University of Technology, Jamaica

Faculty of Built Environment

Traversing

Presenter: Trecia Williams, Msc. (Distinction)

January 25, February 1, 2021

Computations
➢ Steps in computing a traverse:

1. Reduce distances (from SD to HD) and average distances

2. Balance angles
3. Use corrected angles to compute azimuths. Compute starting
bearing from known coordinates if necessary.
4. Compute latitudes and departures
5. Compute linear error of closure and proportional accuracy
6. Correct latitudes and departures
7. Compute coordinates
8. Compute area

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Balancing Angles
➢ In theodolite traverses it is paramount that the field angles are
checked before leaving the field and prior to any further
computations.

➢ The check that is applied for a closed traverse is the sum of the
angles in a polygon, i.e. The geometric sum is (2n-4)90º for
internal angles, (2n+4)90º for external angles.

➢ The allowable error in the summation check, is ± 30"√n for urban

areas and ± 1’√n for rural areas, where n is the number of angles in
the polygon, as specified in the Land Surveyors Regulations of
Jamaica.
➢ If the summation check is within the allowable error the angles in
the traverse are adjusted/balanced to get the geometric relationship
of the polygon. If not, it is necessary to execute field checks to find
the angular error before leaving the field and then reobserve.
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Balancing Angles
➢ There are two methods of adjusting the field angles in a closed
traverse.
1. By distributing the angular error evenly to each angle (or station).
i.e. dividing the error by the number of stations and applying the
correction to each station angle.
2. By distributing the angular error to one or more angles to force the
closure.

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Azimuth Computations: Orientation
➢ The orientation of the survey may be defined in any of four (4)
ways:
1. Magnetic North – based on the compass location of the magnetic
meridian.
2. True North – meridian based on astronomical observations.
3. Grid North – meridian based on the geodetic control network of a
country.
4. Arbitrary North – based on an assumed meridian.

➢ Each of these methods can have angles between their meridians

and any traverse line expressed either in Whole Circle
Bearings/Azimuths or Reduced/Quadrantal Bearings.

➢ Or, angular observations can be done between a line whose

coordinates or bearing is known, and a line in your survey traverse.

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Azimuth Computations: Orientation
➢ The following formula is used to compute the bearing from the
coordinates:
Formula Brg T1- T2=

➢ Compass Traverse: The compass is capable of measuring the

bearing of each line instead of angles. The direction of each line is
obtained directly but are related to a magnetic needle.

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Azimuth Computations: Traverse Legs
➢ The balanced angles are used for azimuth computations

➢ For interior angles:

1. When computing anti-clockwise, the calculated reverse azimuth +
the balanced angle = forward azimuth of the following line.
2. Subtract 360˚ if necessary

➢ The computations should end with a check on the azimuth of the

1st traverse leg.

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Latitude and Departure Computations
➢ The latitude (ΔN) and departure (ΔE) are the rectangular
components of a line which is defined by polar coordinates. i.e.
bearings and distances.

➢ Where ΔN & ΔE are rectangular components and bearing 'θ' and

distance 'd' are the elements of the polar coordinates.

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Latitude and Departure Computations
➢ The latitude is the north-south rectangular component, which is
actually the change/difference in northings between the two stations
that forms the line. North is a positive value and South is a negative
value.

➢ Latitude (ΔN) = HD x Cos (Azimuth).

➢ The departure is the east-west rectangular component, which is

actually the change/difference in eastings between the two stations
that forms the line. East is a positive value and West is a negative
value.

➢ Departure (ΔE) = HD x Sin (Azimuth).

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Latitude and Departure Computations
➢ Latitude and Departure are computed for each line in the traverse.

➢ In a closed loop traverse, where you start and end at the same point,
the sum of all the Latitudes should equate to zero and the sum of all
the Departures should equate to zero .

➢ This summation of all Latitudes and all Departures act as a check

on our calculations and the quality of our observed angles and
distances combined.

➢ If they do not sum to zero, then the traverse is said to have a

misclosure or a closing error. This error is determined by finding
the distance misclosure that occurred over the entire traverse.
Linear Misclosure =

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Latitude and Departure Computations
➢ The closing error can be expressed in proportion to the total length of
the traverse as a ratio, called the proportional accuracy. This accuracy
provides an idea of the quality of the fieldwork of the surveyor.
Proportional Accuracy=
➢ , expressed in the form 1/x
where x is a whole number rounded down to the nearest 100 units.

➢ If the proportional accuracy satisfies the required accuracy of the

survey then the latitude and departures must be corrected to make the
geometry of the traverse consistent. i.e The ∑ΔN = ∑ΔE = 0, for a
closed loop traverse.

