BY MABUYE J.P.

(2013)
 Prismatic Compass
surveying is a branch
of surveying in which
directions of survey
lines are determined
with a compass and
lengths of the lines
are measured with a
tape or a chain.
In practise, the compass is generally used to
run a traverse.
A traverse consists of a series of straight
lines connected together to form an open or
closed polygon
The word traverse means travelling or
passing across, over or through and measuring
angles with a compass..

Traversing therefore, is the method of

measuring lengths and directions of lines
between points to determine positions of the
objects.
 The compass surveying is suitable:
1. When the survey details are required
along the long narrow strips e.g. a road, a
railway, a stream, etc
2. When the area cannot be divided into
triangles such as in towns
3. When surveying is done in a jungle or in
a dense forest
4. When the country or area is hilly and
chaining is tedious and liable (prone) to
error.
 True North (True Meridian or True Bearing)
 True North is the line passing through the
Geographical North Pole, Geographical
South pole and other points on the Earth’s
surface.
 The angle between the “True North
(Meridian) and a line joining two points from
its centre is known as “True Bearing” of a
line or Azimuth.
 True North is constant always, i.e. It does
not change and it will never change.
NP

True meridian

True bearing
Magnetic
bearing

Magnetic
meridian

SP
Grid North
 For map preparation several lines are drawn
parallel to “True North (Meridian) line point
towards the top of map.
 These lines are termed as Grid lines and the
Central line on the area is called “Grid
Meridian”.
GRID SYSTEMS
Magnetic North
 Itis the direction in which the compass
needle points towards the magnetic pole.
 The angle between Magnetic North and a line
joining two points from its centre is known as
“the Magnetic Bearing”.
 Magnetic Bearing is not constant as it can
vary within time to time in relation to True
North.
 Magneticbearing are designated into
two systems namely:

 Whole circle bearing (WCB)

 Quadrantal bearing (QB)
 Bearings are measured clockwise from north of
reference meridian.
 It is also known as the Azimuthal System
• It varies from 0 degrees to 360 degrees in the
clockwise direction
• North will be zero degrees; East will be 90
degrees; South will be 180 degrees and West
will be 270 degrees.
• Prismatic compass uses the WCB system
 Line from origin to A
(OA) : The angle is
measured from the
north to OA
represented by θ in
the figure.
 Line from origin to B
(OB): The angle is
measured from the
north to OB
represented by ϕ in
the figure.
Fig.2.2 WCB/Azimuth bearing
 Quadrantal bearing (QB)
 The magnetic bearing of a line measured clockwise or
anticlockwise from NP or SP (whichever is nearer to
the line) towards the east or west is known as
Quadrantal bearing of a line (given by surveyor’s
compass)
 This system consists of 4-quadrants NE, SE, NW, SW.
The values lie between 0-90°
 Two quadrants in the northern half of the compass
numbered from 0° to 90° away from north (clockwise
in the east, counter clockwise in the west).
 Two quadrants in northern half of the compass
numbered away from south (counter clockwise in the
east, clockwise in the west).
 QBs are given in the
format of N 40°E
(northeast), S 26°W
(southwest), etc.
 QBs should always be
recorded with north or
south listed first,
followed by the
number of degrees and
the direction (east or
west) away from north
or south.
 Reduced Bearing(RB)
 When WCB is converted to QB is termed as
Reduced Bearing (RB).
 Thus QB and RB are similar.
 In reduced bearing (RB) system, bearings are
measured from north or south direction towards
east or west.
 Hence, angles are from 0 to 90°
 It is measured from either clockwise/anti-clockwise
from north/south (If the line is closer to south and
going towards west, it is read as Sβ°W)
 Line from origin to A
(OA) : The angle is
measured from the
north to OA because
OA is closer to the
north. It is
represented by NαE
in the figure.
 Line from origin to B
(OB): The angle is
measured from the
south to OB because
OB is closed to the
south. It is
represented by SβW
in the figure.
 WCB to RB CONVERSION TABLE

