Unit 6

Traversing

6.1 Introductions:- control surveying &

traversing
6.2 Traverse station
6.3 Purpose of the traverse
6.4 Types of traverses
6.5 Traverses according the method of
turning angles
6.6 Computation and adjustment of
traverse
6.7: Computation of areas (Coordinate
method
 Introductions to control surveying
• control surveying is a branch of surveying which
deals with establishing Horizontal &vertical
control points.
• There are diferrent methods to determine accurate
posions of cotrol points. Such as: traversing,
Triangulation, Trilateration, Trianguleteration,
Intersection, Resection…
• In this chapter we will see traversing in detail.
 6.1. Traversing
• A traverse consists of a series of straight lines connecting
successive established points along the route of a survey.
• Traversing is one the methods to establish horizontal
control points & it is more preferable in
surveying/mapping operations in small areas.
• The points defining the ends of the traverse lines are
called traverse stations or traverse points.
• Distances along the line between successive traverse
points are determine either by direct measurement using
a tape or electronic distance measuring (EDM) equipment,
or by indirect measurement using tacheometric methods
 6.2 Traverse stations:

• Any temporary or permanent point of reference over which

the theodolite is set up is called a traverse station.
• On most surveys the traverse station is a peg, called a hub,
driven flush with the ground and having a tack driven in its
top to mark the exact point of reference for measurement.
• The location of a hub is usually indicated by a flat guard
extending above the ground and driven sloping so that its
top is over the hub. This guard stake carries the number or
letter of the traverse station over which it stand.
• a traverse station number is preceded by the symbol ⊙, □
and ∆
• Lines connecting traverse stations are called traverse lines.
 6.3 Purpose of the traverse:
• Traversing is a convenient, rapid method for establishing
horizontal control.
• It is particularly useful in densely built up areas and in heavily
forested regions where lengths of sight are short so that
neither triangulation nor trilateration is suitable.
• Traverses are made for numerous purposes, including:
– Property surveys to locate or establish boundaries
– Supplementary horizontal control for topographic mapping surveys
– Location and construction layout surveys for highways, railways,
and other private public works.
– Ground control surveys for photogrammetric mapping.
• Frequently, the traverse is employed to densify the number
of coordinated control points in a triangulated or trilaterated
horizontal control network.
 6.4 Types of traverse:
• The two general classes of traverse are the open
traverse and the closed traverse.
6.4.1 Open traverse:
 The open traverse originates at a point of known
position and terminates at a point of unknown
position.
 No computational check is possible to detect errors or
blunders in distances or directions in this type of
traverse.
 To minimize errors, distances can be measured twice,
angle turned by repetition or reiteration methods,
magnetic bearings observed on all lines,
Known
Open traverse
Point
V-1 V-3
V -4
V-2

6.4.2 Closed traverse:

The Closed traverses originate at a point of known
position and close on another point of known
horizontal position.
A point of known horizontal position is given either by
geographic latitude and longitude or by X and Y
coordinates on a rectangular coordinates grid system.
R

N B
D
A
M

Q
• A traverse that originates and terminates on a
single point of known horizontal position is
called a closed - loop traverse.
6 5

4
1

2 3
 6.5 Traverses according the method of turning angles
 

 there are traverses by intersection angles,

deflection angles, Azimuth method,
1) Traversing by intersection angles

Known
Point
V-1 V-
3 V -4
V-
2
• In a loop traverse the angles can be measured
internally (interior angles) or externally (exterior
angles)
6 5
3 4

7 2

Traversing by Interior Traversing by

Angles Exterior angles

5
4 1
1

7 6

2 3
 2) Traversing by deflection angles

Known
Point

V-1
V-3
V -4
V-2

The deflection angle can be measured

clockwise (right deflection angle) or
anticlockwise (left deflection angle)
Right deflection angle = Intersection angle - 1800
Left deflection angle = 1800 – Intersection angle
 3) Traversing by azimuth
MN MN MN
MN

Traversing by azimuth is not a suitable method since the

magnetic north – south meridian are not parallel at control
points due to the local magnetic declination,

 in addition some magnetic fields such as electric lines,

iron objects near the control points and even solar magnetic
storms can disturb the magnetic meridian position,
consequently a high accuracy is not reachable.
 6.6 Computation and adjustment of a loop
traverse
 After collecting all traverse’s planimetric data
from the field such as:
– Azimuth of the first line (in case of magnetic
azimuth method)
– Intersection angles
– Traverse’s partial distances
• The office tasks starts for angular and linear
adjustments and finally, the determination of
the adjusted planimetric coordinated of the
traverse.
 6.6.2 General Step (for a loop traverse)
I. Angular Stage
1)Computing the angular closure error ec= ∑ α – 1800 (n – 2)
2)Determining the angular permissible error = 1’ √n or 30’’√n or 10’’√n
3)Determining the angular correction c = ec
n
4) Appling the angular correction to interception angles
α(corrected) = α ± c
(the correction is introduced into the angle with the error appositive
sign)
5) Checking the angular correction: ∑α(corrected) = 1800 (n – 2)
6) Computing the azimuth of every line ABC = AAB + α(corrected) ± 1800
7) Determining the bearing upon the azimuth of every line.  
 II. Linear Stage

1) Computing the differences in X and Y: ∆X1 = dist1 * sin Azimuth1-2

∆Y1 = dist1 * cos Azimuth1-2

2) Determining the total error in X : X e = ∑∆X total error in Y: Ye = ∑∆Y

____________
3) Determining the linear absolute error Ae = √ ∑∆X 2 + ∑∆Y2
 
4) Computing the Precision or liner relative error: P = 1
D
Ae
5) Comparing the achieved Precision with the expected Precision or
Project Precision, It must to be fulfilled that: P > PP (otherwise the field
data are not acceptable)
 