➢ The required accuracy for Cadastral Surveys in Jamaica is 1:2,000 for

urban areas and 1:500 for rural areas, as per the Land Surveyors
Regulations.
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Latitude and Departure Computations: Location
of Gross Errors
➢ If the computed proportional accuracy does not meet the required
accuracy, then examinations of the calculations can assist in locating
gross errors in any closed traverse.

➢ Detecting a linear error in any line – by comparing the bearing of the

closing error with bearings of the individual lines in the traverse. If the
there is only one gross error in distance measurements, the closing error
bearing would have approximately the same bearing as the traverse line
on which the error occurred. The size of the error would be equivalent to
the closing error distance.

1. The bearing of the closing error can also be determined by

Tan-1 (∑ΔE ⁄∑ΔN).

2. If the closing error is parallel to more than one line then each of those
lines must be checked in the field as the gross error could be along any
of the lines.
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Latitude and Departure Computations: Location
of Gross Errors
➢ Detecting an angular error – A gross angular error in a closed
traverse can be detected by:

1. Computing or plotting the traverse in both directions:- The station

which has the same coordinate in each case will be the station
where the angular error occurred.

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Latitude and Departure Computations
➢ In the case the proportional accuracy of the traverse meets the
required accuracy the errors must be adjusted before proceeding to
the computation of coordinates of each station.

➢ The are two frequently used methods for adjusting the misclosure in
a closed loop traverse.

➢ Bowditch Method – In this method the adjustment is made of the

latitude and departure errors, proportionally to the length of each
traverse leg. This has the effect of a greater shift in the bearings.

➢ ΔN adj. per line = ∑ΔN x length of leg/perimeter of traverse

ΔE adj. per line = ∑ΔE x length of leg/perimeter of traverse.

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Latitude and Departure Computations
➢ Transit Method – In this method the error is distributed in proportion
to the coordinate differences of each line instead of the length of the
traverse legs.

➢ This method has the advantage of having less effect on the bearings.

➢ ΔN corr. per line = ∑ΔN x ΔN of the line ⁄ Arithmetic∑ΔN

ΔE corr. per line = ∑ΔE x ΔE of the line ⁄ Arithmetic∑ΔE

➢ The two methods adjust both the bearings and distances in the traverse
lines. The Bowditch method is more widely used because of its
simplicity but Transit method affects the angular measurements less.

➢ Check: After adjustment, the ∑ΔN should equal to zero and ∑ΔE
should equal to zero
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Coordinate Computations
➢ Given rectangular grid coordinates of one station in the traverse the
other stations can now be coordinated by executing the sum of the
latitude and departure to the Northing and Easting of the starting
point of that line.

➢ Eg: Given Northings and Eastings of point A and knowing the

adjusted latitude and departure of the line AB, then the coordinates of
B can be computed by:

1. NB = NA + ΔNAB where ΔNAB = adjusted latitude of line AB.

2. EB = EA + ΔEAB where ΔEAB = adjusted departure of line AB.

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Area Computations: Double Longitude
➢ The double longitude of a line is the algebraic sum of the double
longitude of the previous line, plus the departure of the previous line,
plus the departure of the line itself.

➢ Check: The final double longitude value is equal numerically to the

final departure value but with a different sign.

➢ Double Product= The latitude of each line multiplied by its

corresponding double longitude.

➢ 2*Area = the algebraic sum of the double product.

➢ The sign attached to the area may be ignored.

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Area Computations: Cross Coordinate
Station Coordinates
1 N1 E1
2 N2 E2
3 N3 E3
1 N1 E1

➢ Area = {(N1E2 + N2E3 + N3E1) – (N1E3 + N3E2 + N2E1)} ⁄ 2

➢ The sign attached to the area may be ignored.

➢ This formula may be tabulated for any polygon but it is important to

remember that the polygon must start and close with the same station
coordinates.

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Preparation of Plan
➢ See handout and class demonstration

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Preparation of Report
➢ See practical sheet and in class instructions

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References
➢ Edmund R. A. Ingram C.L.S. (2018), Lecture notes on Traversing,
Lecturer (Surveying), University of Technology, Jamaica

➢ Godfrey Thomas (2001), Lecture notes on Traversing, Lecturer

(Surveying), University of Technology, Jamaica

➢ Muskett, J., (1988), Site Surveying, Blackwell Scientific Publications.

➢ Kavanagh, Barry F., (1996), Surveying Principles & Applications 4th

Edition, Simond & Schuster Company.

➢ Uren, J., Price, B., (2010), Surveying for Engineers 5th Edition,
Palgrave Macmillan.

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Thank You!