TMR Surveying Standards

Manual

Part 1 – General Information

January 2022

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022

Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads) 2022.

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Queenslanders from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds. If you have difficulty

understanding this publication and need a translator, please call the Translating and

Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 13 14 50 and ask them to telephone the

Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 74 68.

Disclaime

While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no

responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or

advice, expressed

or implied, contained within. To the best of our knowledge, the content was

correct at the time of publishing.

Feedback

Please send your feedback regarding this document to

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 i

Contents

1 Introduction to the Standards ......................................................................................................1

1.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................... 1

1.3 Conditions for release ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.4 Intellectual Property (IP) rights ....................................................................................................... 2

1.5 Ownership of data ........................................................................................................................... 2

1.6 Structure of these Standards .......................................................................................................... 2

1.7 Definitions ....................................................................................................................................... 3

2 General survey requirements .......................................................................................................1

2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1

2.2 Strategic policy – the wider corporate need ................................................................................... 1

2.2.1 Survey and mapping infrastructure purpose ..................................................................1

2.3 Geospatial information .................................................................................................................... 2

2.4 Compliance ..................................................................................................................................... 2

2.4.1 Legislative and regulatory requirements ........................................................................2

2.4.2 Survey ............................................................................................................................3

2.4.3 Surveyor .........................................................................................................................3

2.4.4 Equipment ................................................................................................................... 11

3 Project compliance ..................................................................................................................... 12

3.1 Environmental impact ................................................................................................................... 12

3.1.1 Surveys on streams and waterways ............................................................................ 12

3.2 General Safety .............................................................................................................................. 13

3.2.1 General safety and site induction ................................................................................ 13

3.2.2 Unsafe situations ......................................................................................................... 13

3.2.3 Personal protective equipment (PPE) ......................................................................... 13

3.3 Safety on the road corridor ........................................................................................................... 14

3.3.1 Traffic management plan ............................................................................................. 14

3.3.2 Roadworks signage ..................................................................................................... 14

3.3.3 Use of traffic control..................................................................................................... 14

3.4 Entry onto land .............................................................................................................................. 14

3.4.1 Private land .................................................................................................................. 15

3.4.2 Construction sites ........................................................................................................ 15

3.4.3 Entry onto railway lands .............................................................................................. 16

4 Survey brief ................................................................................................................................. 17

4.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 17

4.2 Requirements................................................................................................................................ 17

4.3 Supplied information ..................................................................................................................... 17

5 Survey datum .............................................................................................................................. 18

5.1 Horizontal coordinate datum ......................................................................................................... 18

5.2 Azimuth datum .............................................................................................................................. 18

5.3 Vertical (Height) datum ................................................................................................................. 18

5.3.1 GNSS derived heights ................................................................................................. 18

5.4 Chainage datum ........................................................................................................................... 18

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 ii

5.5 Exceptions to use of standard datum’s ......................................................................................... 18

5.5.1 Cadastral surveys ........................................................................................................ 19

5.5.2 Connection of non-standard datum to standard datum ............................................... 19

5.6 Traceable datum information ........................................................................................................ 19

5.7 Summary of datum sets ................................................................................................................ 19

6 Survey marks .............................................................................................................................. 20

6.1 Safety of marks ............................................................................................................................. 20

6.2 Identifiers and indicators ............................................................................................................... 20

6.3 Survey mark protection ................................................................................................................. 20

6.4 Permanent Survey Marks ............................................................................................................. 21

6.4.1 Placement and recording of Permanent Survey Marks ............................................... 21

6.4.2 Maintenance, updates & amendments ........................................................................ 22

6.4.3 Submission of PSM forms to DoR ............................................................................... 22

6.5 Bench Marks ................................................................................................................................. 22

6.6 Height ............................................................................................................................................ 23

6.6.1 Levelling ...................................................................................................................... 23

7 Survey data delivery ................................................................................................................... 24

7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 24

7.2 Transport and Main Roads standard software ............................................................................. 24

7.3 Field data ...................................................................................................................................... 24

7.3.1 Survey comments ........................................................................................................ 24

7.4 Processed data ............................................................................................................................. 24

7.5 Survey report ................................................................................................................................ 24

7.6 Delivered data ............................................................................................................................... 25

7.6.1 Ownership ................................................................................................................... 25

7.6.2 Media ........................................................................................................................... 25

7.6.3 Malicious code ............................................................................................................. 25

7.6.4 Corrections .................................................................................................................. 25

7.7 Metadata ....................................................................................................................................... 25

7.7.1 Locality ........................................................................................................................ 25

7.7.2 Project details / Resources .......................................................................................... 26

7.7.3 Datum / Coordinate Operations ................................................................................... 26

7.7.4 Accuracy ...................................................................................................................... 26

7.7.5 Timing / Contact .......................................................................................................... 27

7.7.6 Notes / Disclaimers...................................................................................................... 27

Part 1 – General Information

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 1

1 Introduction to the Standards

1.1 Overview

This TMR Surveying Standards document provides the specific requirements for the collection of

survey data in any of the geomatic survey types used by the Department of Transport and Main Roads

and also supplies the rigid application of context to that data. It is the covenant between users of

Geospatial Information and the suppliers of this information. This document is to be used to supply

surveying information to the department.

In this document, ‘Standards’ shall mean the current Department of Transport and Main Roads

Surveying Standards document. The ‘department’ shall mean the Queensland Government

department whose Chief Executive is responsible for the administration of the Transport Infrastructure

Act 1994 and associated legislation or their successors. 'DoR' shall mean the Queensland

Government department whose Chief Executive is responsible for the administration of the Surveyors

Act 2003 and associated legislation or their successors.

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of this document is to:

a) advise all providers of geospatial information of the requirements applicable in undertaking

surveying activities for, or on behalf of, the department, and

b) advise all users of the survey product of the meaning/application of the geospatial information

supplied.

It is intended that the Standards provide:

• safe supply of survey services both for those supplying the information and the general public

• an understanding of the strengths and limitations of particular geomatic types of surveys to

allow ‘fit for purpose’ supply of geospatial information

• completeness, appropriateness and traceability of geospatial information supplied by

surveying services

• standardisation of the presentation of geospatial information provided by surveying services

throughout the department

• adequate accessibility to geospatial information provided by surveying services and protection

from corruption.

1.3 Conditions for release

This documentation is supplied on the following basis:

a) The documentation is supplied on an ‘as is’ basis and no representation, warrant or guarantee

is given by the department regarding:

i. its completeness, accuracy, adequacy or content, and

ii. any interpretations, deductions, opinions or conclusions that may be expressed or implied.

b) Any interpretations, deductions, opinions or conclusions made by the recipients of the

documentation are at the recipient's risk and the department accepts no liability or obligation

in respect of the use of such documentation.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 2

1.4 Intellectual Property (IP) rights

The intellectual property rights of any information produced by the survey shall be assigned to the

department.

1.5 Ownership of data

All materials and information supplied in the commissioning of a survey project remain the property of

the department. It shall not be used, copied or reproduced for any other purpose without the prior

written approval by the department. The release of some data and information to external

organisations may also require a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed prior to its use.

All materials and information supplied as part of the deliverables of any project shall become the

property of the department. Custodianship shall reside with the Project Manager - the Principal

Advisor (Geospatial Information). It shall not be used, copied or reproduced for any other purpose

without the prior written approval by the custodian or the department.

1.6 Structure of these Standards

The Surveying Standards consists of two Parts and one Schedule.

Part 1 – General Information

This provides:

• an introduction to, and an explanation of, the Standards

• details of Surveyor qualification, experience and accreditation requirements

• the requirements for those aspects of surveying services that may be generally applied to all

geomatic types of surveys undertaken

• the requirements of a survey brief

• Survey Datum and Survey Mark requirements, and

• the Survey Data Transfer requirements.

