COMPASS SURVEYING

V. Vinayaka Ram
1
PRISMATIC COMPASS

2
3
 BEARINGS
Whole Circle Bearing System (Azimuthal
System)

4
 BEARINGS
Quadrantal Bearing System
(Reduced Bearing)
6
 FORE AND BACK BEARINGS

In WCB, FB BB (or BB FB) should be

exactly 180
BB=FB+/-180
Use the +ve sign when FB<180 7
BEARING OF A LINE

8
 MINI CHALLENGES

1. Calculation of bearing from

the angles
2. Calculation of angles from
the bearings

Develop simple looking

formulae
for these two operations

9
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
1. Convert the following WCB in to QB
system
220 30
1700 12
2110 54
3270 24
2. Convert the following QB in to WCB
system N 120 24 E
S 310 36 E
S 680 06 W
N 050 42 W 10
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
3. The following bearings were observed
with a compass. Calculate the interior
angles
Line Fore
Bearing
AB 600 30
BC 1220 00
CD 460 00
DE 2050 30
EA 3000 00
11
 NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
4. The following interior angles
were measured with a Box Sextant
in a closed traverse. The bearing
of the line AB measured as 600 00
with a prismatic compass.
Calculate the bearings of all other
lines if Angle A is 1400 10, Angle
B is 900 08, Angle C is 600 22,
Angle D is 690 20. Draw the
network diagram and solve.

12
EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD AND DIP

13
EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD AND DIP
Earth's magnetic field, known as the
geomagneticfield, is themagnetic field
that extends from theEarth's interior to
where it meets the solar wind, a stream of
charged particles from the Sun
Near Equator, they are parallel to each
other
Horizontal projection of these lines
represent Magnetic Meridian
The angle which these lines make with the
surface of the earth Dip or Dip of the
needle 14
EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD AND DIP
At 700 North Latitude and 960
West Latitude, needle will dip 900
- North Magnetic Pole
Similar area in Southern
Hemisphere is called South
Magnetic Pole
Dip of the needle is ZERO at the
equator Horizontal
Balancing weight concept
Depending on the place 15
 Magnetic Needle
Slender Symmetrical Bar of
Magnetized bar of Steel or Iron

Hung on Conical Jewel bearing

supported on a sharp hardened
steel pivot

A small coil of Brass wire

wrapped on one end for counter
weight

How about using NEODYMIUM 16

 MAGNETIC DECLINATION
Magnetic declinationorvariationis the angle on
the horizontal plane between the
MAGNETICNORTH (the direction the north end
of acompassneedle points, corresponding to
the direction of the Earth'smagneticfield lines)
and TRUE NORTH (the direction along a meridian
towards the geographic North Pole)

17
 VARIATIONS IN DECLINATIONS
Diurnal: Daily, (Morning and
Evening 10 of an arc)
Locality: More at Poles and less at equator
Season: More in Summer and Minimum
during Winter
Time: More in day and less during the night
Changes from year to year

Annual Variation: Yearly swing of

1 to 2 in amplitude
Secular Variation: Period of 250
years, In Paris 110 E in 1680 to 220
W during 1820 18
 VARIATIONS IN DECLINATIONS

Isogonic Lines:
Line drawn through the points
of same declination
Earths magnetic field is not
regular at every place
Isogonic lines do not form
complete great circles

Agonic Lines:
Made up of points with zero
declination 19
 Examples in Declination
1. The Magnetic bearing of a line is 48 0 24.
Calculate the true bearing if the magnetic
declination is 50 38 East

2. The magnetic bearing of a line AB is S 28 0

30E. Calculate the true bearing if the
declination is 70 30 W.

3. In an old map, the line AB was drawn to a

magnetic bearing of 50 30, the magnetic
declination at the same time being 1 0 E. To
what magnetic bearing should the line be
set now if the present magnetic
declination is 80 30E
20
 LOCAL ATTRACTION
In presence of magnetic materials, the magnetic
needle deviates from the magnetic meridian and
thus provides wrong direction of a line. The
deviation arising from such local sources is called
local attraction.