 C0NT…
6) Computing the correction for ∆X and ∆y: C = ∑∆X * dist
D
C = ∑∆Y * dist
D
7) Appling the correction to ∑∆X and ∑∆Y : ∑∆X(corrected) = ∆X ± C
∑∆Y(corrected) = ∆Y ± C
8) Checking the linear correction now it must be fulfilled That :
∑∆X = 0
∑∆Y = 0
9) Computing the final coordinate of every traverse vertex :
Xb = Xa ± ∑∆X(corrected)
Yb = Ya ± ∑∆Y(corrected)
10) Filling out the calculus compendium
 Coordinates Calculus Compendium
Traverse: ______________ Coordinate system: _______________ Measured By: ______________ Computed by: _________
Station side Adjusted Azimuth Bearing Distan Prelim ∆X Adjusted Prelim Adjusted Coordinates Remarks
Horizontal C ∆X ∆Y C ∆Y
Angle X Y

1 550 30’ 11’’ 5000.00 2000.00

1–2 1100 00’ 00’’ 70000’00’’SE 365.01 342.997 343. 009 -124.841 -0.027 - 124. 868
0.012

2 2190 57’ 06’’ 5343.009 1 875.132

2–3 1490 57’ 06’’ 30002’54’’SE 246. 57 123.465 0.008 123.473 -213.432 - 0.019 - 213. 451

3 790 07’ 04’’ 5 466.482

1 661.681

3–4 490 04’ 10’’ 49004’10’’NE 469. 65 354.822 0.015 354. 837 307.688 - 0.035
307.653

4 530 38’ 06’’ 5 821.319 1 969.334

4–5 2820 42’ 16’’ 77017’44’’NW 274.17

-267.458 0.009 - 354. 837 307.688 - 0.021 60.275

5 2000 54’ 18’’ 5 553. 87 2 029. 609

5–6 3030 36’ 34’’ 56023’26’’NW 318.54

-265.290 0.010 - 265.280 176.321 - 0.024
176.297

6 1100 53’ 15’’ 5 288.59 2 205. 906

6–1 2340 29’ 49’’ 54029’49’’SW 354. 51 -288.601 0.011 - 288.590 -205.880 - 0.026 - 205. 906

1 ∑∆X = ∑∆X = 0 ∑∆Y = ∑∆Y = 0 5000.000 2000.000

- 0.065 0.152

ec = 26’’ pe = 1’√6 = 1’ x 2.4494897 = 2’ 27’’ then ce < pe therefore the current angular error is acceptable.
1___
Ae= 0.165 P = 2 028.45 = 1: 12 293 ≈ 1: 12 200 Pp = 1 : 10 000
0.165
6.7: Computation of areas (Coordinate method).
• Area enclosed in a traverse
Y

X
A 1
2 X1 Y5 Y2   X2 Y1 Y3   X3 Y2  X4   X4 Y3 Y5   X5 Y4 Y1 
For checking
That is A  1
2 Y1 X 2  X 5  Y 2  X 3  X1  y3  X 4  X 2   Y 4  X 5  X 3  Y 5  X1  X 4 
 Another procedure for determine area through a loop traverse

coordinates is by multiplying its ordinates in cross way as follow:  

Point X Y Positive Negative
Product Product

1 X1 Y1
2 X2 Y2 X1y2 X2y1
3 X3 Y3 X2y3 X3y2
4 X4 Y4 X3y4 X4y3
5 X5 Y5 X4y5 X5y4
1 X1 Y1 X5y1 X1y5
Sum 1 Sum2
Area  1
2  Sum1  Sum2
Example
• Let’s compute the area enclosed in a polygon of 5
vertex which known coordinates are given in next
table:
Y
Vertexes X Y
3

4
1 5205 1920
2 5000 2225
3 5110 2730
2 4 5315 2620
5 5380 2100
5

X
General Formula:
  A 1
2 X1 Y5 Y2   X2 Y1 Y3   X3 Y2  X4   X4 Y3 Y5   X5 Y4 Y1 

Substituting:
• A = ½ [ 5205(2100 - 2225) + 5000(1920 - 2730) + 5110(2225 -
2620) + 5315(2730 - 2100) + 5380(2620 - 1920)]
 
A = ½ [ 5205( - 125 ) + 5000( - 810 ) + 5110( - 395 ) + 5315( 630 ) +
5380( 700 )]
A = ½ ( - 650 625 - 40 50 000 – 20 18 450 + 33 48 450 + 37 66 000 )
 
A = ½ (395 375)
 Result :
 A = 197 687. 5 m 2 = 19. 769 ha
Checking:
  That is A  1
  2 Y1 X 2  X 5  Y 2  X 3  X1  y3 X 4  X 2  Y 4  X 5  X 3  Y 5  X1  X 4

A = ½ [1920 (5000 - 5380) + 2225 (5110 - 5205) + 2730 (5315 - 5000 ) +

2620 (5380 - 5110) + 2100 (5205 - 5315) ]
 
A = ½ [ 1920 ( - 380 ) + 2225 ( - 95) + 2730 ( 315 ) + 2620 (270 ) + 2100
( - 110 ) ]
 
A = ½ ( - 729 600 – 211 375 + 859 950 + 707 400 – 231 000 )
 
A = ½ (395 375)
 
A = 197 687.5 m2 = 19. 769 ha therefore it is OK.