LATITUDE AND DEPARTURE

Latitude – is the projection of a line onto the reference meridian or a north-

south line. Sometimes refered to as the northings or southings.

N(+)
S(-)

Latitude = length x cos bearing angle

Departure – is the projection of a line onto the reference parallel or an east-

west line.

E(+)
W(-)

Departure = Length x sin bearing angle

Lat = AB cos O
Dep = AB sin O
Linear Error of Closure (LEC) – is a short line of unknown length and
direction connecting the initial and final stations of the traverse. It can be
determined by plotting the traverse to scale, or can be computed by using
the equation:

LEC = √ (CL)2 + (CD)2

Tan O = - CD
- CL
Where:

LEC – linear error of closure

CL – closure in latitude or the algebraic sum of north and south latitudes;
CD – closure in departure or the algebraic sum of east and west departures;
O – bearing angle of the side of error.

Linear error of closure does not indicate the precision of the measurements
until it is compared with the total length of the traverse.

RP = LEC
D
where:

RP = relative precision
LEC = linear error of closure
D = total length or perimeter of the traverse
Illustrative Problems
1. Given in the tabulation below are notes for an open traverse. Determine
the latitude and departure of each course and tabulate observed and
computed values accordingly.

COURSE DISTANCE BEARING

AB 550.30m N 28o10’E
BC 395.48 S 69o35’E
CD 462.70 S 27o50’E
DE 631.22 N 50o00’E
EF 340.05 S 25o05’E
FG 275.86 DUE EAST

Solution:

a) Determine Latitudes
Lat = d cosO

Latitudes
ab = 550.30 cos 28o10’ = + 485.13m
bc = 395.48 cos 69o35’ = - 137.96
cd = 462.70 cos 27o50’ = - 409.17
de = 631.22 cos 50o00’ = + 405.74
ef = 340.05 cos 25o05’ = - 307.98
fg = 275.86 cos 90o00’ = 0

b) Determine Departures
Dep = d sinO

Departures
ab = 550.30 sin 28o10’ = + 259.76m
bc = 395.48 sin 69o35’ = + 370.64
cd = 462.70 sin 27o50’ = + 216.04
de = 631.22 sin 50o00’ = + 483.54
ef = 340.05 sin 25o05’ = + 144.16
fg = 275.86 sin 90o00’ = + 275.86
c) Tabulate solution

COURSE DISTANCE BEARING LATITUDE DEPARTURE

(m) +N -S +E -W
AB 550.30 N 28o10’E 485.13 259.76
BC 395.48 S 69o35’E 137.96 370.64
CD 462.70 S 27o50’E 409.17 216.04
DE 631.22 N 50o00’E 405.74 483.54
EF 340.05 S 25o05’E 307.98 144.16
FG 275.86 DUE 275.86
EAST

2. Given in the accompanying tabulation are the observed data for a closed
traverse obtained from a transit-tape survey. Determine the following
quantities: latitude and departure of each course, linear error of closure,
bearing of the side of error, and the precision of the measurements,
Tabulate observed and computed values according to the usual format.

LINE LENGTH AZIMUTH

(m) FROM
NORTH
AB 233.10 122o30’
BC 242.05 85o15’
CD 191.50 20o00’
DE 234.46 333o35’
EF 270.65 254o08’
FA 252.38 213o00’

Solution:
a) Determine the Latitudes

Latitudes
ab = 233.10 cos 122o30’ = -125.24m
bc = 242.05 cos 85o15’ = + 20.04
cd = 191.50 cos 20o00’ = + 179.95
de = 234.46 cos 333o35’ = + 209.98
ef = 270.65 cos 254o08’ = - 74
fa = 252.38 cos 213o00’ = -211.66
b) Determine the Departures

