SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

HIGHWAY ENGINEERING I CENG 3206

Chapter II
Highway Route Surveys and
Location

2016 EC (2022/23) 2nd Sem

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 Chapter 2
Highway Route Survey and
Location

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 Introduction
 Highway Alignment and
Route Location Survey
 Guidelines for Alignment and
Route Location
 Stages of Route Survey
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2.1INTRODUCTION
 To determine the geometric features of road design, the following surveys must be conducted
after the necessity of the road is decided.
 A variety of survey and investigations have to be carried out by Road engineers and
multidiscipline persons.

A) Transport Planning Surveys

 Traffic Surveys
 Highway inventories
 Pavement Deterioration Study
 Accident study
B)Alignment and Route location surveys
 Desk study
 Reconnaissance survey
 Preliminary Survey
 Final location survey

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2.1INTRODUCTION

C) Drainage Studies
 Surface run- off : hydrologic and hydraulic
 Subsurface drainage: Ground water & Seepage
 Cross –drainage: location and waterway area required for the cross-drainage structures.

D) Soil Survey
 Desk study
 Site Reconnaissance
 Determining the complete soil profile through appropriate soil exploration techniques;
obtaining both disturbed and undisturbed samples and testing of samples
E) Pavement Design investigation
 Soil property and strength ,Material Survey

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2.2 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT AND ROUTE LOCATION
SURVEY
 Once the necessity of the highway is assessed, the next process is deciding the
alignment and route location.
 The position or the layout of the central line of the highway on the ground is
called the alignment.

 Why Alignment Decision is Important?

 In general, the aim of alignment selection process is to find a location for the
new road that will result in the lowest total construction, land, traffic and
environmental costs.

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Objective: establishment of the new highway’s centerline and cross-sections
in relation to the terminal points and to the topography through which the
highway will pass.
Centerline determines the amount of cut and fill, cross-section details,
drainage design, construction costs and environmental impacts.
Improper alignment would increase;
Construction cost
Land acquisition cost
Maintenance cost
Vehicle operation cost
Accident rate

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 Different types of highway have different needs.
 Requirements of ideal alignment:
 Short
 Easy
 Construction, maintenance, vehicle operation
 Safe
 low accident, stable foundation)
 Economical
 Initial cost, maintenance cost, operation cost

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FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT

 Factors controlling alignment

 Obligatory points
 Traffic
 Geometric design
 Economics
 Other considerations

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 Obligatory points
 Points through which the alignment is to pass
 Bridges sites
 Intermediate town b/n terminals
 Mountainous pass
 Points through which the alignment should not pass
 Very costly structures
 Highly developed expensive land areas
 Cultural or religious places
 Hospitals, schools etc

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 Traffic
 The alignment should suit traffic demand
 The alignment should kept in view of the desire lines, flow patterns and future
trend
 Geometric design:
 Grades, radius of curves, sight distance etc
 First determine standard of the road and then
 Fix the geometric standards

 Economy:
 Includes the initial cost, maintenance cost and operation cost
 If high embankment and deep cuts are avoided there would be a decrease in
initial cost
 In minor roads: Grades-steep, Curves-sharp

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 Other considerations:
 Drainage consideration
 Guide the vertical alignment
 Hydrological factors
 Subsurface water level, seepage flow, high flood level
 Political considerations

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2.2 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT AND ROUTE LOCATION
SURVEY …………………………………..CONTINUED
 What are the steps in route location?
Know the termini points of the scheme.

From the study of a map of the area, identify and locate:

 National parks

 Any ancient relics, castles and the likes

 Existence of monasteries

 Mining sites

 Existing transport facilities

 Other public facilities (electricity, water)

 Location of construction materials

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2.2 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT AND ROUTE LOCATION
SURVEY

What are the steps in route location?

Conduct preliminary and reconnaissance surveys and collect information on pertinent details of
topography, climate, soil, vegetation, and any other factors.

 Based on the information collected in the previous two steps select a corridor.

 Identify a number of possible centerlines within the corridor.

 Make a preliminary design for the possible alternative alignments and plot on a base map.

 Examine each of the alternative alignment with respect to grades, volume of earthwork, drainage,
crossing structures, etc to select the best alternative route.

 Make final design and location of the selected best alternative route

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2.3 GUIDELINES FOR ALIGNMENT AND ROUTE
LOCATION
 There are certain guidelines that must be in mind in selecting the alignment and locating the
route. They are:
 The route of the highway should be so selected that it can handle the traffic most efficiently
and serve the inhabited localities.
 The alignment should be economical and it can be considered so only when the initial cost,
maintenance cost, and operating cost are minimum.
 The alignment should be easy to construct and maintain. It should be easy for the operation
of vehicles. So to the maximum extend easy gradients and curves should be provided.
 The alignment between two terminal stations should be short and as far as possible be
straight, but due to some practical considerations deviations may be needed.

