CHAPTER 1.

3
COMPASS TRAVERSE
Basic Concept
• One of the most basic and widely practiced methods of
determining the relative location of points where a high
degree of precision is not required.
• Observation of bearings and measurement of distances.
(used for plotting)
• Traverse is a series of connected lines forming or not
forming a loop. In the first case it is called closed
traverse (when the loop is formed) and in the second
case it called open traverse (when loop is not formed).
• The direction is based on the Magnetic North as
reference meridian.
• Location of the compass is called survey stations
Two types of compass
i) Surveyors Compass

ii) Prismatic Compass

 ITEM PRISMATIC COMPASS SURVEYOR’S COMPASS
Magnetic - The needle does not act as an index. - The needle acts as an index.
needle - The needle is of broad type. - The needle is of edge bar type.
Graduated - Attached to the needle. - Attached to the circular box
ring - Does not rotate along with the line - Does rotate along with the line of
of sight. sight.
- In whole-circle bearing system. - In whole-circle bearing system.
- 0o at south, 90o at west, 180o at north - 0o at north & south, 90o at west &
and 270o at east. east. East & west are
- The graduations are engraved interchangeable.
inverted. - Engraved erect.
Sighting - Consists of a metal vane with a slit. - Consists of a small vane with fine
vanes - The object vane consists of a metal slit.
vane with vertical hair. - Same as in prismatic compass.
Reading - The readings are taken with the help - The readings are taken directly by
System of a prism. seeing thorough the top of glass.
- Sighting and reading are possible - Sighting and reading are not
simultaneously. possible simultaneously.
Tripod - Used without a tripod by holding in - It cannot be used without a
hand. tripod.
PRISMATIC COMPASS
System of Graduation in Prismatic Compass
Compass Reading
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

190 180 170

10 0 350
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

190 180 170

10 0 350
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

190 180 170

10 0 350
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

190 180 170

10 0 350
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

190 180 170

10 0 350
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

318 308 298

118
138 128
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

318 308 298

118
138 128
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

318 308 298

118
138 128
 Azimuth (Bearing) Readings

318 308 298

118
138 128
 TYPE OF COMPASS TRAVERSE

1) Closed Traverse (loop)

- One that either begins and ends at the same point or one
that begins and ends at points whose positions have been
previously determined.
- Suitable for the survey of boundaries of ponds, forests,
estates, etc.
 Continued…
2) Open Traverse
- A series of measured straight lines (and angles) that do
not geometrically close.
- Which are continuous but do not return to the starting
point or close upon a point of known position.
- Suitable for the survey of road, cost lines, highways,
railroads, etc.
ANGLES

Interior angle

Exterior angle
Continued….

 Deflection angle : the angle between the extension of

the preceding line and the present one.
(Always less than 180 degrees)

C
Deflection angle

B C
 Designation of Bearings
a) Whole circle bearing (WCB) or Azimuth

 The magnetic bearing of a line measured clockwise from the North

Pole towards the line.
 The value of bearing thus varies from 0o to 360o.

For example:

WCB of AB = 50o
WCB of AC=125o
WCB of AD=230o
WCB of AE=310o
b) Quadrantal Bearing (QB)

 In this system the bearing of a line is measured eastward

or westward from north or south whichever is near.
 The directions can be either clock wise or anti clockwise
depending upon the position of the line.
 This system consists four (4) quadrants = NE, SE, NW, SW
 The value of a quadrantal bearing lies between 0o and 90o,
but the quadrants should always be mentioned.
For example :

QB of AB = N 40o E
QB of AC = S 20o E
QB of AD = S 65o W
QB of AE = N 57o W
 Table 1 : Conversion of WCB into RB

Line WCB between Rule for RB Quadrant

OA 0o and 90o RB = WCB NE
OB 90o and 180o RB = 180o - WCB SE

OC 180o and 270o RB = WCB - 180o SW

OD 270o and 360o RB = 360o - WCB NW

 Table 2 : Conversion of RB into WCB

Line RB Rule for WCB WCB between

OA NαE WCB = RB 0o and 90o

OB SβE WCB = 180o - RB 90o and 180o

OC SᵞW WCB = 180o + RB 180o and 270o

OD NδW WCB = 360o - RB 270o and 360o

 WCB QB QB WCB
N N

360o 360o
Same (-) Same
(-)
W E W E

(-) 180o 180o 180o

180o (-) (+) (-)

