Highway Engineering 301 2021/22

Project No.1. Urban Road and Junction Assessment – Clarion Road/N16

Part 1: Road Survey and Assessment:
The aims and objectives and methodologies for the road survey as per brief:
1. To perform an urban road and junction assessment, including traffic, vulnerable user
and land surveys on a primary access junction and route with the Clarion Road (near IT
Sligo) and the adjacent National Road, the N16.
2. To carry out a group topographical survey along the Clarion Road from the N16
towards the main Clayton Hotel & IT Sligo junction.
3. The survey should include data for the position (Easting, Northing and elevation) of
each element of the road alignment and cross-section, and of features adjacent to the
road, including the N16 junction layout, which should be plotted on a suitable layout
plan, longitudinal section and cross-section drawings.
4. To measure and assess the road condition, design speed, and geometric, sight distance
and safety characteristics in relation to the relevant DMURS and TII standards.
5. To review the road and junction survey findings with the current urban (DMURS) and
rural (TII) standards to determine if they meet the needs of current traffic and users by
assessing the operation of the road for the safe passage of all users including cyclists,
pedestrians, public transport users and motorists.

Road Survey Field Procedures and Data to be Collected:

1. Set up total stations on Stations 1-3 to collect topographic data for the mapping of a
plan, longitudinal section and cross-sections at the N16/Clarion Road Junction and
along the Clarion Road from the junction until the bus stop on the right hand side of the
road.
2. Select three stations that are inter-visible and allow for collection of all relevant points
at the junction and along the road, e.g. road centre-line, stop-line, kerb lines, boundary
walls, footways, side junctions, lamp-posts and other street furniture, gulley gratings,
pedestrian crossing points, signs and where there are changes in gradient or direction.
3. A sub-group with one member from each survey group should measure the length of
the road alignment using the electronic “trundle wheel” and mark cross-section points
on each kerb and centre-line point of chainage (distance along the route from the start
of the Clarion Road at the junction). Thus is to allow for cross-sections with levels to
be produced.
4. Station 1 should be located closest to the junction and have arbitrary coordinates
assigned, e.g 1000mN, 1000mE, 10m AOD (elevation). These correspond to X, Y and
Z coordinates.
5. Input these coordinates to the total station as the station point. Sight the backsight point
(Station 2) and enter a bearing of 300º which will mean that Station 2 will be fixed as
being due north-west of Station 1 (see map) to ensure that the road alignment runs
 generally in an east-west alignment for road and junction to be positioned efficiently
on the site plan.
6. The group on Station 2 should input their Station coordinates to be those determined
from Station 1 and the backsight station to be the coordinates of Station 1.
7. The same procedure is repeated for Station 3 which should be located to cover the lower
third of the road and associated side junctions.
8. All data should be stored in the job file for each total station and downloaded to a USB
drive after each session. Station points should be numbered consistently across the three
groups.
9. All points surveyed should be labelled and recorded with a code to signify the type of
feature for drawing purposes.
10. Ensure all health and safety protocols and practices as per the risk assessment and
hazard identification document are adhered to.

Dr Brian McCann BEng Hons PhD MIEI

Lecturer, Dept. Civil Engineering & Construction
11th October 2021