Part 2 – Geomatic Survey Types

This part describes the express requirements for the different types of geomatic surveys undertaken

by the department and includes:

• ground and feature model surveys

− including bridge and underground asset surveys

• Construction surveys

• audit surveys

• aerial photography surveys

• GNSS survey control, and

• cadastral surveys

These requirements will be enhanced for existing geomatic types as new technology and processing

methodologies dictate.

Part 1 – General Information

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 3

Schedule 1 – Codes, Linestyles and Examples

This provides the department's field codes used to represent survey data. It also shows the linestyles

used to display those codes both on the screen and when plotted to hardcopy.

Situational examples show where, and how to use field codes to assist users to meet Transport and

Main Road's requirements.

1.7 Definitions

The following definitions (and abbreviations) are to be used in the context of this document.

AUSGeoid2020

AUSGeoid2020 is a 1’ by 1’ (approximately 1.8 km) grid used to transfer heights between the ellipsoid

(GDA2020) and the Australian Height Datum (AHD). Unlike older versions of AUSGeoid (‘93/’98).

AUSGeoid2020 provides users with height offset between the ellipsoid and AHD as opposed to the

ellipsoid and the geoid.

AUSGeoid2020 provides uncertainty values.

Australian Height Datum (AHD)

Australian Height Datum is the national height datum surface based on mean seal level for 1966-1968

at 30 tide gauges around Australia, adopted by the National Mapping Council in 1971 (AHD71) as the

datum to which all vertical control for mapping is to be referred.

Bench marks

Permanent or semi-permanent marks placed in a vertically stable environment primarily for the

purpose of providing a height reference.

Contractor

The person identified in the contract as having the responsibility for providing the services, set out in

the survey brief, which forms the basis of the contract.

Cadastral Survey Requirements (CSR)

Sets out a range of information, including standards and guidelines, that surveyors may require in

relation to the conduct of cadastral surveys in the state of Queensland.

Datum

A set of parameters which define the origin and orientation of a reference system with respect to a

fundamental absolute system.

Datum Control Surveys

These surveys define, extend or improve the National Geospatial Reference System (NGRS). These

control surveys are included in NGRS adjustments to allow for the most rigorous estimation and

testing of position and uncertainty for new and existing survey control marks in the NGRS. (refer SP1)

DoR

Department of Resources (Queensland)

Gazettal chainage

The cumulative chainage from the declared start of the road.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 4

Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020)

An ellipsoidal surface expressed as latitudes and longitudes which has its origin at the centre mass

(hence the term Geocentric) of the earth. The coordinate datum of the GDA2020 is the Australian

Fiducial Network (AFN), which is tied to the International Earth Rotational Reference System (IERS)

Terrestrial Reference Frame 2014 (ITRF2014), epoch 2020.0

Geospatial data/information

Data/information with horizontal and vertical co-ordinates based on a grid system referenced to the

earth.

Map Grid of Australia (MGA)

Cartesian coordinates from a Universal Transverse Mercator projection.

The Coordinate Reference System (CRS) has three map projection zones for Queensland and for

GDA2020 are expressed as:

• GDA2020 / MGA zone 54

• GDA2020 / MGA zone 55

• GDA2020 / MGA zone 56

National Geospatial Reference Frame (NGRS)

The National Geospatial Reference System is Australia’s high accuracy spatial referencing system.

Permanent Survey Mark (PSM)

Permanent survey marks form part of the state’s survey and mapping infrastructure and are

maintained within the survey control register by DoR.

Project Reference Frame (PRF)

The project location as evidenced by the coordinates of the Project Reference Frame Marks.

Project

An enterprise undertaken which creates and delivers a unique product or service. It will contain

activities with start and finish dates undertaken to achieve an objective. This objective will contain

specific requirements including time frames, costs and resources.

Project Customer

The person requesting and paying for the survey services.

Project Manager

The person authorising the provision of surveying services and having responsibility for the co-

ordination of a project including accepting the project deliverables – the Principal Advisor (Geospatial

Information).

District Safety Officer

The person nominated by the District Director whose authority includes all safety issues within the

District.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 5

Safety plan

This is the plan that sets out the procedures that will be followed in applying the requirements of the

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to complete the project.

SP1

Standard for the Australian Survey Control Network - Special Publication 1, version 2.2, October 2014

Spheroidal heights

Global positioning, such as GNSS, will generally give a latitude, longitude (or x and y position) and

height. This height is usually the height above (or below) the spheroid (ellipsoid).

Survey

All activities undertaken for a transport infrastructure purpose that define natural or artificial features,

below, on or above the earth’s surface, excepting that a survey, which involves the definition of the

cadastre, shall be a cadastral survey.

Survey brief

The instrument that authorises or instructs a Surveyor to perform a survey on behalf of the

department, and sets out the requirements and instructions for the survey project. Survey brief may

also be referred to as Project Brief.

Survey Control Database (SCDB)

The register of all permanent survey marks in Queensland which includes coordinates, height, access

notes and other administrative information.

Survey plot code library

The document that sets out the departments' standard codes for feature points and strings.

Survey marks

Permanent or temporary marks, either existing or specifically placed, used for survey purposes.

Survey records

The documents necessary to adequately record every aspect of the survey, which may include:

a) a measurement or an analysis made for, or in relation to, the survey

b) information about:

i. survey marks placed in carrying out the survey, or

ii. survey marks used as reference points in carrying out the survey.

c) the plan of survey, and

d) any electronically produced measurement, analysis or plan of survey.

Surveyor

Surveyor shall mean a competent person who takes personal responsibility for the survey with the

qualifications and experience required as detailed in Section 2.4.3.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 6

Uncertainty

Uncertainty in these Standards means doubt about the validity of a measurement or result of a

measurement (e.g a coordinate). It is an indication of how wrong a value may be and is used in these

Standards to quantify the level of survey quality. Uncertainty is expressed as a standard of deviation in

the International System of Units (SI) expanded to the 95% confidence level.

Uncertainty – Positional (PU)

The uncertainty of the horizontal and/or vertical coordinates of a survey control mark with respect to

datum.

Part 1 – General Information

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 1

2 General survey requirements

2.1 Introduction

This document outlines those aspects of survey requirements that apply to all geomatic survey types.

It is the intention that this chapter, together with Part 2 – Geomatic Survey Types and Schedule 1 –

Codes, Linestyles and Examples, will provide direction to ensure that any survey undertaken on behalf

of the department will conform to the geospatial information requirements of the department.

2.2 Strategic policy – the wider corporate need

The department is the state-wide road system manager. A consequence of this management role is

that road projects are no longer isolated project sites, but form part of a state-wide road system

network. To adequately manage this road system network, the relative geospatial locations of road

projects are required to integrate information from one project to another.

There is therefore an increased need to supply crucial geospatial information to provide more informed

management of the state-wide road system network and facilitate stakeholder relationships.

Surveys for Transport and Main Roads form part of the state’s survey and mapping infrastructure and

are of value to the community because they contribute to the state's economic, environmental and

social development.

It is the responsibility of the Project Manager to make the Project Customer aware of the value to the

corporation of the wider purposes to which this information can be put at the time of commissioning of

the survey.

2.2.1 Survey and mapping infrastructure purpose

Survey’s for Transport and Main Roads are of value for a survey and mapping infrastructure purpose,

and therefore are subject to the conditions contained in the Surveying and Mapping Infrastructure Act

2003 and Surveying and Mapping Infrastructure Regulation 2014.

The Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Regulation 2014 states that:

A survey is of value for a survey and mapping infrastructure purpose if, for example, the survey:

• produces information in a form that can be recorded in a state dataset; or

• places permanent survey marks; or

• makes measurements between permanent survey marks; or

• makes measurements that establish the relationship between the geodetic reference

framework and a subsidiary framework (example of a subsidiary framework – cadastral

boundary system).

