Chapter 6

Traversing
6.1. Introduction

The word traverse means ‘passing across’ in surveying it means’ determining the length
and direction of consecutive lines’ the linear measurements are made with tape and
relative directions of the lines are measured with the directions of the lines are measured
with the docile the integrated measurements of distance and direction provides the
essential two dimensional data for providing horizontal control i.e. the relative location of
point on horizontal plane.
The traverse in general consist Reconnaissance, distance measurement, angular
measurement, measurement of one reference direction, computation.

6.2 Types of traverse

General a traverse can be divided in to two

1. Closed traverse
2. Open traverse

1. Closed traverse: - A traverse is said to be closed if it either it ends on starting

point. Or if it ends on another known point due to this it can be divided into two.
1. Closed traverse
I. Closed loop (ring) traverse (fig 6.2.1a)
Station A is Known

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II. Closed route (link) connection) traverse (fig 6.2.1b)

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 Station A and E are Known
2. Open traverse: - It is a kind of traverse that starts from known point and ends on
unknown point. (fig 6.2.2)

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Station A is Known
6.3 Departure and latitude
In rectangular coordinate system they can be defined as follows
Departure: - The difference in x- coordinates between two points (ΔX)
Latitude: - The difference in y- coordinates between two points (ΔY)
Departure and latitude are described and computed in different coordinate systems as
follows:
i. By using rectangular coordinate system

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Departure of AB = ΔXAB= XB- XA
Latitude of AB = ΔYAB= YB-YA

Illustrative Example

If the coordinates of A= (600.72, 802.93) and

B= (700.00, 891.30)
Calculate departure and latitude of AB and BA
Solution
Departure AB = XB-XA
= 700.00-600.72

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 = 99.28
Latitude AB = YB-YA
= 891.30-802.93
= 88.37

Again for line BA

ΔXBA = XA-XB
= 600.72-700.00
= - 99.28
ΔYBA = YA-YB
= 802.93-891.30
= -88.37
ii. By using Polar coordinates (distance and azimuth) system

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Departure: - It is the product of the horizontal distance between two points and the sine
of the azimuth of a line joining the two paints.
= distance * Sin of Azimuth
Latitude: - it is the product of the horizontal distance between two points and the cosine
of the azimuth of a line joining the two points.
= distance* cos of Azimuth

From triangle ACB

AC = departure of AB
CB = latitude of AB
θ = Azimuth of AB
AB = Distance between A and B
Therefore; sinθ = ∆XAB
DisAB
ΔXAB = disAB* sinθ
And cos θ = ΔYAB
DisAB
ΔYAB = disAB*cosθ

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Illustrative Example

If it is given that azimuth of a line = 600 11’23’’ and its length is 400.2m. Calculate its
departure and latitude.
Solution
Departure of a line = distance* sin of Azimuth
= 400.23 * sin 60011’23’’
= 347.244
Latitude of a line = distance* cos of Azimuth
= 400.2* cos 60011’23’’
= 198.951

6.4 Computation of Azimuths consecutive lines

If azimuth of one line and included angle at stations are given we can calculate azimuth
of the other lines
Illustrative Example

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If it is given that AzAB = 42012’50’’ and included angles at stations B and C are given
calculate Azimuths of line BC and CD
Solution
Back azimuth of AB = Az BA = azimuth of AB +1800 = 222012’50’’
Therefore;
Az BC = Az BA - < B
= 222012’50’’ – 113034'54" = 108037’56”
Azimuth of CD = Azimuth of CB + <C
= [(108037’56” + 1800) + 1500 32'23"] – 3600 = 79010’19”

5. Computation of relative coordinates

If the coordinate of one point and departure and latitude of a line that joining this point to
the point we are going to determine its coordinate are known, we can calculate the
coordinate of unknown point.

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i.e. X2 = X1 + dep 12
Y2 = Y1 + lat 12

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Illustrative Example 1

Suppose the coordinates of point ‘A’ are (1000.20, 2341.32) and departure and latitude of
line AB are 300.32 and 543.2 respectively, determine the coordinates of point B.

