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INSTRUCTORS:
Carol Morman, P.E., P.S., P.L.S., M.ASCE
Joseph V.R. Paiva, Ph.D., P.S., P.E.
Marlee Walton, P.E., P.S., M.ASCE
This course is sponsored by the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute
Purpose and Background
This course will provide an overview of the fundamentals of surveying engineering for practicing civil engineers that either did not get exposed to surveying engineering in their civil engineering education or would like a refresher to review the latest surveying practice as it relates to civil engineering projects. This course will draw upon the topics contained in the ASCE Engineering Surveying Manual, on the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, and the Professional Engineering Construction Depth exam.
Most civil engineering programs in the United States today have one surveying course available to civil engineering students. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the surveyor and civil engineer need to be able to communicate effectively. This course will provide the terminology and background that a civil engineer needs to know to work with the surveyor and survey data.
This course provides knowledge of surveying engineering fundamentals as they apply to a rapidly changing, digital world. Satellite systems, laser scanning, construction control, and the use of the least squares adjustments are just some of the topics that are part of the transportation from 2D to 3D surveying.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Perform plane surveying, horizontal, and vertical curve computations.
- Describe the basics of geodesy and be able to calculate 2D and 3D, horizontal and vertical positions with respect to the appropriate geodetic datums.
- Explain the strengths and weaknesses of various map projection systems.
- Perform basic calculations for coordinate conversion and transformation using various geodetic datums.
- Explain and perform least squares adjustments, error propagation theory, and calculations and be able to perform basic closure computations.
- List the available global satellite systems (GNSS).
- Explain the degree of accuracy required for various leveling and total station surveys and check the results.
- Explain and specify the deliverables for a terrestrial laser scanning survey, a mobile laser scanning and mapping survey, hydrography, and an aerial laser scanning and photogrammetry survey.
- Describe the equipment and field-to-finish software used for a terrestrial laser scanning survey, a mobile laser scanning and mapping survey, and an aerial laser scanning and photogrammetry survey.
- Perform construction surveying calculations for radial construction stakeout, area computations, and earthwork and volume computations.
- Explain where to find and the importance of keeping detailed survey records.
- Describe how geospatial survey data should be managed in a GIS or BIM for infrastructure data management system.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Achievement of the learning outcomes by attendees will be assessed through (3) exams.
Who Should Attend?
- Practicing engineers
- Building code officials
- Architects
- Developers
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs
This course is worth 2.4 CEUs/24 PDHs. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete (3) exams and receive a passing score of 70% or higher.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]
Course Outline
Week 1: An Introduction to Surveying Engineering
Course Introduction & Week Introduction
What is surveying engineering
Learning Exercise - Is it Surveying or Engineering?
How surveying engineering relates to civil engineering and construction
Data collection and Recent advances in surveying technology
Learning Exercise - What Survey Method do I Use?
Basic geometry and trigonometry calculations
Conclusion
Week 2: Errors, mistakes, and blunders in fieldwork and data
Introduction
Errors, mistakes, and blunders
Common errors, mistakes, and blunders in performing routine fieldwork
Common errors, mistakes and blunders in standard surveying engineering calculations
Learning Exercise - Working with the Terminology
Error Propagation
Basic closure computations: How close does it need to be?
Learning Exercise - Is the Data Close Enough?
Conclusion
Week 3: An Introduction (or Review) of Plane Surveying Computations
Introduction
Basic leveling
Angle computations
Coordinate Geometry
Learning Exercise - Practice what you learned
Area Computations
Earthwork and volume computations
Construction Surveying
Learning Exercise - Area and volume concepts and computations
Conclusion
Week 4: Curve and Grade Computations
Introduction
Horizontal curves
Grade (slope) Calculations
Learning Exercise - Horizontal and vertical curve concepts and calculations
Vertical Curve Computations
Curve Layout
Learning Exercise - Curve layout and grade concepts and calculations
Conclusion
Exam: Weeks 1-4
Week 5: Curve and Grade Computations
Introduction
Horizontal curves
Grade (slope) Calculations
Learning Exercise - Horizontal and vertical curve concepts and calculations
Vertical Curve Computations
Curve Layout
Learning Exercise - Curve layout and grade concepts and calculations
Conclusion
Week 6: What are the Accuracy Requirements?
Introduction
Accuracy standards and specifications
Positional accuracy of measurement systems
Learning Exercise - Accuracy standards and specifications and positional accuracy review
Basics of least square adjustments
Least squares adjustment
Learning Exercise - Least squares versus other adjustment methods
Conclusion
Week 7: Geodesy in the practice of surveying
Introduction
Importance of understanding geodesy even if the practitioner is not planning on doing geodetic surveying
Geodesy concepts essential for using modern technology
Learning Exercise
Geodetic concepts essential for understanding state plane coordinate systems
Typical calculations done by geodesists
Learning Exercise
Conclusion
Week 8: Map Projection Systems
Introduction
Different kinds of map projections
Differences between the different map projections
Learning Exercise - Identify that projection system
Strengths and weaknesses of the various map projections
Low Distortion Projections
The North American Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022 (NATRF2022)
Learning Exercise - Which projection system is right?
Conclusion
Exam: Weeks 4-8
Week 9: GPS 101
Introduction
Global satellite systems (GNSS)
The basics of GPS positioning
Errors in GNSS Observations
Learning Exercise - So Many Acronyms
Differential and Kinematic Methods, Relative Positioning
Relative positioning
Other Satellite Navigation Systems
Learning Exercise - Errors and Mistakes
Conclusion
Week 10: GIS and BIM
Introduction
Concepts essential to understanding how GIS works
Typical applications of GIS
Using GIS to uniquely solve problems with geoprocessing
Learning Exercise
Concepts essential to understand how BIM works
BIM Applications
How GIS and BIM help professionals and clients
Learning Exercise
Conclusion
Week 11: New Technologies; Identifying the Equipment and Deliverables
Introduction
Technology through end of the 20th century
Early 21st century technology situation
Current technology situation
Learning Exercise
Current technology continued
Impacts on the benefits to professionals and clients
Cautions for using advanced technologies
Learning Exercise
Conclusion
Week 12: Contracts, Survey Records, and Other Survey Related Concerns
Introduction
Survey Records
Why We Need Survey Contracts
Understanding easements, zoning, and boundaries, and mining surveys
Learning Exercise - Contracts, Easements, and Records
Surveys to check construction quantities and details
Case study of construction quantities and survey quantities not matching
Learning Exercise - Role of surveyors in digitally mapping underground utilities
Role of surveyors in digitally mapping underground utilities
Conclusion
Exam: Weeks 9-12