Traverse Surveying

Dr. Gopal Das Singhal

University of Petroleum and Energy studies
Energy Acres , Bidholi
Dehradun , Uttarakhand
 Traverse
Traversing is that of type survey in which number of connect lines form the
framework.
Direction and lengths of the survey lines are measured with the help of angel
measuring instrument and tape or chain respectively.
When the lines form a circuit which end at the starting point, it is known as
closed traverse. If the circuit ends elsewhere, it is said to be an open traverse.

Methods of traversing
The following are principal methods:
(1)Chain traversing
(2)Chain and compass traversing
(3)Transit type traversing
(a) by fast needle method
(b) my measurement of angel between lines
(4) Plane table traversing
 Traverse
(a) Chain traversing
The whole of work is done with the chain and tape. No angel measuring
instrument is used and the direction of the lines are fixed entirely by linear
measurement. Angel fixed by linear or tie measurement are known as chain
angel.

(b) Chain and compass traversing

The magnetic bearing of survey lines are measured by a compass and length
of lines are measured either with a chain or with a tape. The direction of
magnetic meridian is established at each traverse station independently. The
method is also known as free or loose needle method.
 Traverse
(c) Traverse by fast needle method
Magnetic bearing of traverse lines are measured by a theodolite fitted with a
compass. However, the direction of the magnetic meridian is not established
at each station but instead, the magnetic bearing of lines are measured with
reference to magnetic meridian established at first station. This method is
more accurate than loose needle method. There are three methods of
observing the bearing of lines by fast needle method.
(1) Direct method with transiting
(2) Direct method without transiting
(3) Back bearing method
 Traverse
(d) Traverse by direct observation of angel
The angel between lines are directly measured by theodolite. This method is
more accurate than last three methods. The angel measured at different
station may be either (a) included angels (b) deflection angels.
Traversing by include angels:
An include angel at a station is either of the two angels formed by the two
survey lines meeting there.
Traversing by deflection angel:
A angel angle is angle which a survey line makes with the prolongation of
the preceding line.
 Traverse
Check in closed traverse
Error involved in traversing are two kind: linear and angular. For important
work the most satisfactory method of checking the linear measurement
consist in chaining each survey line a second time, preferably in the reverse
direction. The following are the check for the angular work:
(1) Traverse by include angel
(a) The sum of measured interior angel should be equal to (2N-4)x90° (right
angel), where N = number of sides of the traverse
(b) If the exterior angel are measured, their sum should be equal to
(2N+4)x90°
(2) Traverse by deflection angel
the algebraic sum of the deflection angel should be equal to 360°, taking the
right-hand angel as +ve and left-hand angel as –ve.
(3) Traverse by deflection angel
the fore bearing of the last line should be equal to its back bearing±180°
measured at initial.
Latitude and departure:
The latitude of a survey line may be defined as its co-ordinate length measured
parallel to an assumed meridian direction.
The departure of survey line may be s its co0ordinate length measured at right
angles to the meridian direction.
The latitude (L) of the line is positive when measured northward (or upward)
and is termed as northing and the latitude is negative when measured
southward (or downward) and is termed as southing.
Similarly , the departure (D) of the line is positive when measured eastward and
is termed as easting and the departure is negative when measured westward
and is termed as westing.

W.C.B. R.B. or Quadrant Sign of

Latitude Departure
0° to 90° NθE + +
90° to 180° NθW - +
180° to 270° SθE - -
270° to 360° SθW + -
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Balancing the traverse

The balancing is generally applied to the operation of applying correction to

latitude and departure so that ΣL = 0 and ΣD = 0. this applies only when the
survey forms a closed polygon. The following are common method of
adjusting a traversing:

(1) Bowditch’s method

(2) Transit method

(3) Graphical method

(4) Axis method

 Traverse
Balancing the traverse
Bowditch’s method: Error in linear measurement are proportional to l0.5 and
error in angular measurement are inversely proportional to l0.5 where l is the
length of a line. The Bowditch’s rule, also termed as compass rule, is mostly
used to balance a traverse.
Correction to latitude or departure of any side = total error in latitude or
departure X (Length of that side)/(Perimeter of traverse)
CL = ΣL (l/Σl) or CD = ΣD (l/Σl)
CL = correction to latitude of any side
CD = correction to departure of any side
ΣL or D= total error in latitude or departure
Σl = length of the perimeter
l = length of any side