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 taken.

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 you to
graphically view the land at any point you require. From this information you can design 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 through the longest
length of the subject land.
2. Cross Sections – These are section across the narrowest length of the subject land or works.

These definitions derive from there primary use in civil works in particular in road design and
construction. A Longitudinal Section is a section along the direction of the road. A Cross 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.

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Longitudinal Sections

The method to draw Longitudinal Sections is exactly the same as you draw a section on 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.

A A

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

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

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

Draw a section through grid 3.

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
RL 100.000
30.000
15.000
10.000

20.000

25.000
0.000

5.000

Chainage
100.750

100.730

100.400
100.550

100.530

100.450
100.690

Existing Ground Level

0.750

0.730

0.400
0.550
0.690

0.530

0.450

+/- above Datum

Longitudinal Section – Grid 3

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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

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

We would add this to the drawing as follows.

RL 100.500

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
RL 100.000
15.000

30.000
10.000

20.000

25.000
0.000

5.000

Chainage
100.750

100.730

100.400
100.550
100.690

100.530

100.450

Existing Ground Level

0.750

0.730

0.550

0.400
0.690

0.530

0.450

+/- above Datum

-0.250 100.500

-0.050 100.500

100.500
-0.190 100.500

-0.030 100.500

100.500
-0.230 100.500

Design Level

Cut
+0.100
+0.050

Fill

Longitudinal Section – Grid 3

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Notations on Drawing

Design Level – Is the finished level required.

Cut – Noted on this line if the existing ground is higher than the design level.

Fill – Noted on this line if the existing ground is lower than the design level.

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Cross Sections are drawn are drawn up exactly the same way. The only difference is that the title is
“Cross Section – Grid D”. Chainage is measured from the centre. A Cross Section at Grid D would be
drawn as follows.

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
RL 100.000
-10.000

10.000
-5.000

0.000

5.000

Chainage
100.200

100.320

100.700
100.550

100.735

Existing Ground Level

0.200

0.320

0.700
0.550

0.735

+/- above Datum

Cross Section at Grid D

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The same method is used to draw the cross sections with the design level

RL 100.500

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
RL 100.000
-10.000

10.000
-5.000

0.000

5.000

Chainage
100.200

100.320

100.735
100.700
100.550

Existing Ground Level

0.200

0.320

0.700
0.550

0.735

+/- above Datum

100.500

-0.200 100.500
-0.050 100.500

-0.235 100.500
100.500

Design Level

Cut
+0.300

+0.180

Fill

Cross Section at Grid D

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You can also generate longitudinal & cross sections from contour drawings. This is done in a similar
manner as the previous examples. The only difference being that the spacing of the measurements is
not even. In this case they are positioned by the intersection of the contour line & the position of the
section.

To draw a section from a contour drawing,

1. Draw a line across the part of the drawing you want to view the section. Note in this case it
is a longitudinal section.

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2. Extend construction lines from the intersection of your section line and contour lines.

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 3. Calculate and notate the drawing as previous, note that the chainage is not an even spacing
but determined by the intersection of the section line & the contour.

Ground level at
both edges must
be interpolated

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
RL 100.000
27.000
22.000

30.000
0.000

7.000

Chainage
100..400
100..400
100.540

100.400

100.220

Existing Ground Level

0.540

0.400

0.400
0.400

0.220

+/- Above Datum

Long Section at Grid

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 4. Next you notate on the drawing design levels. Say in this case you need to level to site to RL
100.500 you can notate this on the drawing. This is commonly referred to as the formation
height.
5. You can also show the required cut or fill
6. Calculate and notate the drawing

Formation
Height

RL 100.500

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
RL 100.000
22.000

27.000

30.000
0.000

7.000

Chainage
100..400
100.540

100.400

100.400

100.220

Existing Ground Level

-0.040 100.500 0.200

0.400

100.500 0.400

100.500 0.400

100.500 0.220

+/- Above Datum

100.500

Design Level

Cut
+0.100

+0.100
+0.100

+0.280

Fill

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Long Section at Grid
Ground Level must be
interpolated.

The interpolated level

should be rejected as it is
greater than the contour
interval

RL 100.000
-10.000

-2.500

10.00
2900

Chainage
100.790

100.600

100.400

100.200

Existing Ground Level

0.790

0.600

0.400

0.200

+/- Above Datum

Cross Section

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 Fill
Cut
.

Chainage
RL 100.000

Design Level
+/- Above Datum
Existing Ground Level
RL 100.500
-0.270 100..500 0.790 100.790 -10.000

-0.100 100..500 0.600 100.600 -2.500

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+0.100 100..500 0.400 100.400 2900

Cross Section
+0.100 100..500 0.200 100.200 10.00
 Fill
Cut
Chainage

Design Level
RL 100.000

+/- Above Datum

Existing Ground Level
-0.400 100.500 0.900 100.900 0.000

-0.400 100.500 0.800 100.800 5.900

and at any angle.

-0.100 100.500 0.600 100.600 14.400

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+0.100 100.500 0.400 100..400 19.800

+0.100 100.500 0.400 100..400 23.900

+0.100 100.500 0.400 100..400 28.700

+0.300 100.500 0.200 100.200 32.300

+0.320 100.500 0.170 100.170 33.200

7. There is no reason why you can’t take a section across the subject block of land at any point

Vertical Scale 1:10

Horizontal Scale 1:100
Longitudinal and Cross Sections can be used to give a representation of proposed works.

Draw the ground level from last week’s garage example.

x 12.490
11.250 x

11.111 x x 12.480

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