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

 if WCB is 240
degrees, it lies in
the third quadrant.
Use SW.
• RB = WCB - 180° =
240° - 180° = 60°
• RB = S60W
 Convert WCB = 35° to RB
• It is in the First quadrant (NE)
• Angle = 35°
• RB = N35°E

 Convert WCB = 130° to RB

• It is in the Second quadrant (SE)
• Angle = 180 - 130° = 50°
• RB = S50°E
 Convert WCB = 240° to RB
• It is in the Third quadrant (SW)
• Angle = 240° - 180° = 60°
• RB = S60°W
 Convert WCB = 290° to RB
• It is in the Fourth quadrant (NW)
• Angle = 35°
• RB = N70°W
 Exercise:
1. Convert the following WCBs into QBs
(a) WCB of line AB = 45˚30΄ =N45°30 ΄ E
(b) WCB of line AB = 125˚45΄
180°-125°45 ΄= S54 ˚ 15 ΄E
(c) WCB of line AB = 230˚15΄
(d) WCB of line AB = 325˚30΄

2. Convert the following QBs into WCBs

(a) QB of line AB = S 36˚30΄W
(b) QB of line AB = S 43˚30΄E
(c) QB of line AB = N 36˚45΄E
(d) QB of line AB = N 40˚15΄W
(a) WCB of line AB =
180˚0΄ + 36˚30΄ = 216 30΄
(b) WCB of line AB =
180˚0΄- 43˚30΄ = 136˚ 30΄
(c) WCB of line AB =
Given QB = 36˚45΄
(d) WCB of line AB =
360° 0 - 40˚15΄= 319° 45΄
 Fore and Back bearing
 The bearing of a line measured in a progress of
survey is called fore (forward) bearing (FB) of a
line.
 The bearing of a line measured opposite to the
survey progress is called back bearing (BB) of a
line (See the illustrations below):
1. In WCB system the difference between FB
and BB should be exactly 180°

Use the +ve sign when FB<180°

Use the –ve sign when FB> 180°

The relation is BB=FB+/-180°

2. In QB (Reduced Bearing) system, the FB and

BB are numerically equal but Quadrants are
opposite

For example: If the FB of line AB is N

30°E, then BB is S 30°W
 Exercise
1. Find the BBs of the following lines:
(a) FB of line AB = 300°30΄
(b) FB of line AB = 135°15΄
(c) FB of line AB = 205°30΄
(d) FB of line AB = S 60°30΄W
2. Find the FBs of the following lines:
(a) BB of line AB = 130°30΄
(b) BB of line AB = 325°15΄
(c) BB of line AB = 30°30΄
(d) BB of line AB = 240°45΄
 The needle of the compass is usually not static due to
magnetic influence of the earth, it keeps deflecting to and
from horizontal N to S.
 This deflection of the needle from the horizontal position
is called dip of the needle.
 Apart from local effects due to presence of magnetic ores
in ground or such other localised influences, the magnetic
dip of the compass needle will vary from place to place on
the surface of earth.
 It will be horizontal at equator, i.e. zero dip at a place
equidistant from both the poles. The deviation from
horizontal position will gradually increase as survey lines
moves toward the poles. This dip will influence the
accurate recording of the bearings.
 An aluminium coil can be placed on the higher side of the
needle to counter balance this dip and make the needle
perfectly horizontal during bearing measurements.
 Magnetic Declination or Variation
 Magnetic north changes its position very
slightly each year because of the changes in
magnetic fields of North and South poles of
the Earth.
 The angular differences in degrees between
true and magnetic north is called magnetic
declination.
 The declination angle is negative if magnetic
north lies to the west of true north and is
positive if the magnetic north lies to the
east of true north (refer figure below).
The lines connecting points having
equal declination on the globe are
called ‘Isogons’.
Lines passing through areas of zero
declination are called ‘Agons’.
 Types of magnetic variation
 Magnetic declination varies both from
place to place, and with the passage of
time. There are several types depending
on time:
-Secular Variation
-Annual variation
-Diurnal variation
-Irregular variation
 Secular Variation
 The magnetic north behaves like a pendulum
with respect to True North.
 It swings from East to West and slowly after
years.
 Due to change of inclination angle of the Earth
on its axis, the magnetic North changes its
direction hence declination varies. This
variation is called secular variation.
 Complex fluid motion in the outer core of the
Earth (the molten metallic region that lies from
2800 to 5000 km below the Earth's surface)
causes the magnetic field to change slowly with
time.
 Annual variation
 Thisis the variation of Magnetic North due
to rotation of the Earth on an elliptical
orbit during the course of the year.