If the fore bearing and back bearing of a line does

not differ by 180, then there is a possibility of
local attraction

If the sum of the interior angles of a closed

traverse does not provide (2n-4) right angles
[where n is the number of sides in the traverse],
then there is a possibility of local attraction
21
Elimination of Local Attraction
Bearing Adjustment Method

Angle Adjustment Method

22
 Elimination of Local Attraction
1. The following bearings were observed with
traversing with a compass. Adjust the
bearings for Local attraction using bearing
adjustment Method
Line FB BB
AB 450 45 2260 10
BC 960 55 2770 05
CD 290 45 2090 10
DE 3240 48 1440 48

Which Traverse is this? 23

 Elimination of Local Attraction
2. The following bearings were observed in
running a closed traverse. Determine the
correct magnetic bearings of the lines using
bearing (Not possible in this caselets
examine why) and angle adjustment methods.

Line FB BB
AB 710 05 2500 20
BC 1100 20 2920 35
CD 1610 35 3410 45
DE 2200 50 400 05
EA 3000 50 1210 10
Which Traverse is this?
24
 ERRORS IN COMPASS SURVEYING
Instrumental Errors
Needle Not being perfectly straight
Pivot being bent
Sluggish Needle
Blunt Pivot Point
Improper Balancing Weight
Line of sight problems
Personal Errors
Inaccurate Leveling, Centering and bisection
of signals
Careless reading and recording
Errors due to Natural Causes
Variation In declination, Local attractions,
Magnetic storms 25
 TRAVERSE SURVEYING
Methods of Traversing
Chain Traversing
Chain and Compass
Traversing (Loose Needle
Method)
Transit Tape Traversing
Fast Needle Method
Measuring the angles between
the lines
Plane Table Traversing 26
CHECKS IN TRAVERSE SURVEYING
Traverse by Included Angles
Sum of Interior Angles: (2n-4) x 900
Sum of Exterior Angles = (2n+4) x 900

Traverse by Exterior Angles

Algebraic sum of the deflection angles should be
3600, taking right hand deflection angles as
positive and left hand deflection angles as negative

Traverse by Direct Observation of

Bearings
The Fore bearing of the last line should be equal to
its back bearing plus or minus 1800 measured at
the station
27
 Checks in Open Traverse
D E
Method
1
C

A
B

Method
2

28
 TRAVERSE COMPUTATIONS
Consecutive Coordinates: Latitudes and Departures

29
 TRAVERSE COMPUTATIONS
Consecutive Coordinates: Latitudes and Departures

Sign of
R B (Q
WCB Latitu Depart
B)
de ure
00 to 900 N E : I + +
900 to S E : II
1800
- +
1800 to SW:
2700 III
- -
2700 to NW:
3600 IV
+ -
30
COMPUTATION OF LATITUDES AND DEPARTURES

Length
Line WCB
(m)

AB 232 320 12

BC 148 1380 36

CD 417 2020 24

DE 372 2920 00
31
Now Convert all the Whole Circle
Bearings in to Reduced Bearings

32
COMPUTATION OF LATITUDES AND DEPARTURES

Lin Lengt
WCB RB
e h (m)

AB 232 320 12 N 320 12 E

BC 148 1380 36 S 410 24 E

CD 417 2020 24 S 220 24 W

DE 372 2920 00 N 680 00 W

33
Now Calculate Latitudes

34
COMPUTATION OF LATITUDES AND DEPARTURES

Lin Lengt
WCB RB Lat
e h (m)
N 320 12 +196.3
AB 232 32 12
0
E 2
1380 S 410 24
BC 148 -111.02
36 E
2020 S 220 24
CD 417 -385.54
24 W
2920 N 680 00 +139.3
DE 372
00 W 6

35
Now Calculate Departures

36
COMPUTATION OF LATITUDES AND DEPARTURES

Leng
Lin
th WCB RB Lat Dep
e
(m)
320 N 320 +196. +123.
AB 232
12 12 E 32 63
-
1380 S 41 24
0
+97.8
BC 148 111.0
36 E 8
2
- -
2020 S 22 24
0
CD 417 385.5 158.9
24 W
4 0
-
2920 N 680
+139. 37
Compute Independent Coordinates
(Northings and Eastings)