Surveys of value to surveying and mapping infrastructure must be carried out in a way that achieves

the survey's intended purpose. The survey's intended purpose may be achieved by, for example:

• establishing appropriate survey marks for the survey by:

− placing survey marks of a type complying with the relevant survey standard, or

− using existing survey marks as reference points, and

• depicting in the survey record, the spatial location and extent of the features surveyed as

required by an established survey standard, and

Part 1 – General Information

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 2

• achieving an acceptable level of survey quality that is appropriate for the survey's intended

purpose as required by an established survey standard.

2.3 Geospatial information

It should be noted that geospatial information is not just data, but ‘data in context’. The context of

geospatial data is provided by its position and relevance. This context can only be meaningfully

supplied by competent and qualified surveyors using uniform and published standards. The relevance

of geospatial data introduces aspects of positional accuracy, relative accuracy, currency, etc. The

direct implication of this is that information about the data, its origin, authorship, relevance, limitations,

accuracy and chronology, must also be provided with the data to enhance it from just data to

geospatial information.

Geospatial information is a valuable multi-purpose asset. The collection of field data solely for the

immediate need of a project is to be tempered with the wider corporate needs to which the geospatial

data may be put by the department and other government agencies. The information can be mined at

a later date to supply value to projects other than the primary project for which the information was

captured.

2.4 Compliance

The department, its staff and its agents have an obligation to comply with all applicable statutory

legislation.

A failure to comply with the safety standards required by the legislation, or the recommendation within

the manuals and codes is considered unacceptable to the department, and considered grounds for the

termination of a contract.

All costs associated with the safe operations of both the public and the survey personnel, for the

duration of the project, are to be met by the survey services supplier. No additional payments will be

considered for costs associated with safety issues, unless specifically agreed to in the survey brief.

2.4.1 Legislative and regulatory requirements

In relation to survey work for Transport and Main Roads within the road corridor, attention is drawn to

the following acts, regulations, manuals and codes (or their successors):

• Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 and its Regulations

• Surveyors Act 2003 and its Regulations

• Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003 and its Regulations

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and its Regulations

• Codes of Practice ‘approved’ under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011

• Inter-governmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping – Standard for the Australian

Survey Control Network – Special Publication 1 (SP1), Version 2.2

• Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

• Manual – Consultants for Engineering Projects

• National Measurement Act 1960 (Commonwealth) and its Regulations

• Environmental Protection Act 1994

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 3

• Fisheries Act 1994

• Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995

• Water Act 2000.

It is responsibility of the person working under Legislative or regulatory requirements to ensure they

are using the current version of Legislation or regulation.

Where restrictions exist upon those entering onto the road corridor within legislation, persons who

enter the road corridor are under an obligation to conform to these restrictions, notwithstanding what

may or may not be stated or implied in these standards.

2.4.1.1 Underground asset investigation

All personnel undertaking underground asset investigation must be trained and accredited in

accordance with the requirements of the owners of underground assets. This may include restrictions

by the asset owner on lifting inspection lids. All personnel entering pits and other confined spaces

must be trained and accredited in confined spaces at the time of survey. These accreditations must be

current at the time of survey.

2.4.2 Survey

For the purposes of this document, ‘survey’ shall mean all activities undertaken for a transport

infrastructure purpose that define natural or artificial features, below, on or above the earth’s surface,

excepting that a survey which involves the definition of the cadastre shall be a cadastral survey.

2.4.3 Surveyor

‘Surveyor’ shall mean a competent person who personally undertakes the survey or elects instead to

supervise another person/s to undertake the survey as per the provisions set out in Section 2.4.3.1 of

this document and takes personal responsibility for the survey. In the case of:

• Cadastral Surveys

Registration as a Surveyor with a Cadastral endorsement with the Surveyors' Board of

Queensland. In some cases, registration as a Surveyor with a Consulting endorsement with

the Surveyors' Board of Queensland may also be required.

• Construction (Road or Structure), Ground and Feature Model (GFM), and Control

Surveys

Meets the Surveyor requirements as outlined in Flowchart 2.4.3

Where an individual does not possess the relevant qualifications, and / or professional

accreditation where specified in the different categories in Flowchart 2.4.3, the individual must

provide evidence that will, in the opinion of the Director Geospatial Technologies, demonstrate

acceptable competency as per Flowchart 2.4.3. These assessments are for individuals

undertaking Transport and Main Roads work only and cannot be used for other purposes. The

department reserves the right to carry out assessments at their discretion. As the department

is not an accrediting agency, Transport and Main Roads cannot guarantee providing an

ongoing competency assessment process. To undertake this type of assessment, make

contact with the Director Geospatial Technologies TMR_Spatial_Enquiry@tmr.qld.gov.au

Part 1 – General Information

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 4

• Audit Surveys

An Audit Surveyor is to meet the competency requirements as specified in the Flowchart 2.4.3

for the category that they are auditing.

Flowchart 2.4.3 – Construction (Road or Structure), Ground and Feature Model (GFM), and

Control Surveys

Note 1: To undertake the lower level categories of work for construction (Road or Structure), Ground

and Feature Model (GFM), and Control Surveys, there are two components to meet the Surveyor

requirements – the qualification component and the experience component.

Registration as a Surveyor with the Surveyors Board of

Queensland (SBQ) or interstate/international equivalent; or

certified as an Engineering Surveying Professional - Asia

Pacific (ESP-AP) with the Surveying & Spatial Science

Institute (SSSI). Also see Note 2

TMR Surveyor

requirements

Construction (Road

or Structure),

Ground and Feature

Model (GFM), and

Control Surveys

Minimum 1 years’ surveying experience in the relevant category, or minimum 3

years’ surveying experience that must include minimum of 3 months experience or

demonstrated ability in the relevant category. Also see Note 3

Surveying Qualification – required for lower level categories

of work

A 3 or 4 year surveying degree based on the Australian Qualifications Framework

(AQF) Level 7 or higher or New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) level 7

or higher, or a qualification that has enabled an individual to have obtained

Registration as a Surveyor with SBQ or as an Engineering Surveying Professional -

Asia Pacific (ESP-AP) with SSSI. Also see Note 1

Bridge/Structure

Ground & Feature

B2 C1

Survey Control

Roads

B1 R1 R2 G1 C2

Surveying Experience

Professional Accreditation – required for higher level

categories of work

Bridge/Structure

Roads

Ground &

Feature

B4 R4 R5 G2 R3 C3

Survey Control

Registration as a

Surveyor, surveying

associate or

surveying graduate

with SBQ

Part 1 – General Information

TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 5

Note 2: To undertake the higher level categories of work for construction (Road or Structure) and

Ground and Feature Model surveys (GFM), there are two components to meet the Surveyor

requirements – the accreditation component and the experience component. The higher level

requirement for undertaking control surveys requires registration as a Surveyor, surveying associate

or surveying graduate with SBQ.

Note 3: The relevant category experience component can be gained by working in any of the

engineering related survey categories as specified in Table 2.4.3. The experience component can also

be gained under supervision as per the provisions set out in Section 2.4.3.1 of this document.

For example, to undertake R4 work, an individual must have a minimum of 3 years' experience made

up of any or a combination of other categories including a minimum of 3 months experience in R4

work or demonstrate ability to undertake R4 work.

Descriptors for categories for B1, B2, B3, B4, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, G1, G2, C1, C2 and C3 are listed in

Table 2.4.3.

Table 2.4.3 – Construction (Road or Structure), Ground and Feature Model (GFM), and Control

Surveys

Category

Description (R (road) and B (bridge) categories are adapted and referenced from

Appendix A of Austroads National Prequalification System for Civil (Road and Bridge)

Construction AP-C96-19 with additions in italics that best reflect surveying

requirements. Ground & Feature (G) and Survey Control (C) are specific TMR

requirements.

