Centre For Diploma Studies Sheet No.

Department of Civil Engineering Edition

Checking No.
Traversing Survery Effective date Jun 2012
Revised date Oct 2022

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A network of stations connected by angles and distance must be built for a control survey technique
known as traversing. Open traverse and closed traverse are the two different forms of traverse. Angles
are measured using theodolites, and distances can be determined either by using the stadia's reading or
by using electronic distance measuring equipment. The use of theodolites in traversing surveys is one of
the most common methods in engineering work for providing control surveys, angle measurement, and
detailed mapping.

A tool for calculating horizontal and vertical angles is a theodolite. Vertical angles are necessary for the
computation of elevation of points, such as the reduction of slope distance to the horizontal. Horizontal
angles are required to calculate the relative direction to a control point or detail station.

Depending on whether the traverse is being done clockwise or anticlockwise, the angle in a closed
traverse is measured from the inside or outside. The traverse is often closed in a clockwise direction.
Following measurements of the subsequent lines, the bearing of the original line is observed.
Calculating the bearing of the remaining lines requires knowledge of both the observed bearing and the
measured angles. Traveling can also be done using this method. To obtain the desired level of accuracy,
repetition can be employed to measure the angle.

OBJECTIVES

 To create a traverse survey's scaled drawing.

 To be familiar with the checks and errors in a closed traverse and solve them
 To know the benefits of bearing and the uses in various survey works
 Centre For Diploma Studies Sheet No.
Department of Civil Engineering Edition
Checking No.
Traversing Survery Effective date Jun 2012
Revised date Oct 2022

2.0 THEORY

Travers is a sequence of lines connecting the travers station with the bearing value and distance.
Shaking involves measuring the angle of the horizon and the distance of the horizon. The coordinates or
bearings can be published based on the data taken during the measurement process. Measurements for
travers survey work are classified according to the degree of accuracy as well as the method used.
Consists of circumnavigation, small controls and connections of all ownership measures in rural areas.
The bearing split is 2'30'’ per travers not exceeding 25 stations and corrections not exceeding 30'’ per
station The straight for distance is 1 unit in 4000 units or (1:4000)

Palpable measurements using the total station tool involve measuring the bearings and horizon distances
in each palpable line. The method used is to absorb the full-round bearings referenced in the reference
datum. Before making travers measurements, several aspects of the work procedure need to be given
reasonable attention.

This travers survey aims to get a clear picture of the work area by using the total station tool after
making a rough picture of the area. The position of the total station tool should be placed in an open
place so that there are no obstacles to absorbing the marked points. Each station should also be named
with a number that is sequential in the direction of the travers so that there is no confusion during the
data plot process.
Datum is the beginning of work i.e. a known point. The next line bearing is based on this datum. The
correct bearing is cumulative.
 Centre For Diploma Studies Sheet No.
Department of Civil Engineering Edition
Checking No.
Traversing Survery Effective date Jun 2012
Revised date Oct 2022
3.0 Equipment

3.1 Total Station (1 set)

3.2 Prism & Tripod (2 sets)

3.3 Hammer
 3.4 Picket & nail

3.5 Prism Compass & Certified Plan

4.0 Procedures

4.1 Reconnaissance

The reconnaissance survey party will usually carry lightweight instruments that are not
precise. The direction and angle were determined by the compass.

4.2 Information Gathering

The report you submit to the reconnaissance field party must be as thorough as possible; it
contains the key information that helps determine which traverse is the most practical.

4.3 Point Setup / Datum establishment

(i) The traverse must have at least 5 markings (stations), each of which must be at
least 30.000 metres apart.

(ii) The station was fixed into the ground neatly, securely, and easy to find.
(iii) The first bearing to be the datum served as the starting point for traverse
operations was established using a compass or the certified plan (PA).
 Centre For Diploma Studies Sheet No.
Department of Civil Engineering Edition
Checking No.
Traversing Survery Effective date Jun 2012
Revised date Oct 2022
4.4 Observation

(i) By referring to the diagram, the theodolite/Total Station was set up at station 2
and prism at stations 1 and 3.

