Theodolite Traversing

• When traverse serving is carried out using a theodolite, the traversing is called
theodolite traversing. Likewise, triangulation is called theodolite triangulation when
carried out using a theodolite.
• The theodolite is an intricate instrument used mainly for accurate measurement of
horizontal and vertical angle
• Theodolite may be used for following purposes:
• Measuring Horizontal or Vertical Angles
• Measuring Deflection Angles
• Measuring Magnetic Bearing
• Measuring the horizontal distance between two points
• Finding the vertical height of an object
• Finding difference of elevation between various points
• Ranging of a line
 Theodolite Traversing
• Theodolites may be of two types
• Transit Theodolite
• Non-Transit Theodolite
• In the transit theodolite, the telescope, the telescope can be revolved
through a complete revolution about its horizontal axis in a vertical
plane.
• In the non transit theodolite, the telescope, cannot be revolved through
a complete revolution in the vertical plane.
 Theodolite Traversing
• Centering: The setting of a theodolite exactly over a station
mark by means of a plumb bob. Is known as centering.
• Transiting : The method of turning the telescope about its
horizontal axis or trunnion axis in a vertical plane through
180  is termed as transiting. In other words transiting
results in a change in face.
• Face left : It means that the vertical circle of the theodolite
is on the left of the observer at the time of taking reading.
• Face right: This refers to the situation when the vertical
circle of the instrument is on the right of the observer
when the reading is taken
• Changing face: The operation of bringing the vertical circle
from one side of the observer to the other is known as
changing face.
• Swinging the telescope: This indicates turning the
telescope in a horizontal plane. It is called “right swing‟
when the telescope is turned clockwise and “left swing‟
when the telescope is turned anticlockwise.
 Theodolite Traversing
• Line of Collimation: It is an imaginary line passing through optical center
of the objective glass and its continuation.
• Axis of Telescope: The axis is an imaginary line passing through the
optical center of the object glass and the optical center of the eye-peace.
Axis of the Bubble Tube: It is an imaginary line tangential to the
longitudinal curve of the bubble tube at its middle point.
 Theodolite Traversing
Vertical Axis: It is the axis of rotation of the telescope in the horizontal plane
Horizontal Axis: It is the axis of rotation of the telescope in the vertical
plane.
Temporary Adjustment: The setting of the theodolite over a station at the
time of taking any observation is called temporary adjustment.
Permanent Adjustment: When the desired relationship between the
fundamental lines of a theodolite is disturbed, then some procedures are
adopted to establish this relationship. This adjustment is known as
permanent adjustment.

Note: The above definitions for theodolite are same as we have studied for
level in 3rd Semester.
 Latitude and Departure
• If length and bearing of a survey line are known,
the line can be represented by two coordinates
called Latitude and Departure
• The coordinate parallel to the North-south Line is
called Latitude and the coordinate parallel to East-
west Line is called Departure
• Latitude and Departure is given by:
Latitude: L = Length of Line X cos(Reduced bearing)
Departure: D = Length of line X sin( Reduced bearing) W E
• The Latitude in the North direction is called
positive latitude or Northing and that in the South
direction is called negative latitude or Southing
S
• The departure in the East direction is called
positive departure or Easting and that in the West
direction is called negative departure or Westing
 Latitude and Departure
• Latitude is positive if the survey line is in the first
or second quadrant and negative when the line
lies in the third or fourth quadrant
• Departure is positive then survey line is in the fist
or fourth quadrants and negative when the line is
in the second and third quadrants
• The fist letter of the reduced bearing of a line
determines signs of the latitude. Latitude is
positive if the first letter is N and negative if the
first letter is S. For example, if RB is N 30 E, the
latitude is positive.
• Likewise, the last letter of RB determines sign of
departure. Departure being positive for E and
negative for W. For example, departure for the
line having RB N 30 E is positive as the last letter
is E.
 Latitude and Depatrue