Typical Features of Structure:

• Large culvert including link slab or cast in-situ deck units and multiple bay

(> 10 bays) culverts and other drainage structures

• Basic earth retaining structures

• Footbridges

• Works excludes setting out of bridge abutments and piers.

Earthworks:

• Earth retaining structures, excluding mechanically stabilised earth

• Basic earthworks.

Foundations:

• Simple spread footing foundations. for example, large base slabs

• Foundations for gantries.

Construction Environment / Traffic:

• Simple traffic management (for example, rural roads)

• Small stream crossing

• Small cantilever retaining wall.

Conformance and as constructed surveys.

B1 activities plus majority of the following:

Typical Features of Structure:

• Cast in-situ reinforced concrete flat slab bridges

• Simple bridges

• Single span simply supported steel or pre-stressed concrete girders

• Simple steel bridges

• Setting out of bridge abutments and piers or other structures without horizontal and

vertical curve geometry.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 6

Earthworks:

• Moderate earthwork, including guide banks and rock protection

• Mechanically stabilised earth structures

• Embankment supporting relieving slab.

Foundations:

• Standard non-complex pile foundations (generally <25m length) without the need for

floating equipment or temporary bridges

• Precast prestressed piles.

Construction Environment / Traffic:

• Construction over operating roads (low traffic volumes) and non-electrified rail lines.

• Typically semi-urban work location.

B2 activities plus majority of the following:

Typical Features of Structure:

• Voided slab superstructures

• Post tensioned cast in-situ structures

• Complex geometry

• Complex cast in-situ composite decks

• Steel girder bridges

• Structures carrying significant public utilities

• Cable stayed pedestrian bridges

• Complex steel girders

• Super T’s / T-roffs

• Major slipform piers

• Setting out bridge abutments and piers or other structures with horizontal and

vertical curve geometry.

Earthworks:

• Complex earthworks, including guide banks and rock protection

• Detailed earthwork (exposing cast insitu & pre cast piles.

Foundations:

• Foundations which may be complex and/or require deep piling and/or require

floating equipment or temporary bridges

• Include cast in-situ piles, which may include simple dry rock sockets.

Construction Environment / Traffic:

• Construction over operating roads

• Simple bridge widening of plank unit bridges.

B3 activities plus majority of the following:

Typical Features of Structure:

• Significant fabricated steel superstructures

• Complex geometric/aesthetic shapes

• Balanced cantilever construction

• Major cable stayed structures

• Construction over water using coffer dams or large floating cranes and launching

trusses for placement of girders

• Structures constructed using top down methodology

• Incremental launched structures.

Foundations:

• Very heavy foundations. Including complex rock sockets at depth > 10 metres

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 7

• Difficult installation conditions, including poured insitu piles in wet conditions

• Pile installation from floating equipment.

Construction Environment / Traffic:

• Construction over navigable waterways

• Complex cast-in-situ cut and cover tunnels

• Staged construction in highly urbanised environment

• Complex bridge widening or staged bridge construction (one lane at a time).

General features of works:

• Typically rural or semi-urban works with minimal traffic and issues

• Minor works including simple construction, reconstruction and widening.

Earthworks:

• Earthworks to a maximum of 2 m in cut or fill.

Pavement:

• Simple granular pavements with sprayed seal surfacing.

Drainage:

• Minor culvert work (RCP < 600 mm dia only no more than 2 bays) and reinforced

concrete works.

Services:

• Nil.

Conformance and as constructed surveys.

R1 activities plus majority of the following:

General features of works:

• Low complexity at grade intersection and channelisation works.

Earthworks:

• Significant earthwork including structural fill and rock protection

• Excavation in rock not requiring blasting

• Cut or fill with slopes up to 1:2 and up to 5 m in height or depth (cutting).

Pavement:

• Significant longitudinal joints with existing pavements

• Multi-layer granular pavements or simple A/C pavements.

Drainage:

• Medium-sized culvert works, RCBC < 1.8 m height and < 6 bays)

• Cross and longitudinal drainage

• Interface with bridge construction.

Services:

• Non – complex service relocation works.

R2 activities plus majority of the following:

General features of works:

• More complex intersections located at urban location

• Medium to large scale of works.

Earthworks:

• General earthworks exceeding 5 m in cut or fill

• Mechanically stabilised earth construction to a nominal 5m in height

• Excavation in hard rock where blasting is likely to be required.

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Pavement:

• Pavement construction using marginal materials (non-standard)

• Pavement construction using modified materials (e.g. cement treated sub-base)

• Deep lift asphalt

• Small scale concrete pavement.

Drainage:

• Special foundation and/or subgrade and subsoil drainage treatments

• Includes large size culverts, multiple bays and link slab culverts.

Services:

• Moderately complex service relocations including conduits (e.g. electrical,

communication services)

• Setting out dedicated services corridor alignments.

R3 activities plus majority of the following:

General features of works:

• Grade-separated intersections

• Complex staging of construction works

• Duplication of major arterial road.

Earthworks:

• Mechanically stabilised earth construction > 5 m in height & other substantial

retaining structures

• Embankments over very soft soils using wick drains, stone columns, etc &

sophisticated monitoring.

Pavement:

• Heavy duty asphalt pavements

• Bitumen treated base pavements.

Drainage:

• Permanent sedimentation catchment

• Complex gully box

• Arrangements for urban works.

Services:

• Complex service relocations. (e.g. construction of dedicated services corridor)

• Including multiple staging of coordination of Utility Services.

R4 activities plus majority of the following:

General features of works:

• Complex grade separated interchanges, multiple carriageways

• Motorway on a new urban alignment.

Earthworks:

• Construction of zonal embankments

• Earthworks within 2 m of tidal areas

• Aggressive unsuitable materials including acid sulphate soils.

Pavement:

• Slipform, large-scale concrete pavements.

Miscellaneous:

• Permanent variable message signs and complex ITS arrangements.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 9

Small scale, non-complex ground and feature modelling surveys – often rural or simple

urban with minimal surface and or underground features. Work can be undertaken by

survey personnel with limited or supervised ground and feature modelling surveying

experience. Works may include:

• rural roads with low traffic volumes

• open terrain with few features

• simple drainage culverts

• simple bridges and bridge site surveys.

Work can be generally undertaken by survey personnel with highly developed or

specialised skills and substantial ground and feature modelling surveys. Works include

the capability of category G1 activities, plus any or all of the following:

• complex urban environments with high number of features

• complex intersections

• multi lanes with high traffic volumes

• complex bridges/structures

• extensive underground services.

Small scale control networks. Work can be undertaken by survey personnel with

limited or supervised control network experience using Global Navigation Satellite

Systems (GNSS) field-based measuring techniques. Works may include:

• field GNSS observations using

− Static

− Quick static

− Kinematic

− RTK

• terrestrial observations

• levelling networks.

Medium to large scale control networks. Work can generally be undertaken by survey

personnel with highly developed or specialised skills in GNSS Control networks. Works

include the capability of category C1 activities, plus any or all of the following:

• control network design

• GNSS processing.

Placing or reinstating Permanent Survey Marks (Registered Surveyors, surveying

associates or surveying graduates only).

2.4.3.1 Supervision requirements

This section does not apply for Cadastral Surveys. The Supervision Policy for Cadastral Surveys is

found under the following link: https://sbq.com.au/more-information/policies-guidelines/

An individual who does not meet the Surveyor competency requirements for Audit Surveys and

Construction (Road or Structure), Ground and Feature Model (GFM), and Control Surveys as

specified in the TMR Surveying Standards, may undertake surveying work for Transport and Main

Roads under direct supervision of the nominated Surveyor who meets those requirements.