Departures
ab = 233.10 sin 122o30’ = +196.59m
bc = 242.05 sin 85o15’ = + 241.22
cd = 191.50 sin 20o00’ = + 65.50
de = 234.46 sin 333o35’ = -104.31
ef = 270.65 sin 254o08’ = - 260.34
fa = 252.38 sin 213o00’ = -137.46

c) Solve for the precision of the measurements

RP = LEC
D

D = 233.10 + 242.05 + 191.50 + 234.46 + 270.65 + 252.38

= 1,424.14 m

CL = -125.24 + 20.04 + 179.95 + 209.98 – 74 – 211.66

= - 0.93m
CD = 196.59 + 241.22 + 65.50 – 104.31 – 260.34 – 137.46
= 1.20m
LEC = √ (CL)2 + (CD)2
= √ (-0.93)2 + (1.20)2
= 1.52m
RP = 1.52___
1,424.14

= _ 1___
936.93

=_ 1___
900

d) Tabulate
LINE LENGTH AZIMUTH LATITUDE DEPARTURE
(m) FROM +N -S +E -W
NORTH
AB 233.10 122o30’ 125.24 196.59
BC 242.05 85o15’ 20.04 241.22
CD 191.50 20o00’ 179.95 65.5
DE 234.46 333o35’ 209.98 104.31
EF 270.65 254o08’ 74.00 260.34
FA 252.38 213o00’ 211.66 137.46
SUMS 1424.14 +402.97 -410.90 +503.31 -502.11

Traverse adjustment – the procedure of computing the linear error of

closure and applying corrections to the individual latitudes and departures
for the purpose of providing a mathematically closed figure.

Methods used in adjusting a traverse

1.Least square method- based on the theory of probability.
2. Arbitrary method-surveyor simply relies on his own estimation and
personal judgment.
3. Compass rule
4. Transit rule
5. Crandall method-time consuming without the use of an electronic
calculator or a digital computer,
Compass rule – the correction to be applied to the latitude or departure of
any course is equal to the total closure in latitude or departure multiplied by
the ratio of the length or perimeter of the traverse.

cl = CL(d/D)

cd = CD(d/D)

cl = corr. to be applied to the latitude

cd= corr. to be applied to the departure
CL= total closure in latitude
CD= total closure in departure
d = length of any course
D = total length or perimeter of the traverse

Adjusted lengths and directions

L’ = √ (Lat’)2 + (Dep’)2

Tan O = Dep’
Lat’

Illustrative problem:
Given in the accompanying tabulations are the observed data for a traverse
obtained from a transit-tape survey. Determine the latitudes and departures
of each course and balance these quantities by employing the compass
rule. Also, determine the linear error of closure, bearing of the side of error,
and the relative error of closure. Tabulate values accordingly.

COURSE DISTANCE BEARING

AB 495.85 N 05o30’E
BC 850.62 N 46o02’E
CD 855.45 S 67o38’E
DE 1020.87 S 12o25’E
EF 1117.26 S 83o44’W
FA 660.08 N 55o09’W
Solution:

a) Compute the Latitudes

Latitude
ab = 495.85 cos 05o30’ = + 493.57m
bc = 850.62 cos 46o02’ = + 590.53
cd = 855.45 cos 67o38’ = - 325.53
de = 1,020.87 cos 12o25’ = - 996.99
ef = 1,117.26 cos 83o44’ = - 121.96
fa = 660.08 cos 55o09’ = + 377.19

b) Compute the Departures

Departures
ab = 495.85 sin 05o30’ = + 47.53m
bc = 850.62 sin 46o02’ = + 612.23
cd = 855.45 sin 67o38’ = + 791.09
de = 1,020.87 sin 12o25’ = + 219.51
ef = 1,117.26 sin 83o44’ = - 1,110.58
fa = 660.08 sin 55o09’ = - 541.70

c) Tabulate
COURSE DISTANCE BEARINGS COMPUTED COMPUTED
LATITUDE DEPARTURE
+N -S +E -W
AB 495.85 N 05o30’E 493.57 47.53
BC 850.62 N 46o02’E 590.53 612.23
CD 855.45 S 67o38’E 325.53 791.09
DE 1020.87 S 12o25’E 996.99 219.51
EF 1117.26 S 83o44’W 121.96 1,110.58
FA 660.08 N 55o09’W 377.19 541.70
SUMS 5,000.13 +1,461.29 -1,444.48 +1,670.36 -1,652.28

