STARTING POINT

The "starting point" of a survey is also called the starting station and is numbered 0 + 00. The next station is 100 feet farther away and is numbered 1 + 00. The next station, which is 200 feet beyond the starting point, is then numbered 2 + 00, and so forth. All stations that end with 00 are called full stations. As shown in figure 15-23, stations may be abbreviated STA on the stakes.

On sharp curves or on rough ground, the stakes may be closer together than on the straightaway. Stations, located at a distance shorter than 100 feet from the preceding station, are known as plus stations, such as

Figure 15-22.-Types of stakes.

Figure 15-23.-Starting point.

3 + 25, 3 + 53, and 3 + 77. These examples are plus stations of station 3 + 00.

LINE STAKES

Line (or alignment) stakes mark the horizontal location of the earthwork to be completed and give the

Figure 15-24.-Combined alignment and grade stake.

Figure 15-25.-Centerline stake

Figure 15-26.-Station numbers.

direction of the proposed construction. Running over stakes or otherwise damaging the stakes before they have served their purpose results in many hours of extra work to replace them and delay in the completion of the project. Rough alignment stakes are placed far ahead of the clearing crew to mark boundaries of the area to be cleared and grubbed. These stakes, or markers, are not of a control nature and their loss is expected. On some stakes, the alignment information and the grade requirement are combined on the same stake (fig. 15-24).