The Surveyor supervising an individual undertaking surveying work must:

• have sufficient knowledge of the scope of surveying work to be undertaken

• personally review the surveying methodology

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 10

• personally conduct day to day supervision of the supervisee including regular site visits, and

• have sufficient control over methodology and any outputs of the surveying work to reasonably

form the view that the standard of the survey work is that to be expected of a Surveyor under

the TMR Surveying Standards, its supporting documents and specifications.

In practice, Transport and Main Roads considers that for supervision as required by these Standards,

the supervision must:

• be direct and not through a third person

• direct the individual in undertaking the work

• oversee the undertaking of the work by the individual

• evaluate the undertaking of the work by the individual, and

• take full professional responsibility for the surveying work.

The supervisor must have direct contact with the supervisee and knowledge of the professional

surveying work being undertaken. By directing, the supervisor must not merely observe the

undertaking of the surveying work. Directing is a process of instruction, guidance and overseeing.

Within reason, the supervising Surveyor may not need to be physically present at all times at the site.

In these circumstances, direct contact may be through written correspondence (letters, drawings, or

emails), telephone, or voice or video chat. However, the contact must be directly between supervisor

and supervisee. In addition, the supervisor must have sufficient knowledge of every significant

element of the surveying work undertaken.

The supervising Surveyor must oversee the individual throughout all stages of undertaking the

surveying work.

The supervising Surveyor must evaluate the undertaking of survey work. The supervisor must be

satisfied that, at all times, the undertaking of surveying work by the supervisee is to a standard which

might reasonably be expected of a Surveyor, in a professional and competent way, exercising

adequate knowledge, skill, judgement, and care and be in accordance with the TMR Surveying

Standards, its associated surveying supporting documents and specifications.

The supervising Surveyor must take full professional responsibility for the undertaking of surveying

works. This means that if a complaint is made about the standard of the supervised surveying works,

the supervisor must accept that the complaint will attach to them as the person who provided direct

supervision of the carrying out of the service, and not the supervisee. And the supervisor may be

subjected to investigation and subsequent disciplinary action by Transport and Main Roads. A

Registered Surveyor may also be subject to investigation and subsequent disciplinary action by the

relevant Surveyors Board. Engineering Surveying Professional – Australia Pacific (ESP-AP) holders

may also be subject to investigation and subsequent disciplinary action under the Surveying and

Spatial Science Institute's (SSSI) Code of Ethics.

Finally, Transport and Main Roads considers that both the supervisor and supervisee shall

document and retain documentation of the supervision provided by the supervisor. This must be

produced if verification of the existence and nature of the supervision is ever required.

NOTE: The supervision wording has been adapted from the Board of Professional Engineers of

Queensland (BPEQ) Practice Note 4.5 (1A) direct supervision with permission [© Board of

Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ)]

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2.4.4 Equipment

In relation to survey equipment:

1. Survey instruments and ancillary equipment must be kept in good adjustment (within

equipment manufacturers stated precisions) and condition

2. Electromagnetic Distance Measuring equipment (EDME) measured distances must be legally

traceable. Thus, EDME must be validated via comparison with a Regulation 13 certified

baseline under the National Measurement Act 1960 (Commonwealth):

a. using recommended procedures

b. at least annually

c. after the equipment is serviced or repaired

d. after any other event which may affect the quality of distance measurement.

3. Current and historical records of calibration and collimation of all survey instruments must be

kept and be available for inspection by the Project Manager or their authorised representative.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 12

3 Project compliance

The project area is defined as that area covering the extent of the required survey data and will be

defined in the survey brief. Generally the project area will cover the road corridor, which consists of the

carriageway extending to the road boundary on each side. The required project area may also include

private property, a stream or waterway, railway property, or a construction site. Various Legislation

and Acts cover the entry onto different types of land and conducting work thereafter.

3.1 Environmental impact

All surveys for Transport and Main Roads will be performed to minimise the impact on the

environment. Disturbances should be kept to an absolute minimum and the site reinstated, cleaned-up

and left in as close as possible to pre-disturbed condition on the completion of the survey works.

Consultants engaged by Transport and Main Roads will be solely responsible for any breach of

Legislation whilst undertaking the project work.

Applicable legislation is the Environmental Protection Act 1994 especially Chapter 7 Part 1

Section 319 - General environmental duty:

“(1) A person must not carry out any activity that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm

unless the person takes all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm (the

general environmental duty).”

The district environmental officer may at times give direction or place conditions on the works

undertaken on a project site. This may be because a rare or endangered plant has been found and

must be protected, or noxious weeds are present and must not be spread by work activities. Survey

personal have an obligation to report any potential siting of rare or endangered flora and fauna,

noxious weed or significant disturbance of the natural environment to the district environmental officer.

3.1.1 Surveys on streams and waterways

Surveyors should be aware of the various legislative requirements that may impact on the manner in

which they carry out surveys in general. Surveys carried out on streams and waterways, particularly

on tidal streams, require special caution. Legislation that may impact in these areas includes, but is

not limited to:

• Fisheries Act 1994, particularly:

− Part 5 – Fisheries Management

− Part 6 – Protection and Conservation of Fish Habitats, particularly:

 Section 123 - Protection of marine plants.

• Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995

• Water Act 2000

• Environmental Protection Act 1994, particularly:

− Chapter 7 - Environmental Management.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 13

3.2 General Safety

Transport and Main Roads has an aspirational goal of Zero Harm – a work environment free of injury

or incidents. An effective workplace health and safety system is an integral component of achieving

this objective.

Following the commissioning of the project, and prior to the commencement of survey work, the

Project Manager shall complete, or cause to be completed, any risk assessment procedures (including

work method statements) and permits necessary to conform to District safety requirements.

This shall comprise the Safety Plan. Where necessary, approval is to be obtained from the District

Safety Officer. This approval in no way exempts others entering the project area to carry-out the

project from their responsibility in relation to the above legislation. The Safety Plan will comprise part

of the survey brief as outlined in Section 4.

It is the responsibility of the Project Manager to ascertain what, if any, restrictions relate to the lands

upon which the survey is to be carried out and produce a plan for access to those lands.

All personnel entering the project area shall have received the appropriate training and possess

current accreditation required by legislation and the department.

3.2.1 General safety and site induction

All personnel entering onto the road corridor to perform work for the delivery of a Geospatial

Information Project must have completed a course in General Construction Induction and produce a

currently valid induction card when requested by a WH&S representative. If the project area has any

project-specific requirements under WH&S, then those persons entering upon the project site must

also have completed a project site induction and produce evidence of the induction when requested.

All personnel are to be aware of what constitutes a confined space. Entry to confined spaces is

restricted by WHS legislation. The departments’ requirements for risk assessment, entry permit and

training must be adhered to.

3.2.2 Unsafe situations

Should an on-site work situation occur or an on-site work procedure be adopted, either of which in the

judgement of the District Safety Officer, constitutes an unsafe situation, the surveyor shall, upon being

advised of it, take immediate action to rectify the situation. If the situation continues unresolved, the

District Safety Officer shall order that all work cease until the matter is resolved with the surveyor.

Sharp pointed objects, such as pickets, should not be placed on footpaths or in any other pedestrian

area. In order to reduce conflict with pedestrians, survey marks should be driven ‘flush’ or below the

surface.

Personnel using power-assisted equipment must have been instructed in, certified to use, or being

immediately directed in the safe use of, such equipment.

3.2.3 Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personnel engaged in work within the project area are to correctly wear the necessary personal safety

equipment or apparel at all times.

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3.3 Safety on the road corridor

Works undertaken within the road corridor may cause interference or obstruction to the normal use of

a road by road users. Maintaining the safety of workers, and the safe and convenient movement of

traffic are of paramount concern (refer Section 3.3.2 of this document for more information).