(ii) Bearing was set 2 to 1 in left circle angle (HR) and recorded the horizontal
distance (HD). The theodolite/Total Station was targeted to station 3 and
recorded the observed bearing and distance between 2 to 3 in the field book.
(iii) The theodolite/Total Station was transited into a right circle angle and set the
bearing station 2 to 1 and recorded/wrote the data into the field book. Repeated
the steps for station 2 to 3 observation.
(iv) Next, the instrument/Total Station was transferred to station 3 and prism to
stations 2 and 4.
(v) Bearing 3 to 2 was set in left circle angle (HR) and recorded the horizontal
distance (HD) to counter-check the distance.
(vi) Targeted the theodolite/Total Station to station 4 and recorded the observed
bearing and distance from station 3 to 4 in the field book.
(vii) Transited the theodolite/Total Station to a right circle angle and set the bearing
station 3 to 2 and recorded/wrote the data into the field book. Repeated the
steps for station 3 to 4 observation.
(viii) Repeated the steps iv – vii directions until the close/loop traverse was in
station 1 again.

4.5 Close Traverse

The disclosure of bearing stations 1 to 2 was determined. (Please refer to traverse

classification).

4.6 Booking
Observation data records should follow the regulations of field book standards.

4.7 Data Processing

(i) After completing the observation and bearing adjustment, calculated the data
into Latitude & Departure form.
(ii) The Latitude & Departure value was calculated to find the closing error, ∆L and
∆D.
(iii) The traverse accuracy was calculated through linear misclosure.
(iv) Either Bowditch or Transit rule was performed to adjust the error.
(v) Coordinates for each station must calculate accordingly.
(vi) The area measurement was found from the computed coordinates.
 Centre For Diploma Studies Sheet No.
Department of Civil Engineering Edition
Checking No.
Traversing Survery Effective date Jun 2012
Revised date Oct 2022
4.8 Plotting the survey

The traverse survey may be plotted as follows:

(a) Grid. A rectangular grid of coordinates is created, plotted, and scaled to detect any
plotting mistakes.
(b) Traverse network. Following that, the traverse lines are formed between the
stations that were plotted. They are scaled, and their lengths are compared to their
dimensions.
(c) Detail. Detail is then plotted using offsets from the network of traverse lines,
same as in loop traverse. Additionally, points can be identified using scaled
bearings and distances from survey stations, with their plotted positions then
being verified by scaled dimensions to other points and being compared with the
actual measurements made in the field between these points.
 Centre For Diploma Studies Sheet No.
Department of Civil Engineering Edition
Checking No.
Traversing Survery Effective date Jun 2012
Revised date Oct 2022
6.0 DISCUSSION

1. The preparation of the plan area and the building project are the two components of traverse
surveying for engineering purposes. Talk about the three (3) purposes of the survey traverse in
creating the plan area.

The survey crossing serves the following purposes in the creation of the plan area:
 Provide a Network of Control Points to Produce Area Plans
 Provide a Network of Control Points for Marking and Installation Works in the Field.
 Provide Control Point Network For Construction Work

2 .Discuss three (3) common mistakes in traverse work

When conducting crossing surveys, a few common problems could result in unreliable findings.
First, there are issues with the way that tools like total stations and prisms are provided. Make sure the
instrument is in good working order before checking the bearings and spacing. You'll be able to obtain
more precise data as a result. For instance, by centering the foam and the nails in the tripod's centre, all
instruments were secured to a flat, flat surface.

The second problem is mistakes made when recording data. This is a fundamental reason for
human error, which may be brought on by a lack of traversal expertise or a problem with observational
vision. The most frequent sources of trajectory measurement errors include wrong instrument operation,
human error, eyesight error, natural cause error, and instrument error. For each of these potential flaws,
precautions can be taken to ensure that they are minimised.

Failures in data observation can also occur when angles, orientations, and distances between
station points are not taken into account. Errors in calculating the data can still happen even though each
station has been passed in the left and right circle angles to assess the bearing response and horizontal
distance (HD). In order to ensure clear and crisp vision, further precautions should be taken before
taking readings, such as minimising parallax errors and making sure that the prism's centre is directed
towards the centre of the cross after adjusting the focusing screw.