Solution
XB = XA + dep AB
= 1000.2 + 300.32
= 1300.52
YB = YA + lat AB
= 2341.32 + 543.2
= 2884.52
Therefore; B (1300.52, 2884.52)

Illustrative example 2
Referring fig below, determine the coordinate of station C if coordinates of station B is
(453.23, 876.90)

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Solution
Azimuth of BA = back azimuth of AB
= 42012’50” + 1800
= 2220 12’50”
Azimuth of BC = AZ BA - <B
= 2220 12’50” – 113034’54”
= 108037’56”
Departure BC = dis BC * sin azimuth BC
= 543 * sin 108037’56”
= 514.541
Latitude BC = dis BC * cos Azimuth BC
= 543 * cos 108037’56
= - 173.484
XC = XB + dep BC
= 453.23 + 514.541
= 967.771
YC = YB + lat BC
= 876.90 + - 173.484

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 = 703.416
Therefore coordinates of C are (976.771, 703.416)

6.6 Balancing the traverse

Balancing the traverse means making adjustment to remove any visible error. For
balancing the traverse the underlying objective is to adjust the traverse in such away that
the sum the latitude and departure should each equal to zero in closed loop traverse. The
closing error, however it is distributed throughout the traverse such that the above
mentioned objective is achieved this operation is called Balancing the traverse.
There are different methods of balancing the traverse, however two of them are
recommended at this stage.
1. Bowditch rule
2. Transit rule
According to the Bowditch rule error is proportional to the length of the side

\ Correction lat /dep = Closure error in lat/dep * length of the side

According to Transit rule

Correction lat/dep
Procedures = Closure
for adjusting closed error
loop in lat/depcan*be
traverse lat/dep of the side
summarized in the following
five (5) steps

Steps to traverse computation and adjustment

1. Sum up all observed angle and check the sum with the (n-2)* 1800
Where, (n-2)*1800 = Nominal sum or theoretical sum
n = Number of station
Sum (observed) = Actual (practical)
Then, Error = Nominal – Actual
Correction = Error
n
2. By using the given azimuth of the first line find the azimuth of all lines.

If it is right hand traverse, which means the direction of progress is clockwise);

Az of (23) = Az 12 + 1800 - < ß at point ‘2’

Az of (34) = Az 23 + 1800 - < ß at point ‘3’ and follows for the other as looks like this.

If it is left hand traverse, which means the direction of progress is counter clockwise);

Az of (23) = Az 12+ < ß at point ‘2’- 1800

Az of (34) = Az 23 + < ß at point ‘3’- 1800 and follows for the other as looks like this.

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 Where; ß is adjusted angle

3. Find the latitude and departure of all lines and sum up to get closure error of
departure &latitude.
4. Adjust the latitudes and departures by Bowditch rule.
5. Find the coordinates of all points.

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Illustrative example 1
The following data is observed for a closed loop traverse ABCDEF. Using given data
calculate the coordinates of stations B, C, D, E, F.
Included clockwise angle Line Distance (m)
<FAB = 115011’20” AB = 429.37
<ABC = 95000’20” BC = 656.54
<BCD = 129049’20” CD = 301.83
<CDE = 130036’20” DE = 287.40
<DEF = 110030’00” EF = 526.72
<EFA = 138054’40” FA = 372.47
Coordinates Azimuth
XA = 500.00 AB = 191011’00”
YA = 1000.00

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Solution
1. Computation of error, correction and adjusted angles
∑ ß practical = ßA + ßB + ßC+ ßD + ßE + ßF
= 7200 02’00”
∑ ß Nominal = (n-2) * 1800
= (6-2)*1800
= 7200 00’00”

Error = ∑ ß Nominal - ∑ ß practical

= -2’00”
Correction
Error/ n
= -20”
Allowable error = 1’ (n) 1/2
= 2’27” since error is less than allowable error the measurement is ok!