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 2.3 GUIDELINES FOR ALIGNMENT AND ROUTE
LOCATION…………CONTINUED

 The gradients should not be steeper and curvature not sharper than the limiting
values specified for different types of terrain or standards. Excess of either or both
may result in
 economy of initial cost, but will involve extremely high operation costs, time costs
and accident costs.
 The location should minimize the use of agricultural land. If a road already exists,
it may be advisable to make use of the land already available to the maximum
extent.
 The location should involve the least impact on the environment.
 Obstructions such as cemeteries, places of worship, archaeological and historical
monuments should be steered through.
 Proximity to schools, playgrounds, very costly structures, lakes/ponds and
hospitals should be avoided.
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2.3 GUIDELINES FOR ALIGNMENT AND ROUTE
LOCATION………………..CONTINUED

 Interference with utility services like electric overhead transmission lines,

water supply mains, sewers, pipelines, etc should be avoided as far as possible.
 Frequent crossing of railway lines should be avoided.
 Locate the highway close to sources of embankment materials and pavement
materials.
 Avoid marshy and low-lying land areas having poor drainage.
 Avoid areas liable to flooding.
 Steep terrain should be avoided as much as possible.
 Deep cutting and costly tunnels should be avoided as far as possible.

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 A direct alignment is recommended
 No steeper gradient and sharper curve
 Minimize using agricultural land(follow the existing if any)
 Least impact on environment
 Decrease the demolition of houses
 Avoid location near to school, play grounds and hospitals
 Avoid interferace with utility services: tele, electric, water
lines
 Locate near source of material for embankment and pavement
 Avoid frequent crossing of railway lines
 Avoid areas with flooding, marshy land, lanslide
 Have to be right angle with river crossing
 Align the route with minimum earthwork

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 2.4 STAGES OF ROUTE SURVEY
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 The purpose of the route survey is to fix the road alignment i.e. to
position the central line of the road on the ground.
 The work of the highway location survey may include
 Desk study
 Reconnaissance surveys

 Preliminary surveys

 Final location & detailed surveys

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Route survey stages
Identify end points Desk Study
of the route Select Alternative Routes
Identify and Locate
• Heritage places
• Utilities
• Construction materials

Reconnaissance Surveys
Topographic Aerial Geological
Map photographs Map

Preliminary Survey and design

Route Comparison

Final Survey and design Best Route

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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1. Desk study

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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1. Desk study
 If the topographic map of the area is available it is possible to suggest
the likely routes of the road
 The following details help to locate the routes:
 Alignment avoiding valleys, ponds or lakes
 Possibility of crossing through mountain pass

 Approximate location of bridges sites for crossing river

 Consider alternate routes by keeping the permissible gradient

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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2. Reconnaissance surveys
 To examine the general character of the area
 Helps to decide the most feasible routes for detailed studies
 A field survey party may inspect a fairly broad stretch of land along the proposed alternatives routes of the map
in the field
 Site visit team
 Highway Engineer
 Soils & Materials Engineer
 Hydrologist
 Chief Surveyor
 Bridge/Structures Engineer
 Environmentalist/Sociologist, and
 Local Administrative Personnel.
 All relevant details not available in the map are collected & noted down

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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2. Reconnaissance surveys(Cond’t)
 The following are some of the details to be collected:
 Valleys, ponds, lakes, marshy land
 Approximate values of gradient, length of gradients

 Number & type of cross-drainage structures, max. flood level

 Soil survey

 Sources of construction materials, water & location of stones

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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2. Reconnaissance surveys (Cont..)
 Useful checklists:
 Design standards
 Grading & earthwork

 Foundation condition

 Geological conditions

 Drainage

 Right of way

 Effect on community

 Traffic characteristics & maintenance cost

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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3. Preliminary survey
 Objective:
 To survey the various alignments proposed & collect all necessary details of
topographic drainage & soil
 To compare the different proposals in view of the requirements of a good
alignment
 To estimate the quantity of earthwork, material and to workout the cost of
alternative proposals.
 To finalize the best alignment from all consideration

 Methods:
 Conventional method
 Aerial photographic method

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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3. Preliminary survey(cont..)
1. Conventional method
 Ground survey is carried out
 Collect topographical data
 Carries out soil survey

 Procedures for conventional method:

 Primary traverse
 Topographic features
 Leveling work- CL profiles & X-sections
 Drainage- type, number & size of Drainage structurs
 Soil survey- slope, pavement type & thickness

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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3. Preliminary survey(cont..)
2. Aerial photography method
 Itis a modern approach by taking aerial photographs (proposed corridor)
& using photo interpretation technique to obtain the necessary topographic,
soil and geological data.
 Then PS of various alternate alignments, a comparative is made.

 Finally the most suitable alignment is selected.

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 ROUTE SURVEY
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4. Final location survey
 Purpose:
 To fix the centerline of the selected alignment on the ground and
 To collect additional data for the design and preparation of working drawings.
 Features of the final location survey:
 Pegging the center line
 centerline leveling
 X-section leveling
 Intersecting road
 The direction w.r.t the CL of all intersecting roads should be measured.
 Profiles and x- section
 Ditches and streams
 Profile and X-section leveling helps for location and construction of culverts and bridges.
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Final Location Survey for Existing Route

5 + 000

GPS control point Intermediate

control point
Road Center line Edges of
the road

0 + 000 33
 Drawings & Reports
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 The data, after the necessary investigation and final location survey, is sent to the
design office to be used for
 geometric design, pavement design, and design of drainage and other structures, preparation of
drawings, reports, and specifications
 A complete sets of drawings for a road design :
 Site plan of proposed alignment
 Detailed Plan & Profile includes
 Cross-sections for Earth work
 Typical Roadway sections at selected locations (e.g. junctions)
 A mass-haul diagram
 Construction details of structures like bridges, culverts, ….
Example:
Alternative#1
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Alternative #2
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Alternative #3
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 Route Selection
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Question?

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