Traverse Area Computation

CE 2131 Fundamentals of Surveying

Steps in solving traverse area.
1. Plot the traverse and label properly.
2. Compute the latitude and departures. Latitude is the product of the distance
and the cosine function of the bearing of the line. Departure is the product of
the distance and the sine function of the bearing of the line.
3. Compute the sum of all Latitudes and Departures, with due respect to its signs
(+/-). The answer represents the error in the line.
4. Compute corrections for each Latitude and Departure by Transit or Compass
Rule.
5. Compute adjusted latitudes and departures.
6. Compute DMD and DPD factors.
7. Compute Double Area using the product of DMD factors and Latitude, and DPD
factors and departure.
8. Compute area of traverse by dividing by two the commutative sum of the
Double Area (DMD or DPD).
Example find area using dmd/dpd &
transit/compass rule adjustment
Line Bearing Distance (m)
AB N 21-37 W 5.10
BC N 75-13 W 5.35
CD S 42-15 W 5.89
DE S 47-43 E 6.23
EA N 76-12 E 6.85
1. Plot and label the traverse.

Line Bearing Distance

AB N 21-37 W 5.10

BC N 75-13 W 5.35

CD S 42-15 W 5.89

DE S 47-43 E 6.23

EA N 76-12 E 6.85
 2. Compute for the latitude and departure.

Line Bearing Distance Computed

Latitude Departure

AB N 21-37 W 5.10 4.74 (1.88)

BC N 75-13 W 5.35 1.36 (5.17)

CD S 42-15 W 5.89 (4.36) (3.96)

DE S 47-43 E 6.23 (4.19) 4.61

EA N 76-12 E 6.85 1.63 6.65

Computations
for latitude &
departures
3. Compute the sum of latitudes and departures.
Line Bearing Distance Computed
Latitude Departures

AB N 21-37 W 5.10 4.74 (1.88)

BC N 75-13 W 5.35 1.36 (5.17)

CD S 42-15 W 5.89 (4.36) (3.96)

DE S 47-43 E 6.23 (4.19) 4.61

EA N 76-12 E 6.85 1.63 6.65

∑ (0.82) 0.25
The summation of latitudes and departures
represents the error in the lines of traverse.
4. Compute corrections for latitudes and departures using
compass or transit rule.
Computed Corrections
Line Bearing Distance
Latitude Departures Latitude Departures

AB N 21-37 W 5.10 4.74 (1.88)

BC N 75-13 W 5.35 1.36 (5.17)

CD S 42-15 W 5.89 (4.36) (3.96)

DE S 47-43 E 6.23 (4.19) 4.61

EF N 76-12 E 6.85 1.63 6.65

29.42 (0.82) 0.25

Computation
of errors for
latitude &
departures
5. Compute adjusted latitude and departure.
Computed Corrections Adjusted
Line Bearing Distance
Latitude Departures Latitude Departure Latitude Departure

AB N 21-37 W 5.10 4.74 (1.88) (0.14) 0.043

BC N 75-13 W 5.35 1.36 (5.17) (0.15) 0.045

CD S 42-15 W 5.89 (4.36) (3.96) (0.16) 0.050

DE S 47-43 E 6.23 (4.19) 4.61 (0.17) 0.053

EA N 76-12 E 6.85 1.63 (6.65) (0.19) 0.058

Adjusted (L/D) = Computed (L/D) – Corrections (L/D).

 Compute for DMD and DPD factors

Computed Corrections Adjusted

DMD DPD
Line Bearing Distance
Latitude Departures Latitude Departure Latitude Departure

AB N 21-37 W 5.10 4.74 (1.88) (0.14) 0.043 4.88 (1.92)

BC N 75-13 W 5.35 1.36 (5.17) (0.15) 0.045 1.51 (5.22)

CD S 42-15 W 5.89 (4.36) (3.96) (0.16) 0.050 (4.20) (4.01)

DE S 47-43 E 6.23 (4.19) 4.61 (0.17) 0.053 (4.02) 4.56

EA N 76-12 E 6.85 1.63 (6.65) (0.19) 0.058 1.83 6.59

Computation
for DMD &
DPD Factors
 Compute Double Areas.
DOUBLE AREAS
Computed Corrections Adjusted
DMD DPD
Line Bearing Dist
Lat Dep Lat Dep Lat Dep

AB N 21-37 W 5.10 4.74 (1.88) (0.14) 0.043 4.88 (1.92) (1.92) 4.88

BC N 75-13 W 5.35 1.36 (5.17) (0.15) 0.045 1.51 (5.22) (9.06) 11.27

CD S 42-15 W 5.89 (4.36) (3.96) (0.16) 0.050 (4.20) (4.01) (18.29) 8.58

DE S 47-43 E 6.23 (4.19) 4.61 (0.17) 0.053 (4.02) 4.56 (17.74) 0.36

EA N 76-12 W 6.85 1.63 (6.65) (0.19) 0.058 1.83 6.59 (6.59) (1.83)

Double Areas = ∑ (DMD x Latitude) or ∑ (DPD x Departure)

Computation
of Double
Areas
Compute Area of
traverse.

• Area = ½ (Double Area)

56.46 SM

• A = ½ (112.92)

• A = 56.46 SM.
Assignment # 9