The hook
Construction surveying takes the design and puts it on the ground: stake-out. Every grade stake, slope stake, offset hub, and corner pin tells the contractor where to dig, fill, build, or stop. Numbers wrong here cost six figures.
Memorize these
Concepts that show up on the exam
Stake-out
Setting physical markers on the ground for construction. Includes corner pins, grade stakes, slope stakes, hubs, offset stakes — each communicates a specific design value to the crew.
Offset
Stakes are placed OFFSET from the design feature so heavy equipment doesn't destroy them. The offset distance is recorded ON the stake itself.
Cut / fill
CUT = remove dirt; FILL = add dirt. Stakes show the amount in feet and tenths. Standard convention: C 1.4 means cut 1.4 ft below the stake to reach design grade.
Slope stake
Set at the daylight point — where the design slope meets existing ground. Marked with the cut/fill amount, the design slope ratio, and the offset.
Grade stake
Set at design centerline or specific feature, marked with cut/fill to design elevation. Used along with paper plans.
Hub and tack
A wooden hub set in the ground with a small finishing nail (tack) marking the precise center. Used when a stake mark is too coarse; common for property corners and building corners.
Bluetops
Stakes driven flush with the design grade and painted blue. Used for finish grading — the dozer operator scrapes to the blue.
- 1Receive the designPlans + alignment + profile + cross-sections. Verify the design is on the same datum as your control. Check stationing, north arrow, scale.
- 2Compute stake locationsFor each station, compute the design coordinates of the centerline + offsets, the design elevation, and the slope catch points. Modern total stations and machine-control software do this from a digital model.
- 3Lay out and markDrive the stake or hub at the computed point. Mark with the standard convention (C/F + amount + offset + station). Photograph for the field book.
- 4VerifyRe-shoot a sample of stakes from a different control point. Compare to design. Fix anything > tolerance.
- 5As-builtAfter construction, return and survey the as-built features. Compare to design. Document for the owner — the as-built becomes the official record.
Don't fall for these
What trips people up
Confusing the elevation of the stake with the design elevation
"C 2.4" doesn't mean the stake is 2.4 ft above the design — it means the contractor needs to CUT 2.4 ft below the stake. The stake itself is at existing ground.
Wrong offset direction
"5 ft RT" means right of station as you walk forward (up-station). Picking the wrong side puts the stake on the opposite shoulder. Always verify direction by checking which way station numbers grow.
Stake-out without checking control
Driving stakes from corrupted control transfers the corruption to construction. Always verify your setup against a check shot before any layout work.
Permanently destroying the stake-out before as-built
If layout stakes are removed before the as-built survey, the location of design intent is lost. Coordinate with the contractor on stake protection or re-set witness marks.
Test yourself
How well did it stick?
A quick 5-question check on Construction Surveys. See where you stand and what to review.