S S
Example 1

Convert the following WCB to QB

( KOORDINAT KENA BERDEKATAN DENGAN
EITHER S ATAU N )

a) WCB of AB = 45o 30’

b) WCB of BC = 125o 45’ - S 54 15 E
c) WCB of CD = 222o 15’ – S 42 15 W
d) WCB of DE = 320o 30’ – N 39 20 W
Example 2

Convert the following QB to WCB

a) QB of AB = S 36o 30’ W – 136 30

b) QB of BC = S 43o 30’ E
c) QB of CD = N 26o 45’E
d) QB of DE = N 40o 15’W
EXERCISE 1

Question 4 ( Final Exam April 2008)

a) Convert the following reduced magnetic bearing to azimuths

i. S 88˚ 20’ W – 273 45

ii. S 24˚ 32’ E
iii. N 86˚ 15’ W
iv. N 89˚ 55’ E
v. S 5˚ 25’ E

b) Change the following whole circle bearings to quadrantal bearing

i. 187 ˚ 22’ 15”

ii. 332˚ 15’ 30”
iii. 127˚ 46’ 45”
iv. 224 ˚ 33’ 10”
v. 67˚ 14’ 34”
Question 4 ( Final Exam April 2009)

Calculate the angles AOB from the following bearings :

a) OA = S 32˚ 42’ W ; OB = S 70˚ 50’ W

b) OA = N 41˚ 30’ E ; OB = N 75˚ 35’ E
c) OA = S 45˚ 40’ E ; OB = N 11˚ 01’ E
d) OA = N 49˚ 25’ W ; OB = S 30˚ 15’ W
e) OA = S 75˚ 05’ W ; OB = N 41˚ 05’ W
Fore Bearing & Back Bearing
 Every line has two bearings one observed at each end of
the line.
 If the bearing of a line AB is measured from A towards
B, it is known as forward bearing or Fore Bearing (FB).
 If the bearing of a line AB is measured from B towards
A, it is known as backward bearing or Back Bearing (BB).
Forward Bearing AB = 60°
Back Bearing BA = 240°
Forward Bearing BC = 100°
Back Bearing CB = 280°
Example 3

The following are observed fore bearing of the lines

i) AB 12˚ 24’ + 180
ii) BC 119˚ 48’ + 180
iii) CD 266˚ 30’ - 180
iv) DE 354˚ 18’
v) PQ N 18˚ 0’ E = S 18 0 W
vi) QR S 12˚ 24’ E = N 12 24 W
vii) RS S 59˚ 18’ W = N 59 18 S
viii) ST N 86˚ 12’ W = S 86 12 E

Find their back bearings.

Check on Close Traverse
Check on Angular Measurements
a) The sum of the measured interior angles should be
equal to (2N - 4) x 90°where N is the number of sides of
the traverse.

b) The sum of the measured exterior angles should be

equal to (2N + 4) x 90°.

c) The algebraic sum of the deflection angles should be

equal to 360°. Right- hand deflection is considered
positive and left-hand deflection negative.
Traverse Adjustment Methods

i. Include angles method

ii. Local attraction method
Include Angles Method
The included angles method given are recorded at stations
forming a closed traverse survey around the perimeter of a
field.

Station Included angle

A 122˚ 42’ 20”
B 87˚ 16’ 40”
C 133˚ 08’ 20”
D 125˚ 55’ 20”
E 92˚ 47’ 40”
F 158˚ 06’ 40”
 Figure shows the traverse survey, the orientation of line BC being
45˚ from the meridian.
 The sum of the measured interior angles should be equal to
(2N - 4) x 90°where N is the number of angles.
Using formula = (2N - 4) x 90°= (2(6) – 4) x 90°= 720°00’
Total angle (A-F) = 719°57’ 00”.
Exercise 1
During a compass survey of closed traverse the following
observation were made, and calculate the correct bearing by
using include angle method.

Line Distance Observation

(m) Bearing
AB 142 75˚ 45’
BA 256˚ 45’
BC 120 180˚ 15’
CB 00˚ 15’
CA 135 305˚ 00’
AC 125˚ 45’
 Question (Final Exam April 2011)
A close traverse survey has been conducted in an anti clockwise direction as shown below. The whole circle
bearing (WCB) of line PQ is 210° 25‘ 40”, and the internal angle obtained are shown in Table. Adjust the
internal angle and find the bearing for the other lines.

