Traversing

Chapter 6
Closed Traverse Showing Interior Angles
 Open Traverse Showing Deflection Angles

Computation of Interior and Exterior Angle at

STA 1 + 43.26
Computation of Azimuths
Computation of Bearings
 Traverse
Computations
Chapter 6
 Step 1: Check Allowable Angle Misclosure

c K n
where:
c is the allowable misclosure in seconds
K is a constant that depends on the level of accuracy
specified for the survey
n is the number of angles
Step 2: Balance interior angles

Sum of the interior angles must equal (n-2)180

degrees!
 Procedures for Balancing Angles

Apply an average correction to each angle where observing

conditions were approximately the same at all stations. The
correction is computed for each angle by dividing the total
angular misclosure by the number of angles.
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor.D Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. istanc d ∆X ∆Y X Y
e ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115011’20”

115011’20” 429.3
7

B 95000’20” 95000’00”

656.5
4

C 129049’20” 129049’00”

301.8
3

D 130036’20” 130036’00”

287.4

E 110030’00” 110029’40”

526.7
2

F 138054’40” 138054’20”

A 720000’00” 372.4 500 1000

Step 3: Computation of Preliminary
Azimuths
Step 3: Computation of Preliminary Azimuths
(continued)

Beginning at the reference meridian compute the azimuth for each

leg of the traverse.
Always check the last leg of the traverse to make sure that you
compute the same azimuth as the reference meridian.
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor. Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. Dista d ∆X ∆Y X Y
nce ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115011’20”

115011’20” 429.3
7

B 95000’20” 95000’00”

106011’00” 656.5
4

C 129049’20” 129049’00”

56000’00” 301.8
3

D 130036’20” 130036’00”

6036’00” 287.4

E 110030’00” 110029’40”

297005’40” 526.7
2

F 138054’40” 138054’20”

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 500 1000

7
Step 4: Compute Departures and Latitudes
Step 4: Compute Departures and Latitudes
(continued)

departure = L sin (Azimuth/bearing)

latitude = L cos (Azimuth/bearing)
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor.D Calculated Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. istanc ∆X ∆Y ∆X ∆Y X Y
e

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115011’20”

115011’20” 429.3 -83.76

7 -421.217

B 95000’20” 95000’00”

106011’00” 656.5 630.524

4 -182.985

C 129049’20” 129049’00”

56000’00” 301.8 250.228

3 168.781

D 130036’20” 130036’00”

6036’00” 287.4 33.033

285.495

E 110030’00” 110029’40”

297005’40” 526.7 -468.916

2 239.899

F 138054’40” 138054’20”

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 -361.406 500 1000

7 -90.109
 Step 5: Compute Linear Misclosure

Because of errors in the measured angles and distances

there will be a linear misclosure of the traverse. Another
way of illustrating this is that once you go around the
traverse from point A back to point A’ you will notice that
the summation of the departures and latitudes do not
equal to zero. Hence a linear misclosure is introduced.
 Step 5: Compute Linear Misclosure
(continued)

Linear misclosure = [(departure misclosure) 2 + (latitude misclosure)2]1/2

S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor. Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. Dista d ∆X ∆Y X Y
nce ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115011’20”

115011’20” 429.3 -83.76

7 -421.217

B 95000’20” 95000’00”

106011’00” 656.5 630.524

4 -182.985

C 129049’20” 129049’00”

56000’00” 301.8 250.228

3 168.781

D 130036’20” 130036’00”

6036’00” 287.4 33.033

285.495

E 110030’00” 110029’40”

297005’40” 526.7 -468.916

2 239.899

F 138054’40” 138054’20”

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 -361.406 500 1000

7 -90.109
 Step 6: Compute Relative Precision

relative precision = linear misclosure / traverse length

expressed as a number 1 / ?
read as 1’ meter error per ? meter measured

Example:
linear misclosure = 0.08 m
traverse length = 2466.00 m
relative precision = 0.08/2466.00 = 1/30,000
Surveyor would expect 1-meter error for every 30,000 meter surveyed
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor. Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. Dista d ∆X ∆Y X Y
nce ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115011’20”

115011’20” 429.3 -83.76

7 -421.217

B 95000’20” 95000’00”

106011’00” 656.5 630.524

4 -182.985

C 129049’20” 129049’00”

56000’00” 301.8 250.228

3 168.781

D 130036’20” 130036’00”

6036’00” 287.4 33.033

285.495

E 110030’00” 110029’40”

297005’40” 526.7 -468.916

2 239.899

F 138054’40” 138054’20”

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 -361.406 500 1000

7 -90.109
 Step 7: Adjust Departures and Latitudes

Methods:

correction in departure for AB = - [(total departure misclosure)/(traverse

perimeter)](length of AB)

correction in latitude for AB = - [(total latitude misclosure)/(traverse

perimeter)](length of AB)

Adjusts the departures and latitudes of the sides of the traverse in

proportion to their lengths.
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor. Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. Dista d ∆X ∆Y X Y
nce ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115011’20”

115011’20” 429.3 -83.76 -83.307

7 -421.217 -421.194

B 95000’20” 95000’00”

106011’00” 656.5 630.524 630.476

4 -182.985 -182.950

C 129049’20” 129049’00”

56000’00” 301.8 250.228 250.206

3 168.781 168.797

D 130036’20” 130036’00”

6036’00” 287.4 33.033 33.012

285.495 285.510

E 110030’00” 110029’40”

297005’40” 526.7 -468.916 -468.954

2 239.899 239.927

F 138054’40” 138054’20”

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 -361.406 -361.433

7 -90.109 -90.089
Step 8: Compute Rectangular Coordinates

XB = XA + departure AB
YB = YA + latitude AB
Step 8: Compute Rectangular Coordinates
(continued)