Access to carriageways may be restricted during times of heavy public use or by departmental

Prohibition Orders. The Project Manager is to give advice on such restrictions in the survey brief and

the surveyor is to ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with these restrictions. Advice on

the times of restrictive access or prohibition can be provided by the District officer responsible for such

advice.

3.3.1 Traffic management plan

As part of the Safety Plan, a Traffic Management Plan must be developed and presented for approval

by a safety representative of the department. District requirements shall be adhered to.

3.3.2 Roadworks signage

The Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) “together with the Queensland

Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM), is to provide organisations and individuals

carrying out works on roads with a set of uniform practices for the signing, delineation, and use of

devices for works on roads which will promote the safety of workers and the safe and efficient

movement of road users at the work site.” and shall be adhered to.

All personnel working on, or adjacent to, a road shall have completed training in the basic application

of the Queensland MUTCD Part 3.

At least one person must be onsite, who has the appropriate Queensland MUTCD Part 3 training and

possesses current accreditation commensurate with the roadwork signage activities being undertaken

(for example, to set up signage, one person onsite must have received the appropriate Queensland

MUTCD Part 3 training and be currently accredited to set up signage).

No signage is to be left displayed when inappropriate (such as overnight). Evidence of work in

progress must always be visible to the travelling public. Any object placed in the project area should

be within the limits of the signage and, if left unattended for any period, additionally identified by the

use of ‘witches hats / safety cones’.

3.3.3 Use of traffic control

Where the presence of the survey party is sufficient to seriously impede or endanger the public or

survey personnel, arrangements must be made with the department for the employment of traffic

control personnel. In all cases where people, other than police officers are to be used for traffic

control, then the surveyor is to ensure that the person having the traffic control responsibility “holds an

appointment as an accredited person under Section 21 of the Transport Operations (Road Use

Management) (TORUM) Act 1995 to perform the functions of a Traffic Controller as prescribed by

Subdivision 6 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Accreditation and Other

Provisions) Regulation 2015.”

(Queensland MUTCD Part 3, Section 1.3.19, July 2021)

3.4 Entry onto land

Entry onto land other than the road corridor is often required to enable completion of a survey.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 15

3.4.1 Private land

To provide the surveyor with the specific authority to enter upon private land when necessary, in order

to effect the survey, the wording, as set out below, will be included in the survey brief:

"You are authorised to exercise the powers as set-out in sections 35 and 36 of the Transport

Infrastructure Act 1994 for the purpose of carrying out this instruction."

3.4.1.1 Notice of entry forms

Before entry is made onto land, held under freehold or leasehold tenure, subject to native title claim or

upon land which may be regarded as not open to the general public, a Notice of Entry (Form M727) is

to be served on the registered owner, Crown Lessee or the nominated head of the organisation in

control of the particular land at least seven working days prior to any entry onto such lands.

Where applicable, a copy of the Notice of Entry is to be served on the occupier of the land if that

person is not the owner. Where notices are served on the owner and occupier, as separate entities,

each copy of the notice should be noted to that effect. In addition to this, a Notice of Entry must be

served on any entity registered as a Native Title claimant.

Names and addresses of land owners are available from the local authority. Notice of Entry may be

served either personally or by certified mail.

It is the responsibility of the Project Manager to issue the Notice(s) of Entry or cause them to be

issued. Prior to the first entry onto private land, the surveyor responsible for carrying out the survey

task is to ensure that the Notice of Entry has been served.

3.4.1.2 Refusal to accept Notice of Entry

If, at any time, the owner or occupier of any land refuses to accept the Notice of Entry, or denies

access to the land, they should be advised of the conditions printed on the Notice. If they continue to

deny entry or refuse to accept the Notice, the surveyor must notify the Project Manager and not enter

the land until further advised.

3.4.1.3 Public enquiries

While serving Notice of Entry, or during the survey, the surveyor is often asked questions relating to

the purpose of the survey, the timing of proposed works, the method of assessing compensation, etc.

In such cases, the property owner or member of the public should be advised to direct their enquiries

to the Project Manager or any person designated in the survey brief as the person assigned to

respond to enquiries.

3.4.2 Construction sites

Where entry is necessary onto any construction site within the project area, the survey team must hold

the required inductions including any specific site induction as necessary. The surveyor who is

responsible is to make arrangements for the project team members to conform to any legal

requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for such entry, such as specific certified safety

induction requirements.

It is the responsibility of the individual project team member to carry evidence of current inductions

and produce the documentation upon request.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 16

3.4.3 Entry onto railway lands

The survey brief may require personnel to collect information within a railway reserve, or land under

the control of Queensland Rail. Prior to entry onto any land under the control of Queensland Rail, the

surveyor must advise Queensland Rail and conform to any requirements they may have regarding

working conditions, inductions, times of operation and safety issues.

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4 Survey brief

4.1 Purpose

The survey brief is the document which stipulates the requirements for the delivery of a survey. It must

include certain information (listed below) as well as any project specific variations or additions to what

is required by the Standards. The survey brief is the only instrument where the requirements of the

Standards may be varied. The survey brief must be sufficiently comprehensive to ensure delivery of

survey information that meets the project’s requirements.

4.2 Requirements

The survey brief must address at least the following requirements:

• Project identifiers

• The intended use of the data and specific requirements of the survey

• Coordinate, azimuth, vertical (height) and chainage Datum (including AUSGeoid version)

• Notice of Entry (if applicable)

• Land entry authorisation statement (vide section 3.4.1)

• WH&S including Safety Plan

• Public consultation / confidentiality

• Documentation supplied

• Applicable dates e.g project due date, earliest start date

• Deliverable specifics

• Contact information for Project Manager and communications officer (if applicable)

• Version of the TMR Surveying Standards, 12d Customisation and eSB to be used, and

• Variations from the Standards.

4.3 Supplied information

All information, supplied as a part of the survey brief, is to be returned with the project deliverables.

This includes any cadastral plans, survey books, aerial photographs, and so on.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 18

5 Survey datum

Survey Datum is the framework upon which all geospatial information is referenced. The Survey

Datum not only supports the accuracy of captured survey data, but also provides geospatial

correlation with other data sets. It decides the integrity of delivered geospatial products and is the core

element for sharing geospatial information within the department and other agencies in government,

as well as the private sector.

Survey Datum points must be clearly annotated and referenced within the deliverable survey

information. This traceability shall include datum origin information, values adopted and cross

reference to the originating document.

5.1 Horizontal coordinate datum

Horizontal coordinate datum for all TMR surveys shall be the Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020

(GDA2020) and implemented in the relevant zone of the Map Grid of Australia (GDA2020 / MGA

Zone**).

For further information on GDA please refer to:

https://www.icsm.gov.au/gda2020

5.2 Azimuth datum

Azimuth is obtained from the horizontal coordinates used for datum.

5.3 Vertical (Height) datum

All surveys shall be based on the Australian Height Datum 1971 (AHD71).

For more information on AHD71 search for “Australian Height Datum” on:

https://www.icsm.gov.au/australian-height-datum

5.3.1 GNSS derived heights

GNSS derived heights shall use the current AUSGeoid2020 separation model of differences between

ellipsoidal heights and AHD71 to reconcile GNSS heights directly to AHD71.

For additional information, search for “AUSGeoid2020” on:

https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/positioning-navigation/geodesy/ahdgm/ausgeoid2020

5.4 Chainage datum

Gazettal chainage is to be based on the current departmental reference for the road. The Road

number, name and section as well as the gazettal distance shall form the chainage datum for a

project.

