CHAPTER 3

Traversing Survey and Computation

(Using Theodolite and EDM)
Introduction of Theodolite and EDM
 Traverse Terminology
 Types of Traverse
 Procedure in Traversing Survey
 Traverse Survey Computation
 Lesson Outcomes
Able to select the most appropriate method of
measuring horizontal and vertical angles.
Able to understand the types of traverse.
Able to measure and record horizontal and
vertical angles.
Able to determine the bearings of the lines of a
traverse survey.
Able to compute the rectangular coordinates
 Introduction to theodolite and
EDM
 the theodolite is an instrument that is used to
measure vertical and horizontal angles, with an
accurate varying from 1 to 60 second of arc.
 It was invented by Roemer, astronomer in 1690.
 EDM is used to measure angles and distance.
 Vernier

Opto- Direct
electronic reading

Classification

Optical Optical
micrometer scale
Component of theodolite
Vertical circle
Theodolite
 Traverse terminology

Transit

. It is also called plunging or

reversing. This is the
operation of revolving the
telescope through 180 in a
vertical plane about its
horizontal axis.
Swinging

. Revolving the telescope in a

horizontal plane about its
vertical axis.
Face left

. When a vertical circle of the

theodolite is on left side of the
observer.
Face right

. When a vertical circle of the

theodolite is on the right side of
the observer.
Change theodolite from
face left to face right
Meridian
• It is a fixed direction in which bearing of
survey lines are expressed
Bearing
• It is the horizontal angle between the
reference meridian and the survey line
 True
meridian

Arbitrary Grid
Meridian
meridian meridian

Magnetic
meridian
 Azimuth / whole circle bearing
• An azimuth (US) or a whole circle bearing (UK) is the
direction of a line given by an angle measured in a
clockwise direction from the north end of a meridian.

• In Malaysian practice, an azimuth is the direction refers to

true meridian. For the direction refer to other meridian call
bearing.
 Azimuth / whole circle bearing
FIRST
QUAD

2ND
QUAD

4TH
QUAD

3RD
QUAD
Example
 Quadrant Bearing
• A bearing is the direction of a line given by the acute
angle between the line and a meridian.
• The bearing angle, which can be measured clockwise or
counterclockwise from the north or south end of a
meridian, is always accompanied by the letters that
describe the quadrant in which the line is located (NE, SE,
SW and NW).
 Quadrant Bearing

N---W N---E

S---W S---E

Letter at start and end defines the quadrant

Angular value measured from N-S line
Example
 Backward and Forward
• Figure shows a line joining two stations A and B where the
whole circle bearing from a to B is 63. If the observer
now stood at station B and looked towards station A he or
she would be looking back along the line, i.e. in exactly
the reverse direction.
• This direction BA is known as the back whole circle
bearing. The angular value is the clockwise angle the north
point to the line BA, namely (180+63) = 243.
Example
 Deflection Angle
• The deflection angles are measured from prolongation of
the back line to the forward line. The angles are measured
either to the left (L) or to the right (R); the direction (L or
R) must be shown along with the numerical value.

R
L L
Example
Comparing Angles, Bearings and Azimuths

1. Given a bearing of N32°45’30”W, compute the equivalent azimuth.

32°45’30”
NW
360° - 32°45’30”
= 327°14’30”
Bearing Azimuth

2. Given an azimuth of 122°12’36”, compute the equivalent bearing.

122°12’36”

180° - 122°12’36”
Azimuth Bearing = 52°47’24”
 Measurement of Angles

Horizontal and Vertical Angles

• Horizontal angle: the angle formed in a horizontal plane by
two intersecting vertical planes
• Vertical angle / Zenith angle: the angle formed in a vertical
plane by two intersecting horizontal planes
Measurement of Angles
Traversing

…a series of control points (stations), each one

intervisible with its adjacent stations, where bearing
and length for each line are observed.
 Types of traverse
Open traverse Closed traverse
• Finish at point of unknown • Normally form of polygon
co-ordinate • Start and finish at point of
known co-ordinate
 Setting out the theodolite

Levelling up

Focusing

Cantering

Temporary Adjustment
 Centering
(1) Establish the tripod (2) Examine and memories
roughly over the survey the position on the
station instrument in the box
(3) Attach the theodolite to
the tripod
(4) Using the footscrew to inline the
line of sight through the optical
plammet, centre the plummet exactly
on the survey point
 Levelling
• slide the legs in or out until the
circular barble is exactly centre
• although the tripod movement
may be excessive, the plummet
will still be on the survey point
• instrument is approximate
centred and level

• precisely level the instrument using the

plate bubble
• unclmp and move the whole instrument
over the tripod until the plummet crosshair is
exactly over the survey point
•Repeat these 2 steps until the instrument is
exactly centred and levelled.
Focusing
Basic principle of traversing

