Indian Institute of Technology Patna

CE 203: Geomatics Engineering

Dr. Syed K. K. Hussaini

Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
IIT-Patna.

IIT Patna
 Survey lines
C
D

A B

Main Stations: Main stations are the end of the lines, which command the
boundaries of the survey, and the lines joining the main stations are called the
main survey line or the chain lines.

Base Lines: It is main and longest line, which passes approximately through the
centre of the field. All the other measurements to show the details of the work are
taken with respect of this line.

IIT Patna
 Survey lines
Check Line: A check line also termed as a proof line is a line joining the
apex of a triangle to some fixed points on any two sides of a triangle. A check
line is measured to check the accuracy of the framework. The length of a
check line, as measured on the ground should agree with its length on the
plan.

Tie or subsidiary lines: A tie line joints two fixed points on the main survey
lines. It helps to checking the accuracy of surveying and to locate the interior
details. The position of each tie line should be close to some features, such
as paths, building etc.

Offsets: These are the lateral measurements from the base line to fix the
positions of the different objects of the work with respect to base line. These
are generally set at right angle offsets.

IIT Patna
 Perpendicular Offsets Using Cross Staffs
Two different types of cross staffs used for setting perpendicular
offsets. The cross staffs are mounted on stand. First line of sight is
set along the chain line and without disturbing setting right angle
line of sight is checked to locate the object.

With open cross staff (Fig. (a)) it is possible to set perpendicular

only, while with French cross staff (Fig. (b)), even 45º angle can be
set.
IIT Patna
Accuracy & Precision
in Measurement
 Accuracy & Precision

Accuracy: Precision:
– How close you are to the – How finely tuned your
actual value measurements are or
– Depends on the person how close they can be to
measuring each other
– Calculated by the formula: – Depends on the
% Error = (MV – AV) x 100 ÷ AV measuring tool
– Determined by the
Where: MV is the measured Value & AV is
the Actual Value
number of significant
digits

IIT Patna
 Accuracy & Precision

Accuracy & Precision may be demonstrated by

shooting at a target.
Accuracy is represented by hitting the bulls eye (the
accepted value)
Precision is represented by a tight grouping of shots
(they are finely tuned)

IIT Patna
 Accuracy & Precision

Accuracy
Accuracy & without
Precision Precision

No Precision &
Precision without No Accuracy
Accuracy

IIT Patna
 Accuracy representation
Accuracy is expressed as a fraction (e.g. 1/2000)

An accuracy ratio of 1/2000 means that there exists an error of 1

unit in measuring 2000 units.

For example, the measured height of a building is 207.2 ft and the

actual height is 207.1 ft then

Accuracy ratio = (207.2-207.1)/207.1=0.1/207.1 = 1/2071= 1/2100

In fact, the accuracy ratio is expressed as a fraction whose

numerator is unity and whose denominator is rounded to the closest
100 units. That’s why 2071 in the denominator becomes 2100.

IIT Patna
Compass Surveying
 Compass Surveying
In Compass survey chain or tape is used for linear
measurements and compass is used for fixing direction.
In compass freely suspended magnetic needle directs to
north-south and the bearing of line is obtained by line of sight.

IIT Patna
 Compass Surveying

When large area are involved, compass surveying is used.

Traversing is that type of survey in which a number of
connecting survey lines form the frame work and the
directions and lengths of the survey lines are measured with
the help of an angle measuring instrument and a tape
respectively.
When the lines form 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.

IIT Patna
 Methods of traversing
 Chain traversing:

 Compass traversing: Fore bearings and back bearings between the

traverse leg are measured
 Theodolite traversing: Horizontal angles between the traverse legs are
measured. The length of the traverse legs are measured by chain/tape
or by stadia method
 Plane table traversing: Plane table is set at every traverse station in
clockwise and anticlockwise direction and the circuit is finally closed.
During traversing the sides of the traverse are plotted according to any
suitable scale.
IIT Patna
 Compass Traversing: Important Definition

 True meridian: Line or plane passing

through geographical north pole and North
geographical south pole pole
True meridian

 Magnetic meridian: When the magnetic Magnetic bearing

needle is suspended freely and balanced True bearing
properly, unaffected by magnetic
substances, it indicates a direction. This
Magnetic meridian
direction is known as magnetic meridian.
The angle between the magnetic meridian
and a line is known as magnetic bearing or
simple bearing of the line.

