TRIGONOMETRIC AND TRAVERSE

A report submitted to the surveying department

College of Engineering

University of Duhok

Student name: Birhat Ziyad Shaheen

Moodle Email: es19.birhatzyad@uodstudent.ac
Year: First
Course: Plane surveying
Course code: ES1201 plane surveying
Instructor: Sami Mamlook Gyliana
Date: 26.jun.2020

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION PART 1 ....................................................................... 3

TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELING ........................................................... 3

PRINCIPLES .......................................................................................... 5
A . ELEVATION DETERMINATION ..................................................... 5
B. SIDESHOTS ................................................................................... 6

INTRODUTION PART 2 ......................................................................... 9

TRAVERSES ...................................................................................... 9
ANGLES; MISCLOSURE & ADJUSTMENT ...................................... 10
A. CONCEPT ................................................................................ 10
B. EXAMPLES .............................................................................. 12
3. TRAVERSE CLOSURE; ADJUSTMENT ....................................... 17
A. SIMILARITIES; DIFFERENCES ............................................... 17
INTRODUTION PART 3 ....................................................................... 20
TRAVERSE COMPUTATION ............................................................ 20
TRAVERSE SURVEYING .................................................................... 20
A)ANGULAR MEASUREMENTS: ..................................................... 20

TYPES OF TRAVERSE........................................................................ 22
CLOSED-LOOP TRAVERSE: ........................................................... 22
OPEN TRAVERSE COMPUTATION: ................................................ 23
COMPUTATION DEPARTURE AND LATITUDES: .............................. 24
BALANCING TRAVERSE ANGLES: ................................................... 26
ANGULAR CONDITION:................................................................... 27
ANGULAR MISCLOSURE: ............................................................... 28
CONTROL OF ANGLE MISCLOSURE ERROR:............................... 28

CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................... 29

REFERENCES ..................................................................................... 30

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INTRODUCTION PART 1

TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELING

When you know the vertical angle and either the horizontal or slope distance
between two points, you can apply the fundamentals of trigonometry to calculate
the difference in elevation between the points. That is the basic principle of
trigonometric leveling. This method of indirect leveling is particularly adaptable
to rough, uneven terrain where direct leveling methods are impracticable or too
time consuming. As in any survey, the equipment that you will use in
trigonometric leveling depends on the precision required. For most
trigonometric-leveling surveys of ordinary precision, angles are measured with a
transit, or alidade, and distances are measured either with a tape or by
stadia, which you will study in chapter 8. On reconnaissance surveys the vertical
angles may be measured with a clinometer, and distances maybe obtained by
pacing. The method used in trigonometric leveling is described in the following
paragraphs:

Figure 1 —Difference in elevation in trigonometry leveling.

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 Figure 2 —Lines of indirect levels.

In figure 7-2, a transit is setup and leveled at A. The rodman holds a rod on B.
The instrumentman trains the telescope on C, which is an easily read value
(usually a full foot) on the rod. With the telescope trained on C, the vertical
angle (a) is read. Then either the horizontal distance or the slope distance
between the instrument and rod is determined. Now one side and one angle of a
right triangle (OCD) are known. From your knowledge of trigonometry, you
know that the other sides and angle can be computed. However, in trigonometric
leveling, you are concerned only with determining the length of the side
opposite the measured angle (side CD). The length of this side is the difference
in elevation (DE). As-you can see in figure between the height of

7-2, the DE is the distance instrument (HI) and the intersection of your line of
sight with the rod (point C). Computing the DE consists of multiplying the
measured distance by the proper trigonometric function of the measured angle
(sine, when slope distance (OC) is measured; tangent, when horizontal distance
(OD) is measured).

-SASC (System application specific circuits)

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PRINCIPLES

Trigonometric leveling is so named because it uses a total station instrument's

(TSI) slope distance and zenith angle measurements to mathematically compute
an elevation difference which, with a few more bits of information, can be used
to determine a point's elevation. Using appropriate procedures, and controlling
errors, elevation accuraciy can be better than 0.1 ft. Because trigonometric
leveling is not limited to a horizontal line of sight, it is more flexible and
provides faster elevation data collection than differential leveling.

