Open Traverse

CE 2131 Fundamentals of Surveying

Topic 1. Traverse
Outline 2. Open Traverse
3. Guide in
Computing
adjustment
4. Assignment # 5
Traverse
• A traverse is a series of
consecutive lines whose ends
have been marked in the field
and directions have been
determine from observations.

• Types: (a) closed traverse,

(b) open traverse.

• Open traverse is when

boundaries are not closed while
close traverse are when
boundaries are closed.
 Computation and 1. Plot and label the traverse.
adjustment of error. 2. Compute interior angle of the
traverse.
3. Compute the difference between the
forward and back bearing of each
line.
4. Adjustment of bearings of the
traverse will start from the line with
the lease difference (+/-). Use
forward bearing of this line.
Adjusted forward and back bearing
of a line has the same magnitude but
of opposite direction.
5. Adjust succeeding forward bearings
of the other lines using its interior
angles.
Example: Given the
following survey data,
compute the corrected
Line Length Forward Back
bearing of each line. (m) Bearing Bearing
AB 10.00 N 30º 00’ E S 29º 36’ W
BC 10.50 N 15º 30’ W S 15º 45’ E
CD 11.00 N 25º 42’ E S 25º 50’ W
DE 11.50 N 52º 48’ W S 52º 38’ E
EF 12.00 S 85º 35’ W N 85º 42’ E
FG 12.50 S 35º 06’ W N 35º 10’ E

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Step 1. Plot and label the
traverse.
Line Length Forward Back Bearing
(m) Bearing
AB 10.00 N 30º 00’ E S 29º 36’ W
BC 10.50 N 15º 30’ W S 15º 45’ E
CD 11.00 N 25º 42’ E S 25º 50’ W
DE 11.50 N 52º 48’ W S 52º 38’ E
EF 12.00 S 85º 35’ W N 85º 42’ E
FG 12.50 S 35º 06’ W N 35º 10’ E
Step 2. Compute interior angles.

F
C

D
Step 2. Compute interior angles.
Pt Interior angles Answer
A na 0
B 180-[(29-36)+(15-30)] 134-54
C 180-[(15-45)+(25-42)] 138-33
D 180-[(25-50)+(52-48)] 101-22
E (52-38)+(85-35) 138-13
F [180-(82-42)]+(35-06) 132-24
G na 0

B C D E F
 Step 3. Compute the difference
between the forward & back bearing.
Line Length Forward Back Bearing Difference
(m) Bearing
AB 10.00 N 30º 00’ E S 29º 36’ W +0º 24’
BC 10.50 N 15º 30’ W S 15º 45’ E -0º 15’
CD 11.00 N 25º 42’ E S 25º 50’ W -0º 08’
DE 11.50 N 52º 48’ W S 52º 38’ E +0º 10’
EF 12.00 S 85º 35’ W N 85º 42’ E -0º 07’
FG 12.50 S 35º 06’ W N 35º 10’ E -0º 04’
Step 4. Adjustment of forward bearings
will start from the line where the
difference between the forward and back
bearing is least. Use forward bearing of
the line.

+
Step 4. Adjustment of forward bearings
will start from the line where the
difference between the forward and back
bearing is least. Use forward bearing of
the line.

LINE Forward Bearing Ans F/bearing

FG S 35-06 W S 35-06 W

FE 180-[(132-24)-(35-06)] N 82-42 E S 82-42 W

+
ED (138-13)-(82-42) S 55-31 E N 55-31 W

DC 180-[(101-22)+(55-31)] S 23-07 W N 23-07 E

CB 180-[(23-07)+(138-33)] S 18-20 E N 18-20 W

BA 180-[(18-20)+(134-54)] S 26-46 W N 26-46 E

End of Session