Compute the coordinates of all points on the traverse taking into

account the signs of the latitudes and departures for each side of the
traverse. Be sure to compute the coordinates of the beginning point
(in this case A) so you can check to see if you have made any errors in
your computations.
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor. Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. Dista d ∆X ∆Y X Y
nce ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115 11’20”
0

115011’20” 429.3 -83.76 -83.307

7 -421.217 -421.194

B 95000’20” 95000’00” 416.69 578.86

3 6

106011’00” 656.5 630.524 630.476

4 -182.985 -182.950

C 129049’20” 129049’00” 1047.1 395.85

69 6

56000’00” 301.8 250.228 250.206

3 168.781 168.797

D 130036’20” 130036’00” 1297.3 564.65

75 3

6036’00” 287.4 33.033 33.012

285.495 285.510

E 110030’00” 110029’40” 1330.3 650.16

87 3

297005’40” 526.7 -468.916 -468.954

2 239.899 239.927

F 138054’40” 138054’20” 861.43 1090.0

3 90

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 -361.406 -361.433 500 1000.

7 -90.109 -90.089
 Signs of Departures and Latitudes

North

Departure (-) Departure (+)

Latitude (+) Latitude (+)

West East

Departure (-) Departure (+)

Latitude (-) Latitude (-)

South
Step 9: Compute Final Adjusted Traverse Lengths and
Bearings

To compute adjusted bearing AB:

tan (bearing) AB = (corrected departure AB)/(corrected latitude AB)

To compute adjusted length AB:

length AB = [(corrected departure AB) 2 + (corrected latitude AB)2]1/2
 Coordinate Geometry (COGO)

Formulas:
tan azimuth (or bearing) AB = departure AB/latitude AB

length AB = departure AB/(sin azimuth (or bearing) AB)

length AB = latitude AB/(cos azimuth (or bearing) AB)
length AB = length AB = [(departure AB) 2 + (latitude AB)2]1/2

departure AB = XB – XA = delta X
latitude AB = YB – YA = delta Y
A
Bearing angle
delta Y (latitude)

B
delta X (departure)
 Coordinate Geometry (COGO) (continued)

More formulas:
tan azimuth (or bearing) AB = (X B – XA)/(YB – YA) = (delta x)/(delta y)

length AB = (XB – XA)/(sin azimuth (or bearing) AB)

length AB = (YB – YA)/(cos azimuth (or bearing) AB)
length AB = [(XB – XA )2 + (YB – YA )2]1/2
Length AB = [(delta X)2 + (delta Y)2]1/2

These types of calculations are referred to as “inversing” between two

points. i.e. if you know the coordinates of two points you can easily
find the bearing between the two points and the distance between the
two points by using the above formulas.
 Area
Computations
Step 10: Compute Area using Coordinate Method
XE  XD
areaE’EDD’E’ = (YE  YD )
2

YE = E’ – C’
YD = D’ – C’
XE  XD
(YE  YD ) Each of the areas of
trapezoids and triangles
2 can be expressed by
multiplying coordinates
in a similar manner.
 Step 10: Compute Area using Coordinate Method
(continued)
Double area = +XAYB+XBYc+XcYD+XDYE+XEYA
-XBYA –XcYB –XDYC –XEYD -XAYE

An easy way to remember how to compute

the area using the coordinate method:

Be sure to begin and end at the same

coordinate. The products are computed
along the diagonals with dashed arrows
considered plus and solid ones minus. This
method computes the DOUBLE AREA so
you need to divide the result by 2 to get
the area.
S Measured Adjusted Azimuths Hor. Calculate Adjusted Coordinates
t. Hor.Angle Hor.Angle. Dista d ∆X ∆Y X Y
nce ∆X ∆Y

A 115011’00” 500 1000

115 11’20”
0

115011’20” 429.3 -83.76 -83.307

7 -421.217 -421.194

B 95000’20” 95000’00” 416.69 578.86

3 6

106011’00” 656.5 630.524 630.476

4 -182.985 -182.950

C 129049’20” 129049’00” 1047.1 395.85

69 6

56000’00” 301.8 250.228 250.206

3 168.781 168.797

D 130036’20” 130036’00” 1297.3 564.65

75 3

6036’00” 287.4 33.033 33.012

285.495 285.510

E 110030’00” 110029’40” 1330.3 650.16

87 3

297005’40” 526.7 -468.916 -468.954

2 239.899 239.927

F 138054’40” 138054’20” 861.43 1090.0

3 90

A 720000’00” 256000’00” 372.4 -361.406 -361.433 500 1000.

7 -90.109 -90.089
 Example
1. Describe Traverse and its types (Use
Diagram to describe).
2. List and explain of types of North.
3. Explain the differences between the azimuth
and the bearing of line.
4. Explain the difference between a true
meridian and magnetic meridian
 1. Determine the back azimuth of
the following bearings by showing
the entire necessary step.
 a. N 490 59’ E (2 pt)
 b. S 310 31’ E (2pt)
 c. N 120 52’ W (2pt)
 d. S 160 42’ W (2pt)
2. Given with the coordinate of point O (2002, 3001), the
coordinate of point R (4071, 1111) ,
the measured internal angle at point R is 30 21’ 37’’ and
320 34’ 51’’ at point Q. (show the necessary step)

R
a) Determine the azimuth of line OR (2pt)
b) Calculate azimuth of line RQ (2pt)
c) Calculate azimuth of line QS (2pt)

9. Compute azimuth of line AB and NM from their

coordinates.
Point X Y .
A 123.123 234.234
B 564.880 125.430
N 476.870 90.631
M 378.120 534.293