Journal of Surveying Engineering

In this paper, a formula is presented for obtaining the bandwidth that would allow the inclusion of the normal equation coefficients differing from zero into the band, which are derived during the adjustment of several geodetic networks having common points. The given formula indicates that the process of combining the directions in the geodetic network, which considered as a contrary operation to the adjustment rules, increases the bandwidth. In the case of combining the directions without renumbering, in the model network consists of two networks having common points, it is determined that the bandwidth has increased around 55%. A method is also suggested for application of the numbering of network points in order to decrease the bandwidth as little as possible in the joint adjustment of connection and route networks of a motorway. It has been seen that it would be possible to obtain a result sufficiently close to the minimum bandwidth when using the method rapidly. The results obtained and the points that should be taken into consideration, are emphasized.

The present paper summarizes the survey and alignment processes of accelerators and transport lines and discusses the propagation of errors associated with these processes. The major geodetic principles governing the survey and alignment measurement space are revisited and their relationship to a lattice coordinate system shown. The paper continues with a broad overview about the activities involved in the step by step sequence from initial absolute alignment to final smoothing. Emphasis is given to the relative alignment of components, in particular to the importance of incorporating methods to remove residual systematic effects in surveying and alignment operations.

The Orange County GPS survey comprises more than 7,000 vectors linking more than 2,000 stations. The observations were made by private firms and the County of Orange Survey Division staff. Several functions are identified and used to analyze this large network. Weak portions in the network are identified by outliers in these functions. The variance‐covariance matrix of the vector observations is the “determining force” for shaping the functions. Redundancy numbers and internal reliability plots appear to be especially useful in identifying weak portions of the network (which may result from automated deweighting for blunder detection). Small residuals are not the only criteria for judging global positioning system (GPS) networks. Equally important is the capability of the network to isolate blunders. Several graphs are presented in order to shed light on the stochastic and geometric properties of GPS vector networks.

When the radius and deflection angle of a horizontal circular curve are given, the other five curve elements can be directly computed. The elements include tangent distance, external distance, middle ordinate, length of chord, and length of curve. In some practical problems, the radius and deflection angle are unknown and, to layout the curve, two other elements must be known. Seven cases must be solved depending on the known curve elements. The solution for the unknown elements in this case, however, is not direct. This technical note presents a numerical method, called the iteration method, for finding the unknown elements. Unlike the Newton‐Raphson (NR) method, the iteration method requires no derivatives and it generally converges for any initial positive value of the curve radius. Thus, the computations are simpler. The iteration and NR methods are applied to a numerical example, and the results show that the iteration method is faster.