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Therefore; the adjusted angles are
<FAB = 115011’20” - 20” = 115011’00”
<ABC = 95000’20” - 20” = 95000’00”
<BCD = 129049’20” - 20“ = 129049’00”
<CDE = 130036’20“ - 20“ = 130036’00
<DEF = 110030’00” - 20“ = 110029’40”
<EFA = 138054’40“ - 20“ = 138054’20“
∑ 7200 00’00”
2. Computation of azimuths
Az AB = 191011’00“
Az BC = Az AB + ßB - 1800
= 106011’00“
Az CD = Az BC + ßC - 1800
= 56000’00“
Az DE = AzCD + ßD - 1800
= 6036’00“
Az EF = AzDE + ßE - 1800
= 297005’40“
Az FA = AzEF + ßF -1800
= 256000’00“
3. Computation of latitude and departure

Side Azimuth Distance(m) Departure Latitude

AB 191011’00“ 429.37 -83.276 -421.217
BC 106011’00“ 656.54 630.524 -182.985
CD 56000’00“ 301.83 250.228 168.781
DE 6036’00“ 287.40 33.033 285.495
EF 297005’40“ 526.72 -468.916 239.899
FA 256000’00“ 372.47 -361.406 -90.109
∑ 2574.33 +0.187 -0.136

Closure error of a traverse = [cldep2 + cllat2]1/2

= [0.1872 + -0.1362]1/2
= 0.231
Relative accuracy of a traverse = [Cl traverse / perimeter (Total length of a traverse)]
= 0.231/2574.33 = (0.231/0.231)/ (2574.33/0.231)
= 1: 11,144 ∼ 1:11,000
4. Adjustment of latitude and departure by using Bowditch rule.

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Let A = [closure error of latitude]
Total length of a traverse

And B = [closure error of departure]

Total length of a traverse
Since the summation of latitude is negative, the correction should be positive.
And the summation of departure is positive, the correction should be negative.
Therefore;

Line Adjusted departure Adjusted latitude

AB -83.276 – [B*429.37] = -83.307 -421.217 – [A*429.37] = -421.240
BC 630.524 – [B*656.54] = 630.476 -182.985 – [A*656.54] = -182.950
CD 250.228 – [B* 301.83] = 250.206 168.781 – [A* 301.83] = 168.797
DE 33.033 – [B*287.40] = 33.012 285.495 – [A*287.40] = 285.510
EF -468.916 – [B*526.72] = 239.899 – [A*526.72] = 239.927
-468.954
FA -361.406 – [B* 372.47] = -90.109 – [A* 372.47] = -90.090
-361.433

5. Computation of relative coordinates

XB = XA + dep AB
= 500 + -83.307
= 416.693
XC = XB+ dep BC
= 416.693 + 630.476
= 1047. 169
XD = XC + dep CD
= 1047.169 + 250.206
= 1297.375
XE = XD + dep DE
= 1297.375 + 33.012
= 1330. 387
XF = XE + dep EF
= 1330.387 + - 468.954
= 861.433
Checking, XA = XF + dep FA
= 861.433 + -361.433 = 500.000 ………OK!
YB = YA + lat AB
= 1000 + - 421.194
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 = 578. 806
YC = YB + lat BC
= 578.806 + - 182.950
= 395.856
YD = YC + lat CD
= 395.856 + 168 .797
= 564.653
YE = YD + lat DE
= 564.653 + 285.510
= 650. 165
YF = YE + lat EF
= 650.165 + 239.927
= 1090.09
Checking, YA = YF + lat FA
= 1090.09 + -90.090 = 1000.000…. OK!

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 6.7 Computation and adjustment of closed route traverse
Closed route (link traverse) is a traverse starts and ends on known points.

