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Traverse Surveying Notes

Traversing is a method of surveying where connected survey lines are measured for direction and length using instruments like a theodolite and tape. There are two main types: closed traverse which ends at the starting point, and open traverse which ends elsewhere. Closed traverse is suitable for large areas while open traverse works for long narrow strips like roads. Common traversing methods include chain, chain and compass, transit, and plane table traversing. Angular measurements are checked by verifying that interior angles sum to (2n-4) or exterior angles sum to (2n-4)pi/2 for closed traverses, and deflection angles sum to 360 degrees for open traverses. Errors in traversing come from linear and angular

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126 views6 pages

Traverse Surveying Notes

Traversing is a method of surveying where connected survey lines are measured for direction and length using instruments like a theodolite and tape. There are two main types: closed traverse which ends at the starting point, and open traverse which ends elsewhere. Closed traverse is suitable for large areas while open traverse works for long narrow strips like roads. Common traversing methods include chain, chain and compass, transit, and plane table traversing. Angular measurements are checked by verifying that interior angles sum to (2n-4) or exterior angles sum to (2n-4)pi/2 for closed traverses, and deflection angles sum to 360 degrees for open traverses. Errors in traversing come from linear and angular

Uploaded by

Christine Lopena
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© © All Rights Reserved
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TRAVERSE SURVEYING

Traversing is that type of survey in which a number of connected survey lines


form the framework, and the directions and lengths of the survey lines are
measured with the help of an angle measuring instrument and tape or chain
respectively.

Types of Surveying
There are two types of traverse surveying. They are:
Closed traverse: When the lines form a circuit which ends at the starting point,
it is known as a closed traverse.
Open traverse: When the lines form a circuit ends elsewhere except starting
point, it is said to be an open traverse.

Suitability
The closed traverse is suitable for locating the boundaries of lakes, woods, etc
and for a survey of large areas. the open traverse is suitable for surveying a long
narrow strip of land as required for a road of the canal or the coastline.

Methods of Traversing
There are several methods of traversing, depending on the instruments used in
determining the relative directions of the traverse lines. The following are the
principal methods:
1. Chain traversing
2. Chain and compass traversing
3. Transit type traversing a)By fast needle method b)By measurement of
angles between the lines
4. Plane table traversing

Brief descriptions of these traverse surveying methods are given below.

Chain Traversing
The method in which the whole work is done with chain and tape is called chain
traversing. No angle measurement is used, and the directions of the lines are
fixed entirely by linear measurements Angles fixed by linear or tie measurements
are known as chain angles. The method is unsuitable for accurate work and is
generally used if an angle measuring instruments such as a compass, sextant or
theodolite is available.

Chain and Compass Traversing


1
In chain and compass traversing, the magnetic bearings of the survey lines are
measured by a compass and the lengths of the lines are measured either with a
chain or with a tape. The direction of the magnetic meridian is established at each
traverse station independently. The method is also known as a tree or loose
needle method.

Traversing by Fast Needle Method


The method in which the magnetic bearings of traverse lines are measured by a
theodolite fitted with s compass is called traversing by fast needle method. The
direction of the magnetic meridian is not established at each station but instead,
the magnetic bearings of the lines are measured with a reference so that direction
of the magnetic meridian established at the first station. There are three methods
of observing the bearings of lines by fast needle method.

1. Direct method with transiting,


2. Direct method without transiting,
3. Back bearing method.

Traversing By Direct Observation of Angles


In this method, the angles between the lines are directly measured by a theodolite
and the magnetic bearing of other lines can be calculated in this method. The
angles measured at different stations may be either
1. Included Angles and
2. Deflection Angles

Traversing by Included Angle


An included angle at a station is either of the two angles formed n\by two survey
lines meeting there and these angles should be measured clockwise. The method
consists simply in measuring each angle directly from a back sight on the
preceding station. The angled may also be measured by repetition. The angles
measured from the back station may be interior or exterior depending on the
direction of progress.

2
In Fig(a) the direction of progress is counterclockwise and so the angles
measured clockwise are the interior angle. In Fig(a) the direction of progress is
clockwise and so the angles measured clockwise are the exterior angle.

Traverse by Deflection Angles


A deflection angle is an angle in which a survey line makes with the prolongation
of the preceding line. It is designated as right (R) or left (L) as it is measured
clockwise or anti-clockwise from the prolongation of the previous line. This type
of traversing is more suitable for the survey of roads, railways, pipe-lines, etc
where the survey lines make small deflection angles.

Errors in Traversing
The errors involved in closed traversing are two kinds:
1. Linear Error and
2. Angular Error

The most satisfactory method of checking the linear measurements consists in


chaining each survey line a second time, preferably in the reverse direction on
different dates and by different parties. The following are checks for the angular
work:

A. Travers by included angles:


o The sum of measured interior angles should be equal to (2N-4), where
N=number of sides of the traverse.
o If the exterior angles are measured, their sum should be equal to
(2N=4)p/2
3
B. Travers by deflection angles: The algebraic sum of the deflection angles
should be equal to 360°, taking the right hand and deflection angles as a positive
and left-hand angle as negative.

C. Traversing by direct observation of bearings: The force bearing of the last


line should be equal to its back bearing ±180° measured from the initial station.

Checks in Open Traverse


No direct checks of angular measurement are available. So indirect checks can be
made. As illustrated in Fig(a) the addition to the observation of bearing of AB at
station A, bearing of AD can also be measured., if possible. Similarly, at D, the
bearing of DA can be measured, and check applied. If the two bearings differ by
180°, the work may be accepted as correct.

Another method, which furnishes a check when work is plotted is shown as in


Fig (b) and consists of reading the bearing to any prominent point P from each of
the consecutive stations. The check-in plotting consists in laying off the lines AP,
BP, CP, etc and noting whether the lines pass through one point.

4
Plotting a Traverse Survey
There are two principal methods of traverse survey:
1. Angles and distance method: This method is of three types.
a. By protractor
b. By the tangent of the angle
c. By the chord of the angle.

2. Co-ordinate method.

Traverse Computations
In the figure, the latitude and the departure of the line AB of length l and reduced
bearing q are given by
L= + l cosq and D=+ l sinq

5
To calculate the latitude and departure of the traverse lines, it is first essential to
reduce the bearing in the quadrant system. The signs of latitude and departures
will depend upon the reduced bearing of the line. The following table gives signs
of latitudes and departures.

Thus, latitude and departure co-ordinate of any point with reference to the
preceding point are equal to the latitude and departure of the line joining the
preceding point to the point under consideration. Such coordinates are also
known as consecutive co-ordinates or dependent coordinates.

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