Visayas State University

College of Engineering
Department of Geodetic Engineering
VSU, Baybay City 6521, Leyte, Philippines

ORIGINAL SURVEY
Laboratory Exercise No. 2
GEng 123n – Property Surveys

Name: Jherome Nayre Date Conducted: 11/24/22

Course and Year: BSGE-2 Date Submitted: 12/03/22

I. INTRODUCTION

Traversing is a type of method in surveying wherein the directions and the lengths of the lot are
measured with the help of measuring instrument. In this laboratory a close traverse type will be
performed. There are two types of traversing, open traverse, and close traverse. Close traverse is when
the last line of the lot will close on the starting point, while open traverse is when the last line will end
anywhere else than the starting point.

II. OBJECTIVE

To determine the metes and bounds of an unsurveyed property by running close traverse.

III. INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Transit/theodolite or Total Station, tripod, compass, range pole, chaining pains, meter tape or steel tape.

IV. PROCEDURE

1. Set up the instrument at a corner with known coordinates.

2. Orient the instrument.
a. Orient to true direction
i. by occupying known station and taking backsight to known station (N,E).
ii. by taking solar observation of the line.
b. Assume Orientation – by taking an assume direction and later compute the true direction, such
as below.
i. You may orient to an assume North Meridian.
ii. You may orient using compass to Magnetic North.
iii. You may orient to any direction.
3. Take a foresight reading to another identified property corner and measure its distance.
4. (If by solar observation) Conduct a solar observation. Record the horizontal and vertical angles and
with corresponding time.
5. Take a foresight reading to another property corner as determined by the instructor.
6. If there are no visible corners, make a traverse station. (for ease and rapidity, choose a station where
two or more corners are visible).
7. Take a backsight reading to the preceding station.
8. Take sideshot readings to the visible corners and measure the distance and angle.
9. Repeat 6-7 until all the property corners have been measured and established.
10. Close the traverse back to the first station (known corner).
11. Compute the linear error of closure.
 12. Compute the Angular error of closure.
13. If step 11 & 12 is within the tertiary precision, adjust the traverse.
14. Determine the area of the lot.
15. Compute the bearing and distance of the lot.

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The students first performed reconnaissance to have a visualization of what the traverse would be and
made the whole process easier. The students then proceed to set a traverse station for the whole process
and decided that the property corners would need to have sideshots because it was not readily visible from
the total station. After finishing the closed traverse they then proceeded to compute the linear error of
closure and acquired a 0.028m of error in closure and it was in the allowable error of 0.068m. The angular
error of closure was also in the allowable error which then made the laboratory exercise a success.

VI. COMPUTATIONS
The computations were all done in the excel.
VII. SKETCH
 VIII. CONCLUSION

Because of the hard work and perseverance that were put in the said laboratory exercise and by
following the given procedures. The students were able to successfully determine the metes and bounds of
the given boundary through running close traverse. But still due to the lack of experience in this kind of
activity the students encountered lots of difficulties. However, the students still surpassed these difficulties
and managed to acquire a 0.028m of error in closure. Since the allowable error is 0.068 therefore, the
laboratory exercise that the students have done is a success.