Theodolite Traversing: Chapter 1

Defination
• A traverse consists of a series of straight lines
connecting successive points.
• The points defining the ends of the traverse lines
are called traverse stations or traverse points.
• Distance along the line between successive
traverse points is determined either by direct
measurement using a tape or electronic distance
measuring (EDM) equipment,
• or by indirect measurement using tachometric
methods. At each point where the traverse
changes direction, an angular measurement is
taken using a theodolite.
Figure:
 Types
• Open traverse: It starts at a point of known
position and terminates at a point of unknown
position.
• Closed traverse: It originates at a point of
known position and close on another point of
known horizontal position.
 Purposes
It is a convenient, rapid method for establishing
horizontal control particularly when the lines of sights
are short due to heavily built up areas where
triangulation and trilateration are not applicable. The
purpose includes:
-Property surveys to locate or establish boundaries;
- Supplementary horizontal control for topographic
mapping surveys;
- Location and construction layout surveys for high
ways, railway, and other private and public works;
- Ground control surveys for photogrammetric
mapping.
 Methods of Theodolite Traversing
• Chain Traversing
• Compass Traversing
• Theodolite Traversing
• Plane Table Traversing
There are several methods of theodolite
traversing that depends upon methods used in
determing the length and relative direction of
the traverse legs.
 Cont.
• Linear measurement: The length of legs can
be determined by taping or chaining,
tacheometric methods and EDM.
• Angular measurement: Commonly used
methods are Included angle method ,
Deflection angle method , Fast needle method
andDirect angle method.
 Traverse Field Works
A Traverse survey should be conducted by:
• Recconnaissance
• Selection and marking the stations
• Measurement of traverse legs
• Measurement of traverse angles
• Correction of measured angles
• Measurement of bearing
• Field notes, detaling and Plotting
 Traverse Adjustment and
Computations Of Total Coodinates
• In dealing with a closed traverse, we have
computations in:
• 1) Determining latitudes and departures
• 2) Calculating total error of closure
• 3) Balancing the survey
• 4) Determining adjusted positions of traverse
stations
• 5) Area computation
• 6) Area subdivision
 Latitude
• Projection of a line onto a reference meridian
or North-South line
• Lines with Northerly bearings (+) LAT
• Lines with Southerly bearings (-) LAT
• Equal to distance*cosine of bearing angle
• = l CosꝊ
 Departure
• Projection of a line onto a reference parallel
or East-West line
• Lines with Easterly bearings (+) DEP
• Lines with Westerly bearings (-) DEP
• Equal to distance*sine of bearing angle
• =l SinꝊ
 Calculation of Closing Error:

• In a complete circuit, the sum of North latitudes must be equal to

that of South latitudes,
• the sum of Easting must be equal to that of Westing, if all the
measurements are correct. If not, the distance between the starting
portion and the position obtained by calculation is known as Closing
Error.
Example:-
• Let’s assume that the sum of Northing of a traverse exceeds the
sum of southing by 1.5m and that of easting exceeds the sum of
westings by 1.8m, then Resultant Closing error = √ (1.82 +1.52) =
2.34
• The closing error is generally expressed as a Fraction i.e,
• 𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒
 Cont.
• The closing error is generally expressed as a
Fraction i.e,
• 𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 /𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒
• Let Perimeter of the Traverse = 1000m
• Closing Error = 2.34/ 1000
• = 1/ 𝑛 or 1 in n
• Where n = 1000/2.34
 Balancing the Consecutive Co-
Ordinates:
• The process od adjusting the consecutive coordinates of
each line by applying corrections to them in such a way that
algebraic sum of latitudes and departures of closed circuit
should be equal to zero i.e., sum of northing should be
equal to the sum of southing and the sum of westing
should exactly equal to the sum of easting is called the
Balancing the Consecutive Co-Ordinates.
• In a closed traverse the following conditions must be
satisfied: ∑Departure = 0 ∑ D = 0
• ∑ Latitude = 0 ∑ L = 0 If the above conditions are not
satisfied, the position A of the originating stations and its
computed position A′ will not be the same as shown in Fig.
given below, due to the observational errors.
 Bowditch’s rule :

• CD =∑ D × l / ∑ 𝑙 CL = ∑ L × l / ∑ 𝑙
• Where: CD & CL = the corrections to the
departure and latitude of the line to which the
correction is applied l = the length of the line,
and ∑ 𝑙 = the sum of the lengths of all the lines
of the traverse, i.e., perimeter p. ∑ L = Total
error in latitude ∑ D = Total error in departure
 Transit rule:
• According to this rule, corrections to the latitude of a
traverse leg = Total error in latitude ×Latitude of that
traverse leg Total sum of latitude
• CD = ∑ D × 𝑑 /D CL = ∑ L × l /𝐿
Where, CD & CL = the corrections to the departure and
latitude of the line to which the correction is applied
l = Latitude of traverse leg d = Departure of traverse leg
L = arithmetic sum of latitudes
D = arithmetic sum of departures
∑ L = Total error of latitudes (algebraic sum) ∑ D = Total
error of departures (algebraic sum)
Example
Latitude and Departure
Calculation
By Bowditch rule
Bowditch Cont.
Traverse Adjustment by Compass Rule
Traverse Adjustment by Compass Rule
Traverse Adjustment by transit Rule
Traverse Adjustment by Transit Rule
Traverse Adjustment by Compass Rule
Sketch Of Traverse