TOPICS

PART 1 PART 2
Units of Angular Measurements Traverse
Types of Meridians Angles
Direction of Lines Magnetic Declination
✓Azimuths
✓Bearings
INTRODUCTION
MAGNETIC DECLINATION

Magnetic declination is the horizontal angle observed from the

geodetic meridian to the magnetic meridian.
• Navigators call this angle variation of the compass
• The armed forces use the term deviation.
 MAGNETIC DECLINATION

A west An east
declination declination
occurs if it exists if the
is west of magnetic
geodetic meridian is
north. east of
geodetic
north
 MAGNETIC DECLINATION

West East
declinations declinations
are
are
considered
considered
positive
negative
MAGNETIC DECLINATION

The relationship between geodetic north, magnetic north, and

magnetic declination is given by the expression:

geodetic azimuth = magnetic azimuth + magnetic declination

MAGNETIC DECLINATION

• It has been stated that magnetic declinations at any point vary

overtime.
• These variations can be categorized as secular, daily, annual, and
irregular
 VARIATIONS IN MAGNETIC DECLINATION

Secular Variation
• is a slow, gradual, but unexplainable shift in the position of the earth’s
magnetic meridian over regular cycle
• for periods of approximately 150 years there is a gradual unexplained
shift in the earth’s magnetic fields in one direction after which a
gradual drifts occurs in the other direction to complete the cycle in the
next1 50years
• can be very large and it is quite important in checking old surveys
whose directions were established with a compass
 VARIATIONS IN MAGNETIC DECLINATION

Daily Variation
• Also called diurnal variation, is an oscillation of the compass needles
through a cycle from its mean position over a 24–hour period
• Causes a variation of as much as approximately one-tenth of 1
• The magnitude is still so small in comparison to the in accuracies with
which the magnetic compass can be read
 VARIATIONS IN MAGNETIC DECLINATION

Annual Variation
• This periodic swing is less than 1 min of arc and can be neglected

Irregular Variation
• Unpredictable magnetic disturbances and storms can cause short–
term irregular variations of a degree or more
Sample Problem 1

• Assume the magnetic bearing of a property line was recorded as

S4330’E in 1862. At that time, the magnetic declination at the
survey location was 315’W. What geodetic bearing is needed
for a subdivision property plan?
 TRUE
Solution NORTH
315’

MAGNETIC
MERIDIAN

Given:
MB of a property line  = 315’+ 4330’
was S4330’E (1862).  = 4645’
MD=315’W. 4330’
Bearing = S4645’E
Required: 315’
Geodetic bearing of
Property Line 
 TRUE
Solution NORTH
315’
 = 180 - 4330’
MAGNETIC  = 13630’
MERIDIAN   =  - 315’
 = 13630’ - 315’
Given:  = 13315’
MB of a property line
was S4330’E (1862).
 = 180 - 
MD=315’W 4330’  = 180 - 13315’
Required:  = 4645’
Geodetic bearing of
Property Line  Bearing = S4645’E
Sample Problem 2

• Assume the magnetic bearing of line AB read in 1878 was

N2615’E. The declination at the time and place was 715’W. In
2000, the declination was 430’E. The magnetic bearing in 2000
is needed.
 Solution
B
2615’
Given:

MBAB (1878) = N2615’E
MDAB (1878) = 715’W
 = 2615’- 715’ - 430’
MDAB (2000) = 430’E
A  = 1430’
Required: Bearing = N1430’E
MBAB (2000)
 MISTAKES

Some mistakes made in using azimuths and bearings are:

1. Confusing magnetic and other reference bearings.
2. Mixing clockwise and counterclockwise angles.
3. Interchanging bearings for azimuths.
4. Listing bearings with angular values greater than 90.
5. Failing to include both directional letters when listing a bearing.
6. Failing to change bearing letters when using the back bearing of a line.
 MISTAKES

Some mistakes made in using azimuths and bearings are:

7. Using an angle at the wrong end of a line in computing bearings—that
is, using angle A instead of angle B when starting with line AB as a
reference.
8. Not including the last angle to recompute the starting bearing or
azimuth as a check—for example, angle A in traverse ABCDEA.
9. Subtracting 36000’ as though it were 359100’ instead of 35960’, or
using 90° instead of 180° in bearing computations.
 MISTAKES

Some mistakes made in using azimuths and bearings are:

10. Adopting an assumed reference line that is difficult to reproduce.
11. Reading degrees and decimals from a calculator as though they were
degrees, minutes, and seconds.
12. Failing to adjust traverse angles before computing bearings or
azimuths if there is a misclosure.
The End
Thank You!