Penn State Surveying Program

SUR 112
Curve Geometry



 Catalog Data 112 CURVE GEOMETRY (3) Geometric properties and design elements of horizontal and vertical alignment; earthwork and volume computations; field procedures. Prerequisites: Math 081, SUR 111.
Textbook Wolf, Paul R. and Charles D. Ghilani. 2006. Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics, 10th Ed., Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Coordinator Thomas A. Seybert, Associate Professor, Surveying Engineering Program
Goals To introduce the student to coordinate geometry calculations, horizontal and vertical curve calculations, route design, earthwork calculations, and alignment stake-out.
Prerequisites by Topic Open and closed traverse measurements, data reduction, and adjustments; introduction to coordinate calculations; and computation of area by basic formulas and coordinates.
Topics
  1. Coordinate geometry 5 hours
  2. Horizontal circular curves 7
  3. Compound circular curves 2
  4. Spiral curves 4
  5. Vertical parabolic curves, profiles, cross-sections 6
  6. Earthwork volumes 4
  7. Exams 2
  1. 5 hours
  2. 7 hours
  3. 2 hours
  4. 4 hours
  5. 6 hours
  6. 4 hours
  7. 2 hours
Laboratories
  1. Coordinate Geometry 2 labs
  2. Horizontal curve computations and stake-out 3
  3. Compound Curve Computations 1
  4. Spiral curve computations and stake-out 2
  5. Vertical Curve Notes and profile leveling 2
  6. Cross-sections, slope stake locations, and earthwork 3
  7. Weather days 2
  1. 2 labs
  2. 3 labs
  3. 1 lab
  4. 2 labs
  5. 2 labs
  6. 3 labs
  7. 2 labs
Computer Usage Students utilize the software package WOLFPACK for coordinate geometry, horizontal curve, and vertical curve calculations. WOLFPACK is provided with the solutions manual to the textbook. Students are also required to use commercial spreadsheet software to replicate the WOLFPACK results for horizontal curve stakeout and vertical curve calculations.


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Last Update: March 31, 2005