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Closed Compass Traverse

The document provides instructions for conducting a closed compass traverse field exercise with the following objectives: 1. Determine the magnetic bearings of each line in a closed compass traverse. 2. Learn how to adjust a closed compass traverse for errors. The procedure involves establishing 5 or more traverse stations, taking forward and back bearings at each station, measuring line lengths, computing interior angles, determining angular error of closure, and adjusting values to produce an accurate closed traverse.

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Justine Botilla
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522 views5 pages

Closed Compass Traverse

The document provides instructions for conducting a closed compass traverse field exercise with the following objectives: 1. Determine the magnetic bearings of each line in a closed compass traverse. 2. Learn how to adjust a closed compass traverse for errors. The procedure involves establishing 5 or more traverse stations, taking forward and back bearings at each station, measuring line lengths, computing interior angles, determining angular error of closure, and adjusting values to produce an accurate closed traverse.

Uploaded by

Justine Botilla
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FIELDWORK EXERCISE NO.

11
CLOSED COMPASS TRAVERSE

OBJECTIVES:
a) To determine the magnetic bearings of each line of a closed
compact traverse.
b) To learn how to adjust a closed compass traverse.

INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES: Surveyor’s or Brunton Pocket Compass, Pegs


or Chaining Pins, Steel Tape, Range Poles, and Hubs.

A. PROCEDURE:
1. Establish at least five traverse stations at designated points on the field
assigned to be surveyed. Call these stations ( or corners) A, B, C, and so
forth.
2. Set and level the compass at A and release the needle of the compass so
that it will swing freely on its pivot.
3. Sight the compass on the last traverse station and read the magnetic
bearing. Record this as the back bearing of the last line in the traverse.
4. Sight B and read the compass box. Record this as the forward bearing of
line AB.

Figure 4.10. Closed compass traverse


5. Transfer the compass to B. Sight on A and read the compass box and
record this as the back bearing of line AB.
6. Turn towards the direction of C, then read and record the forward bearing
of line BC.
7. Transfer to C and sight on B. Read and record the back bearing of line BC,
then sight on D and also read and record the forward bearing of line CD.
8. Proceed to the next station and repeat the above procedure of
determining back and forward bearings for each line. Continue until the
last traverse station is occupied and the forward bearing of the last line
has been read and accordingly recorded.
9. With a steel tape, measure the length of each line in the traverse twice
and record the mean as the actual length of the line.
10. Tabulate observed and adjusted values accordingly. Refer to the
accompanying sample format for the tabulation of field data.

NOTE: The following data are indicated in the illustrated sample closed compass
traverse: a. The mean length of each traverse line is shown as d1, d2, d3, etc, b.
Angular values corresponding to observed bearings are represented by the angle theta.
All angles with odd- numbered subscripts correspond to forward bearings and angles
with even- numbered subscripts correspond to back bearings., c. The interior angles are
similarly represented by the angle theta but with subscripts shown in letters of the
alphabet such as θa, θb, θc, etc.

OBSERVED BEARINGS
COMPUTED ADJUSTED
LINE STA CORR
INT. ANGLE INT. ANGLE
LENGT H
FORWARD BACK

A
AB 33.35 m N 64050’ E S 66020’ W 92021’ 91027’12”

B 133019’12”
BC 17.28 m S 67053’ E N 70002’ W 134013’
0053’48”
C 122034’12”
CD 25.15 m 0
S 13 30’ E 0
N 12 15’ W 0
123 28’

D 78005’12”
DE 35.21 m N 78059’ W S 85002’ E 78059’

E 114034’12”
EA 18.96 m 0
N 20 30’ W 0
S 22 45’ E 0
115 28’
B. COMPUTATIONS:

1. The interior angle at each station of the traverse can be computed easily from the
observed forward and back bearings taken from the station regardless of whether
or not the needle is affected locally. A carefully prepared sketch is important
since from it the required calculations will be obvious.
2. The angular error of closure is determined by subtracting the sum of the
computed interior angles of the traverse from (n-2) ✕180 deg, where n is the
number of sides in the traverse. Note that the computed value may be a positive
or negative quantity, and the resulting sign should be considered in all
succeeding computations.
3. The correction for each computed interior angle is determined by dividing the
angular error of closure by the number of traverse stations. This computed value
is then added algebraically to each computed interior angle to determine the
corresponding adjusted interior angle.
4. Go over the observed bearings and determine which line in th traverse is free
from local attraction or which could be arbitrarily chosen as the best line. The
adjustment of traverse lines affected by local attraction is then made by starting
from the unaffected or best line.
5. The forward and back bearings of all other lines in the traverse affected by local
attraction can then be easily computed and adjusted by again drawing a sketch
thus making all calculations obvious.
6. Finally, tabulate the adjusted bearings of the traverse. Refer to the
accompanying sample format shown below.

ADJUSTED BEARINGS
LINE LENGTH
FORWARD BACK

AB
33.35 m N 65018’54” E S 65053’6” W
BC
17.28 m S 67026’06” E N 70028’54” W
CD
25.15 m S 13003’06” E N 11054’48” W
DE
35.21 m N 78005’12” W S 85028’54” E
EA
18.96 m N 20003’06” W S 23013’54” E

C. REMARKS, HINTS, & PRECAUTIONS

Same as those given in Lab Exercise No. 10.


SOLUTION:
SKETCH OF COMPASS CLOSED TRAVERSE

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