Q S

R
Station Internal Line
angle
P 75°15’ 10” PQ
Q 97°10’ 20” QR
R 89°30’ 10” RS
S 98°05’ 00” SP
 LOCAL ATTRACTION
 Isa term used to denote any influence, which prevents
the needles from pointing to the magnetic North in a
given locality.
 Sources of local attraction:

1) Wire carrying electric current

2) Steel structures
3) Steel tapes
4) Railroad rails.
 To detect the presence of local attraction, the fore and
back bearings of a line should be taken.
 If the different of the fore and back bearings of the line is
exactly 180°, then there is no local attraction.
 If the FB and BB of a line do not differ by 180°, then the
needle is said to be affected by local attraction, provided
there is no instrument error.
Correction for effects of local attraction

Difference of Forward
Line Bearing
and Back Bearings

AB 124° 30'
178° 45'
BA 303° 15'

BC 68° 15'
180° 00'
CB 248° 15'

CD 310° 30'
177° 15'
DC 133° 15'

DA 200° 15'
181° 30'
AD 18° 45'
Question (Final Exam April 2010)
Below are the bearings observed in traversing with a compass
in a place where local attraction was suspected.
Line Forward Bearing Back Bearing

AB 309° 30’ 132° 30’

BC 54° 00’ 233° 00’

CD 176° 30’ 356° 00’

DE 138° 30’ 318° 30’

EA 259° 30’ 78° 00’

At what stations do you suspect the existence of local

attraction? Find the corrected bearings of the lines.
 Difference of Corrected
Line Bearing Correction
FB and BB Bearing

AB 309° 30’

BA 132° 30’

BC 54° 00’

CB 233° 00’

CD 176° 30’

DC 356° 00’

DE 138° 30’

ED 318° 30’

EA 259° 30’

AE 78° 00’
Question (Final Exam April 2008)
The table below shows the bearings observed during a compass
survey. Correct those bearings that have local attractions.

Line Forward Bearing Back Bearing

AB 20° 30’ 200° 30’

BC 131° 30’ 313° 45’

CD 81° 15’ 259° 00’

DE 182° 30’ 2° 30’

EF 300° 00’ 122° 45’

FG 248° 30’ 65° 45’

GA 298° 00’ 118° 00’

Question
The following table gives the forward and back bearings of the
lines measured in closed compass traverse ABCDEA. Tabulate the
bearings corrected for local attraction.

Line Forward Bearing Back Bearing

AB 309° 30' 132° 30'

BC 54° 00' 233° 00'

CD 176° 30' 356° 00'

DE 138° 30' 318° 30'

EA 259° 30' 78° 00'

Question (Final Exam April 2009)

During a traversing, five survey lines were

surveyed forming a pentagon. If one of the
bearings of the lines was 42°30’, find the
bearings of the other lines.
LINES BEARING INC. ANG
AB 42*30* 108*0*
BA
BC
CB
CD
DC
DE
ED
EA
AE
ADJUSTMENT OF CLOSING
ERROR
 When a closed traverse is not closed because of
the end of the line does not coincide,
Bowditch method is used to close it.

 The closing error may occur due to mistakes

made in the measurement of lengths and bearings
of the lines, or because of an error in plotting.
Source of error in compass
Instrumental Error

a) The needle may not be perfectly straight and might

not be balanced properly.
b) The pivot point may be eccentric.
c) The graduations of the ring may not be uniform.
d) The ring may not rotate freely on account of the
pivot point being blunt.
e) This may occur due to the head of the pivot being
broken because of careless handling.
f) The sight vane may not be vertical.
g) The horse hair may not be straight and vertical.
 Personal Error

a) The centering may not be done perfectly over the

station.
b) The graduated ring may not be leveled.
c) The object might not be bisected properly.
d) The readings may be taken or entered carelessly.
e) The observer may be carrying magnetic substances.

• Other sources of error

a) There may be local attraction due to the presence of
magnetic substances near the station.
b) The magnetic field could vary on account of some
natural causes.
c) The magnetic declination might vary.