FRM 041: Forest Surveying
and Engineering
Traverse and Traverse Computations
Davao River Basin
Photo by: River Basin Control Office - DENR
Traversing
A series of consecutive lines whose lengths and directions have been
determined from field managements,
Angles could be interior, exterior, or deflection.
One in which the frame work consists of connected line whose
lengths are measured with a chain or tape and the directions are
determined with angular instrument.
Two types:
Closed traverse
Open Traverse
Traversing
Closed Traverses
A traverse is said to be closed when a
complete circuit is made it returns to
starting point forming a closed
polygon.
Traversing
Open Traverse
has its lines finish to a point that is neither connected to the starting point,
nor connected to a finishing control point.
consists of series of line extending in the same general direction and foes
not return to the starting point.
Traverse Computations
For any closed traverse the first step taken by the surveyor should always
be to check if the observed angles fulfill the geometric conditions of the
figure.
All linear distances should then be corrected since error in measured
lengths will alter the shape of the traverse.
Computations and adjustments make include:
1. determining the latitudes and departures.
2. calculating the total error of closure.
Latitudes and Departures
The projection of a line onto the
reference meridian or a north-
south line is referred to as the
LATITUDE of a line.
Sometimes referred to as
Northings or Southings
Designated as either (+) or (-)
Latitudes and Departures
The projection of a line onto the
reference parallel or an east-west
line is referred to as the
DEPARTURE of a line.
Sometimes referred to as
Eastings or Westings
Designated as either (+) or (-)
Latitudes and Departures
The algebraic signs of latitudes and
departures are thus assigned on the
basis of the direction of the bearing
angles.
It will be noted that the latitude and
departure of a line are simply the X
and Y components of a line in a
rectangular grid system, as used in
mathematics.
Example: Given in the tabulation below are notes from an open
traverse. Determine the latitude and departure of each course and
tabulate observed and computed values accordingly.
Tabulated Solutions
Error of Closures
A short line of unknown length and direction connecting the initial and final
station of the traverse.
There is no such thing as mathematically perfect survey…
When a closed compass traverse is plotted on paper, the survey must close
on the starting point. Closure must be effected not only graphically but also
mathematically.
For a closed traverse, this simply means that the algebraic sum of the north
and south latitudes should be zero, and the algebraic sum of the east and
west departures should also be zero.
Error of Closures
The difference between the north and
south latitudes, designated here as CL , is
called the closure in latitude.
Also the difference between the east and
west departures, designated here as CD, is
referred to as the closure in departure.
The linear error of closure (LEC) is usually a
short line of unknown length and direction
connecting the initial and final station of
the traverse.
Error of Closures
The length of the linear error of closure and the angle that this line makes
with the meridian is determined by the following equations:
Then relative precision is then computed as:
Where:
RP = relative precision
LEC = linear error of closure
D = total length or perimeter of the traverse
Example: Given in the accompanying tabulation are the observed data for a
close compass traverse obtained from a transit-tape survey. Determine the
following quantities: latitude and departure of each course, linear error of
closure, bearing of the side of error, and the precision of the measurements.
Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly to the usual format
Solution:
Solution:
Solution: Determining the Precision of the Measurement
Solution: Determining the Precision of the Measurement
Solution: Tabulated Solution
To be continued...................