 Diurnal Variation
 This is the daily variation of magnetic
declination due to Earth’s rotation on its
axis in 24 hours.
 Irregular variation
 Magnetic North may vary suddenly due to
natural causes such as earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions etc.

 Magnetic north pole is currently (2020)

on Canada at Ellesmere Island. This is a
difference of about 500 kilometers between
the Geographic North and Magnetic North
poles!
 Based on the current WMM model, the
2020 location of the north magnetic pole
is 86.50°N and 164.04°E and the south
magnetic pole is 64.07°S and 135.88°E
 (a) Magnetic variation
 -Procedure on how to determine MV
 Calculate the differences in years and
months of variation
 Multiply the obtained differences by the
amount of a given decrease or increase
 Subtract the answer from the total
variation for the decrease and add if it is
an increase
 For example:
 In January 1945, the magnetic variation of town X
was 9°50΄ West. If the annual decrease stood at
5΄, what was the MV of that town in November
1959?
 Procedure
1. Diff in years: 1959-1945 = 14 years, but 1yr is
incomplete, so full yrs are 14.
Diff in months: February to November = 10 months
2. 14 yrs x 5΄= 70΄, 70΄ / 60΄ = 1°10΄
10/12 months x 5΄= 50/12 = 4.16΄ 4.2΄ 4.02/60 = 4.12
1°10΄+ 4.2΄= 1°14΄12΄΄
3. Therefore since it is a decrease- Subtract from the
total variation: 9°50΄- 1°14΄12΄΄= 8°34΄48΄΄
The MV of town X was 8°35΄48΄΄
 (b)True Bearing
 TB can be determined as follows:
 True bearing = Magnetic bearing ± declination
Use (+) sign when declination East
Use (-) sign when declination West
For example;
If the MB of place X is 125°30΄, what would be
its True bearing if the declination is 5°15΄W?

TB = MB – Declination. TB = 125°30΄- 5°15΄

TB = 120°15΄
 (c)Magnetic bearing
 MB can be determined as follows:
 Magnetic bearing = True bearing ± declination
Use (+) sign when declination West
Use (-) sign when declination East
For example;
If the TB of place X is 210°45΄, what would be its
MB if the declination is 8°15΄W?

MB = TB – Declination. MB = 210°45΄+ 8°15΄

MB = 219°00΄
 Exercise
1. The TB of a line AB is S 40°30΄ W. Find its MB
if the declination is 10°15΄E.
2. If the MB of a line CD is 105°30΄15"E and the
declination is 5°45΄E. What is its TB?
 The deflection of a magnetic needle from
its true position due to the presence of
magnetic influencing material is called
“Local Attraction”.
 Magnetic materials such as iron ore,
magnetic rock, underground pipeline,
electric cables, iron pipes, electric poles
may deflect the magnetic needle of the
compass from its true direction giving an
error (discrepancy) in readings.
 Detecting Local Attraction
 For detecting local attraction it is necessary
to take both fore bearing and back bearing
for each line.
 If the difference is exactly 180°, the two
stations may be considered as not affected
by local attraction.
 If difference is not 180°, the two stations
may be considered as being affected by
local attraction.
 To correct bearings affected by local
attraction; two methods are involved:
-Included angle Method
-Error Computation
1. Error Computation Method
 In this method, the direction and the
amount of local attraction at each survey
station is determined.
 Then starting from the line which is
unaffected by local attraction, the
corrected bearing of the traverse are
computed.
 This method is more accurate than the
included angle method.
 Hence it is adopted by most of the
surveyors.
2. Included angle Method
 In this method, the included angles of the
traverse are calculated first, then starting
from the line which is unaffected by local
attraction.
 Using the included angles, the corrected
bearings of the traverse are computed.

