TRAVERSE COMPUTATIONS

AND ADJUSTMENTS

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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At the end of the lecture, the student should be
able to:
⦿ Define traverse and traverse stations
⦿ Enumerate purposes of traverse
⦿ Enumerate and differentiate general classes and
types of traverse
⦿ Identify formulas for traverse adjustments and
apply them correctly

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
2
I. Traverse
A. Definition
B. Purposes
C. General Classes
D. Types
II. Traverse Computations
A. Latitude and Departure
B. Relative Error of Closure
III. Traverse Adjustments
A. Compass Rule
B. Transit Rule
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
3
➢ consists of a series of straight lines connecting
successive points whose lengths and directions
have been determined from field observations

➢ points defining the ends of traverse lines are

called traverse stations or traverse points

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
4
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
5
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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1. Property surveys to locate or establish boundaries.
2. Supplementary horizontal control for topographic
mapping surveys.
3. Location and construction layout surveys for
highways, railways and other private and public
works.
4. Ground control surveys for photogrammetric
surveys.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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1. Open Traverse
- originates at a point of known position and
terminates at a point of unknown position

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
8
2. Closed Traverse
- originates at a point of known position and
terminates at a point of known position

Closed Loop Traverse

– a closed traverse that originates and
terminates at a single point

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
9
Closed Traverse

Closed Loop Traverse

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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1. Deflection-angle traverse
2. Interior-angle traverse
3. Traverse by angles to the right
4. Azimuth traverse
5. Compass traverse

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
11
In dealing with a closed traverse, we have computations in:
1) Determining latitudes and departures
2) Calculating total error of closure
3) Balancing the survey
4) Determining adjusted positions of traverse stations
5) Area computation
6) Area subdivision

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
12
 ✓Projection of a line onto a reference
meridian or North-South line
✓ Lines with Northerly bearings→ (+) LAT
✓ Lines with Southerly bearings→ (-) LAT
✓ Equal to distance*cosine of bearing angle

Latitude = d*Cos
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
13
 ✓Projection of a line onto a reference parallel
or East-West line
✓ Lines with Easterly bearings→ (+) DEP
✓ Lines with Westerly bearings→ (-) DEP
✓ Equal to distance*sine of bearing angle

Departure = d*Sin
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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 Linear Error of Closure

→ Is usually a short line of unknown length and direction

connecting the initial and final traverse stations

LEC = (Dep) + (Lat) 2 2

 − Dep 
Tan =  
− Lat
 
Note:
In computing for , use the absolute values for Dep and Lat. Determine
the quadrant where the line lies using corresponding signs of the 2 sums.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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Ratio of the linear error of closure to the perimeter
or total length of the traverse

LEC
REC =
D
REC = Relative Error of Closure
LEC = Linear Error of Closure
D = Total Length or perimeter of the traverse
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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Methods of adjustment are usually classified as:
I. Rigorous
→ Least Squares Method
II. Approximate
→ Compass Rule (or Bowditch Rule)
→ Transit Rule
→ Crandall Method

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
17
→Named after the distinguished American navigator
Nathaniel Bowditch (1773-1838)

→Based on the assumption that:

1. All lengths are measured with equal care
2. All angles taken with approximately the same precision
3. Errors are accidental
4. Total error in any side is directly proportional to the length
of the traverse

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
18
  d 
= CL  
c lat clat = correction to latitude
D cdep= correction to departure
CL= total closure in lat = Lat
 d
= CD   CD= total closure in dep= Dep
cdep
D d = length of any course

D = total length of the traverse

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
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→ No sound theoretical foundation since it is purely
empirical
→ Not commonly used but best suited for surveys where
traverse sides are measured by stadia or subtense-bar
method

→ Based on the assumption that:

1. Angular measurements are more precise than linear
measurements
2. Errors in traversing are accidental

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
20
 Lat ( CL )
clat =
 Lat
Where:
clat = correction to latitude
cdep= correction to departure
Dep ( C D ) CL= total closure in lat = Lat
cdep =
 Dep CD= total closure in dep= Dep

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
21
 Azimuth Length Azimuth
Line Length(m) Line
(from South) (m) from (South)

AB 495.85 185o30’ DE 1020.87 347o35’

BC 850.62 226o02’ EF 1117.26 83o44’
CD 855.45 292o22’ FA 660.08 124o51’