A . ELEVATION DETERMINATION

TSI slope reduction is discussed in the Electronic Distance

Measurement topic. Slope reduction geometry is shown in Figure F-1 and
accompanying Equations F-1 and F-2.

Figure F-1
Trigonometric Relationships

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 Equation F-1

Equation F-2

H: Horizontal distance V: Vertical distance

Z: Zenith angle R: Earth radius
S: slope distance k: Refraction constant

Vertical distance, V, is the elevation difference between the TSI and the reflector.
Adding V to the TSI elevation gives us the reflector elevation. What we want,
however is the elevation of the ground point at the reflector location. To
determine that, we need two additional pieces of information: (1) TSI elevation,
and, (2) height of the reflector above the ground point. Once we have those, then
the elevation of any observed point, i, is computed from:

Elevi = ElevTSI + Vi -
Equation F-3
HRi
ElevTSI: Elevation of the TSI
HRi: Height of reflector at point i

B. SIDESHOTS

Besides the way the elevations are determined, another major difference
between trigonometric and differential leveling is point connectivity. In
differential leveling we normally have one BS and one FS at each set up - we
survey in then out of each elevation point. Trigonometric leveling is used when a
number of elevations are measured from a single instrument set up. All those

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points are surveyed into, but not out of. Each elevation point determined by
trigonometric leveling is an open link, also known as a sideshot.

In a closed differential level network, Figure F-2(a), each point has a BS and FS;
each is connected to another point and their elevations are based on the BM.

Figure F-2(b) depicts a trigonometric network referenced to the differential

network. Points B, C, and D serve as control for trigonometric leveling. The
green shots at points B, C, and D are all sideshots. Because sideshots are not
connected to other points their elevations cannot be checked. An elevation error
could be in an individual sideshot measurement or a control point elevation error
which affects all the sideshots from that point

(a) Control Network (b) Sideshots

Figure F-2
Control Network and Sideshots

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PART 2

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INTRODUTION PART 2

TRAVERSES

Measured angles or directions of closed traverses are readily investigated before

leaving the field. Linear measurements, even though repeated, are more likely a
source of error, and must also be checked. Although the calculations are
lengthier than angle checks, with today‘s programmable calculators and portable
computers they can also be done in the field to determine, before leaving,
whether a traverse meets the required precision. If specifications have been
satisfied, the traverse is then adjusted to create perfect ―closure‖ or geometric
consistency among angles and lengths; if not, field observations must be
repeated until adequate results are obtained.

Investigation of precision and acceptance or rejection of the field data are

extremely important in surveying. Adjustment for geometric closure is also
crucial. For example, in land surveying the law may require property
descriptions to have exact geometric agreement.

Different procedures can be used for computing and adjusting traverses. These
vary from elementary methods to more advanced techniques based on the
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method of least squares. The usual steps followed in making elementary traverse
computations are (1) adjusting angles or directions to fixed geometric
conditions, (2) determining preliminary azimuths (or bearings) of the traverse
lines, (3) calculating departures and latitudes and adjusting them for misclosure,
(4) computing rectangular coordinates of the traverse stations, and (5)
calculating the lengths and azimuths (or bearings) of the traverse lines after
adjustment. These procedures are all discussed in this chapter and are illustrated
with several examples.

ANGLES; MISCLOSURE & ADJUSTMENT

A. CONCEPT

Because a link traverse doesn't close back on itself there are is no interior angles
sum against which to check.

Typically, angles on a link traverse are either consistently turned in the same
direction, Figure H-3, or deflection angles are measured, Fugure H-4.

Figure H-3
No Angle Condition

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 Figure H-4
No Deflection Angle Condtion

In order to check angle closure, the traverse must start and end with known
directions, Figure H-5.

Figure H-5
Directions at Both Ends

To determine and distribute the angular misclosure is a two step process

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1. Using the start direction and measured angles, compute the raw direction of
each line. The difference between the computed and known end directions is the
angular misclosure.

2. Using whatever desired correction method, correct each raw direction for the
misclosure.

The known directions can be explicit (bearing or azimuth) or be computed from

coordinates.