5.5 Exceptions to use of standard datum’s

The Project Manager may, via the survey brief, direct that the survey be based on another datum

other than the department’s standard datum’s. When an alternative datum is used, the survey must be

connected to the departments standard datums (vide Section 5.5.2). Alternative datum’s may be:

a) on the datum of an existing survey where the new survey extends or adds to that existing

survey

b) on a project specific projection.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 19

5.5.1 Cadastral surveys

Cadastral surveys are bound by the requirements of the Cadastral Survey Requirements (CSR).

Hence, cadastral surveys are exempt from using the standard azimuth and chainage datum’s.

Cadastral surveys are also exempt from using the departments standard horizontal and vertical

datum’s except where required by the Cadastral Survey Requirements (e.g volumetric).

Cadastral surveys must however be connected to the departments standard horizontal coordinate

datum as specified in Section 5.5.2).

5.5.2 Connection of non-standard datum to standard datum

All surveys, including cadastral surveys, on a horizontal coordinate datum other than TMR’s mandated

datum (or no coordinate datum), must include ties to at least two Survey Control Database (SCDB)

PSM’s with known GDA2020 / MGA Zone** coordinates and Positional Uncertainty of less than

0.030 m to allow transformation of the project onto GDA2020 / MGA Zone** for the corporate record.

Similarly, if a vertical datum other than AHD71 is used, a tie to least one AHD71 mark of at least

Order Class D (AHDD) must be surveyed to provide correlation.

5.6 Traceable datum information

Traceability to datum is to be documented and must clearly show what marks were used and how

datum was determined. The basic elements of traceability include, but are not restricted to:

• all datum marks and measurements are to be presented in the control section of the project

• the actual datum ‘starting points’ are to be clearly identifiable

• the type, material, and condition of marks is to be stated

• show all calculations relating to datum establishment including adjustment reports

• provide a statement to clarify why decisions were made.

The feature coding system has been developed as a hierarchal system to enable a logical traceable

order in the establishment of datum and project control. Correct use of this system and clear

presentation within project data and documentation enables future users to quickly identify the origin

of project datum and its relation to any previous datum.

5.7 Summary of datum sets

Table 5.7 – Datum sets

Datum Geographical coordinate set

Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020) (latitude, longitude and height from ellipsoid)

Projection Coordinate set

GDA2020 / MGA Zone**)

Horizontal

(Zone) (Easting, Northing)

Australian Height Datum 1971

(AHD71)

Vertical

(Height from reference surface)

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6 Survey marks

A survey mark is a mark placed as:

a) evidence of a survey, or

b) a reference point for a survey (monument).

Survey marks must be appropriate for the surveys intended purpose. They must be of a durable

nature, which resists corrosion or decay and stable enough to serve as a suitable reference for

locating those features required in the relevant geomatic survey type. The reference point of the mark

must be clearly identifiable (i.e tack in peg, centre punch hole in star picket).

Under no circumstances shall square pegs be used in conjunction with any survey other than a

cadastral survey.

6.1 Safety of marks

Irrespective of the type of mark or indicator placed, the surveyor must ensure that it is not hazardous

to people, livestock or vehicles. This hazard must be mitigated by some process like driving the mark

flush with or below the ground level.

6.2 Identifiers and indicators

All survey marks must be clearly and permanently marked with a unique identifier. Sufficient indicators

such as finder pegs or paint markings are to be placed to identify the position of all survey marks.

Indicators should be discrete to avoid unwanted attention or cause visual pollution.

6.3 Survey mark protection

Survey marks are vitally important to a wide range of people in the community and are used to support

the surveying of property boundaries, road building, mapping and other land surveys. Disturbance or

destruction of survey marks has significant cost effects on construction projects and degrades the

integrity of the state survey control network and property boundary cadastre.

Legislative requirements are in place for the protection of survey marks of value for survey and

mapping infrastructure purposes. Section 42 of the Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003

(current as at 1 January 2015) makes it clear that a person must not interfere with a survey mark,

unless:

a) for a cadastral survey mark for a boundary – the person interferes with the mark in order to

erect a fence, wall or other permanent structure along a boundary; or

b) for a recognised permanent survey mark - the person interferes with the mark under an

authority given under section 43; or

c) for a mark other than a recognised permanent survey mark - the person, before interfering

with the mark -

i. causes a survey to be carried out to establish the relationship between the mark and at

least 2 recognised permanent marks; and

ii. gives the chief executive a copy of the plan of survey; or

d) the person has a reasonable excuse.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 21

In this context, significant survey marks are Permanent Survey Marks, Bench Marks and cadastral

marks (common marks are pegs with bevelled edges, buried iron pins, screws in kerbs).

Care should be taken to position the projects primary (significant) survey marks in safe positions

where they are least likely to be affected by the construction process. They should be easily visible

and identifiable as a survey mark requiring protection.

All works should avoid disturbing or destroying marks where possible. The local Transport and Main

Roads Principal Advisor (Geospatial Information) should be contacted as soon as it is realised that a

significant survey mark could be disturbed or has been disturbed.

6.4 Permanent Survey Marks

Permanent Survey Marks (PSM) are the preferred mark to be placed or used for primary survey

control on Transport and Main Roads projects. Their installation and maintenance thereafter are

covered by Legislation. All existing PSM’s within the project limits or immediately adjacent shall be

connected to and referenced in the project records.

6.4.1 Placement and recording of Permanent Survey Marks

Section 14(2) of the Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Regulation 2014 Part 4 states that:

“A person must not place or reinstate a permanent survey mark for a survey unless the person is-

a) a surveyor, or

b) a person supervised by a surveyor.”

New PSM’s shall meet the criteria for type, accessibility and location as set out in Section 3 of SP1’s

Guideline for Installation and Documentation of Survey Control Marks v2.1 (as below).

A survey control mark should be:

• Made of good quality, durable, corrosion resistant materials. It should employ robust

construction techniques and be installed in stable ground or in solid rock, such that it is least

likely to be subject to local displacement or other seasonal or periodic movements. If a survey

control mark is to be installed in an unstable area, permanent marking may require placing

deep-seated survey control marks that penetrate the surface soil to the depth of refusal, thus

bypassing the zone of seasonal or periodic influence.

• Installed in allocation where it is likely to be disturbed, damaged or removed, or to constitute a

hazard, such that its long-term stability and useability is maximised.

• Permanently and clearly marked with a unique identifier to ensure unambiguous identification.

A station identifier should be engraved or stamped on the survey control mark, or a durable

tag with the identifier firmly attached. A marker post or indicator should be installed if a survey

control mark will not be easy to find.

• Accessible to allow for its proper use, and

• Located in a position that maximises the use of various measurement techniques and

connection to existing and future marks. For instance, a survey control mark that is intended to

be observed using GNSS techniques will require optimal sky view free of obstruction,

multipath and radio frequency interference (RFI) sources.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 22

Marks suitable to Transport and Main Roads include but not limited to:

• 2.4 m galvanised star pickets, driven to refusal or full length, with a concrete collar or cap,

• Deep-driven, non-corrosive rods anchored in stable sub-strata or driven to refusal

• Screw, plug or plaque anchored to a permanent structure.

All new PSM’s will be registered as required by Legislation. In accordance with the Survey and

Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003, a PSM plan is to be prepared on the current approved form (form 6)

for each PSM placed in the course of conducting a survey. DoR specifications set out in Completion of

Permanent Survey Mark Plans (currently v1.05) shall be followed. For further information and PSM

plan forms refer to:

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/property-construction-trades-

engineering/surveying/permanent-survey-marks

6.4.2 Maintenance, updates & amendments

All existing PSM’s associated with the project, either as datum for the Project Reference Frame or

within the bounds of the project, shall have a PSM Maintenance Form completed. Section 45 of the

Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003 requires any irregularity in information recorded in the

survey control register (SCDB) or disrepair, destruction or removal of a PSM to be reported to the

chief executive (of DoR).

