UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Week 4: Traverse Survey

I. Introduction
Traversing is a type of survey in which the framework forms a number of connected survey lines
and the directions and lengths of the survey lines are measured using an angle measuring
instrument and tape or chain, respectively. Traverse networks have many advantages of other
systems, including: Less reconnaissance and organization needed; while in other systems, which
may require the survey to be carried out in a rigid polygon shape, the traverse can change into
any shape and can therefore accommodate a lot of different terrains.

I. Objective
After completion of this course the student should be able to:
a.) determine the bearing and azimuth of the closed traverse,
b.) determine the angular error and,
c.) able to adjusted the angular error

II. Types of Traverse

A Traverse is a series of straight lines called traverse legs. The surveyor uses them to connect a
series of selected points called traverse stations (TS). The surveyor makes distance and angle
measurements and uses them to compute the relative positions of the traverse stations on some
system of co-coordinates.

Traverse Computation
The initial steps for computing the traverse are:

Balance the angles.

Compute the bearings and/or the azimuths.
Compute the latitudes and the departures.
Compute the linear error of closure.
Compute the precision ratio of the survey.

• Types

1. Open Traverse- An open or free traverse (link traverse) consists of known points that are plotted
in any corresponding linear direction, but do not return to the starting point or close at a point of
equal or greater order. It allows geodetic triangulation for the sub-closure of three known points;
known as the "Bowditch rule" or "compass rule" in geodesics and surveying, which is the principle
that the linear error is proportional to the length of the side in relation to the perimeter of the
traverse.
2. Close Traverse- A closed traverse (polygonal, or loop traverse) is a traversing practice when the
terminal point at the starting point is closed. The control points may envelop, or are set within
the boundaries, of the control network, it allows geodetic triangulation for sub-closure of all
known observed points.

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 UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Interior angle traverse – principally used in land surveying. The angles formed between the
adjacent sides of the illustrated closed figure are known as interior angles. As shown in figure 4.1
To run an interior angle traverse, the instrument is set up at each station. The horizontal circle is
set to zero and a sight to the station on the left us taken, the instrument is then turned on its
upper motion until the station in the right is sighted, and the interior angle should be measured
with sufficient repetition to obtain the desired precision. For any number of repetitions, half
should be observed with the telescope in direction and the other half in reversed position. Notes
are kept in a form similar to figure 4.1
*The interior angle of any closed
traverse should be equal to (n-2)(180)
where n is the sum of sides of closed
traverse.

*An angular error exists if the sum of

the observed interior angle is not
equal to (n-2) (180). As shown in figure
4.1 the total interior angle is 540°01’,
thus, it has an angular error of 0°01’.

*The distance between the stations is

being measured by tapes or by using
EDM instruments and the precision of
these linear measurement should be
consistent with that used in the
measurement of angles.

Figure: 4.1 sample notes of interior angle

traverse

Example 1.1
Illustrative Problem: the observed interior angle of a closed traverse are as follows:
A, 89°30’00”; B, 119°19’00”; C, 72°48’00”; D, 78°20’00”.

Determine the following:

a.) angular error for the observation made and
b.) adjusted interior angle

Solution:

a.) Angular error

n=4 (number interior angles in the traverse)

first is to obtain the summation of observe interior angle which is:

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑣. = <A + <B + <C + <D

= 88°30’00” + 119°19’00” + 79°48’00” + 72°20’00”.
= 359°57’00”

Second is to obtain the summation of interior angles for a four-sided closed traverse:

𝑆𝑢𝑚4𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑. = (n-2) (180) = 360°

Then, determine the angular error for the

observation made:

Closure =𝑆𝑢𝑚4𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑. − 𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑣.

