Handout No.

AENGR 1221 – ELEMENTARY SURVEYING

TRAVERSING AND TRAVERSE COMPUTATIONS

Traverse – a series of lines connecting successive points whose lengths and directions have been determined
from field measurements

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

Traverse Station – any temporary or permanent point of reference over which the instrument is set up. It is
usually marked by a peg or a hub driven flush with the ground and identified by consecutive letter
or numbers as the survey progresses. Traverse stations are sometimes called angle points
because an angle is usually measured at such stations

Traverse Lines – lines connecting traverse stations and who lengths and directions are determined

INTERIOR ANGLE TRAVERSE

The interior angle traverse is used principally in land surveying. Figure 34-1 shows an example of
this type of traverse. The angles formed between the adjacent sides of the illustrated closed figure are known
as interior angles. These are the angles at stations A, B, C, D, E, and F.

Interior angles may be measured either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, however, the
usual practice is to measure these angles clockwise. Thus, the interior angle at A is measured from B to F,
that at B from C to A, that at C from D to B, that D from E to C, that at E from F to D, and that at F from A to
E. The common mistakes in reading, plotting, and recording are reduced if one method of measurement is
consistently adapted.

The interior angles of any closed traverse may be checked by the geometrical relation that in any
polygon having n sides the sum of the interior angles must equal (n-2) times 180 degrees. This relation
furnishes a check on the accuracy of the angular measurements and also serves as a basis for distributing
the errors in measurement.

DEFLECTION ANGLE TRAVERSE

The deflection angle traverse is used frequently for the location survey of roads, railroads, pipelines,
transmission lines, canals, and other similar types of survey. It is employed to a lesser extent in land surveys
and in establishing controls for hydrographic and topographic surveys. A deflection angle, as shown in Figure
34-3, is a horizontal angle measured clockwise or counterclockwise from the prolongation of the preceding
line to the succeeding line. Such angles vary from 0 degree to 180 degrees and must be designated as right
(R) or left (L). Thus at station B, the deflection angle is 20°10’ (R); and at station C, the deflection angle is
85°30’ (L).

A deflection angle traverse is run by occupying successive traverse stations. In Figure 34-4, the
transit may first be set up at station A. A backsight is taken on station E, with the telescope in direct position
and the circle reading set to 0°00’. Then the telescope is plunged and a sight is taken on station B by loosening
and turning the upper motion, and the value of the deflection angle is read and recorded. The lower motion
is loosed, the telescope turned about the vertical axis and again backsighted at station E. For the second
time the telescope is again plunged and sighted at station B with double the value of the angle now appearing
on the horizontal circle, and with the telescope back in direct position. The observed angle is recorded as
right or left, according to whether the upper motion is turned clockwise or counterclockwise. Dividing the total
angle by 2 gives an average angle. This process of turning the angle by double deflection eliminates all errors
of adjustment and mistakes, and also gives a greater precision of measurement.

For any closed traverse in which the sides do not cross one another, the summation of the deflection
angles, considering those turned to the left as being opposite in sign to those turned to the right, should equal
to 360 degrees. If however, the lines cross once, or any odd number of times, the sum of the right deflection
angles should equal the sum of the left deflection angles.
Angular Error of Closure

There is no such thing as a mathematically perfect survey. Small errors in both distances and angles
will always be present even in closed traverses observed using instruments and methods of high precision.
In all probability a surveyed closed traverse would not satisfy the geometric requirements of a closed polygon.
Until adjustments are made to these observed quantities it will always be expected that the traverse will not
mathematically close.

When a closed traverse is plotted on paper the survey must close on the starting point. The closure
must be effected not only graphically but also mathematically. For a closed traverse, this simply means that
the algebraic sum of the north and south latitudes should be zero, and the algebraic sum of the east and west
departures should also be zero. However, this condition is true only in theory. It is seldom ture in practice
because of the inherent errors in the measurements of the angles and distances. It will always be expected
that the last course will not end exactly on the starting station. Although it closes physically in the field, it will
not close mathematically or when plotted on paper.

ANGLE TO THE RIGHT TRAVERSE

An angle to the right traverse is employed when numerous details are to be located from the traverse
stations. Such details are to be located from the traverse stations. Such type of traverse is commonly used
on city, tunnel, and mine surveys, and in locating details for a topographic map. An open or a closed traverse
can be executed by this method of traversing.

Angles to the right are shown in Figure 35-1 in which a traverse is run from station A through stations
B, C, D, E and back to A. The angles for this type of traverse are measured clockwise from the backsight on
the back line to a forward line. These angles may lie anywhere between 0 degree and 360 degrees. Observed
field data for this type of traverse is recorded in a form similar to that used for an interior angle traverse.

AZIMUTH TRAVERSE

The measurement of azimuth angles is by far one of the quickest and most satisfactory method where
at one setup of the transit or theodolite several angles or directions can be determined. Azimuths are
measured clockwise either from the north or south end of a selected reference meridian to the line. These
angles may lie anywhere between 0 and 360 degrees. Figure 35-2 shows a closed traverse run by the azimuth
method in which the azimuth angles have been measured clockwise from the north end of the meridian.

In Figure 35-3 is another azimuth traverse where the azimuth angles are reckoned from the south
end of the meridian. The azimuth traverse is used extensively on topographic and other surveys where a
large number of details are to be located by angular and linear measurements from traverse stations.

To run an azimuth traverse, it is necessary to have a reference meridian, either magnetic, grid,
assumed or true. Usually, for important surveys the reference direction is true north or true south. When less
important surveys are undertaken, magnetic north or magnetic south are convenient reference directions for
the measurements of azimuth angles.