Basic lecture on cut slope design and how to conduct simple topographic surveying

1. Introduction to Cut Slope Design &
Topographic Surveying
Yonathan Admassu, PhD
James Madison University

2. Who are?
Geotechnical Engineers
Designing earth structures
consistent with data
Direct projects
BS in civil engineering
Engineering Geologists
Describe geologic
environment as applied to
engineering
Forecast future hazards
Make recommendations on
slope design, excavations,
tunnels

3. Cut Slope
Design

4. Cut Slope Design

5. Cut Slope Design

6. Cut Slope
Design

7. What are we going to do?
Day – 1: Topographic survey - Producing a
topographic map within a buffer zone along the proposed road. The
topographic map will be used to draw longitudinal sections and cut
slope design cross-sections.
Day – 2: Rock mass characterization -
Discontinuity data collection to perform kinematic analysis to
recommend safe slope angles.
Day – 3: Photogrammetry and cut slope design -
Taking photos and extracting discontinuities from point cloud
generated from SFM. Students will draw their design cross-sections.

8. Topographic Survey
1. Measure distances and angles to determine known points
2. Interpolate between known points to approximate actual surface

9. Topographic Survey
Variety of methods
Compass & rod (Jacob staff)
Theodolite/total station
Laser scanning

10. Topographic survey – Brunton compass & rod

11. Topographic survey – Brunton compass & rod
Xelev = Yelev + a = Yelev + C * Sin α
Profile
No.
Profile
Azimuth
Station
No.
Lithology Xelev α C
Yelev = Xelev
+ C (sin α)
Field notebook headings