38
 INDEPENDENT COORDINATES
Independent
Latitude Departure Statio
Line Coordinates
n
N S E W N E

A 400 400
123.6
AB 196.32
3
596.3 523.6
B
2 3
BC 111.02 97.88
485.3 621.5
C
0 1
158.9
CD 385.54
0
462.6
D 99.76
1
329.3
DE 139.36
9
The departure and latitude of a station with reference to an origin 133.2
239.1 are known

as independent
coordinates. The independent
coordinate
E of at least one
39 of
2 2
the stations with reference to the considered origin is required to be known a
 CLOSING ERROR

Closing Error:
{(L)2 + (D)2}0.5

Direction of
Closing
Closing Error: D / Error
L = tan

40
BALANCING THE TRAVERSE

Transit Method
Bowditchs Method
Graphical Method

41
 Transit Rule

This method is developed for

balancing a traverse in which angles
are measured with a higher degree of
precision than the lengths of the sides

It is based on the assumption that the

error in departure (or latitude) of a
traverse side is proportional to its
departure (or latitude)

Correction to Latitude or Departure of

any side =
Total Error in Latitude or Departure 42x
 Bowditchs Rule

The Bowditch's method is used when both

the linear and angular measurements are
compatible to each other, i.e., they are of
equal precision.

The corrections may be applied either

analytically or may be carried out
graphically. This method of balancing of
traverse is widely prevalent and most
commonly used

Correction to Latitude or Departure of any

side =
Total Error in Latitude or Departure x (Length
of that side / Perimeter of the Traverse)
43
 Graphical Method

Let PoQoRoSoToP' is the graphical plot of a closed-loop traverse

PQRSTP. The observed length and direction of traverse sides are
such that it fails to get balanced and is depicted in its graphical
presentation by an amount PoP'.

Closing error of the

traverse is PoP' 44
Graphical Method

45
Process Followed

In order to obtain the length and direction of shifting of the plotted

position of stations, first a straight line is required to be drawn, at
some scale, representing the perimeter of the plotted traverse.

In this case, a horizontal line PoP' is drawn. Mark the traverse

stations on this line such as Qo, Ro, Soand Toin such a way that
distance between them represent the length of the traverse sides
at the chosen scale. At the terminating end of the line i.e., at P', a
line P' P a is drawn parallel to the correction for closure and length
equal to the amount of error as depicted in the plot of traverse.

Now, join Poto Paand draw lines parallel to P' Paat points Qo, Ro,
Soand To. The length and direction of QoQa, RoRa, SoSaand
ToTarepresent the length and direction of errors at Qo, Ro, Soand
Torespectively. So, shifting equal to QoQa, RoRa, SoSaand
ToTaand in the same direction are applied as correction to the
positions of stations Qo, Ro, Soand Torespectively.
46
These shifting provide the corrected positions of the stations as to
 NUMERICAL PROBLEM

Plot the following compass traverse to

the scale and adjust it for the closing
error if any. Use all the methods taught
in the class
Line Length Bearing
(m)
AB 130 S 880 E
BC 158 S 060 E
CD 145 S 400 E
DE 308 S 810 E
EA 337 S 480 E
47
OMITTED MEASUREMENTS

For a closed traverse

Latitudes = 0
Departures = 0

48
 OMITTED MEASUREMENTS
NUMERICAL 1
A Closed traverse was conducted around
an obstacle and the following observations
were made. Work out the missing
quantities
Side Length Azimuth
(m)
AB 500 980 30
BC 620 300 20
CD 468 2980 30
DE ? 2300 00
EA ? 150 010
49
 OMITTED MEASUREMENTS
NUMERICAL 2
For the following traverse,
compute the length CD so that A,D
and E are collinear
Side Length Bearing
(m)
AB 110 830 12
BC 165 300 42
CD ? 3460 06
DE 212 160 18

50
 OMITTED MEASUREMENTS
NUMERICAL 3
straight tunnel is to be run between two points
A and B whose coordinates are given below.

Points N E
A 0 0
B 3014 256
C 1764 1398
It is desired to sink a shaft at D, the middle
point of AB, but it is impossible to measure
along AB directly, so D is to be fixed from C, a
third known point. Calculate (i) the coordinates
of D (ii) the length and bearing of CD (iii) The
angle ACD given that the bearing of AC is
380 24E of N.
51
QUESTION TIME

52