in four payments, in accordance with the following schedule:



(b) Unidentified Work. Work not identified will be paid as follows.

1. Negotiated Price. At an agreed upon price. This price will be agreed upon with the Department prior to performing the work.

2. Force Account Basis. Section 110.03(d)

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