A Simulation Analysis on the Expected Horizontal Accuracy of a Bridge Stakeout

The positioning of an object in space, i.e. "transfer" of data from the design to the field is an extremely significant and important geodetic operation. This activity requires great and well-deserved attention, especially when it comes to sensitive structures such as bridges. The position of a stakeout point in the field depends on a variety of different influences, all determining the actual accuracy of the stakeout. The aim of this Article is to investigate the dependency of horizontal setting out of the bridge axis accuracy (abutments and piers of the bridge) from the distance between the station and the setout point, the datum of the geodetic control network, and the precision of angular and linear measurements. The authors use an innovative visualization technique for the assessment of spatial variation of the horizontal stakeout by error ellipses.