If one or other direction at the traverse ends is missing then angle misclosure
and adjustment cannot be done. This step would be skipped and the process
would continue with latitude and departure computations.

B. EXAMPLES

(1) Link Traverse 1

The crossing traverse in Figure H-6 begins and ends on known bearings and uses angles
measured to the left at each point.

Figure H-6
Angle left Link Traverse Example

Starting with BrngQB, the remaining bearings are computed using the measured angles. The
angular misclosure is the difference between computed and known bearings of line QB.

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Compute raw bearings

QR 116°48'53" - 60°25'19"
BrngQR = S 56°23'34" E

RS 180°00'00" - (56°23'34" + 48°18'36")

BrngRS = S 75°17'50" W

ST 75°17'50" - 32°11'51"
BrngST = N 43°05'59" E

TY 91°05'25" - 73°05'59"
BrngTY = S 43°59'26" E

Compare computed and known bearings of line TY, Figure H-7.

Figure H-7
Angular Misclosure

Angular misclosure = 47°59'42" - 47°59'26" = +0°00'16"

Snce there are four angles, each would be corrected by 0°00'04". We could either:

Apply the correction to each angle and then then recompute the directions, or,

Apply the correction to each direction.

We'll demonstrate the latter method.

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From Figure H-7, it can be seen that each direction must be rotated counter-clockwise. The
first direction would be rotated 0°00'04", the second 0°00'08", and so on, Figure H-8.

Figure H-8
Effect of Applying Correction

Because bearings are used, we need to examine which quadrant they fall in to determine if the
bearing angle increases or decreases. Based on Figure H-7, bearing angles in the SE and NW
quadrants will be increased, those in the NE and SW decreased.

Line Raw bearing Correction Adjusted Bearing

QR S 56°23'34"E +0°00'04" S 56°23'38"E

RS S 75°17'50"W -0°00'08" S 75°17'42"W

ST N 43°05'59"E -0°00'12" N 43°05'47"E

TY S 43°59'26"E +0°00'16" S 43°59'42"E

If you compute the new angles between the adjusted bearings, you would find that each angle
is increased by 0°00'04".

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(2) Link Traverse 2
The link traverse in Figure H-9 starts and ends on known azimutns and uses deflection angles
measured at each point.

Figure H-9
Deflection Angle Link Traverse Example

As with the bearing example, the ancglar misclosure is the difference between the computed
and knwn direction of the last line.

Compute raw azimuths

JK 154°52'30" - 108°00'18"
AzJK = 46°52'12"

KL 46°52'12" + 92°13'46"
AzKL = 139°05'58"

LM 139°05'58" - 65°55'46"
AzLM = 73°10'12"

MW 73°10'12" - 29°21'42"
AzMW = 102°31'54"

Compare the computed and known direction of line MW, Figure H-10.

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 Figure H-10
Determine Anguar Misclosure

Angular misclosure = 102°32'06" - 102°31'54" = +0°00'12"

Snce there are four deflection angles, each would be corrected by 0°00'03". We could either:

Apply the correction to each deflection angle and then then recompute the directions, or,

Apply the correction to each direction.

We will again apply the corrections directly to the azimuths. The raw direction must be
rotated clockwise into the known direction. Unlike bearings, we don't need to worry about
quadrants for azimuth corrections - each azimuth is corrected in the same direction, Figure H-
11..

Figure H-11
Balancing the Angles

Because the computed closing direction must be rotated clockwise into the known closing
direction, each raw azimuth will have a clockwise correction applied.

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 Line Raw azimuth Correction Adjusted azimuth

JK 46°52'12" +0°00'03" 46°52'15"

KL 139°05'58" +0°00'06" 139°06'04"

LM 73°10'12" +0°00'09" 73°10'21"

MW 102°31'54" +0°00'12" 102°32'06"

3. TRAVERSE CLOSURE; ADJUSTMENT

A. SIMILARITIES; DIFFERENCES

Latitudes and departures are computed same as those for a loop traverse:

Equation H-1

Where the two differ is in how their closure is determined and adjustments made.