Refer note page 46

 Back
station

Reflector
Station

Instrument
Station

Reflector
Forward
Station
station
 FL 311 26 30
Used prismatic compass,
FR 131 26 30
Di bearing 2-1 is 311 26 30
st :
21
.
21 795,
.79
5
18 76,
6
8 .0
. 07
FL 217 25 30 Booking System
:1

FR 37 25 30
st
Di
 Back
station
Reflector
Station
Reflector
Station
Forward
station
Instrument
Station
 2

Dist : 22.149,
22.145
FL 37 25 30
4
FR 217 25 30
FL 308 09 20
FR 128 09 30
Booking System 3
 Instrument at Stn 4
Target at 3
FL 128 09 30
FR 308 09 20
Target at 5
FL 305 29 20
FR 125 29 20

Forward Dist 4 -5 48.428

station 48.428

Back
station
 Instrument at Stn 5
Forward Target at 4
station FL 125 29 20
FR 305 29 20
Target at 6
FL 38 41 10
FR 218 41 10

Dist 5 -6 27.395
27.395

Back
station
 Instrument at Stn 6
Target at 5
FL 218 41 10
FR 38 41 10
Target at 1
Back FL 134 59 10
station FR 314 59 10

Dist 6-1 48.627

48.627

Forward
station
 Back Instrument at Stn 1
station Target at 6
FL 314 59 10
FR 134 59 10
Target at 2
FL 131 25 30
FR 311 25 30

Forward
station
 Balancing a traverse
• It is clear that the closing error should be so
distributed throughout the traverse that its effect is
as little apparent on the plan as possible.

• A traverse is balanced by applying correction to

latitudes and departures. This is called balancing
a traverse. This can be accomplished
mathematically, i.e. by applying some rules, or
graphically. There are two mathematical rules,
which are as follows:
 Bowditch rule
• It is also called compass rule. It is
used to balance a traverse when the
linear and angular measurements are
equally precise. It is assumed that the
errors in the linear measurements are
proportional to √L, where L is the
length of the line, and those in the
angular measurements are inversely
proportional to √L, which
questionable. If equal weights are
assigned to linear and angular
measurements, the errors and hence
the corrections are proportional to the
lengths of the lines.
• Correction to latitude (or departure of
any side)
Refer page 52
Transit rule
• This method of adjusting the
consecutive coordinates of travers
purely empirical and there is no so
theoretical foundation for it. It is
employed when the angular
measurements are more precise as
compared to the linear measureme
(theodolite traversing).
• Correction to latitude (of departur
any side)
Refer page 52
ERROR OF CLOSURE

E Closure  E L   E D 
2 2

PRECISION

E closure
Precision 
Perimeter
 Depart Latitude ΔE ΔN Corrected Corrected
Line Bearing Length Eastings Northings Stations
ΔE ΔN Correction Correction ΔE ΔN
                  100.000 100.000 1

1 - 2 131 26 30 21.795 16.338 -14.425 -0.003 -0.003 16.335 -14.428 116.335 85.572 2

2 - 3 217 25 40 18.476 -10.986 -14.354 -0.002 -0.002 -10.988 -14.356 105.347 71.216 3

3 - 4 308 09 40 22.149 -17.415 13.685 -0.003 -0.003 -17.418 13.682 87.929 84.898 4

4 - 5 305 29 50 48.428 -39.427 28.120 -0.005 -0.006 -39.432 28.114 48.497 113.012 5

5 - 6 38 41 50 27.395 17.127 21.381 -0.003 -0.003 17.124 21.378 65.621 134.390 6

6 - 1 135 00 00 48.627 34.384 -34.384 -0.005 -0.006 34.379 -34.390 100.000 100.000 1
   186.470                  
    Errors 0.021 0.023 0.021 0.023 0.000 0.000      
    Correctio -0.021 -0.023              
n
                       
   Linear Mis-close 1 : 5900                
 How to calculate latitude
departure using calculator?
Shift Rec (

Rec (length, bearing)

= Latit

RCL

Tan Depart

Example:
bearing 131 26’ 30” Length 21.795 m White
calculator
Ans X is latit
Latit -14.425 m Depart 16.338 m Y is depart
How to calculate correction in latitude
departure using calculator?
Set formula in calculator
Example: correction in depart

-0.021 x A / 186.470
A is a length of line

CALC

Insert value for A which is length

Example. 21.795

Write answer in 3 decimal place. Not in empirical

format.
Shift ENG
Use function

Ans 0.002
Example
Solution
 Food of Mind
Line Bearing Length (m)
1-2 226O 15’ 00” 44.217
2-3 137O 47’ 00” 48.389
3-4 77O 14’ 00” 52.486
4-5 359O 01’ 00” 64.472
5-1 259O 13’ 00” 51.588

Coordinate of station 1 is 345.456 mE, 208.451 mN.

Calculate the linear misclosure of the survey work
and coordinate of all control stations in the traverse
using Bowditch method.