5

Traversing
One of the principles of engineering surveying, as discussed in section 1.4, is that
horizontal and vertical control must be established for surveying detail and for set-
ting out engineering projects . A traverse is one means of providing a network of
horizontal control in which position is determined by a combination of angle and
distance measurement between successive lines joining control stations.

5.1 Types of Traverse

5.1 .1 Gosed Traverses

Two cases have to be distinguished with this type of traverse. In figure 5.1, a
traverse has been run from station X (of known position) to stations 1,2, 3 and
another known point Y. Traverse X123Y is, therefore , closed at Y. This type of

x
y

Figure 5.1 Link traverse

traverse is called a link, connectingor closed-route traverse .

In figure 5 .2, a traverse starts at station X and returns to the same point X via
stations 1,2 and 3. Station X can be of known position or can have an assumed
position. In this case the traverse is called a polygon, loop or closed-ring traverse
since it closes back on itself.
In both types of closed traverse there is an external check on the observations
since the traverses start and finish on known or assumed points.

J. Uren et al., Surveying for Engineers

© J. Uren and W. F. Price 1985
 126 SURVEYING FOR ENGINEERS

2
x

Figure 5.2 Polygon traverse

5.1.2 Open Traverses

These commence at a known point and finish at an unknown point and, therefore,
are not closed. They are used only in exceptional circumstances since there is no
external check on the measurements.

5.2 Traverse Specifications and Accuracy

The accuracy of a traverse is governed largely by the type of equipment used and
the observing and measuring techniques employed. These are dictated by the pur-
pose of the survey.
Many types of traverse are possible but three broad groups can be defmed and
are given in table 5.1.
The most common type of traverse for general engineering work and site surveys
would be of typical accuracy 1 in 10 000. The chapter notes are concerned mainly
with an expected accuracy range of about 1 in 5000 to I in 20000.
An important factor when selecting traversing equipment is that the various
instruments should produce roughly the same order of precision, that is, it is point-
less using a 1" theodolite to measure traverse angles if the lengths are being measured
with a chain . Table 5.1 gives a general indication of the grouping of suitable equip-
ment.

5.3 Bearings and Coordinates

5.3.1 Who/e-circ/e Bearings

To establish the direction of a line between two points on the ground , its bearing
has to be determined.
The whole-circle bearing (WCB) of a line is measured in a clockwise direction in
0 0
the range 0 to 360 from a specified reference or north direction. Examples of
whole-eircle bearings are given in figure 5.3.