Location, Geometrics

and Drainage of
Highways

Engr. Jefferson R. Vallente Jr., M.PICE, Assoc.TSSP, M.EASTS

 Highway Surveys and Location
• Involves for key phases:
• Office study of Existing
Information
• Reconnaissance Survey
• Preliminary Location Survey
• Final Location Survey
 Office study of Existing Information
• Taken from existing engineering reports, maps, aerial
photographs, and charts, which are available from
• Transportation: Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) or the Municipal/City Engineer’s Office,
Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Agriculture: Department of Agriculture (DA) of the
Municipal/City Agriculture Office
• Geology & Mining: DENR - Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MGB) or Municipal/City Planning Office
• Hydrology: Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) – Bureau of Research and Standards, Hydrology
Division.
Data: Engineering and Topography
Data: Geology, Climate
Data: Traffic Volume
 Reconnaissance Survey
• Field of Aerial surveys taking into consideration the following:
• Terrain and soil conditions
• Serviceability of route to industrial and population areas
• Crossing of other transportation facilities, such as rivers, railroads and highways
• Directness of route
Preliminary Location Survey
• Economic Evaluation
Environmental Evaluation
Final location Survey
Sample of Horizontal Alignment
Sample of Horizontal Alignment
• Splines are used to obtain
hand-fitted smooth curve
that fits in with the
requirements of grade,
cross-sections, curvature,
and drainage
• Usually a trial and error
process
• Computer-based
techniques has significantly
enhanced the process.
 Highway
Earthwork and
Final Plans

Engr. Jefferson R. Vallente, Jr., M.PICE, Assoc. TSSP, M.EASTS

Highway Earthwork and Final Plans

• It is common practice in earthwork

construction to move suitable
materials from cut sections to fill
sections to reduce to a minimum the
amount of material borrowed from
borrow pits.
 Daily Quiz
• Solve for the Mass
ordinates for 5

stations 0-10. Show

55
your answer in table 65
format by showing
end areas of cut &
fill, volumes of total
cut & fill, net volume
of cut and fill and a
shrinkage factor
using the last two
digits of your XU ID
number
Shoulder Elevation Cut and Fill
DPWH Design Standards
• Online Resources/DPWH Standards on Thickness and
Pavement/DPWH DO_011_S2014 Design Standards for Tourism and
Farm to Market Roads.pdf
• Online Resources/DPWH Standards on Thickness and
Pavement/DPWH do_040_S2014 Prescribing minimum design
standard for portland cement concrete pavement in roads leading to
port.pdf
• Online Resources/DPWH Standards on Thickness and
Pavement/DPWH General Notes for Roads Drainage and
Structures.pdf
DPWH Design Standards
• Online Resources/DPWH Environmental Impact
Assessement/DO_057_s2016 EIA for DPWH infrastructure projects
and tree cutting permit application.pdf