Field Report

On
COMPASS SURVEYING

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Manjia Niraula
Land management

Pawan oli Training centre

Bibek kafle Dhulikhel,Kavre

2075/10/06
Repot has been prepared by the secondary source of knowledge a well as the Field
observations during compass survey. This is entirely dedicated for enhancement of practical
knowledge for students.
 Acknowledgement
This report has been prepared in the platform of the field hold by land
management training centre for the students of diploma in Geomatics
engineering, batch of 2017 Ad in the month of poush of 2075 Bs.

Report contains introduction to compass surveying, its objectives,

methodology adopted, outputs from field observations and many more
with conclusions and recommendations. Field survey was taken out
with the participation of individual groups. Each group had three
members so, this report is successfully prepared with the proper
engagement and mutual performance of Bibek kafle, Pawan Oli,
Manjila Niraula .

We are so glad having inspiring teachers around us. The total activities
were succeed with the helpful teachers. We are so thankful to Program
coordinator Mr.Tanka Prashad Dahal. Similarly, we are greatful to Dr.Er
Pradip Sapkota for his inspiring coordination during field. we are
thankful to Govind sir, laxman sir too for their helpful supports to us.

In this report the survey outputs are given with the secondary
knowledges as well.
 Table of contents
1) Introduction
-Compass surveying

-Principle

-Types of compass

-general concepts

-Errors in compass surveying

2) Field Procedures
3) Objectives
4) Methodology
-Data used

-instrument used

-Specification

-study area

-methods

-limitations

5) Outputs
6) Result and Discussions
7) Conclusion & Recommendation
8) References
1)INTRODUCTION
 Compass surveying
Compass surveying is the branch of surveying in which the position of
an object is located using angular measurements determined by a
compass and linear measurements using a chain or tape. Compass
surveying is used in following circumstances:

 If the surveying area is large, chain surveying is not adopted for

surveying rather compass surveying is employed.
 If the plot for surveying has numerous obstacles and undulations
which prevents chaining.
 During time limit , compass surveying is usuallyadopted.

Compass surveying is not used in places which contain iron core, power
lines etc which usually attracts magnets due to their natural properties
and electromagnetic properties respectively. Compass surveying is done
by using traversing. A traverse is formed by connecting the points in the
plot by means of a series of straight lines.

 Principle of Compass Surveying

In compass traversing the directions of survey lines are fixed by angular
measurements and not by forming a network of triangles. A compass
survey is one in which the traverse work consists of series of lines the
lengths and directions of which are measured with a chain or a tape, and
with an angular instrument respectively.

A traverse may be classified as:

a) Closed traverse
b) Open traverse
A) Closed traverse: A closed traverse is a traverse in which the sides
of a traverse form a closed polygon.

B) Open traverse: An open traverse is a traverse in which the sides of

traverse do not form a closed polygon.

 Types of Magnetic compass

Magnetic compass
Magnetic compass is used to find out the magnetic bearing of survey
lines. The bearings may either measured in Whole Circle Bearing
(W.C.B) system or in Quadrantal Bearing (Q.B) system based on the
type of compass used. The basic principle of magnetic compass is if a
strip of steel or iron is magnetized and pivoted exactly at centre so that it
can swing freely, then it will establish itself in the magnetic meridian at
the place of arrangement.

Major types of magnetic compass are:

1. Prismatic compass
2. Surveyor’s compass
3. Level compass

Prismatic compass
Prismatic compass is a portable magnetic compass which can be either used as a hand instrument
or can be fitted on a tripod. It contains a prism which is used for accurate measurement of
readings. The greatest advantage of this compass is both sighting and reading can be done
simultaneously without changing the position.
Prismatic compass ( Geology Superstore)

Major parts of a Prismatic Compass are:

 Magnetic needle
 Graduated ring
 Adjustable mirror
 Sliding arrangement for mirror
 Object vane
 Eye vane
 Metal box
 Glass cover
 Horse hair

Adjustments of prismatic compass

Two types of adjustments:

1. Temporary adjustment
2. Permanent adjustment
Temporary adjustments
 Centering: it is the process of fixing the compass exactly over the station. Centering is
usually done by adjusting the tripod legs. Also a plumb-bob is used to judge the accurate
centering of instruments over the station.
 Leveling: the instrument has to be leveled if it is used as in hand or mounted over a
tripod. If it is used as in hand, the graduated disc should swing freely and appears to be
completely level in reference to the top edge of the case. If the tripod is used, they usually
have a ball and socket arrangement for leveling purpose.
 Focusing the prism: Prism can be slide up or down for focusing to make the readings
clear and readable.

Permanent adjustments are same as in the Surveyor’s compass.