On a loop traverse, the closure condition is:

Equation H-2

But because a link traverse does not close back on itself, that condition does not apply.
Instead, we need to know the location, relative or absolute, of the traverse's end points.

If we know the relative location, Figure H--12,

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 Figure H-12
Relative Positions of Endpoints Are Known

the closure condition is

Equation H-3

If we have coordinates of the endpoints, Figure H-13,

Figure H-13
Endpoint Coordinates are Known

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the closure condition is

Eqn (H-4)

The latitude and departure errors would be a result of how well the closure condition was met.
Linear closure and precision would be determined just as for a loop traverse.

PART 3

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INTRODUTION PART 3

TRAVERSE COMPUTATION
Traversing is a form of a control survey that requires the establishment of a series of
stations that are linked together by angles and distance. It can be open traverse and close
traverse. The angles are measured by theodolites and the distance can be measured by
calculating the stadia’s reading or using electronic distance measuring equipment. The use of
theodolites in traversing survey is one of the most common methods in engineering work to
get the provision of control surveys, angle measurement and detail mapping

TRAVERSE SURVEYING

A)ANGULAR MEASUREMENTS:
P1 – station point
P2 – left target (back sight)
P3 – right target (foresight)
B : horizontal angle (clockwise)
Face I = P2 then P3 observations
Face II =P3 then P2 observations

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a)Angular Measurements:

An angle is defined as the difference in direction between two convergent lines. A horizontal
angle is formed by the directions to two objects in a horizontal plane.
Interior angles are measured clockwise or counter-clockwise between two adjacent lines on
the inside of a closed polygon figure.

Exterior angles are measured clockwise or counter-clockwise between two adjacent lines on
the outside of a closed polygon figure.

Angles to the right are turned from the back line in a clockwise or right hand direction to the
ahead line.

Angles to the left are turned from the back line in a counter-clockwise or left hand direction
to the ahead line

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TYPES OF TRAVERSE

CLOSED-LOOP TRAVERSE:
Closed Traverse creates a closed geometrical shape (polygon). A closed traverse is one that
either begins and ends at the same point. Therefore the angles can be closed geometrically and
the position closure can be determined mathematically.

Closed-link Traverse:
A link traverse is connected to at least two points, at the beginning and at the end of traverses
,whose coordinates have been previously determined. Calculations can be made to check for
errors.

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TRAVERSE COMPUTATION

OPEN TRAVERSE COMPUTATION:

Traverse surveying in the field yields observed angles or directions and length of the traverse
sides. Thus, these parameters are used in traverse computations which are performed in a
plane rectangular coordinate system.
Computation of Azimuths:
Computational check is not possible to detect error or blunder in distance and directions in
open traverse computation. Therefore, it is impossible to balance traverse angles .

Open Traverse Computation:

Computation of Azimuths:

K < 200g ; K+ 200g ; tBC = t AB + βB + 200g

200g < K < 600g ; K - 200g ; tBC = t AB + βB - 200g
K > 600g ; K - 600g ; tBC = t AB + βB - 600g

Computation Departure and Latitudes:

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 Direction
of +X refers to north,
Direction of +Y refers to east,
RECTANGULAR COORDINATE SYSTEM

COMPUTATION DEPARTURE AND LATITUDES:

To calculate the coordinates for each point on a traverse, the direction and distance from a
known point must also be known.
Once the distance and direction values are known, the latitude and departure can be
calculated. These values will indicate the distances north or south and east or west between
the two points. The coordinates of the unknown point can then be determined by algebraically
adding the latitude to the northing of the known point and the departure to the easting of the
known point.

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ΔY = SAB . sin tAB
ΔX = SAB . cos tAB
YB = YA + ΔY = YA + SAB sin tAB

XB = XA + ΔX = XA + SAB cos tAB

Yn = Yn-1 + ΔYn-1

Xn = Xn-1 + ΔXn-1
Computation of Coordinates:
YB = YA + ΔY = YA + SAB sin tAB

XB = XA + ΔX = XA + SAB cos tAB

Yn = Yn-1 + ΔYn-1

Xn = Xn-1 + ΔXn-1

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Control of Coordinates Computation:
Yn - Y1 = ΣΔY

Xn - X1 = ΣΔX
Closed-Loop Traverse Computation:
Traverse surveying in the field yields observed angles or directions and length of the traverse
sides. Thus, these parameters are used in traverse computations which are performed in a
plane rectangular coordinate system.
The usual steps followed in making elementary traverse computations are;
Adjusting angles or directions to fixed geometric conditions

Determining azimuths of the traverse lines.

