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SURVEYING

4 TRAVERSING

1. TRAVERSING

Traversing is the type of survey in which several connected survey lines form the
framework and the direction and lengths of survey lines are measured with the help
of an angle measuring instrument and a tape respectively. When the lines from a
circuit which ends at the starting point, it is known as a closed traverse. If the circuit
ends elsewhere, it is said to be an open traverse.

2. METHODS OF TRAVERSING

(i) Chain Traversing: All the traversing work is done by using chain and tape and no

angle measuring instruments are used. The angles are fixed by linear or tie

measurements. This method is unsuitable for accurate work.

(ii) Chain and Compass Traversing (Loose Needle Method): The directions are

measured with a compass and the distances are measured with a chain or tape. The

direction of magnetic meridian is established at each station independently. This

method is not as accurate as transit tape method.

(iii) Transit Tape Traversing:

(a) By fast needle method: Magnetic bearing of the traverse lines are measured

with a reference to the direction of magnetic meridian established at the first station.

(b) By measurement of angles between the lines: The angles between the lines

are measured directly using a theodolite. This is the most accurate method. The

measured angles can be either included angles or deflection angles.

(iv) Plane Table Traversing: The observations in the field and the plotting are done

simultaneously. It will be covered in more detail in the following chapters.

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3. PLOTTING A TRAVERSE SURVEY

(i) Angle and Distance Method: The distances between the stations are plotted to
a scale and the angles between the lines are plotted by some angle plotting or method
such as a protractor or the chord or the tangent method. This method is suitable for
small surveys and its accuracy for plotting is not as good as the co-ordinate method.
(ii) Co-ordinate Method: This is the most accurate and the most practical method
of plotting traverses. The survey stations are plotted by calculating their co-ordinates.
Its most important advantage being that that the closing error can be eliminated by
balancing before plotting.

4. CONSECUTIVE CO-ORDINATES

(i) Latitude (L): Projection of a line on North-South (N-S) axis is called latitude. It is
considered positive on north axis (northing) and considered negative on south axis
(southing).
(ii) Departure (D): Projection of a line on East-West (E-W) axis is called departure.
It is considered positive on East axis (easting) and negative on west axis (westing).

Here,
Latitude = l cos θ
Departure = l sin θ

5. LATITUDE AND DEPARTURE FOR CLOSED TRAVERSE

For a closed traverse: Σ Latitude = 0 and Σ Departure = 0

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In the given traverse,

Σ Latitude = + L1 – L2 – L3 + L4 = ΔL – ΔL = 0
Similarly,
Σ Departure = +D1 + D2 – D3 – D4 = ΔD – ΔD = 0

Example: the table below gives the lengths and bearings of the lines of a closed
traverse ABCDEA. Calculate the length and bearing of the line EA.
Line Length Bearing
(m)
AB 204 87°30’
BC 206 20°20’
CD 187 280°0’
DE 192 210°3’
EA ? ?

Sol.
For any Line, Latitude = l cos θ and Departure = l sin θ
Line Latitude Departure
+ – + –
AB 8.90 – 203.80
BC 211.92 – 78.52
CD 32.48 – 184.16
DE 165.44 97.44
Sum 253.30 165.44 282.32 281.60
ΣL = + 87.86 ΣD = + 0.72

Now, for a closed traverse, ΣL=0 and ΣD = 0.

So, Latitude of EA = –ΣL = –87.86 m
And, Departure of EA = – ΣD = –0.72 m
Since the latitude of EA is negative and departure is also negative, it lies in the 3rd
quadrant i.e., SW direction.
The reduced bearing θ of EA is given by
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 6.72
𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = =
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 87.86
⇒ 𝜽 = 𝟎°𝟐𝟖′

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∴ Bearing of EA = S0° 28’W = 180° 28’ in WCB

𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 87.86
Also, length of 𝐸𝐴 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠 0°28′

⇒ 𝑳 = 𝟖𝟕. 𝟖𝟔𝒎

Example: A and B are two stations of a location traverse, their total coordinates in
meters are provided.
Station Total Total
Latitude Departure
A 34,321 7,509
B 33,670 9,652
A straight reach of railways is to run from C, roughly south of A, to D, roughly north
of B. The offsets perpendicular to the railway being AC = 130m and BD = 72m.
Calculate the bearing of CD.
Sol.

Latitude, L = 34321 – 33670 = + 651m

Departure, D = 7529 – 9652 = – 2143m
Since, latitude is positive and departure is negative, line AB is in the South East
quadrant.
𝐷 2143
The bearing of AB is given by, 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = 𝐿
= 651

θ = S73°6’8’’E, it is the angle between South direction and AB.

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝐵 = √(651)2 + (2143)2 = 2239.7 𝑚

𝑂𝐵 𝐵𝐷
=
𝑂𝐴 𝐴𝐶
𝑂𝐵 + 𝑂𝐴 𝐵𝐷 + 𝐴𝐶
𝑜𝑟, =
𝑂𝐴 𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝐵 130 + 72 202
= =
𝑂𝐴 130 130
130
∴ 𝑂𝐴 = × 2239.7 = 1441.4 𝑚
202

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𝐴𝐶 130
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 = 𝐴𝑂 = 1441.4 , where β = ∠OAC
Or, β = 84°49’32’’
Also, β =α + θ, where α is the angle between the South direction and AC.
α = 84°49’32’’ – 73°6’8’’= 11°43’24’’,
∴ Bearing of CD = 90° + α = 90° + 11°43’24’’ = 101°43’24’’

6. CLOSING ERROR

After completion of the survey of a closed traverse at time of plotting, if the end point
doesn’t coincide exactly with the starting point, the closing error is introduced. It is
caused due to errors in the field measurements of angles and distances. Since the
closing and starting points don’t coincide, the sum of the latitudes and departures isn’t
zero.
Hence, ΣL ≠ 0 and ΣD ≠ 0

Here,
eL = total error in latitude
eD = total error in departure
The magnitude of closing error, e = √𝑒𝐿2 + 𝑒𝐷2
𝑒
Direction = θ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( 𝑒𝐷 )
𝐿

There are following methods to correct closing error,

(i) Bowditch method
(ii) Transit method
(iii) Graphical method
6.1. Bowditch Method
Tis method is suitable when linear and angular measurement are both taken with
an equal degree of precision.
The basis of this method is on the assumptions that
a) the errors in linear measurements are proportional to √𝑙 and
b) the errors in angular measurements are inversely proportional to √𝑙,

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where l is the length of a line.