Surveyor’s compass
Surveyor’s compass consists of a circular brass box containing a magnetic needle which swings
freely over a brass circle which is divided into 360 degrees. The horizontal angle is measured
using a pair of sights located on north – south axis of the compass. They are usually mounted
over a tripod and leveled using a ball and socket mechanism.
Surveyor’s compass (National Museum of American History)

They also have two types of adjustments, temporary and permanent. Temporary adjustments are
same as described in prismatic compass.

Permanent adjustments

They are done only in the circumstances where the internal parts of the prism is disturbed or
damaged. They are:

 Adjustments in levels
 Adjustment of pivot point
 Adjustment of sight vanes
 Adjustment of needle

Advantages
 They are portable and light weight.
 They have fewer settings to fix it on a station
 The error in direction produced in a single survey line does not
affect other lines.
 It is suitable to retrace old surveys.

Disadvantages
 It is less precise compared to other advanced methods of
surveying.
 It is easily subjected to various errors such as errors adjoining to
magnetic meridian, local attraction etc.
 Imperfect sighting of the ranging rods and inaccurate leveling also
causes error.
  Concept of Meridian, True Median, Magnetic Meridian and
Arbitary Meridian

Meridian: Meridian is a standard direction from which, the bearings of

survey lines are measured. There are three types of meridians.
1) True meridian
2) Magnetic meridian
3) Arbitrary meridian.
True meridian: It is a line of intersection of earth’s surface formed by a
plane passing through north and south poles and the given place.

Magnetic meridian: It is the direction indicted by a freely suspended

magnetic needle.

Arbitrary meridian: It is any convenient direction assumed as

meridian for measuring bearings of survey lines.

Bearing
It is a horizontal angle made by the survey line with reference to the
meridian, based on the meridian the bearings are three types.

1) True bearing 2) Magnetic bearing 3) Arbitrary bearing

True bearing: The angle made by a survey line with reference to true
meridian is called true bearing. It is always remains constant.

Magnetic bearing: The angle made by a survey line with reference to

magnetic meridian is called magnetic bearing. It changes from place to
place and time.

Arbitrary bearing: The angle made by a survey line with reference

to arbitrary meridian is called arbitrary bearing.

Representation of Bearing
Bearings are expressed in the following two systems.
1) Whole circle bearings system.
2) Quadrantal bearings system.

1) Whole Circle Bearing

In this system, the bearing of a line is always measured clock wise from the
direction of the north of the meridian towards the line around the circle.

2) Quadrantal Bearings
In this system the bearings of a line is measured from either the north or the
south, clock wise or counter clockwise which ever is nearer to the line towards
the east or west. The angle at any station in a plane is divided into four quadrants
by two lines at right angles to each other. These are the north south and east-
west lines. The bearing is reckoned from 0 to 90 in each quadrant.
Quadrantel bearings are also called as reduced bearings.

Conversion of Whole Circle bearings into Quadrantal Bearings

The whole circle bearing of a line can be converted to quadrantal bearing
by reducing it to an angle less than 90 degree which has the same numerical value of
the trigonometric functions. Rule of conversion of whole circle bearings into
quadrantel bearing.

Local Attraction
A compass needle is affected by the presence of masses of iron and steel
such as lamp posts electric cables, steel girders etc., they deflect the needle and
the effect of this disturbance is called local attraction. Due to local attraction, the
difference between the fore bearing and back bearing of a survey line will not be
equal to 180 degree.

Calculation of Included Angles of a Traverse

When two lines meet at a point two angles i.e., interior and exterior angles
are formed. The sum of these two angles is equal to 360 degree.

. The following rules may be applied to find the included angle between two lines whose
bearings are given.
Finding of included angles is divided into two cases as follows:
1. When the W.C.B of two lines measured from their point of intersection are given
2. When the W.C.B. of two lines not measured from their point of intersection are given.

 Errors in compass survey

 Instrumental errors
 Personal errors
 Natural errors

Instrumental errors
As the name suggests they are arise due to the wrong adjustments of the
instruments. Some other reasons are:

 If the plane of sight not being vertical, it causes error in sighting

and reading.
  If the magnetic needle is not perfectly straight or if it is sluggish,
readings may not be accurate.

Personal errors
They arise mainly due to the carelessness of the surveyor. They are:

 Inaccurate leveling
 Inaccurate reading
 Inaccurate centering

Natural errors
 Local attraction
 Proximity to the magnetic storms
 Declination

2)Field procedures of compass surveying

The compass traversing of an area involves the following steps:

1) Reconnaissance of area
2) Determining the direction of lines
3) Measuring the traverse legs and offsets.

1. Reconnaissance of area: The area is divided into triangles and of

polygons. Suitable stations are selected on the rough sketch and designated
as A, B, C etc.

