Spectra Precision FAST Survey Reference Manual - Manual (Page 258)

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 Section Files
: Section files can be used to identify the pivot points left and right and minimize fieldwork. Consider
the sections shown below.
Shown are stations 0+20 and 0+40, with the pivot points for slope staking identified on station 0+40. For the
section approach to work, the left-most point in the cross section must be the left pivot, and similarly, the
right-most point in the cross section must be the right pivot point. The section should only be entered from
pivot left to pivot right (the “designed” catch points should be dropped). But since the interior section points
have no bearing on the slope staking, they can be omitted, too. So in the case of station 0+40, a 2-point cross
section could be entered, consisting of pivot left and pivot right. That 2-point section is also shown in the
graphic above. It is just as effective for slope staking as a section containing all the break points between
pivots. The one exception is if you have entered descriptions for your section points, you can obtain a
progressive slope stake report, just as with the templates. Note that if descriptions do not exist, the report
leaves them out. Section-based slope staking requires selection of a centerline file and field-entry of the cut
and fill slopes.
Section-based slope staking is useful when the pivot points for stakeout vary unpredictably and don’t conform
to a fixed template. Section-based slope staking has 2 advantages. First, all sections can be entered in the
office as 2-point sections (left and right pivot), minimizing field paperwork and reference material. Secondly,
odd stations can be staked out (eg. station 0+27.5), since the pivot points can be straight-line interpolated by
the program.
Note:
Section files can be used for slope staking within the command Stake Road. In this routine, you can
choose sections or templates to stake, and you can pick any point to slope stake from —so any point on the
section can become the pivot point. The advantage of slope staking by section file within
Stake Road
is that
you can pick any point (greater flexibility). The advantage of slope staking by section file within the Stake
Slope
routine is that it automatically uses the left and right end points of the section as pivot points, which
means less screen picks are involved (greater speed).
Section files may be entered in Road Utilities, or in an external program such as Carlson Civil, Roads or
TakeOff.
Choosing the Slope Staking Method
When Slope Staking is selected, you are presented with a Definition Method screen, where you choose among the 4
methods of Slope Staking: User-Defined, Point-Defined Alignments, Design Files or Section Files. The application of
these methods is discussed above.