TRAVERSE SURVEYING

CE 404-Fundamentals of Surveying

Engr. Sonny Boy C. Reyes RCE, MMEP

Instructor
 Traversing
Traversing is a type of survey,
in which a number of Direction and lengths of
connected survey lines form these lines is determined by
the framework and the measurements taken in the
directions and lengths of the field.
survey lines are measured Two types of Traverse
with the help of an angle Surveying:
measuring instrument and a
chain or tape. -Close Traverse
-Open Traverse
 Procedure for Running a Traverse
1. Locate a known point to be occupied (1st point). (to occupy a point
means to set-up and level the transit or theodolite, directly over a
monument on the ground representing that point.)
2. Establish the direction. This can be done by sighting with the
instrument to the 2nd known point, or any definite object, which is in a
known direction from the occupied point.
3. The object that the instrument is pointed to in order to establish a
direction is known as a backsight.
4. Once the instrument is occupying a known point (2nd point), the
telescope has been pointed toward the backsight, perhaps toward 1st
point.
5. At the 2nd point, measure an angle and distance to the first unknown
point. An unknown point being measured to is called a foresight.
6. The next step is to move the instrument ahead to the former foresight
and duplicate the entire process.
Procedure for Running a Traverse
Procedure for Running a Traverse
 Engineer’s Transit and Theodolite

The Engineer’s Transit The Optical Theodolite

 Engineer’s Transit and Theodolite
Setting Up the Transit
1. Positioning the Tripod
2. Mounting the Transit
3. Attaching the Plumb Bob
4. Final Centering
Leveling the Transit
Care of the Transit
 Engineer’s Transit and Theodolite
A. Circle Graduations of Transits
The Engineer’s Transit has two graduated circles or limbs:
Horizontal circle and Vertical Circle.
B. Verniers
- A vernier is a small graduated mechanical device attached
and made to slide along linear or circular scales in order to
increase to a higher degree of accuracy the reading s
obtained on such scales.
- Invented by Pierre Vernier, a French mathematicians in
1620.
- Verniers are principally employed in surveying for reading
horizontal and vertical circles of the transit. Two types of
vernier: Direct Vernier and Retrograde Vernier.
Engineer’s Transit and Theodolite
 Index Mark Vernier Scale

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

25
Main Scale
H Reading: 25o 17’
 Methods of Traversing
Interior Angle Traverse
- is used principally in land surveying
- may be measured either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction,
however, the usual practice is to measure these angles clockwise.
The interior angles in any closed traverse may be checked by geometrical
relation that in any polygon having “n” sides the sum of the interior angles must
equal (n-2) x 180deg. This relation furnishes a check on the accuracy of the
angular measurements and serves as a basis for distributing the errors in
measurement.
 Methods of Traversing
Interior Angle Traverse
- An angular error exists if the two quantities are not equal.
 Methods of Traversing
Angle to the Right Traverse
- is employed when numerous details are to be located from the traverse stations.
- Such type of traverse is commonly used on city, tunnel, and mine surveys, and in
locating details for a topographic map.
- The angles for this type of traverse are measured clockwise from backsight on
the back line to a forward line. These angles may lie anywhere between 0 deg to
360 degrees.
- For a closed traverse, the sum of the angles to the right should equal
(n+2) x 180o
 Methods of Traversing
Interior Angle Traverse o

=(5-2)*180 = 540o

Error in observed angular measurement =

540o - 539o59’ = 1’

Correction to angular measurement =

1’ / 5 = 12”
 Methods of Traversing
Interior Angle Traverse STA DIST (m) BEARING INT. Adjusted Interior
ANGLE Angle
AB 139.11 S89OE 166O53’ 166O53’12”

BC 50.03 S12OE 103O16’ 103O16’12”

CD 210.46 S78O30’W 89O29’ 89O29’12”

DE 80.23 N11O30’W 90O05’ 90O05’12”

EA 74.46 N78O25’E 90O16’ 90O16’ 12”

∑ int angle= 539o59’ 540o
 Methods of Traversing
Sample
If all observed angles are
assumed to be correct,
determine the interior angle
at C. Also determine the
bearing of each line if the
bearing of line AB is
N15o30’E. Tabulate
accordingly.
 Methods of Traversing
Sum angle = (n-2) x 180 = (5-2)*180 = 540o
Sta C (int angle) = 540o – 489o3’ = 50o57’
StationN8 Bearing
5O10’w
AB N15o30’E
BC S80O3’E
CD S49OW
DE N85O10’W
EA N46OW
 Methods of Traversing