2. Determining the directions of survey lines: The compass is set at

each successive stations i.e., A, B, C, D, E of the closed traverse ABCDEA
and the fore bearings and back bearings of lines are observed.

3. Measurement of traverse legs and offsets : A compass is centered

over a station A and after leveling the compass the fore bearing AB and
back bearing EA are taken by sighting the ranging rods at A and E. The line
AB is chained and the offsets to the detailed points are noted and entered
in the field notes. The operation is repeated at other stations B, C, D, and E
Forward and Backward Bearings
In compass surveying, two bearings are observed for each line, one from
each end of the line. The bearing of a line in the direction of the progress of
survey is called the forward bearing or fore bearing while the bearing measured
in the opposite direction is called as the backward bearing or back bearing.

Temporary adjustments and procedures in prismatic compass

surveying.
Method of using Prismatic Compass:
The compass may be held in the hand, but for better results, it is usually mounted on a
tripod which carries a vertical spindle in a ball and socket joint to which the box is screwed.
By means of this arrangement the instrument can be quickly leveled and also rotated in a
horizontal plane and clamped in any position.

This can be used while holding it in hand, but for better accuracy, it is usually mounted on a
light tripod which carries a vertical spindle in the ball and socket arrangement to which
compass is screwed. By means of this arrangement the compass can be placed in position
easily. Its working involves the following steps.
(i) Centering
(ii) Levelling,
(iii) observing the bearing

(i) Centering
The compass should be centered over the station where the bearing is to be taken by
dropping a small piece of stone so that it falls on the top of the peg marking the station.

(ii) Levelling
The compass should then be leveled by eye, by means of a ball and socket joint so that the
ring may swing quite freely. It should be clamped when leveled.

(iii) Observing the bearing.

To observe the bearing of a line AB
1) Centre the compass over the station A and level it.
2) Having turned up vertical prism and the sighting vane, raise or lower the prism until the
graduations are clearly visible.
3) Turn the compass box until the ranging rod at the station B is bisected by the hair when
looked through the slit above the prism.
4) When the needle comes to rest, look through the prism and note the reading at which the
hair line produced appears to cut the image of the graduated ring which gives the required
bearing of the line AB. Readings are usually estimated to the nearest 15’.
3) Objectives of compass surveying
 To find out the angle of bearing between a line and meridian
line.
 To determine the area with local attraction.
 To perform traversing .
 To eliminate or minimize the angular errors by different rules.
 To determine fore bearing and back bearing between two
lines.
 To prepare a plan by bearing and distance measurement.

4) METHODOLOGY
a) Data used
 Primary Data:
-Primary Data in the report is collected by the original source of knowledge
and by the field observation .Primary data like distance between two points
, offset distance, bearing with the reference to magnetic meridian and
knowledge obtained from instrumental construction and its works.

 Secondary Data :
Secondary data in the report is collected by different journals, publications
and internet source. Secondary data like Types of compass has been
collected from specific journal.

b)Instruments used
 Prismatic compass
 30m tape
 2m ranging rod
 Pegs
Similarly equipments like scale, paper, pencil etc were used during plotting
in the office.

C) Specification
We were taught that station for compass surveying should be selected at
the area with least local attraction means far from iron mines or far from
electric lines etc. But during field the station B among four stations was
suffered from magnetic local attraction as well as station B lies under
electric transmission line.

d)Study area
This survey field helps us to enroll ourselves in practical knowledge with
the help of theory based knowledge. So all the field activities were taken
by principle of compass surveying. Method of determining included
angle is also used. FB and BB were measured independently and
checked independently.

e)Methods
Both kinds of primary and secondary source of data were used to
prepare this report. All the methods used during field were given in
procedure above.

f) Limitations
The report is totally based on the field work we had done recently. All
the field activities were taken in the supervision of the Land
management training centre.
Result & Discussion
Hence, Compass survey is only suitable if the accuracy requirement is
low and survey area is free from local attraction. But the land we were
provided was near the electric lines and local attraction also exists
there . The local attraction in the place was determined after the
computation of BB and FB independently. So, we have to face difficulties
during field too and problem was faced during plotting traverse in office.

Conclusion & Recommendation

Therefore, we came to the conclusion that, with the property of the
magnet N\S line can be determined and with the help of magnetic
compass bearing also can be determined. After determining bearing of
a point from N\S line, distance from station to that point can be
measured to locate the point. Compass surveying is also helpful for the
determination of horizontal position of a point but not the elevation as
chain surveying.

We recommend Land management training centre to facilitate students

with new equipments and to make these field activities more systematic
and regular.

References: wikipedia , Fundamental of surveying Book by SK

Duggal
Presented By:
Manjila niraula
Pawan Oli
Bibek Kafle