Correction to latitude (or departure) of any side =
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒
Total error in latitude (or departure) ×
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒

Let,
CL = correction to latitude or any side
CD = correction to departure on any side
ΣL = total error in latitude
ΣD = total error in departure
Σl = length of the perimeter, and l = length of any side
𝒍 𝒍
We have, 𝑪𝑳 = ∑𝑳 ∑𝒍 and 𝑪𝑫 = ∑𝑫 ∑𝒍

Example: Determine the corrected latitude and departure for the following data.
Line Length (m) Back bearing (°) Fore bearing (°)
AB 160 46 226
BC 190 130 310
CD 200 220 40
DA 180 320 140
Solution:
Line Length BB FB L D Correction Corrected value
L D L D
AB 160 46 226 –111.14 –115.09 –5.76 3.59 –116.90 –111.50
BC 190 130 310 122.12 -145.54 –6.84 4.26 115.28 –141.3
CD 200 220 40 153.20 128.56 –7.21 4.48 146.00 133.04
DA 180 320 140 –137.88 115.70 –6.48 4.03 –114.36 119.73

Σl = 730m.
eL = –111.14 + 122.12 + 153.20 – 137.88 = +26.31m
eD = –115.09 – 145.54 + 128.56 + 115.70 = –16.38m
closing error, e = √(26.91)2 + (−16.38)2 = 30.99m
𝑒𝐷
𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = −31.90° = 360 − 31.9° = 328°5′40′′
𝑒𝐿
Sample calculation of AB
𝑙1 160
𝐶𝐿1 = [ × 𝑒𝐿 ] = − [ × 26.31] = −5.76
𝛴𝑙 730
Corrected latitude = L1 + CL1, = –111.14 – 5.76 = –116.90m

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𝑙 160
L𝐶𝐷1 = − [𝛴𝑙1 × 𝑒𝐷 ] = − [730 × (−16.38)] = 3.59

Corrected departure = D1 + CD1 = –115.09 + 3.59 = –111.50m

6.2. Transit Method
This method may by employed where angular measurements are more precise
than the linear measurements. According to this rule, the total error in latitude
and in departures is distributed in proportion to the latitudes and departures of
the sides. It is claimed that the angles are less affected by corrections applied by
transit method than by those by Bowditch’s method.
Correction to latitude (or departure)
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 (𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒) 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
= Total Error in Latitude (or Departure) × 𝐴𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑠 (𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠)

Let,
L = latitude of any line
D = departure of any line
LT = arithmetic sum of latitudes
DT = arithmetic sum of departure
𝑳 𝑫
We have, 𝑪𝑳 = 𝜮𝑳 . and 𝑪𝑫 = 𝜮𝑫 ·
𝑳𝑻 𝑫𝑻

Example: Determine the corrected latitude and departure for the following data.
Line Length BB FB

AB 160 46 226

BC 190 130 310

CD 200 220 40

DA 180 320 140

Sol.
Sample calculation.
𝐿 111.14
𝐶𝐿1 = − [𝐿1 × 𝑒𝐿 ] = − [524.37 × 26.31] = –5.57m
𝑇

Corrected Latitude = L1 + CL1 = –116.71

𝐷 115.09
𝐶𝐷1 = [𝐷1 × 𝑒𝐷 ] = − [504.90 × (−16.38)] = 3.73m
𝑇

Corrected departure = D1 + CD1 = –115.09 + 3.73 = –111.36m

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Line Length BB FB L D Correction Corrected value

L D L D
AB 160 46 226 –111.14 –115.09 –5.57 3.73 –116.71 –111.36
BC 190 130 310 122.13 +145.54 –6.12 3.91 116.01 –140.3
CD 200 220 40 153.20 128.56 –7.68 4.97 146.52 132.73
DA 180 320 140 –137.88 +115.70 –6.91 3.75 –144.48 119.45

6.3. Graphical Method

It is a simple method for the application of Bowditch method graphically without
calculations. The closing error AA’ is distributed linearly to all the sides in
proportion to their length by the graphical construction. The ordinate aA’ is
considered equal to the closing error and the corresponding errors bB’, cC’ and
dD’ are found by constructing similar triangles. The lines D’D, C’C, B’B are drawn
parallel to the closing error A’A and are made equal to dD’, cC’ and bB’
respectively. The polygon ABCD thus obtained represents the adjusted traverse.

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7. PROBLEMS

Problem 1: Find the closing error for the following traverse.

Line Length Bearing

AB 130 92
BC 158 174
CD 145 220
DA 308 279
EA 337 48
Ans. 1.074m

Problem 2: Determine the corrected departure and latitude values for the traverse

given in Problem 1. Use Bowditch method.

Problem 3: Determine the corrected departure and latitude values for the traverse

given in Problem 1. Use Transit method.

Problem 4: Also find the corrected lengths and bearings of all the lines. Use the values

from problem 3.

Problem 5: Describe the graphical method of closing error of traverse.

Problem 6: Distinguish between chain surveying and traverse surveying.

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