CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR SURVEYING SCIENCE AND GEOMATICS

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND SURVEYING

TITLE

AP220 – Bachelor of Surveying Science and Geomatics

Programme :
(Honors)

Course : GLS418 – Principles of Surveying

Name :

Student ID :

Group :

Lecturer’s Name : Dr Nabilah Naharudin

MARKS

Content : /50

Organization : /25

Language : /5

Originality : /10

Timeliness : /10

Total :
 Table of Content

1. Introduction 1
2. Body 2
3. Conclusion 3
References 4

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Introduction

A prismatic compass is a navigation and surveying instrument which is extensively

used to find out the bearing of the traversing and included angles between them, way points
(an endpoint of the course) and direction. Also, a prismatic compass is a surveying instrument
which is extensively used for calculating bearings of survey lines and included angles
between them. The compass calculates bearings of lines with respect to magnetic north.
Compass surveying is a type of surveying in which the directions of surveying lines are
determined with a magnetic compass, and the length of the surveying lines are measured with
a tape or chain or laser range finder. The compass is generally used to run a traverse line. The
compass calculates bearings of lines with respect to magnetic needle. The included angles can
then be calculated using suitable formulas in case of clockwise and anti-clockwise traverse
respectively. For each survey line in the traverse, surveyors take two bearings that is fore
bearing and back bearing which should exactly differ by 180°. In Compass survey chain or
tape is used for linear measurements and compass is used for fixing direction. The compass
freely suspended magnetic needle directs to north- south and the bearing of line is obtained
by line of sight.

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COMPASS

Type of compass.

1. Prismatic Compass
2. Surveyor Compass

The Prismatic Compass

Parts in Prismatic Compass

1. Cylindrical metal box
2. Pivot
3. Lifting pin and lifting liver
4. Magnetic Needle
5. Graduated Ring
6. Prism
7. Object vane
8. Eye Vane
9. Glass Cover
10. Sun Glasses
11. Reflecting Mirror
12. Spring Brake or Brake Pin

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Objective:
1. To introduce the equipment used in level measurement hence execute the fieldwork.
2. To measure bearings of the traverse by using prismatic compass survey and do the
correction.
3. To do the traversing with the help of compass local to detect the error correction.

Instrument that used to do Compass Survey:

1. Prismatic compass
2. Tape
3. Ranging rods
4. Tripod
5. Plumb Bob

Adjustment of Prismatic Compass

Centering:

 The center of the compass is placed vertically over the station point by dropping a
small piece of stone below the center of the compass, it falls on the top of the peg
marking that station.
Levelling:
 By means of ball and socket arrangement the Compass is then leveled the graduated
ring swings quite freely. It may be tested by rolling a round pencil on the compass
box.
Focusing the prism:
 The prism attachment is slid up or down focusing till the readings are seen to be sharp
and clear.

Procedure:

1. With many lenght, at least four points (CP) had to established at the desired site.
At the ground, drive the nail at the proposed stations.

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 20.4 m

26.7 m 23.7 m

19.8 m

2. Set the compass at Station A and with the arrow, center the compass by using the
plum bob.

3. Adjust the compass for observation of bearings and also observe the magnetic
north to determine the lines and also the magnetic bearings that had to be
observed. In sheet 2, the readings are taken and then recorded.

4. Set to move to another station together with the compass, the tripod and also the
plum bob. Step 3 then is repeated.

Data Collection:

Stesen Garisan Jarak Bearing Cerapan Beza LAC Bearing

Akhir

1 1 ke 2 20.4 m 0º 50’ 182 º 0’ 2º 45’ 3º 35’

2 ke 1 182º 50’ 0º 45’ 183º 35,

2 2 ke 3 23.7 m 94º 40’ 180º 45’ 0º 45’ 95º 25’

3 ke 2 275º 25’ 0º 275º 25’

3 3 ke 4 19.8 m 185º 40’ 180º 0’ 0º 185º 40’

4 ke 3 5º 40’ 0º 5º 40’

4 4 ke 1 26.7 m 271º 50’ 181º 30’ 0º 271º 50’

1 ke 4 90º 20’ 0º 45’ 91º 05’

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Discussion:
Include a brief discussion with your reports:

1. Can the students be able to use and set up the apparatus needed in this experiment
correctly?
2. Did the students managed to take measurement correctly?
3. What is the difference between the Forward bearing and the back bearing?

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Conclusion:

From the experiment that we conducted, we can conclude that the fore bearing is
when we take a level at the site in forward direction, while the back bearing is the
opposite to back bearing, that is the back bearing. Also, Prismatic Compass comprises of
a magnetic needle attached to the circular ring made up of aluminum. The needle is on the
pivot and will orient itself in the magnetic meridian.

References

Civil Engineering Blog, 2019, What is compass surveying?

https://www.iamcivilengineer.com/what-is-compass-surveying/ . Accessed on 23 November
2019.

Learn Surveying, 2019, Surveying Basics and Terminology,

http://automatedsurveys.com.au/learn- surveying , Accessed on 21 November 2019.

Wikipedia, 2019, Surveying, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying, Accessed on 22

November 2019

Yaguba Jalloh, Anuar Ahmad, Zulkarnaini Mat Amin and Kuyoro Sasaki, 2017, Conventional

Total Station Versus Digital Photogrammetry in Land Development Applications,
https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/conventional-total-station-versus-digital-
photogrammetry-in-land-development-applications-2161-0525- 1000430.php?
aid=85524 , Accessed on 21 November 2019.

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