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Method of computation
Procedure
1. Computation of the first azimuth Az BA and the last azimuth Az CD
2. Computation the actual azimuth of CD based on the azimuth of BA and the
measured traverse angles.
Actual azimuth of CD = Nominal Az BA + ∑ ß - [1800*n]
Where; n = number of instrument stations
3. Computation of angular mis closure. By comparing the nominal azimuth of CD
with the actual azimuth of CD
Angular mis closure = Nominal azimuth – Actual azimuth
4. Computation allowable angular mis closure and correction
Allowable = 1’ *[n1/2] or 18milli gon *[n1/2]
The allowable error should not be exceeded
5. Computation of azimuths.
Az (i+1) = Az i + Corr + ß i + 200 gon …………………General formula
Note: if it is greater than 400gon subtract 400gon from it otherwise the azimuth is the
result it self Or You can use the formulas given above (for angle to the left and angle
to the right.
6. Computation of Nominal departure and latitudes of station B and C (Starting and
ending)
7. Computation of departure and latitude and the actual coordinate difference
between the first and the last stations.
8. Computations of closure errors of departures and latitudes, relative accuracy.
9. Computations for correction of dep and lat. And adjustment
10. Computations of coordinates.

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The above procedures are illustrated by the following example
Example 1
Adjust the following closed route traverse and compute the coordinates of points
2,100,101, and 102.

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Azimuths
Az GM = 30.8487 gon
Az BT = 31.0794 gon

Coordinates
XM = 6000.00 YM = 6000.000
XB = 5450.986 YB = 5976.987

Distances
BM-M -2 160.55m
2-100 98.025m
100-101 93.72m
101-102 83.66m
102-BM-B 115.33m

Traverse angles
ßM = 69.5068
ß2 = 189.9782
ß100 = 213.3196
ß101 = 186.1922
ß102 = 209.4136
ßB = 331.7998

Note: All angles are in GRAD

Solution
1. Both the first and last azimuths are given
2. Actual azimuth of last line (BT)
Actual azimuth of BT = Nominal Az GM + ∑ ß - [200gon*n]
= 30.8487 gon + ∑ ß – 1200.2102
= 31.0589gon
3. Computation of angular mis closure

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 Angular mis closure = Nominal azimuth – Actual azimuth
= 31.0794 gon -31.0589gon
= 0.0205gon

4. Computation allowable angular mis closure and correction

Allowable = 1’ *[n1/2] or 18milli gon *[n1/2]
= 18m gon* 6 ½
= 0.018* 6 ½
= 0.0441gon or 44.1 m gon
Correction for each angle is = 0.0205/6
= 0.0034 gon or 34cc gon
5. Computation of azimuths
Az M-2 = Az G-M + corr + ßM + 200 gon
= 30.8487 + 0.0034 + 69.5068 + 200 gon
= 300.3589 gon
Az 2-100 = Az M-2 + corr + ß2 + 200 gon
= 300.3589 + 0.0034 + 189.9782+ 200 gon
= 290.3405gon
Az 100-101 = Az 2-100 + corr + ß100 + 200 gon
= 290.3405 + 0.0034 + 189.9782 + 200 gon
= 303.6635 gon
Az 101-102 = Az 100-101 + corr + ß101 + 200 gon
= 303.6635 + 0.0034 + 186.1922 + 200 gon
= 289.8591 gon
Az 102-B = Az 101-102 + corr + ß102 + 200 gon
= 289.8591 + 0.0034 + 209.4136 + 200 gon
= 299.2761 gon
6. Computation of Nominal departure and latitudes of station B and C
(Starting and ending)
Nominal departure = XB-XM
= 5450.986 – 6000
= -549.014
Nominal latitude = YB-YM
= 5976.987 – 6000
= -23.013
7. Computation of departure and latitude and the actual coordinate difference
between the first and the last station.
Line Azimuth (grad) Distance(m) Departure Latitude
Dist*sinAz Dist*cos Az
M-2 300.3589 160.55 -160.547 0.905
2-100 290.3405 98.025 -96.899 -14.816

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100-101 303.6635 93.72 -93.565 5.39
101-102 289.8591 83.66 -82.601 -13.270
102-B 299.2761 115.33 -115.322 -1.311

