Set a marker on the ground at point A.

From the point A take a compass bearing on point B, then

measure the distance between point A and point B. From point B take a compass bearing on point C,
then measure the distance between point B and point C. Repeat the remaining legs of the polygon,
ending at the starting point. Record the surveyed traverse in the tabulated data sheet.

Leg Bearing Length Latitude Departure

A-B N 63⁰ E 20.00 m 9.08 17.82

B-C N 136⁰ E 19.70 m -14.17 13.685
C-D N 111⁰ E 19.40 m -6.95 18.11
D-E N 70⁰ E 26.90 m 9.2 25.28
E-F N 250⁰ W 45.50 m -15.56 -42.75
F-G N 149⁰ E 34.80 m -29.83 17.92
G-H N 170⁰ E 29.30 m -28.85 5.09

H-I N 102⁰ E 20.00 m

H-J N 301⁰ W 31.50 m 16.22 -27

J-K N 238⁰ W 13.50 m -6.99 -11.19
K-L N 312⁰ W 24.30 m 16.25 -18.06
L-M N 345⁰ W 26.90 m 25.98 -6.96
M-N N 10⁰ E 34.56 m 34.035 6
N-A N 53⁰ E 20.00 m 12 -25.97

Sum: 346.06 m 20.415 -18.025

V. Computation:

Linear error of closure=√ ( 20 ) ²+(−18.025) ²

Linear error of closure=27.23 m

27.27
Relative error of closure= =0.0787
346.06

We assessed the error of closure using the Compass Rule

Compass Rule - (Bowditch method) The correction to be applied to the latitude (or departure) of any
course is to the total absolute correction in latitude (or departure) as the length of the course is
to the perimeter of the traverse.

Correction of latitude;
CL / | Nlat. – Slat | = Length of course / Perimeter of traverse .
Correction of departure;
CD / | Edep. – Wdep. | = Length of course / Perimeter of traverse .

Correction of a close-traverse using compass rule

 Corrected Corrected
Leg CL CD Corrected Length Corrected Bearing
Latitude Departure

A-B 1.79 7.29 -1.04 18.86 20.22 N 68⁰ 52' E

B-C 0.96 -15.13 -1.026 14.71 21.1 N 135⁰ 48' E

C-D 0.94 -7.89 -1.01 19.12 20.68 N 112⁰ 24' E

D-E 1.59 7.61 -1.4 26.68 27.7 N 74⁰ 6' E

E-F 2.48 -18.04 -2.37 -40.38 44.23 N 245⁰ 56' W

F-G 1.1.83 -31.66 -1.81 19.73 37.3 N 148⁰ 4' E

G-H 1.53 -30.38 -1.526 6.62 31.09 N 167⁰ 42' E

H-J 1.86 14.36 -1.64 -25.36 29.14 S 119⁰ 31' W

J-K 0.59 -7.58 -0.69 -10.5 12.95 S 54⁰ 11' W

K-L 1.43 14.82 -1.27 -16.79 22.4 S 131⁰ 26' W

L-M 1.59 24.39 -1.4 -5.56 25.02 S167⁰ 10' W

M-N 2.04 32 -1.8 7.8 32.94 N 13⁰ 42' E

N-A 1.79 10.21 1.04 -14.93 18.09 S 124⁰ 22' W

Sum: 0 Sum: 0 342.86

VI. Figure:
VII. Conclusion:

In a compass traverse there are likely to be discrepancies between the observed forward and
back bearing of lines. These may be due to the errors of observations or local attraction.