Drawing Longitudinal & Cross Sections

You are probably used to sections on Architectural or Structural drawings. The purpose
of these
sectional drawings is to graphically display the building at the place the section is take
n.

Figure 1

As we can see in Figure 1 the section shows us that the building has,

4 levels
deep piers
columns

The sections you will develop for this subject serve a similar purpose, they will allow y
ou to
graphically view the land at any point you require. From this information you can desig
n your
proposed structure and give a graphical representation of the proposed works.
These sections will also assist you to derive volumes for earthworks.
There are two sections that we develop to give us sections of the land.
1. Longitudinal Sections- Also known as Long Sections, these are a section throug
h the longest
length of the subject land.
2. Cross Sections These are section across the narrowest length of the subject l
and or works.
These definitions derive from there primary use in civil works in particular in road desi
gn and

construction. A Longitudinal Section is a section along the direction of the road. A Cro
ss Section
being a section across the road.
For our purposes the way we treat them is identical and the only reason I will still refer
to
Longitudinal Sections & Cross Section is that is in the industry norm.
1
Longitudinal Sections
The method to draw Longitudinal Sections is exactly the same as you draw a section o
n an
Architectural section.
You draw construction lines vertically to give a profile of the important features of the
house. You
then draw in the vertical heights by measurement.

2
Longitudinal Sections are drawn in a similar manner, the major difference being;
1.
2.

Notations on the Drawing are in a format to convey information.

The Horizontal scale is usually greater than of the Vertical scale
e.g. Horizontal Scale 1:100
Vertical Scale 1:10

100.750 0.000

100.730 5.000

100.690 10.000

100.550 15.000

100.530 20.000

100.450 25.000

100.400 30.000

0.750

0.730

0.690

0.550

0.530

0.450

0.400

Draw a section through grid 3.

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:
100
RL 100.000
Chainage

Existing Ground Level

+/- above Datum

Longitudinal Section Grid 3

3
Notations on the Drawing
RL 100.000 is the origin for vertical dimensions for the drawing.
Chainage is the horizontal measurements from the origin.
Existing Ground Level the ground level
+/- above Datum Is the height above the origin in this case RL 100.000

4
After this drawing is drawn up you can start the design work. Let us say that the site i
s going to be
levelled to a Reduced Level of 100.500. This is referred as design level.

Existing Ground Level

+/- above Datum

Design Level
Cut

100.5000.400 100.400 30.000

+0.100

100.500-0.030
0.530 100.530 20.000

100.500-0.050
0.550 100.550 15.000

100.500-0.190
0.690 100.690 10.000

100.5000.450 100.450 25.000

Chainage

+0.050

RL 100.000

0.730 100.730 5.000

-0.230100.500

RL 100.500

100.500-0.250
0.750 100.750 0.000

We would add this to the drawing as follows.

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:10
0

Fill

Longitudinal Section Grid 3

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