 In
this case lets use the more accurate
method mentioned in no. 1 above.
 Usingcomputation method; the following
procedures are observed:
1. Note down the observed BB and FB
2. Calculate the new BB or FB to detect the error
3. Correct the BB or FB by adding observed BB or
FB to the new calculated BB or FB and divide
the answer by two to get the correct readings

For example:
The observed FB of point X was 60°30΄and its BB
was 240°00΄. Was there any discrepancy? If
‘yes’ correct it.
1. Observed FB = 60°30΄, BB = 240°00΄
Diff btn observed BB and FB =
240°00΄ 60°30΄= 179°30΄(An error is
detected)
2. Calculated or new BB = FB ± 180°
New BB = 60°30΄+ 180°= 240°30΄
(Observed BB + New BB)/2,
(240°00΄+ 240°30΄)/2 = 480°30΄/2 =
240°15΄
BB = 240°15΄(corrected)
3. New FB = BB ± 180°, 240°15΄- 180°00΄=
60°15΄
FB = 60°15΄ (Corrected)
Procedures :

 Draw lines from each station parallel to and in the same

direction of AA1 (use the bearing and length of the
closing error).
 Draw a base line AA representing the sum of the length
of each leg of the traverse to the convenient scale
(reduce the length reasonably).
 Divide the line into equal intervals to represent A, B, C,
D, A points.
 At the last A of the base line draw a perpendicular equal
in length to the closing error AA1.
 Draw other perpendiculars at point B C D and mark
them as B, C, D1, then join AA, BB, CC, DD, with a
straight line.
 The perpendicular represents the correct length for each
station on the traverse.
Closing error

Adjusted
traverse
 Exercise
 The observed FB and BB of the line of traverse
ABCDEA with a compass were as follows:
Line FB BB
AB 192°15΄ 12°15΄
BC 38°30΄ 201°30΄
CD 21°15΄ 199°30΄
DE 240°45΄ 60°45΄
EA 330°30΄ 148°45΄
1. What type of traverse is this?
2. Identify stations which are affected by local
attraction.
3. Correct all the discrepancies and give the new FBs
and BBs of traverse ABCDEA. (Summarise the
results in tabular form; see the table below)
LINE OBSERVED ERROR CORRECT REMARKS
FB BB (amount) FB BB
AB
BC
CD
DE
EA
 Prismatic
compass
 This is used to
measure
angles.
 It is normally
mounted on a
tripod stand.
Metric and metallic tapes
These are used in measuring distances
Ranging rods – used for marking stations
Wooden pegs – used to mark main stations
Mallet – hammer for driving in the wooden
Optical square, tri-square, cross staff- used to
make square angles.

Optical Square
Field note book; eraser, pencil,. The main instrument in
compass survey prismatic compass.
 The following adjustment should be done at each
station where the compass is set.
1. Fixing the compass at tripod stand. The tripod
stand is placed at the required stations with its legs
well spread apart. The prismatic compass is placed
at the top of tripod stand with a thread at its base.
2. Centering: The process of keeping the prismatic
compass over the station point. By moving the
legs of the tripod suitably, centering will be easily
done. Centering is checked by dropping a stone
wrapped by a bottom thread at the base of the
tripod so hat if falls on the top of the peg (plumb
bob).
3. Leveling: The process of making the
compass horizontal. It is done by using a
ball and socked arrangement. When the
compass is leveled the aluminum ring
swings freely.
4. Focusing: Prism is moved up and down till
the figures on the graduated ring are seen
sharply and clearly.
i. Set up the prismatic compass over the station
and perform the necessary adjustment.
ii. Rotate the compass until the line of sight
bisects the object.
iii. The graduated ring is set in the rotation, press
the brake pin gently to stop the rotation and
the graduated ring through the prism. The
readings directly give the magnetic bearing of
a point in WCB system.
iv. Follow the same procedures to observe the
magnetic bearing of other stations and record
the readings of the main stations in tabular
form and adjust them according If there is any
no any local attraction they don’t differ by
1800