Actual coordinate difference in X = ∑ departures = -548.934

Y = ∑ Latitude = -23.934

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 8. Computations of closure errors of departures and latitudes, relative accuracy
Cl error of dep = Nominal ΔX - Actual ΔX
= -549 - (-548.934)
= -0.08
Cl error of lat = Nominal ΔY - Actual ΔY
= -23.013 – (-23.102)
= 0.089
Closure error of traverse = [(cl dep) 2 + (Cl lat) 2] ½
= 0.12
Total length of a traverse = ∑ length of traverse sides
= 551.285
Relative accuracy = [Closure error of traverse]
Total length of a traverse
= 0.12/ 551.285
= 1: 4594 Or we can say that 1: 4600
9. Computations for correction of dep. And lat. And adjustment
Similar to closed loop traverse calculate and adjust departure and latitude by using
Bowiditch rule.
It is summarized in the table below.
Unadjusted Correction Adjusted
Line
departure latitude Departure Latitude departure latitude
[CLdep/∑L]* [CLat. /∑L]* li
li
M-2 -160.547 0.905 -0.023 0.026 -160.570 0.931
2-100 -96.899 -14.816 -0.014 0.016 -96.913 -14.8
100-101 -93.565 5.39 -0.014 0.015 -93.579 5.405
101-102 -82.601 -13.270 -0.012 0.014 -82.613 -13.256
102-B -115.322 -1.311 -0.017 0.019 -115.339 -1.292
10. Computations of coordinates.
Again it is similar to a closed loop traverse and we have summarized in the following
table.
Station Adjusted Coordinate
Dep. Lat. X Y
M 6000.000 6000.000
-160.570 0.931
2 5839.430 6000.931

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 -96.913 -14.800
100 5742.517 5986.131
-93.579 5.405
101 5648.938 5991.536
-82.613 -13.256
102 5566.325 5978.280
-115.339 -1.292
B 5450.986 5976.988
All the above computations and values are summarized in the following traverse table.
Surveyors commonly use this table to adjust the traverse and compute the coordinates of
stations.

9. Area calculation by Coordinate method

In this method, independent coordinates of the points are used in the computation of
areas.
To avoid negative sign, the origin O is chosen at most southerly and westerly point.
Total area of the traverse ABCD can be calculated as follows.

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Two sums of products should be taken
1. product of all adjacent terms taken down to the right
i.e. XAYB , XBYC, XCYD , XDYA
2. Product of all adjacent terms taken up to the right
i.e. YAXB, YBXC, YCXD , YDXA

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The traverse area is equal to half the absolute value of the difference between these two
sums. In applying the procedures, it is to be observed that the first coordinate listed must
be repeated at the end of the list.

The formula can be derived as follows:

½ [(XAYB + XBYC + XCYD + XDYA) – (YAXB + YBXC + YCXD + YDXA)]

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Illustrative Example
Calculate the area enclosed by a traverse given example 6.1
Solution

Point X Y
A. 500.00 1000.000
B. 416.693 578.866
C. 1047.169 395.856
D. 1297.375 564.653
E. 1330.387 650.165
F. 861.433 1090.090
A. 500.00 1000.000
XAYB = 500.00 * 578.866 = 289433
XBYC = 416.693 * 395.856 = 164950.4242
XCYD = 1047.169 * 564.653 = 591287.1174
XDYE = 1297.375 * 650.165 = 843507.8169
XEYF = 1330.387 * 1090.090 = 1450241.565
XFYA = 861.433 * 1000.000 = 861433.0
∑ 1 = 4200852.923m2
YAXB = 1000.000 * 416.693 = 416693
YBXC = 578.866 * 1047.169 = 606170.5304
YCXD = 395.856 * 1297.375 = 513573.678
YDXE = 564.653 * 1330.387 = 751207.0107
YEXF = 650.165 * 861.433 = 560073.5864
YFXA = 1090.090 *500.00 = 545045.0
∑ 2 = 3392762.806

Area = ∑1- ∑2
2
= 808090.1175
2
= 404045.059sq.m

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