TRAVERSE SURVEYS

GEE141 FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING

 CONTENTS

1.1

Traverse
1 COMPASS SURVEYS 1.2

Traversing
1.3

Traverse
Station 1.4
2.2

Closed Traverse
Compass Lines
Traverse 2.1

Open
Compass
Traverse TYPES OF COMPASS
2
SURVEYS
1 COMPASS SURVEYS

Compass surveying is an important branch of surveying which is

usually adopted in determining the position of an object both by
angular and linear measurements. Here angular measurements are
taken using a compass and linear measurements are determined using
chain or tape.
 CONTENTS

1.1

Traverse
1 COMPASS SURVEYS 1.2

Traversing
1.3

Traverse
Station 1.4
2.2

Closed Traverse
Compass Lines
Traverse 2.1

Open
Compass
Traverse TYPES OF COMPASS
2
SURVEYS
1 COMPASS SURVEYS

1.1

Traverse

A traverse is a series of lines connecting

successive points whose lengths and directions 1.2 1.3 1.4

have been determined from field measurements.

Traverse Traverse
Traversing
Station Lines
1 COMPASS SURVEYS

1.2

Traversing

The process of measuring the lengths and

1.1
directions of the lines of a traverse for the 1.3 1.4
purpose of locating the position of certain
Traverse Traverse Traverse
points.
A traverse is a series of lines connecting successive points whose lengths and directions have been determined from field measurements.

Station Lines
 1 COMPASS SURVEYS

1.3
Traverse Station

It is usually marked by a peg or a hub-driven flush with the ground

and identified by consecutive letters or numbers as the survey
1.2
progresses. Traverse stations are sometimes called angle points 1.4

because an angle is usually measured at such stations.

se
rmined from field measurements.

Traversing
The process of measuring the lengths and directions of the lines of a traverse for the purpose of locating the position of certain points.

Traverse
Lines
 1 COMPASS SURVEYS

1.4

Traverse Lines

Traverse lines are lines connecting traverse stations

.2
and whose lengths and directions are determined.
1.3

versing
s of a traverse for the purpose of locating the position of certain points. Traverse
It is usually marked by a peg or a hub-driven flush with the ground and identified by consecutive letters or numbers as the survey progresses. Traverse
stations are sometimes called angle points because an angle is usually measured at such stations.

Station
 The fieldwork involved in most compass surveys is generally
divided into two basic operations, the (a) measurement of angles
at traverse stations and (b) the measurement of lengths of
traverse lines.
To clarify the record, a definite statement should be indicated in the field notes such as

“All observed bearings are magnetic and read to the nearest 05

minutes. The magnetic declination in August, 1986 was 13 ֯50’
East.”
2 TYPES OF COMPASS
SURVEYS

2.1 2.2

Open Closed
Compass Compass
Traverse Traverse
2 TYPES OF COMPASS SURVEYS

2.1 Open Compass Traverse

An open compass traverse consists of a

series of lines of known lengths and the
magnetic bearings which are continuous
but do not return to the starting point or
close upon a point of known position.

2.2
Closed
Compass
Traverse
2 TYPES OF COMPASS SURVEYS

2.2 Closed Compass Traverse

A closed compass traverse consists of a

series of lines of known lengths and
magnetic bearings which form a closed-
loop or begin and end at points whose
positions have been fixed by other surveys
of higher precision.

2.1

Open
Compass
Traverse
ADVANTAGES OF COMPASS SURVEYING:
• The instrument used is simple, and is more portable and less expensive than transit or
theodolite.

• If speed is required, the bearings of all the lines in a traverse may be determined by
occupying only every other station.

• The direction of a line can be observed at any point along the line.

• An error in the observed bearing at any point of one line has no effect in the observed directions
of other lines.

• Survey work is much quicker because the compass does not require an elaborate
procedure of setting up and leveling at each station.

• Obstacles such as trees and shrubs can be passed readily by offsetting the compass a short
distance from the line to be observed.
THANK YOU!