Surveying and Transportation Engineering

Study lessons

1. 1

   Plane Surveying: Distances, Leveling, and Traverse Computations

   Master tape corrections, differential leveling, and traverse computations (latitudes, departures, and area by the DMD method), the field-math core of the 17%-weighted Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

   15 min
2. 2

   Route Surveying and Transportation Engineering: Curves, Stationing, and Traffic Fundamentals

   Learn the metric-arc curve formulas (R = 1145.916 / D), vertical parabolic curves, stationing, and the highway and traffic fundamentals (sight distance, superelevation, and the flow-density-speed relationship) that round out the Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

   15 min
3. 3

   Highway Engineering and Pavements

   Master the highway cross-section, the SI stopping and passing sight distance models, the e + f = V squared over g R superelevation relation, and how flexible and rigid pavements carry load through their layers, so the pavement and geometric-design items in the Surveying and Transportation module become routine.

   15 min
4. 4

   Theory of Errors and Measurement Corrections

   Master the theory of errors, the most probable value, probable error and relative precision, weighted observations, and the full set of tape corrections (standardization, temperature, pull, sag, and slope) plus pacing, the measurement-adjustment core of the 17%-weighted Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

   16 min
5. 5

   Traverse Computations and Area Determination

   Reduce a closed traverse end to end, converting bearings and azimuths, computing latitudes and departures, checking the linear error of closure and relative precision, balancing by the compass and transit rules, finding area by DMD, DPD, and coordinates, and solving a missing side, the traverse-reduction core of the 17%-weighted Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

   15 min
6. 6

   Horizontal and Vertical Curves

   A focused drill on simple, compound, reverse, and spiral horizontal curves and on symmetrical and unsymmetrical parabolic vertical curves, covering the elements (R, T, L, LC, E, M), degree of curve by arc and chord, deflection angles, stationing, and high, low, and sight-distance controls that recur across the CELE.

   15 min
7. 7

   Traffic Engineering Fundamentals

   Master the fundamental traffic relation q = k v, the Greenshields speed-density and flow-density models, capacity and level of service, the peak hour factor, headway and spacing, and the basics of signalized-intersection timing so the traffic-analysis items in the Surveying and Transportation module become routine.

   15 min
8. 8

   Topographic and Hydrographic Surveying

   Read and interpolate contours, reduce stadia and tacheometric sights to horizontal distance and elevation, lay out topographic detail by the grid and radial methods, and turn hydrographic soundings and shoreline offsets into reduced depths and areas of irregular figures, the mapping half of the 17%-weighted Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

   15 min
9. 9

   Geodetic and GPS Surveying

   A board-focused tour of large-area control by triangulation and trilateration, geodetic position on the reference ellipsoid, the map projections that flatten it, and the principles and error sources of GPS and GNSS satellite positioning that anchor the modern Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

   15 min
10. 10

    Earthwork and the Mass Diagram

    Compute cross-section areas for level and three-level sections, turn them into earthwork volumes by the average end area and prismoidal formulas, apply the prismoidal correction, and read balance points, haul, and overhaul off the mass haul diagram, the earthwork core of the Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

    15 min
11. 11

    Pavement Design: Flexible and Rigid

    Work the flexible-pavement layer system and its structural number, the CBR thickness method, ESAL traffic loading through the fourth-power law, and Westergaard rigid-slab stresses with their joints, so the pavement-design items in the Surveying and Transportation module become routine.

    15 min
12. 12

    Triangulation, Trilateration, and Adjustment

    How triangulation networks are built from well-conditioned figures, why the braced quadrilateral and the strength-of-figure number decide the layout, how a base line is measured and reduced to sea level, and how station and figure conditions carry the redundant observations toward their least-squares most-probable values on the CELE Surveying and Transportation module.

    15 min
13. 13

    Photogrammetry Basics

    Reduce vertical aerial photographs to ground measurements by computing photo scale from focal length and flying height, correcting for relief displacement, planning flight lines with the right endlap and sidelap, and recovering elevations from stereoscopic parallax, the photogrammetry portion of the 17 percent weighted Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

    15 min
14. 14

    Highway Horizontal Alignment Design

    A design-focused walk through the horizontal alignment: picking the curve radius from design speed and the e + f limit, developing superelevation over a tangent runout and runoff, checking sight distance past an obstruction with the middle ordinate, and staking the curve by deflection angles from the PC.