Negative Departure or Westing Positive Departure or Easting

NW NE
Positive Latitude or Northing Positive Latitude or Northing

Negative Latitude or Southing

Negative Latitude or Southing SW SE

Positive Departure or Easting

Negative Departure or Westing
 Omitted Measurements
• The laws used for determining the omitted measurements are:
• The algebraic sum of the all the latitudes in a closed traverse is zero.
ΣL= 0
• The algebraic sum of the all the departures in a closed traverse is zero.
ΣD= 0
 Omitted Measurements
• The concept of omitted measurements is used in traversing to calculate
the length or direction of a line when it is not possible or practical to
measure it in the field or the reading has been lost
• The missing observations must not exceed two in number.
• It is assumed that the observed values are without error.
• The laws used for determining the omitted measurements are:
• The algebraic sum of the all the latitudes in a closed traverse is zero.
ΣL= 0
• The algebraic sum of the all the departures in a closed traverse is zero.
ΣD= 0
 Common cases of omitted measurements
• Length of one line is omitted.
• Bearing of one line is missing.
• Bearing and length of same line are missing.
• Length of one line and bearing of another line are not measured.
• Length of two lines are not measured.
• Bearing of two lines are missing.
Length and Bearing of same line missing
 Length and Bearing of same line missing
Solution: Using their lengths and bearings the latitudes and departures of
the known sides are calculated .
 Length and Bearing of same line missing
Solution: Using the laws ΣL= 0 and ΣD= 0, the latitude and departure of the
side whose length is missing are calculated
Length of EA
Latitude of EA + Σ latitudes of known sides= 0
Latitude of EA = - Σ latitudes of known sides
= -172.965
Departure of EA + Σ Departures of known sides= 0
Departure of EA = - Σ Departures of known sides
= -8.064
Length of EA =  (Latitude of EA)2 + (Departure of EA)2
Length of EA =  (-172.965)2 + (-8.064)2
= 173.151m
Bearing of EA
As both latitude and departure have negative signs. Therefore, the line lies in
the 4th quadrant so S  W will be the reduced bearing.  can be calculated as
 = tan-1 (Departure of EA/Latitude of EA) = tan-1 (8.064/172.965)
= 240
Length of one and Bearing of another line missing
 Length of one and Bearing of another line missing
Solution. The polygon or closed travers is shown in the figure. Lines 2 and 3 are the
Lines with missing observations called affected sides. An additional line BD, called
closing side, is drawn to facilitate the solution. The latitude and departure of the
closing side can be calculated using the polygon ABDEA.
Latitude of BD:
LBD + LAB + LDE + LEA = 0

LBD = 0 –( LAB + LDE + LEA ) = - (-172.989-161.397-109.578)=443.964 m

Departure of BD:
DBD + DAB + DDE + DEA = 0
DBD = 0 – ( DAB + DDE + DEA )= 0 = -(-8.055-233.076+187.872)=58.25 m
Length of BD = (Latitude of BD)2 + (Departure of BD)2
= (443.96)2 + (58.25)2 = 447.15 m

Angle :  = tan-1 (58.25/443.964) = 6 50

So RB of BD = N 6 50E
Now RB of DB = Back Bearing of BD = S 6 50 W
BDC = RB of DB + RB of DC = 6 50 + 37 36 = 44 26
 Length of one and Bearing of another line missing
Using sine rule, we find angle BCD

sinBCD=(length of BD)x sinBDC/ (length of BC)= (447.15) x (sin44 26)/(318)

So BCD= 79 55

CBD = 180-(BCD+ BDC)= 180-(79 55+ 44 26)= 55 39’

Now
RB of BC = RB of BD + DBC = 6 50 +55 39’= 62 29’ NE

Using sine rule, we get

length of CD= length of BD x sinCBD/ (sinBCD)= (447.15) X (sin55 39)/(sin79 55)
= 374.94 m
 Longitude and Latitude
The position of any point on or near earth surface is
specified by using three coordinates i.e., elevation, longitude
and latitude. The system of locating position using these
coordinates is called geographical coordinates system. The
definition of these coordinates is given below:
Elevation: Elevation is the vertical distance of point from the
mean sea level. Vertical distance between two points means
the distance measured along the plumb line between the
level lines passing through those points.
Longitude: Longitude is a geographical coordinate that
specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's
surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed
in degrees and denoted by the Greek letter Lambda (λ). A
meridian (line running from North to South pole connects
points having same latitude. Latitude at any point can also
be defined as the line formed by the intersection of earth’s
surface and the plane passing through that point, the North
pole and the South pole. The reference meridian having 0
value called Prime Meridian is assumed to pass through a
point in Greenwich UK. Longitude values range from 0 to
360. 360 longitude is same as 0 longitude located in
Greenwich.
 Longitude and Latitude

Prime Meridian line in Greenwhich

 Longitude and Latitude
Latitude:
latitude is a geographical coordinate that specifies the north-
South position of a point on the Earth's surface. Latitude is
an angle (defined below) which ranges from 0° at
the Equator to 90° (North or South) at the poles. Lines of
constant latitude, or parallels, run east–west as circles
parallel to the equator. Latitude can also be defined as an
imaginary line made by the intersection of earth’s surface
and a plane passing through the point and parallel to the
equator.