COMPASS
SURVEYING
INTRODUCTION
Chain surveying can be used when the area
to be surveyed is comparatively is small and is
fairly flat.
But when the area is large , undulating and
crowded with many details ,
triangulation(which is the principle of chain
survey) is not possible.
In such an area , the method of surveying is
used.
Traversing
In traversing , the frame work consist of
connected lines.
The length are measured by a chain or a
tape and the direction measured by angle
measuring instruments.
Hence in compass surveying direction of
survey lines are determined with a compass
and the length of the lines are measured with
a tape or a chain. This process is known as
compass traversing.
Principle of compass surveying
The principle of compass surveying is traversing;
which involves a series of connected lines.
The magnetic bearing of the lines are measured
by prismatic compass.
Compass surveying is recommended when the
area is large, undulating and crowded with many
details.
Compass surveying is not recommended for areas
where local attraction is suspected due to the
presence of magnetic substances like steel
structures, iron ore deposits, electric cables , and
so on.
Compass
A compass is a small instrument essentially
consisting of a graduated circle, and a
line of sight.
The compass can not measures angle
between two lines directly but can
measure angle of a line with reference to
magnetic meridian at the instrument
station point is called magnetic bearing of
a line.
Types of compass
There are two types of magnetic compass
they are as follows:-
The prismatic compass
PRISMATIC
COMPASS
Elements of prismatic compass
Cylindrical metal box: Cylindrical metal box is having diameter of 8to 12 cm. It protects the
compass and forms entire casing or body of the compass. It protect compass from dust, rain
etc.
Pivot: pivot is provided at the center of the compass and supports freely suspended
magnetic needle over it.
lifting pin and lifting lever: a lifting pin is provided just below the sight vane. When the sight
vane is folded, it presses the lifting pin. The lifting pin with the help of lifting lever then lifts the
magnetic needle out of pivot point to prevent damage to the pivot head.
Magnetic needle: Magnetic needle is the heart of the instrument. This needle measures
angle of a line from magnetic meridian as the needle always remains pointed towards north
south pole at two ends of the needle when freely suspended on any support.
Graduated circle or ring: This is an aluminum graduated ring marked with 0ᴼ to 360ᴼ to
measures all possible bearings of lines, and attached with the magnetic needle. The ring is
graduated to half a degree.
Prism : prism is used to read graduations on ring and to take exact reading by compass. It is
placed exactly opposite to object vane. The prism hole is protected by prism cap to protect
it from dust and moisture.
Object vane: object vane is diametrically opposite to the prism and eye
vane. The object vane is carrying a horse hair or black thin wire to sight
object in line with eye sight.
Eye vane: Eye vane is a fine slit provided with the eye hole at bottom to
bisect the object from slit.
Glass cover: its covers the instrument box from the top such that needle
and graduated ring is seen from the top.
Sun glasses: These are used when some luminous objects are to be
bisected.
Reflecting mirror: It is used to get image of an object located above or
below the instrument level while bisection. It is placed on the object
vane.
Spring brake or brake pin: to damp the oscillation of the needle before
taking a reading and to bring it to rest quickly, the light spring brake
attached to the box is brought in contact with the edge of the ring by
gently pressing inward the brake pin
Temporary adjustment of
prismatic compass
The following procedure should be adopted after fixing the
prismatic compass on the tripod for measuring the bearing of a
line.
Centering : Centering is the operation in which compass is kept
exactly over the station from where the bearing is to be
determined. The centering is checked by dropping a small pebble
from the underside of the compass. If the pebble falls on the top of
the peg then the centering is correct, if not then the centering is
corrected by adjusting the legs of the tripod.
Leveling : Leveling of the compass is done with the aim to freely
swing the graduated circular ring of the prismatic compass. The
ball and socket arrangement on the tripod will help to achieve a
proper level of the compass. This can be checked by rolling round
pencil on glass cover.
Focusing : the prism is moved up or down in its slide till the
graduations on the aluminum ring are seen clear, sharp and
perfect focus. The position of the prism will depend upon the vision
of the observer.
NORTH
Observing Bearing of Line OBJECT B
Consider a line AB of
which the magnetic 180
bearing is to be
taken.
By fixing the ranging
rod at station B we 90 A 270
get the magnetic
bearing of needle
wrt north pole.
The enlarged portion LINE OF 0
gives actual pattern SIGHT
of graduations SOUTH
marked on ring.
The Surveyor`s Compass
Itis similar to a prismatic compass except
that it has a only plain eye slit instead of
eye slit with prism and eye hole.
This compass is having pointed needle in
place of broad form needle as in case of
prismatic compass.
SURVEYOR’S
COMPASS
Working of Surveyor`s
Compass
1) Centering
2) LEVELING
3) OBSERVING THE BEARING OF A LINE
First two observation are same as prismatic
compass but third observation differs from
that.
