CVEN 2200: Surveying

LAB #1 Part 2: Use compass to measure angles

 Objectives:
1. Be familiar with the operations of a quadrant compass and its abilities.
2. Learn how to properly acquire and record an azimuth reading using a compass.
3. Learn how to properly transfer azimuths and pace distances recorded in the field to a diagram or map.
4. Learn how to acquire a back azimuth and how to calculate the angles to the right.
 Equipment:
Prismatic Compass, Protractor, Ruler, Pencil, and field book
 Instructions:
1. The study area is on the lawn next to the Hyro building.
2. Acquire azimuths for 4 sides of a polygon. The vertices are either trees or range poles (indicated by
letters from A to D) marked with a colored surveying tape.
3. Start from any point to measure azimuth using your compass. Go counterclockwise to construct a closed
traverse. Measure each side twice and use the average Azimuth. Determine the bearing based on the
average azimuth.
4. Measure the distances of the sides of the polygon by pacing twice.
5. In your field book, calculate the average length and average azimuth of each side.
6. Calculate the back azimuth of each side.
7. Calculate the interior angle (angles to the right) of each vertex.
8. Add the interior angles up. Does that equal to 360o?
9. Document the possible sources of error.
10. Sketch the polygon to scale on the right page of your field book. Mark your scale clearly.
An example of the field book notes is as follows:
 An example of field book notes
*Use a second page for calculating the angles and documenting the possible sources of error if the first page is used up

C
PG. 1 Taping Side PG. 2

Back WEATHER: DATE:

Side Azimuth Bearing azimuth PACE Length TEMP.: SURVEYOR:
AB GROUND COVER:

average PROCEDURE:
BC

average
CD

average
DA

average N

Calculate ∠ABC

Calculate ∠BCD
CONCRETE WALK

Calculate ∠CDA

Calculate ∠DAB 100’

The sum of interior angles:

Possible sources of error:

“ORIGINAL”