d) Determine total closure in Lat and Dep

CL = 493.57 + 590.53 – 325.53 – 996.99 – 121.96 + 377.19

= 16.81m
CD = 47.53 + 612.23 +791.09 + 219.51 – 1,110.58 – 541.70
= 18.08m
D = 495.85 + 850.52 + 855.45 + 1,020.87 + 1,117.26 + 660.08
D = 5,000.13m

e) Latitude Correction

K1= CL = 16.81__ = 0.00336

D 5,000.13
cl = dK1

cab = 495.85 (0.00336) = 1.67m

cbc = 850.62 (0.00336) = 2.86
ccd = 855.45 (0.00336) = 2.88
cde = 1,020.87 (0.00336) = 3.43
cef = 1,117.26 (0.00336) = 3.75
cfa = 660.08 (0.00336) = 2.22

check sum of latitude correction

1.67 + 2.86 + 2.88 + 3.43 + 3.75 + 2.22 = 16.81
16.81 = 16.81

f) Departure Correction

K2= CD = 18.08__ = 0.00362

D 5,000.13
CD = dK2

cab = 495.85 (0.00362) = 1.79m

cbc = 850.62 (0.00362) = 3.08
ccd = 855.45 (0.00362) = 3.09
cde = 1,020.87 (0.00362) = 3.69
cef = 1,117.26 (0.00362) = 4.04
cfa = 660.08 (0.00362) = 2.39

check sum of latitude correction

1.79 + 3.08 + 3.09 + 3.69 + 4.04 + 2.39 = 18.08
18.08 = 18.08
g) adjust the Latitude

since the sum of north lat exceeds the sum of south lat, lat corr. are
subtracted from the corresponding north lat and added to corresponding
south lat to det. the adjusted latitudes.

adjusted latitude = computed lat + cL

ab = +(493.57 – 1.67) = + 491.90m
bc = +(590.53 – 2.86) = + 587.67
cd = -(590.53 + 2.88) = - 328.41
de = -(996.99+ 3.43) = - 1,000.42
ef = -(121.96+ 3.75) = - 125.71
fa = +(377.19- 2.22) = + 374.97

check:

491.9 + 587.67 – 328.41 – 1,000.42 – 125.71 + 374.97 = 0

0=0

h) adjust the Departure

since the sum of east dep exceeds the sum of west dep, dep corr. are
subtracted from the corresponding east dep and added to corresponding
west dep to det. the adjusted departures.

adjusted departure = computed dep + cd

ab = +(47.53 – 1.79) = + 45.74m
bc = +(612.23 – 3.08) = + 609.15
cd = +(791.09 – 3.09) = + 788.00
de = +(219.51- 3.69) = + 215.82
ef = -(1,110.58+ 4.04) = - 1,114.62
fa = -(541.70 + 2.39) = - 544.09

check:

45.74 + 609.15 + 788 + 215.82 – 1,114.62 – 544.09 = 0

0=0
i) Tabulate solution
COURSE CORRECTION ADJUSTED LAT ADJUSTED DEP
LAT DEP +N -S +E -W
AB 1.67 1.79 491.9 45.74
BC 2.86 3.08 587.67 609.15
CD 2.88 3.09 328.41 788
DE 3.43 3.69 1,000.42 215.82
EF 3.75 4.04 125.71 1.114.62
FA 2.22 2.39 374.97 544.09
SUMS 16.81 18.08 1,454.54 -1454.54 1658.71 -1658.71

j) Determine the LEC, Bearing of the side of error, and Relative error of
closure

LEC = √ (CL)2 + (CD)2

= √ (16.81)2 + (18.08)2
= 24.69m
Tan O = -CD
-CL
Tan O = -(+18.08)
-(+16.81)
O = S 47o05’ W Bearing of the side of error
RP = LEC
D
= 24.69___
5,000.13
= 1/202.52
= 1/200 (relative precision)