Where the information on the location sketch or data sheet of the PSM Form 6 requires updating, the

new information will be completed as outlined in DoR’s specification Completion of Survey Mark

Plans.

For relevant specifications and forms please refer to the website listed above in Section 6.4.1.

6.4.3 Submission of PSM forms to DoR

All new Form 6’s, updated Form 6’s and PSM Maintenance Forms shall be submitted as part of the

deliverables to the Project manager for submission to DoR.

6.5 Bench Marks

Bench Marks may be placed when it is not practical or useful to place a Permanent Survey Mark. This

may be because a sufficient number of high quality PSM’s exist in the area or the mark will be of

limited value past the construction phase.

Bench Marks will meet the same requirements for type, accessibility and location as set out in

Section 6.4.1 of this document. They must meet their primary objective, that is, they be stable

vertically.

All existing Bench Marks within the project limits or immediately adjacent shall be connected to and

referenced in the project records. Consideration should be given to registering existing Bench Marks

as Permanent Survey Marks where they meet the requirements of a PSM and meet Transport and

Main Road’s obligations to enhance the states survey and mapping infrastructure.

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 23

6.6 Height

The height of all survey marks must be recorded and shall be the highest point of the mark. This may

not necessarily be the same point observed as the horizontal reference. Care should be taken when

placing survey marks to ensure, where possible, that the highest point and the horizontal reference

point are coincident (e.g on PM and BM’s - cut the star picket ‘wings’ off so the centre of the star is the

high point).

6.6.1 Levelling

The project height values for all Permanent Survey Marks, Bench Marks and traverse stations shall be

determined from the average of two-way independent differential level runs from a project height

datum mark. Where a secondary height datum mark is available, it must be observed in order to verify

the value of the primary mark.

The maximum allowable misclose (in millimetres) as determined from the reciprocal level runs must

not be greater than 12 mm * √k, where ‘k’ is the distance in kilometres from the datum mark (vide

Section 4 of the Guideline for Control Surveys by Differential Levelling, Special Publication 1 version

2.2 (ICSM).

Differential levelling equipment and observation techniques shall adhere to the requirements for

12 mm * √k (km) as specified in Section 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the Guideline for Control Surveys by

Differential Levelling, Special Publication 1 version 2.2 (ICSM). The following SP1 requirements do

NOT need to be adhered to: wood or fibreglass staff, calibrated within 5 years; and temperature

recorded. They are however encouraged.

Total station differential levelling may only be used with prior approval of the Project Manager. When

used, the equipment and observation techniques shall adhere to the total station differential levelling

requirements for 12 mm * √k (km) as specified in Section 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 of the Guideline for Control

Surveys by Differential Levelling, Special Publication 1 version 2.2 (ICSM).

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 24

7 Survey data delivery

7.1 Introduction

Data produced in conjunction with a survey shall form part of the deliverables and will be specified

within each Geomatic Survey type in Part 2 of the Standards or the survey brief. Acceptable file

formats for Survey Data are controlled by the software packages used by the department. Specific file

formats may also be identified in the survey brief.

Should a survey brief request survey information in any format other than those used by the

department, it is beholding on the officer responsible for accepting the information (Project Manager)

to ensure that all the information can be converted to the standard format without loss of functionality

or integrity for archival purposes.

7.2 Transport and Main Roads standard software

12d Model is the departments standard software and as such, survey data will generally be required in

12d archive format. Any variations to this requirement will be specified in the specific Geomatic Survey

type or survey brief.

7.3 Field data

The department requires a file/s containing the raw recordings of the field data for the entity

information located in the field. The field data file shall be supplied in a format acceptable to the

Project Manager.

All relevant and necessary information used to create the projects delivered 12d archive file shall form

part of the deliverables to the Project Manager.

7.3.1 Survey comments

Comments provided on survey data must be necessary and relevant. Repetition of the same comment

from the previous point is unnecessary and unacceptable. The principal purpose of comments is to

provide useful information to the users of the data. Comments that are not relevant or do not provide

additional information are not acceptable. For example, commenting kerb lip on a kerb string is not

relevant or necessary as the code already informs the user that it is a kerb lip.

7.4 Processed data

The processed data shall be an accurate representation of the raw field recordings edited of any

mistakes. The processed data shall be delivered to the Project Manager in 12d archive format file

unless otherwise specified in a specific Geomatic Survey type in Part 2 of these Standards or in the

survey brief.

7.5 Survey report

A Survey Report shall be created for every project. It shall be signed and dated by the person who

meets the relevant requirements, detailed in Section 2.4.3 of this document, who is taking

responsibility for the survey. The report must include:

• the project identifiers

• datum information

• any information, pertinent to the survey, that may affect either the design of the project

• any information, pertinent to the survey, concerning land owners or occupiers

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 25

• variations from the survey brief and the reasons for such variations.

7.6 Delivered data

7.6.1 Ownership

All digital data supplied by a contractor, albeit ‘in-house’ personnel or private contractors, shall

become the property of the department. Custodianship shall reside with the Project Manager. It shall

not be used, copied or reproduced by the contractor for any other purpose without the prior written

approval by the custodian or the department.

7.6.2 Media

Due to the complexity and quantum of modern survey information, the media used for transfer of the

data becomes the property of the department. For example, if Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) data is

supplied on portable hard drives, then those hard drives become the property of the department.

7.6.3 Malicious code

Contractors are to certify that the transferred data is free from malicious code. Data files in

compressed executable files (.exe) are unacceptable.

7.6.4 Corrections

Any errors, deficiencies or ambiguities identified by the Project Manager shall be referred back to the

Surveyor responsible for correction or clarification. These must be actioned within one business day of

the notice being given. The project will not be considered complete until all errors, deficiencies and

ambiguities have been resolved in accordance with these Standards and the survey brief to the

satisfaction of the Project Manager. Transport and Main Roads will not be responsible for any

additional expense incurred in completing these corrections.

7.7 Metadata

All survey information / data that is captured and provided to Transport and Main Roads must provide

metadata inclusive of project details as listed below.

7.7.1 Locality

• Locality:

− Region

− Local Authority

− Locality

• Road:

− Road (Number / Name)

− Project Description

− Start Chainage

− End Chainage

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 26

7.7.2 Project details / Resources

Include all relevant project details including:

• Project Details:

− Project Number

− Project Name

− File Name

− Fieldbook ID

− Survey brief ID

• Project Resources:

− Captured by

− Processed by

− Surveyor Responsible

− Accreditation

− Number.

7.7.3 Datum / Coordinate Operations

• Geodetic Datum – for example:

− GDA2020 (EPSG:1168)

• Horizontal Coordinate Reference System (CRS) – for example:

− GDA2020 / MGA zone 55 (EPSG:7855)

• Vertical Coordinate Reference System (CRS) – for example:

− AHD Derived

• Geoid Model – for example:

− AUSGeoid2020_QLD_20170908

7.7.4 Accuracy

• Geomatic Survey Type:

− Survey Type

− Survey Purpose

• Accuracy:

− TMR Surveying Standards Version

− Relative Uncertainty at 95%:

 Horizontal (m)

 Vertical (m)

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TMR Surveying Standards, Transport and Main Roads, January 2022 27

Capture Method

Include all equipment details that have been used to capture data. For example:

• Total Station

• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)

• Photogrammetry

• Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS)

• Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS)

• Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS)

7.7.5 Timing / Contact

• Timing:

All timing components of a project shall be supplied that should include as a minimum:

− Date of instruction

− Date/s of data capture

− Date/s of data processing

• Data Contact:

− Name

− Company

− Position

− Phone

− Email

7.7.6 Notes / Disclaimers

Any relevant notes should be included. For example:

• Any additional General notes

• Any additional GDA2020 notes

• Any additional DBYD information

• Underground services notes – for example: data is only valid at the time of capture.