Sum Int angle = (n-2)*180 ; n=5 Station Corrected Interior Angle

= 540o A
Sum of Observed Int angle =
Angular Error = B
Angular Correction = C
D
E
 Methods of Traversing
Latitude and Departure of a Line
The LATITUDE of a line is its projection on the North – South meridian.
The DEPARTURE of a line is its projection on the East – West line.
Latitide, L L = d cos α Departure, D D = d sin α
(+) for North Latitude, LN (+) for East Departure, DE
(-) for South Latitude, LS (-) for West Departure, DW

,
S2 = L2 + D2 ; S = Tanα =
,
 Methods of Traversing
Latitude and Departure of a Line N (+)
-DW +DE
+LN α α
+LN

W (-) E (+)

-LS α α -LS
-DW +DE
S (-)
 Methods of Traversing
SAMPLE

Lat = d cos α Dep = d sin α

STATION DISTANCE AZIMUTH LATITUDE DEPARTURE
+N -S +E -W
AB 233.10m 122o30’
BC 242.05m 85o15’
CD 191.50m 20o00’
DE 234.46m 333o35’
EF 270.65m 254o08’
FA 252.38m 213o00’
Sum 1,424.14m Sum
CL= 409.972 + (– 410.904) = -0.932m CD= 503.308 + (– 502.104) = 1.204m
SAMPLE:
LEC = √ CL2 + CD2 -------- linear error of closure
LEC = √(0.932)2 + (1.204)2
= 1.519m

Tan θ = -CD / -CL ---- bearing angle of the side of error

θ = Tan-1 -(1.2)/-(-0.93)
= -52o13’12” = N 52o13’12” W

RP = 1 / (LEC / ∑Dist) = 1/(1424.14/1.519)

RP =1/937.55 = 1/900
 Topographic Surveying
Contouring
- It is the science of representing the vertical dimension of the terrain on a
two dimensional map.
 Topographic Surveying
Contouring
- Assuming that a right circular cone of base 5m diameter and vertical height of
5m is standing upright on its base. Let the base be resting on a horizontal plane
at zero level.
- The outline of the cone will be a circle of 5m diameter. This circle is the contour
line at 0m elevation for the cone.
- Slicing the cone at 1m height from the base, 0 level will produce another outline
corresponding to the diameter of the cone at 1m elevation.
- Drawing another outline at higher elevation at a given diameter of a cone, will
similarly set a contour map.
 Topographic Surveying
Contouring
- The circle on the map are called contour lines.
Gradient
- It represent the ascending or descending slope of the terrain between two
consecutive contour lines. The slope or gradient is usually stated in the
format 1 in S, where 1 represent the vertical component of the slope and S
its corresponding horizontal component measured in the same unit.
 Topographic Surveying
Characteristics of Contours
- All points on a contour line are of the same elevation.
- No two contour lines can meet or cross each other except in the rare case of an
overhanging vertical cliff or wall.
- Closely spaced contour lines indicate steep slope.
- Widely spaced contour lines indicate gentle slope.
- Equally spaced contour lines indicate uniform slope.
- Closed contour lines with higher elevation towards the center indicate hills.
- Close contour lines with reducing levels toward the center indicate pond or other
depression.
 Topographic Surveying
Characteristics of Contours
- Contour lines of ridge show higher elevation within the loop of the contours.
Contour lines cross ridge at right angles.
- Contour lines of valley show reducing elevation within the loop of the
contours. Contour lines cross valley at right angles.
- All contour lines must close either within the map boundary or outside.
 Topographic Surveying
Parameters on Contour lines accuracy and quality
- Data Acquisition (density, distribution, and quality of measured points)
- Data Processing (interpolation principle, filtering, etc.)
- Measuring accuracy

The contour can be open or closed. Closed contour correspond to region

boundaries, while open contour may be part of a region boundary.
 Topographic Surveying
Criteria for a good contour representation:
- Efficiency. The contour should be a simple, compact representation.
- Accuracy. The contour should accurately fit the image features.
- Effectiveness. The contour should be suitable for the operations to be
performed in later stages of the application.