Compass Surveying

Dr. Beena Kumari

27.03.2020
COMPASS SURVEYING
PRINCIPLE OF COMPASS SURVEYING
TYPES OF COMPASS
 Types of Compass

The prismatic compass The Surveyor’s compass

Prismatic Compass
 Construction
Zero degree marked at
South and 90 degree at
North

Components of Prismatic Compass

 Vanes

Eye Vane
Bubble Tube Guide Vane

Magnetic Needle
Fixed
Graduated
Plane

Circular
Metal Box
Dia.-8 to
10cm
Screw
 Sr. Base of
Prismatic Compass Surveyor Compass
No. Comparison
1 First look Prism at one end and slit on No prism only Slit at both
other end
2 Use of Tripod May or may not use along, Use of Tripod stand is
Stand Steady holding hand also necessary
give good results
3 Observation/ Taken with help of prism Directly read from top of
Readings Provided by eye slit compass
4 Magnetic Does not act as index Act as index
Needle
5 Graduation WCBsystem Q B system
6 Graduation Appear inverted from top, Mark directly Zero at North
marking Zero at south & 180 degrees And 90 degree at East
At north
Graduated Attached with needle, Does Permanently attached with
7 circle Not rotate with line of sight box, rotates with line of
Co mparisonbet sight
ween

PrismaticCompassandurveyorCompass
 Compass traversing: Important
Definitions
 True meridian: Line or plane passing North
through geographical north pole pole
and geographical south pole
True meridian
 Magnetic meridian: When the True bearing
magnetic needle is suspended
freely and balanced properly, Magnetic bearing
unaffected by magnetic
substances, it indicates a direction. Magnetic meridian
This 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.
True meridian
 Important Definitions
 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°
 Designation of Magnetic Bearing
(i) Whole Circle Bearing (ii) Quadrantal Bearing
(WCB) (QB)

 WCB
N  QB
N
NW NE
A
A

O O
O
W E W E
SE
SW
B
S B S
Clockwise rotation has to be followed
 Important Definitions
 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.
 Bearing

Reduced Bearing (RB) Fore And Back Bearing

 Similar to Quadrant  Depended on direction

Bearing of main survey line N
BB FB
 Obtained when, North

BM

WCB Convert QB A B

Direction of Survey
Conversion of WCB to RB
360ᵒ-α=φ N WCB→NE
WCB→NW

α=φ

W E

α-180ᵒ=φ
WCB→SW 180ᵒ-α=φ
S
WCB→SE
 Conversion of RB to WCB
RB→NW

360ᵒ- φ3=α N RB →NE

α=φ

φ3 φ

W E

φ2
RB →SW φ1
φ2+180ᵒ= α RB →SE

S 180ᵒ-φ1= α
 Fore Bearing & Back Bearing

 Bearing taken in forward direction of survey line-

FB FB

A B

 Bearing taken in backward direction of survey

line- BB
BB

A B
 Important Definitions
 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°
 Magnetic declination: The horizontal angle between the
magnetic meridian and true meridian is known as magnetic
declination.
 Dip of the magnetic needle: If the needle is perfectly
balanced before magnetisation, it does not remain in the
balanced position after it is magnetised. This is due to the
magnetic influence of the earth. The needle is found to be
inclined towards the pole. This inclination of the needle with
the horizontal is known as dip of the magnetic needle.
 Local Attraction
 Error introduced in direction of magnetic needle due to
magnetic materials such as iron ore, steel structures,
electric cables conveying current; etc.
 Then it does not show the actual north. This
phenomenon is known as ‘local attraction’.
 If
FB-BB= 180 degrees Free from local attraction

FB-BB≠ 180 degrees Error of local attraction

 Error compensation
 Divide equally in FB & BB
Dip of Magnetic Needle
 True North

W
E

E
S
S

Magnetic Declination
 CORRECTIONS
 Method of correction for traverse:
 First method: Sum of the interior angle should be
equal to (2n-4) x 90. if not than distribute the total
error equally to all interior angles of the traverse.
Then starting from unaffected line the bearings of
all the lines are corrected using corrected interior
angles.

 Second method: Unaffected line is first detected.

Then, commencing from the unaffected line, the
bearing of other affected lines are corrected by
finding the amount of correction at each station.
TemporaryAdjustment of Compass

❑Centering
❑Levelling
❑Focusing
1. Adjustment of prism

2. Bisecting/Observation of bearing
Angle AOB=φ2-φ1 Angle AOC= φ3-φ1 Angle BOC= φ3-φ2

North
φ2 φ1
φ3

B A
O

Determination of ReducedBearing
 Included Angles BAC= φ2 Field Work
Included Angles ACB=φ3
Included Angles ABC=φ4

North
φ1

φ2 φ4
φ3

Dist. AB
B A

Determination of Included Angles

 Methods of traversing

15 m

15 m

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.
 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.
 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.
 Problems:
 Convert the following WCBs to QBs
 (a) WCB of AB = 45°30’
(Ans 45°30’)
 (b) WCB of BC = 125°45’
(Ans 180- 125°45’ = 54° 15’)

 Fore bearing of the following lines are given. Find

back bearing
 AB=S 30°30’ E
 BC=N 40°30’ W
Problems
Contd…
Problems
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
THANKS