1.

0 Introduction

Level 0 or known as a traditional method of conducting laboratory activities

will not be able to provide the avenue for students to enhance independent
learning activities and inculcate creativity and innovation. The traditional
method is fully prescriptive where the three elements namely problem, ways
& means and answers are guided/fully given to the students. However, it is
still necessary to be implemented as part of the whole laboratory course
activity especially to first and second year students.

In conducting the traversing’s laboratory, the group is required to examine

the given location. Students have to know on how to operate the total station
or theodolite; setting any value of angle or bearings, transiting from face left
to face right, reading horizontal angles and vertical angles.

1.1 Traversing

In this traditional laboratory activity, the students are required to carry out
traversing fieldwork. A traverse is a series of consecutive lines whose ends
have been marked in the field, and whose lengths and directions have been
determined from measurements. From these measurements, the exact
location of the unknown points will be determined. There are both open and
closed traverse where in this practical, closed-loop traverse will be perform
using an appropriate equipment.

1.2 Objective

The objective of this laboratory are:

i. Learn to use, handle and functions of the survey instrument especially

the total station.

ii. Able to manage a surveying field work, establish the survey

stations/control points forming a closed-loop traverse using a bearing
booking technique.

iii. Apply all the calculations of traverse properties and plot the traverse
lines with appropriate scales.
1.3 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activities, students should be able to:

i. Form effective teamwork.

ii. Communicate effectively through laboratory reports and oral

communication.

iii. Use of critical thinking in solving problems related to survey data

iv. Prepare appropriate survey equipment involved.

v. Determine the right technique of using total station.

vi. Perform a surveying field work to execute the closed-loop of traverses

and applying a Bowditch rules as a technique to balance the traverse
bearings to ensure the polygon is exactly closed.

vii. Plot the traverse lines with an appropriate scale.

viii. Tabulate data into the proper table.Analyze data.

2.0 Theoretical Background

Traverse method

In traversing method, the instrument is set at each successive station and

positioned by back sighting and forward sighting. Go the first station, the
magnetic meridian is to be known before any observations can be done.
After the magnetic meridian has been observed, then the fieldwork can be
executed by first sighting the back reading of the last line and then fore
bearing to the second line of the traverse. The steps are repeated when the
instrument is transfered to another station.

Angle Determinations

Horizontal angles are usually turned (or deflected) to the right or left. The
three types of angle measurements are as follows:
1. Interior angles (see Figure 1)

If angles in a closed figure are to be measured, the interior angles are

normally read. When all interior angles have been recorded, the accuracy
of the work can be determined by comparing the sum of the abstracted
angles with the computed value for the closed loop.

Figure 1: Interior Angles on a Closed Traverse

2. Deflection angles (see Figure 2)

In an open traverse the deflection angles are measured from the

prolongation of the backsight line to the foresight line. The angles are
measured either to the left or to the right. The direction must be shown
along with the numerical value.

Figure 2: Deflection Angles shown on an Open Traverse

3. Vertical angles (see Figure 3)

Vertical angles can be referenced to a horizontal or vertical line. Optical-

micrometer theodolites measure vertical angles from the zenith (90° or
270° indicate a horizontal line). Zenith and nadir are terms describing
points on a sphere. The zenith point is directly above the observer, and the
nadir point is directly below the observer. The observer, the zenith, and the
nadir are on the same vertical line.

Figure 3: Reference Directions for Vertical Angles

(Horizontal, Zenith, and Nadir)

For a closed traverse, the first back bearing of the last line must equal to
the last fore bearing of the same line. If this does not correspond, therefore
adjustment must be made to both face left and face right. For adjustments
of coordinates, there are two methods explained below:

1. Bowdicth’s method

This method adjusts the departure and latitudes of traverse courses in

proportion to their lengths. Although it is not rigorous as least-square
method, it results in logical distribution of misclosures. Corrections are
made using the following methods:
Correction departure of a line =

Total departures misclosure x length of a given line

Perimeter of traverse

Correction to latitude of a line =

Total latitudes misclosure x length of a given line

Perimeter of traverse

2. Transit Rule

In previous method, all lines will have some corrections made in both
latitudes and departures. There is no mathematical background and
lengths of the lines are not included in the calculation. The corrections are
made using the following rules:

Correction departure of a line =

Difference in departures x departure of a given line

Total departure errors

Correction to latitude of a line =

Difference in latitudes x latitude of a given line

Total latitude errors

Latitudes and departures can be calculated using these formulas:

Latitude = Length of line x Cos θ

Departure = Length of line x Sin θ

(where θ is the forward bearing of a given line)

Note: To calculate the coordinates of the points, point A can be assumed

to have coordinates N: 1000.00 and E: 1000.00 and can be included in
Sheet 2.

In Engineering Survey, accuracy is most important and is highly taken into

interest. Therefore, precision and accuracy is always noted and the
surveyors should be aware, as the results are to be included in pre-
construction of the developed site. The classes of survey are shown in
Table 1.

Table 1: Classes of Survey

Survey Class Angular Linear

Misclosure Misclosure

First Class < 1’ 15’’ > 1 : 8000

Second Class < 2’ 30’’ > 1 : 4000

Third Class > 2’ 30’’ < 1 : 4000

Angular misclosure and linear misclosure are given by:

Angular Misclosure = Fore bearing of a line – (Back bearing of a line ±

180°)

Difference in Latitude2  Difference in Departure2

Linear Misclosure = Total length of traverse

2.1 Problem Statement

A proposed site is to be set out for the development of a new semi-
conductor industry building at Kawasan Perindustrian Kecil Perai, Penang.
The location of the site must be evaluated and permanently marked for
control points. Each group have to plan and manage to establish the
survey stations which is at least 6 stations forming a closed-loop traverse.
Use total stations to measure all the bearings and distances for each
traverse lines and record the data in the proper booking. Apply the
bearings correction technique and all the related calculations to obtain the
final bearings. Besides, each group need to provide an appropriate sketch
to illustrate the stations and calculate the actual coordinates of each station
for land boundaries and building. The area and CP are sketched showing
the location of the stations as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Closed Traverse

3.0 Apparatus

1. Total Station
2. Tripod

3. Prismatic Compass with tripod legs

4. Prism

5. Plumb bob

6. Tape

7. Pegs and hammer (if necessary)

3.1 Procedures

1. Six (5) control points (CPC) with minimum length of 25 m was

established at the proposed site. Then pegs was driven into the ground
at the CP for permanent markings of the area.

2. The prismatic compass was set at station A and it is centered and

leveled with the help of a plum bob. The instrument was adjusted by
leveling both the bubble tube for the instrument to be perpendicular to
the vertical axis.

3. The instrument was then adjusted for observation of bearings by

observing the magnetic north to determine the bearing for the last line
to be observed.

4. The prismatic compass was replaced by the theodolite, which is

temporarily adjusted and the bearings of the last line was inserted into
the theodolite and noted as back bearing.

5. Two tripods were set and temporarily adjusted at station E and B,

respectively. Prisms were placed on the tripod as the station target.

6. Points E was sighted by observing the back bearing of line AE. Then
point A was sighted and observed the fore bearing of line AB. The
readings were then recorded as face left in Sheet 1 given.

7. The horizontal axis and the vertical axis were rotated 180° and sight
 the back bearing of the same line.

8. The fore bearing was then sighted and recorded as face right in Sheet
1 given.

9. The instrument was then shifted to points B and it was set up as in (2)
and (3).

10. Procedures (4) to (8) were then repeated until all CPs are located and
observed.