SURVEYING
& LEVELLING
Lecture # 3
Theodolite
Traversing
Permanent Adjustment of Theodolite
It involves the following relationships between fundamental lines of
theodolite:
Axis of the plate level must be perpendicular to the vertical axis.
Line of collimation should coincide with the axis of telescope and
should be perpendicular to the vertical axis.
Axis of telescope must be parallel to the line of collimation.
Line of collimation must be perpendicular to the horizontal axis , and
the vertical circle should read zero when line of collimation is
horizontal.
Figure showing Fundamental Lines of
a Theodolite and their Relationship
Closing Error in a Traverse
In a Closed traverse the algebraic sum of latitudes must be equal to
zero, and so the algebraic sum of departures.
But due to errors in the field measurements of the angles and lengths,
sometimes the finishing point may not coincide with the starting point of
a closed traverse.
The distance by which a traverse fails to close is known as closing error
or error of closure. D
C
Closing Error, AA1 =
where, L = Latitude
Closing Error
A1
D = Departure
∑L
A
B
∑D
Closing Error in a Traverse
Relative Closing Error = Closing error
perimeter of Traverse
Permissible angular error = least count x
N = number of sides
Tan Ө
Where Ө indicates the direction of closing error
Traverse for Permissible Angular error Permissible relative
Closing error
Land, roads, railway 1’ x 1 in 3000
City surveys 30” x 1 in 5000
Very important surveys 15 “ x 1 in 10000
Computation Of Latitude and Departure
The theodolite traverse is not plotted according to interior angles or
bearings.
It is plotted by computing latitudes and departures of the points
(consecutive coordinates) and then finding the independent coordinates of
the points.
Latitude is measured parallel to North-South line.
Departure is measured parallel to East-West line.
N
B
Latitude ( L cos Ө )
Ө
Ө
W E
A
S Departure ( L sin Ө )
Sign Convention
N
+L +L
- D +D
W E
- L - L
- D +D
S
The latitude and departure are also expressed in the following ways:
Northing = Latitude towards North = +L
Southing = Latitude towards South = -L
Easting = Departure towards East = +D
Westing = Departure towards West = - D
Check for closed traverse
1. Sum of Northings = Sum of Southings
2. Sum of Eastings = Sum of Westings
Consecutive and Independent Coordinates
1. Consecutive Coordinates: The latitude and departure of a
point calculated with reference to the preceding point are
called consecutive coordinates.
2. Independent Coordinates: The coordinates of any point
with respect to a common origin are said to be the
independent coordinates of that point.
The origin may be a station of the survey or a point
entirely outside the traverse.
Balancing of a Traverse
In actual traverse plotting, their may be some closing error. The total errors
in Latitude and Departure is determined. These errors are then distributed
among the traverse stations proportionately, according to the following rules.
1. Bowditch Rule
By this rule, the total error ( in latitude or departure ) is distributed
in proportion to the lengths of the traverse legs. This is the most
common method of traverse adjustment.
(a) Correction to latitude of any side
= Length of side x Total error in latitude
Perimeter of Traverse
(b) Correction to departure of any side
= Length of side x Total error in departure
Perimeter of Traverse
2. Transit Rule
(a) Correction to latitude of any side
=
(b) Correction to departure of any side
=
3. Third Rule
(a) Correction to Northing of any side
=
(b) Correction to Southing of any side
=
(c) Correction to Easting of any side
=
(d) Correction to Westing of any side
=
Problem 1
Latitudes and Departures for a traverse are given, Find out the
Closing error for the traverse, and apply correction by
1) Bowditch Rule
2) Third Rule
Line Length Consecutive Coordinates
Latitude Departure
AB 70.0 + 21. 500 - 65.450
BC 80.0 - 80.755 -5.250
CD 43.0 -41.000 +13.550
DE 38.0 -14.250 +35.150
EA 115.0 +114.150 +22.315
Note: if the error is positive, correction will be negative, and vice versa
