FIELDWORK NO.

8
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Date: ________________________
Location:____________________
Time/Temp.:
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TITLE:
OBJECTIVE/S:

Group

No.:

Weather:

OPEN COMPASS TRAVERSE

a) To determine the magnetic bearing of each line of an
open compass traverse.
b) To learn how to adjust open compass traverse.

EQUIPMENT/S:

Fig. 8.1 Brunton Pocket

Fig. 8.4 Markers
Compass

Fig. 8.2 Steel Tape

Fig. 8.3 Range Poles

PROCEDURES:
a. Establish at least six distant stations for an open traverse. Call these
stations A, B, C and so forth.
b. Set up and level the instrument at A and release the needle of the
compass so that it will swing freely on its pivot.
c. Sight B and read the compass box for the direction pointed by the
north end of the needle. Record this as the forward bearing of line AB.
d. Transfer the instrument to B and sight on A. Read the compass box and
record this as the back bearing of line AB. Turn towards the direction of
C, then read and record the forward bearing of line BC.
e. Transfer to C and sight on B. Read and record the back bearing of line
BC, then sight on D and also read and record the forward bearing of
line CD.

f. Proceed to the next station and repeat the same process until the last
traverse station is occupied and a back bearing is taken on the last line
of the traverse.
g. A traverse line is free from local attraction if the bearings read at its
two ends are exactly opposite in direction. The traverse angles are
computed from observed bearings and starting from the unaffected
line.
h. If two or more traverse line appears to be free from local attraction,
one of these lines is arbitrarily chosen as the best line. If none of the
lines is free from local attraction, the line with the least discrepancy
between the forward and backward bearings is chosen and its forward
bearing is assumed to be correct.
i. The angle between the observed forward and back bearing at any
station can be determined correctly since the angle is independent of
local attraction.
j. Correct bearings of successive lines are then computed easily by
preparing a careful sketch of the known data observed from each
station. There are no formulas to memorize since once the sketch is
made, the required calculations are obvious.
k. Tabulate the observed and adjusted values accordingly.
ILLUSTRATIONS:

DATA AND TABULATION:

Table 8.1. Observed Bearing and Adjusted Bearing

LINE

OBSERVED
BEARING
FORWAR
BACK
D

AB
BC
CD
DE
EF
FG
COMPUTATIONS:

ADJUSTED BEARING
FORWAR
D

BACK

REMARKS

CONCLUSION:
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RECOMMENDATION:
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