3) OBSERVING THE BEARING OF A LINE : in this
compass ,the reading is taken from the top of
glass and under the tip of north end of the
magnetic needle directly. No prism is
provided here.
BEARINGS
The bearing of a line is the horizontal angle which it makes with a
reference line(meridian).
Depending upon the meridian , there are four type of bearings they
are as follows:
1) True Bearing: The true bearing of a line is the horizontal angle
between the true meridian and the survey line. The true bearing is
measured from the true north in the clockwise direction.
2) Magnetic Bearing: the magnetic bearing of a line is the
horizontal angle which the line makes with the magnetic north.
3) Grid Bearing: The grid bearing of a line is the horizontal angle
which the line makes with the grid meridian.
4) Arbitrary Bearing: The arbitrary baring of a line is the horizontal
angle which the line makes with the arbitrary meridian.
MAGNETIC
MERIDIAN
TN
BEARINGS
MN
TRUE
MERIDIAN
MAGNETIC
BEARING
B
TRUE BEARING
Designation of bearing
The bearing are designated in the
following two system:-
1) Whole Circle Bearing System.(W.C.B)
2) Quadrantal Bearing System.(Q.B)
Whole circle bearing
system(W.C.B.)
The bearing of a line measured with
respect to magnetic meridian in
clockwise direction is called magnetic
bearing and its value varies between 0ᴼ to
360ᴼ.
The quadrant start from north an progress
in a clockwise direction as the first
quadrant is 0ᴼ to 90ᴼ in clockwise direction
, 2nd 90ᴼ to 180ᴼ , 3rd 180ᴼ to 270ᴼ, and up
to 360ᴼ is 4th one.
WHOLE CIRCLE
BEARING
Quadrantal bearing
system(Q.B.)
In this system, the bearing of survey lines
are measured wrt to north line or south
line which ever is the nearest to the given
survey line and either in clockwise
direction or in anti clockwise direction.
QUADRANTAL
BEARING
Reduced bearing (R.B)
When the whole circle bearing is
converted into Quadrantal bearing , it is
termed as “REDUCED BEARING”.
Thus , the reduced bearing is similar to the
Quadrantal bearing.
Its values lies between 0ᴼ to 90ᴼ, but the
quadrant should be mentioned for proper
designation.
The following table should be remembered for
conversion of WCB to RB.
W.C.B OF ANY QUADRANT IN RULES FOR QUADRANT
LINE WHICH IT LIES CONVERSION
0 TO 90 I RB=WCB N-E
90 TO 180 II RB=180-WCB S-E
180 TO 270 III RB =WCB-180ᴼ S-W
270 TO 360 IV RB=360ᴼ - WCB N-W
Fore bearing and Back
bearing
The bearing of a line measured in the
forward direction of the survey lines is
called the ‘fore bearing’(F.B.) of that line.
The bearing of a line measured in
direction backward to the direction of the
progress of survey is called the ‘back
bearing’(B.B.) of the line.
NORTH
FB of AB = Θ1(from A to B)
BB of AB= Θ2(from B to A)
NORTH
B
Remembering following points:
Θ1 Θ2 1) In the WCB system ,the
differences b/n the FB and BB
A should be exactly 180ᴼ.
Remember the following relation :
BB of line AB BB=FB+/-180ᴼ
+ is applied when FB is <180ᴼ
- is applied when BB is >180ᴼ
2) In the reduced bearing system the FB
FB of line AB and BB are numerically equal but the
quadrants are just opposite.
Observing the bearing of the lines of a
Computation of Angles
B
closed traverse, it is possible to calculate
the included angles, which can be used
for plotting the traverse. A
At the station where two survey lines meet,
two angles are formed-an exterior angles C
and an interior angles. The interior angles
or included angle is generally the smaller
angles(<180ᴼ). D
EXAMPLES
M
E EXTERIOR ANGLE B
BB A
FB B FB
A /_A
BB
C
B
INCLUDED AT STATION B ,FB of BB OF AB were
ANGLE measured . Difference of these two
bearing will give you exterior angle B.
AT STATION A,FB of AB and BB of EB
were measured. Difference of these EXTERIOR ANGLE B=BB OF AB-FB OF BC
two bearing give interior angle A. INTERIOR ANGLE B=360ᴼ-EXTERIOR ANGLE
Angle A =FB OF AB – BB OF EA
Meridian
Bearing of a line is always measured clockwise wrt some reference line or
direction. This fixed line is known as meridian.
There three types of meridian:
1) Magnetic meridian: The direction shown by a freely suspended needle
which is magnetized and balanced properly without influenced by any other
factors is known as magnetic meridian.
2) True meridian : True meridian is the line which passes through the true north
and south. The direction of true meridian at any point can be determined by
either observing the bearing of the sun at 12 noon or by sun’s shadow.
3) Arbitrary meridian: In case of small works or in places where true meridian
or magnetic meridian cannot be determined, then ,any direction of a
prominent object is taken as a reference direction called as arbitrary
meridian.