Calculating departures and latitudes and adjusting them for misclosure

Computing rectangular coordinates of the traverse stations

BALANCING TRAVERSE ANGLES:

In elementary methods of closed loop traverse adjustment, the first step is to balance the
traverse angles to the proper geometrical total. For closed traverses, angle balancing is done
readily since the total error is known. The correction for each angle is found by dividing the
total angular misclosure by the number of angles. Also another methods for balancing angles
is that making larger corrections to angles where poor observing conditions were present. The
first method is almost always applied

Balancing Traverse Angles:

n = number of sides of geometrical shape
Total interior angles of a closed

geometrical shape can be computed

by this formula;
Σ (interior angles)= (n-2)*200g
Total exterior angles of a closed

geometrical shape can be computed

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by this formula;
Σ (exterior angles)= (n+2)*200g

ANGULAR CONDITION:
t PQ = t MN + Σβ – m.200g
•m= the number of station with starting and end points.

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ANGULAR MISCLOSURE:
fβ = (t MN + Σβ – m.200g) - t PQ
Maximum Angular Misclosure:
The maximum angular misclosure of a traverse angles is calculated by below formula in
respect of Production Regulation of Large Scale Map standards.

n= number of the traverse angles

CONTROL OF ANGLE MISCLOSURE ERROR:

If the angle misclosure (fβ ) < the maximum angle misclosure (Fβ )
It can be accepted and measured traverse angles can be balanced.
The correction for each angle is found by dividing the total angular misclosure by the number
of angles in respect of Production Regulation of Large Scale Map standards.
Vi = - (fβ ) / n
Adjusted traverse angles :
β’i = β1 + vβ

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CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this is our second fieldwork which is traversing. In this fieldwork, we were
required to carry out a closed loop traverse survey that is located at the car park. A special
characteristic of a closed loop traverse is it starts and ends at the same point, forming a closed
geometric figure called a polygon. My fellow group mates and I conduct the survey together
at the car park. Two of them is holding the leveling staff, one of a group mate is recording
down the data while one of the group member is taking the readings for the traverse survey.
As we taught in class that the horizontal reading must be taken twice which is the first reading
is taken, then turn back again to take the second reading. We also did recorded the top stadia,
middle stadia and bottom stadia readings to calculate the length of the perimeter of the
traverse since we didn’t have a measuring tape.
The angles are usually obtained through the usage of equipment provided by our lecturer.
However, we were unable to obtain the exact reading of 360°, therefore, some adjustment was
made in order to achieve 360° in our traverse survey completely.
Although the formula was really hard for us to understand and apply compare to leveling, but
We realised that trigonometry can be used in many areas such as astronomy and architecture
they can aid in calculating many things they can also be used in cars desks and benches.
Without really climbing a tree, you can find the height easily with trigonometry. They can be
so widely used in real life applications and is very useful for most architects and astronomers.
We can conclude that without trigonometry, life would be much more difficult. Without going
through the troubles, you can easily find something so we think that it was a good invention
by Archimedes and thanks to this many architects need not go through the trouble to calculate
things, so it really helps in real life applications and not only in our tests and exams.

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REFERENCES
[1] http://www.tpub.com/inteng/7a.htm.

[2] http://www.jerrymahun.com/index.php/open-access/elevations/19-elevations-
chap-f

[3]https://www.slideshare.net/felixvong/traversing-finalreport?from_action=save

[4]http://www.jerrymahun.com/index.php/open-access/topic-trav-comps/47-
travcomps-chap-h?showall=1&limitstart=

[5]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315648361_Intelligent_Smart_Hom
e_Automation_and_Security_System_Using_Arduino_and_Wi-fi

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