IIT Patna
 Compass Traversing: Important Definition

 Arbitrary meridian: Convenient direction is assumed as a

meridian.
 Grid meridian: Sometimes for preparing a map some state
agencies assume several lines parallel to the true meridian for a
particular zone these lines are termed as grid meridian.
 Designation of magnetic bearing
– Whole circle bearing (WCB)
– Quadrantal bearing (QB)
 WCB: The magnetic bearing of a line measured clockwise from the
North Pole towards the line is known as WCB. Varies 0-360°

IIT Patna
 Compass Traversing: Important Definition
 Quadrantal Bearing: The magnetic bearing of a line measured
clockwise or anticlockwise from NP or SP (whichever is nearer to
the line) towards the east or west is known as QB. This system
consists of 4-quadrants NE, SE, NW, SW. The values lie between
0-90°
 QB of OA = N a E
 Reduced Bearing: When the whole circle bearing of a line is
converted to quadrantal bearing it is termed as reduced bearing.
 Fore and Back Bearing:

– In WCB the difference between FB and BB should be exactly 180°

– BB=FB+/-180°
– Use the +ve sign when FB<180°
– Use the –ve sign when FB> 180°
IIT Patna
 Compass Traversing: Important Definition
 Magnetic declination: The
horizontal angle between the magnetic
meridian and true meridian is known as
magnetic declination.
 Local Attraction
 Detection of local attraction
 Local attraction at a place can be
detected by observing bearings.
 If the fore and back bearings of the
line differ exactly by 180°, there is
no local attraction at either station
provided instrumental and
observational errors are
eliminated.
 But if this difference is not equal to
180°, then local attraction exists
there either at one or at both ends
of the line.
IIT Patna
 Checks on traverse: Closed traverse
 Check on closed traverse:
 Sum of the measured interior angles (2n-4) x 90°
 Sum of the measured exterior angles (2n+4) x 90°
 The algebraic sum of the deflection angles should be equal to 360°. Right hand
deflection is considered +ve, left hand deflection –ve

 Check on linear measurement

 The lines should be measured once each on two different days (along opposite
directions). Both measurement should tally.
 Linear measurement should also be taken by the stadia method. The
measurement by chaining and stadia method should tally.

IIT Patna
 Checks on traverse: Open traverse
 Taking cut-off lines: measured the
bearings and lengths of cut off lines
after plotting and tally with actual
values.

 Taking an auxiliary point: Take P

permanent point as auxiliary point
measured bearings and lengths of P
from each traverse point. If survey
is accurate, while plotting all the
measured bearing of P should meet
at P.

IIT Patna
 Traversing Example

IIT Patna
 Problems
• Convert the following WCBs to QBs
– (a) WCB of AB = 45°30’
(Ans N45°30’E)
– (b) WCB of BC = 125°45’
(Ans 180- 125°45’ = S54° 15’E)

• Fore bearing of the following lines are given. Find back bearing
– AB=S 30°30’ E
– BC=N 40°30’ W
• The magnetic bearing of a line AB is 135°30’ what will be the true bearing, if the
declination is 5°15’ W.

IIT Patna
 Example 1
Example

IIT Patna
 Example 2
Example: The following are the bearings observed in traversing, with a
compass, in an area where local attraction was suspected. Calculate
the interior angles of the traverse and correct them if necessary.

IIT Patna
 Example 2 Contd..

IIT Patna
 Example 3
Example: Determine the value of included angles in a closed compass
traverse ABCD, conducted in clockwise direction, given the following
FB of the respective lines.

Included angle at A= 280-180-40=60

=FB of DA-180-FB of AB
Included angle at B= 40+180-70= 150
=FB of AB+180-FB of BC
Included angle at C= 70+180-210
=FB of BC+180-FB of CD

Formula: FB of previous line+/-180-

FB of next line
IIT Patna
 Example 4

IIT Patna