    15 min
15. 15

    Traffic Signal Design and Capacity

    A full signal-design workflow for the CELE, from grouping movements into phases and splitting the cycle into green, yellow, and all-red with their lost time, to turning saturation flow into lane capacity, sizing the intersection by the critical-lane method, setting Webster's optimum cycle and its green splits, and reading average control delay back as a level of service.

    15 min
16. 16

    Vertical Alignment and Sight Distance

    A premium drill on parabolic vertical curves covering crest and sag geometry, locating the high or low point, the rate of vertical curvature K, the stopping sight distance equation, minimum crest and sag curve lengths for SSD, and headlight sight distance on sag curves.

    15 min
17. 17

    Construction Surveying and Staking

    How construction surveying transfers the design to the ground, offset and grade stakes with cut and fill read from design grade against existing ground, blue tops, slope staking to the catch point, batter boards and string lines for structures, and as-built checks, the layout core of the Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

    15 min
18. 18

    Least Squares Adjustment

    Weighted observations, residuals, and the least squares principle applied to leveling, with weights inversely proportional to route distance, the most probable value as a weighted mean, distributing a level-net misclosure by distance, and the standard error of the adjusted elevation on the CELE Surveying and Transportation module.

    15 min
19. 19

    GIS and Remote Sensing Fundamentals

    A board-focused walk through geographic information systems and remote sensing for the CELE, covering the vector and raster data models, coordinate reference systems and the Philippine datums PRS92 and WGS84, UTM zone determination, spatial resolution and raster pixel calculations, passive and active remote sensing platforms, GNSS positioning, and georeferencing accuracy, each routine carried to a number with units.

    15 min
20. 20

    Reverse and Compound Curves

    A dedicated drill on compound curves that turn the same way through a shared PCC and reverse curves that flip curvature at the PRC, covering tangent lengths, the common tangent, radii and central-angle relationships, total tangent distance, and continuous stationing from PC through the intermediate point to the PT.

    15 min
21. 21

    Spiral Transition Curves

    A deep dive into the transition or Euler spiral that eases a vehicle from a straight tangent onto a circular arc, covering the linear-curvature law, the spiral angle theta_s = Ls / (2R), tangent offsets with the one-third deflection rule, the shift p, and the three length criteria (comfort by Shortt, superelevation runoff, and the empirical minimum) worked through to full stationing.

    15 min
22. 22

    Astronomical Observations and Azimuth

    How surveyors carry a true azimuth from the sun or Polaris using the astronomical triangle, the altitude and hour-angle methods, declination and latitude, and the refraction, parallax, and semidiameter corrections that turn a raw vertical angle into a reliable line direction on the CELE Surveying and Transportation module.

    15 min
23. 23

    Cadastral and Boundary Surveying

    How cadastral and boundary surveys fix the corners and areas of titled land, reading a lot technical description of bearings and distances, tying corner 1 to a reference monument, computing lot area by coordinates, and partitioning a parcel into given areas including dividing a triangular lot into two equal parts by a line from a vertex, a core skill of the Surveying and Transportation module on the CELE.

    15 min
24. 24

    Stadia and Tacheometry

    How the stadia method turns a rod intercept into distance and elevation, covering the stadia interval factor K equals f over i, the additive constant C, horizontal and inclined-sight formulas, the subtense bar, and worked tacheometric reductions for the CELE Surveying and Transportation module.

    15 min
25. 25

    Precise Leveling and Height Systems

    A premium drill on precise differential leveling covering balanced sights and three-wire readings, the curvature and refraction correction, reciprocal leveling across obstacles, orthometric versus geodetic versus dynamic heights, and level-loop misclosure and adjustment, worked to numbers with units for the CELE Surveying and Transportation module.

    15 min
26. 26

    Highway Capacity and Level of Service

    Turn the Highway Capacity Manual method for basic freeway segments into routine points, capacity per lane, free-flow speed adjustments, the peak hour factor, the per-lane demand flow rate vp, the heavy-vehicle adjustment, and the density thresholds that fix level of service A through F, with worked examples carried to a final number with units.

    15 min
27. 27

    Intersection and Interchange Design

    A premium tour of at-grade intersection types, channelization and turning roadways, intersection sight triangles with intersection sight distance, and grade-separated interchange forms from the diamond to the cloverleaf and trumpet, with ramp design speed checks and weaving, all worked to numbers with units.

    15 min

Section practice test

35 test sets covering the whole Surveying and Transportation Engineering section, 1050 original questions with explanations. After you finish the lessons above, prove it here. Randomized every run.