Compute for:
1. Latitude and Departure of each line
2. Bearing of the side error, LEC, REC
3. Adjust the traverse using Compass Rule
4. Adjust the traverse using Transit Rule
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
22
1. Latitude and Departure of each line
Distanc Lat Dep
Line Bearing
e (m) (N+, (E+,
S-) W-)
AB 495.85 N 05o30' E +493.57 +47.53
BC 850.62 N 46o02' E +590.53 +612.23
CD 855.45 S 67o38' E -325.53 +791.09
DE 1020.87 S 12o25' E -996.99 +219.51
EF 1117.26 S 83o44' W -121.96 -1110.58
FA 660.08 N 55o09' W +377.19 -541.70

=5000.13 Lat=+16.81 Dep=+18.08

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
23
2. Bearing of the side error, LEC, REC

Bearing of the side error:

tan  = 18.0816.81 ( )
= 1.075550268
 = 47005'

→ Bearing of the side error is S47o 05’ W

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
24
2. Bearing of the side error, LEC, REC
Linear Error of Closure (LEC):

= (+16.81) 2 + (+18.08) 2 LEC = 24.69 m

= 24.687
Relative Error of Closure (REC):
2 4 .6 9
=
5 0 0 0 .1 3
1 1
= s a y REC = 1/200
2 0 2 .5 2 200
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
25
3. Traverse Adjustment by Compass Rule
Correction
Distanc
Line Latitude Departure (by Compass Rule) Lat_adj Dep_lat
e (m)
Lat Dep
AB 495.85 493.57 47.53 -1.667 -1.793 491.903 45.737
BC 850.62 590.53 612.23 -2.860 -3.076 587.670 609.154
CD 855.45 -325.53 791.09 -2.876 -3.093 -328.406 787.997

DE 1020.87 -996.99 219.51 -3.432 -3.691 -1000.422 215.819

EF 1117.26 -121.96 -1110.58 -3.756 -4.040 -125.716 -1114.620

FA 660.08 377.19 -541.7 -2.219 -2.387 374.971 -544.087

Sum: 5000.13 16.81 18.08 -16.810 -18.080 0.000 0.000
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
26
3. Traverse Adjustment by Compass Rule
Adjusted Values (By Compass Rule)
Line Distance Azimuth
Latitude Departure Bearing
(m) (from
South)
AB 491.903 45.737 494.025 N 5o19' E 185o19'

BC 587.670 609.154 846.419 N 46o02' E 226o02'

CD -328.406 787.997 853.692 S 67o23' E 292o37'

DE -1000.422 215.819 1023.436 S 12o10' E 347o50'

EF -125.716 -1114.620 1121.687 S 83o34' W 83o34'

FA 374.971 -544.087 660.783 N 55o26' W 124o34'

Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
27
4. Traverse Adjustment by Transit Rule
Correction by
Adjusted Lat/Dep
Line Lat Dep |Lat| |D ep| Transit Rule
Lat Dep Lat_adj Dep_adj
AB 493.57 47.53 493.57 47.53 -2.855 -0.259 490.715 47.271
BC 590.53 612.23 590.53 612.23 -3.416 -3.331 587.114 608.899
CD -325.53 791.09 325.53 791.09 -1.883 -4.305 -327.413 786.785

DE -996.99 219.51 996.99 219.51 -5.768 -1.194 -1002.758 218.316

EF -121.96 -1110.58 121.96 1110.58 -0.706 -6.043 -122.666 -1116.623

FA 377.19 -541.7 377.19 541.70 -2.182 -2.948 375.008 -544.648

Sum: 16.81 18.08 2905.77 3322.64 -16.810 -18.080 0.000 0.000

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
28
4. Traverse Adjustment by Transit Rule

Adjusted Values (By Transit Rule)

Line Latitude Departure Distance Bearing Azimuth
(m) (from
South)
AB 490.715 47.271 492.987 N 5o30' E 185o30'
BC 587.114 608.899 845.849 N 46o03' E 226o03'
CD -327.413 786.785 852.191 S 67o24' E 292o36'
DE -1002.758 218.316 1026.248 S 12o17' E 347o43'
EF -122.666 -1116.623 1123.340 S 83o44' 83o44'
W
FA 375.008 -544.648 661.266 N 55o27' W 124o33'

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
29
Davis, R.E., et. al (1981). Surveying: Theory and
Practice. USA: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

La Putt, J.P. (2007). Elementary Surveying. Philippines:

National Book Store.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 10 – General Surveying I
30