=360°- 359°57’00”
+ 3’0”

b.) Adjusting the interior angle

First, obtain the correction to be applied in
each interior angle:

𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 +3"0′
Corr = = = + 45”
𝑛 4

Then, adjust each interior angle

<A’ = <A + Corr = 88°30’00” + 45” = 88°30’45”

<B’ = <B + Corr = 119°19’00” + 45” = 119°19’45”
<C’ = <C + Corr = 79°48’00” + 45” = 79°48’45”
<D’ = <D + Corr = 72°20’00” + 45” = 72°20’45”
check:
Sum= <A’ + <B’ + <C’ +<D’
360° = 88°30’45” + 119°19’45” + 79°48’45” +72°20’45”

360 =360
Tabulated Solution:
Adjusted Interior
Station Observed Int. angle Correction
angle
A 88°30’00” +45” 88°30’45”
B 119°19’00” +45” 119°19’45”
C 79°48’00” +45” 79°48’45”
D 72°20’00” +45” 72°20’45”
Sum 359°40’00” +3’00” 360°00’00”
Closed Azimuth Traverse-
The measurement of azimuth angles is by far one of the quickest and most satisfactory method
where at one setup of the transit or theodolite several angles or directions can be determined.

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

The azimuth traverse is used extensively on topographic and other surveys where a large
number of details are to be located by angular and linear measurements from traverse sections.

Note: The transit should now be oriented with the magnetic meridian and then it is ready for
measuring the magnetic azimuth.

In a closed azimuth traverse the angular error is determined by setting up on the starting point
and nothing the difference between initial and final azimuth readings taken along the first line of
the traverse, it is also important to observe the magnetic bearing of each line in an azimuth
traverse. A comparison between the observed bearing and the bearing calculated from the
observed azimuth should serve as a check against possible blunders which could be committed.
Figure 4.2 shows a sample of set of notes for a traverse run by azimuths.

Example 1.2

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Given the accompanying tabulation are the observed data for a close traverse (figure 4.3).
Determine the bearing and azimuth from North of all traverse lines.

STA. OCC STA OBS DISTANCE AZIMUTH

FROM SOUTH
A E, B 45.93 90°
185°52’
B A, C 45.58 353°25’
153°40’
C B, D 41.076 301°50’
56°56’
D C, E 47.66 240°23’
173°13’
E D, A 62.83 270°0’
173°15’

Figure: 4.2 Example of field notes of azimuth traverse

Solution:

Figure:4.3B Figure:4.3C
Figure:4.3
Figure:4.3A

Figure:4.3D Figure:4.3E

• Sta. A (refer to figure 4.3A)

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UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

ßab= 185°52’-180° = 5°52’ (therefore, bearing of line AB is N 5°52’ E)

Øab = 180° -185°52’= 5° 52 (azimuth from North line AB)

• Sta. B (refer to figure 4.3B)

ßbc= 180°-153°40’= 26°20’ (therefore, bearing of line BC is N 26°20’ W)

Øbc = 153°40’+180° = 333°40’0” (azimuth from North line BC)

• Sta. C (refer to figure 4.3C)

ßcd= 56°45’ (therefore, bearing of line CD is S 56°45’ W)

Øcd = 56°45’ +180° =236°45’ (azimuth from North line CD)

• Sta. D (refer to figure 4.3D)

ßde= 180°- 173°43’= 6°17’ (therefore, bearing of line DE is S 6°17’ E)

Øde = 173°43’ (azimuth from North line DE)

• Sta. E (refer to figure 4.3E)

ßde= 360°- 270°= 90° (therefore, bearing of line AE is S 90° E)

Øde = 270°-180°= 90° (azimuth from North line AE)

III. Exercises

1. The following are observed bearing of closed traverse. Compute the interior angles and correct
them for observational errors, assuming the observed bearing of line AB (best line) to be
correct, adjust the bearing of the remaining sides.

LINE LENGTH OBSERVED BEARING

FORWARD BACK
AB 46.50 S 30°40’ W N 30°40’ E
BC 75.15 S 83°50’ E N 84°30’ E
CD 117.35 N 02°00’ W S 02°15’ E
DE 74.92 S 89°30’ W DUE EAST
EA 60.25 S 28°40’ E N 28°00 E

IV. Quiz

Fundamentals of Surveying By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 6