FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC

ENGINEERING
Subject Code
Practical Name
Course Code
Practical Date
Group
Group Leader

Group Members

Lecturer Name/ Instructor/ Tutor

Marks

Comments

BFC 20703
Horizontal Control (Traverse)
2 BFF
16/11/2014
5 (Section 1)
Mohd Shafiq Imran bin Abdul Aziz (AF130109)
1.Loke Hoong Kee (AF130190)
2. Nadzirah Afiqah binti Abdullah (DF120021)
3. Muhammad Ammar Fikhri bin Nasaruddin
(BF130001)
4. Kok Hui Li (AF130195)
Sir Saifullizan Mohd Bukari
Introduction

/ 5%

Objective

/ 5%

Theory

/ 10%

Instrument

/ 5%

Procedure

/ 5%

Data/ Table

/ 10%

Data analysis

/ 20%

Discussion

/ 15%

Presentation/Plotting
Conclusion/Recommendatio
n
Reference

/ 10%

Total mark
Accepted Seal

/ 100%

/ 10%
/ 5%

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Faculty of Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Department of Infrastructure and
Geomatic Engineering
Horizontal Control (Traverse)

Sheet No.

1/9

Edition
Checking No.
Effective Date
Amendment Date

Traverse horizontal control is a form of a control survey that requires the establishment of a series of
stations that are linked together by bearing and distance. The bearing and distance are measured by total
station. The used of horizontal control is very fundamental and has become one of the most common
methods in civil engineering work such as general purposes bearing or angle measurement, provision of
control surveys, contour and detail mapping and setting out and construction work. Traverse networks
involve placing survey stations along a line or path of travel, and then using the previously surveyed points
as a base for observing the next point. Traverse is divided into two types which are closed traverse and open
traverse. We are required to use closed traverse in this survey work based to the station given. A closed
traverse is one that either begins and ends at the same point or begins and ends at points whose position have
been previously determined. The angle can be closed geometrically, and the position closure can be
determined mathematically.

Closed traverse

a)

b)

Open traverse

Open traverse
Open traverse are traverse that begin at one coordinate and ended at any point of coordinate. This
type of traverse is rarely used because the accuracy and the survey result are cannot be check.
Closed traverse
This type of traverse are begun and ended at the same point. The basic point of the coordinate to this
traverse has to be known. Closed traverse whether loop or connection are commonly use this is
because the types of this traverse can be check the accuracy.

2.0 OBJECTIVES
a. To expose students in field work procedure of establishing horizontal control network.
b. To determine the misclosure and mistaken at the fieldwork and solve the problem with consultation,
references, and present work.
c. To produce traverse measure plan by using the software.

3.0 THEORY
In survey, traverse is defined as the field operation of measuring the lengths and directions of a series of
straight lines connecting a series of points on the Earth. Each of these straight lines is called a traverse line,
and each point is called a traverse station. Traverse stations are commonly marked with wooden peg, stake,
nail or iron pipe. Traverse line are measured using total station. Traversing need to start from a reference
datum (coordinate, bearing and distance are known). At each traverse station, a horizontal angle is measured
and used to determine the bearing of the next traverse line. These measurements are used to compute the
relative horizontal position of each unknown traverse station. The main purposes of traverse are:

Property surveys to locate and establish boundaries

Supplementary horizontal control for topographic mapping surveys
Faculty of Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Department of Infrastructure and
Geomatic Engineering

Sheet No.

2/9

Edition
Checking No.
Horizontal Control (Traverse)
Effective Date
Amendment Date
Location and construction layout surveys for highways, railways and other private or public work.

There is several type of traverse, which are open traverse, closed traverse (polygon), and closed traverse
(geometrically open). Closed traverse (polygon) is conducted at the same start point whereas closed traverse
(geometrically open) is conducted at known point and ends at another known point.

Faculty of Civil and Environmental

Engineering
Department of Infrastructure and
Geomatic Engineering
Horizontal Control (Traverse)

Sheet No.

3/9

Edition
Checking No.
Effective Date
Amendment Date

Traverse survey is classified into four classes:

Standard traverse

First class traverse

Second class traverse

Third class traverse

4.0 EQUIPMENT
i.
iii.
v.
vii.
ix.
xi.
xiii.
xv.
xvii.
xix.
xx.
xxi.
xxii.
xxiii.
xxiv.

Equipment
Total Station
Prisms
Wooden pegs
Nails
Tripod
Prismatic compass
Compass stand
Hammer

ii.
iv.
vi.
viii.
x.
xii.
xiv.
xvi.
xviii.

Unit
1
2
4
4
3
1
1
1

5.0
Total Station

Hammer

Tripod

PROCEDURE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

In the field, walk over the area and look for suitable traverse stations.
One closed loop traverse is obtained in area according to the location given.
A reference point is chosen which is close to the traverse location.
Then, another reference point is picked as a reference for the reference traverse survey.
Each station is determined for the traverse measurement according to the distance of each station
which is between 30-40m.
6. Next, the picket is set in the position at every station determined to be made as a control point.
7. The station is assembled at the determine stations.
8. When we start our traverse survey, the total station is placed at the station 2 and the prism is set up at
station 1 and 3.
9. The bearing and distance reading of face left horizontal to backsight station is read and recorded.
10. The instrument is turned to the sight foresight station.
11. The bearing and distance reading of face left horizontal to foresight station is read and recorded.

xxv.
xxvii.
Faculty of Civil and
xxviii.
Environmental Engineering
xxxii.
Department of Infrastructure andxxxiii.
xxxvii.
Geomatic Engineering
xl.
Horizontal Control (Traverse)
xli.

xxvi.

xlv.

Sheet No.

xxix.
4/9
xxx.
Edition
xxxiv.
Checking No.
xxxviii.
Effective
xlii.
Date
Amendment xlvi.
Date

xlvii.
12. The instrument is transferred from face left to face right.
13. The bearing of required datum is set to backsight station.
14. The bearing and distance reading of face left horizontal to backsight station is read and recorded.
15. The instrument is turned to face foresight station.
16. The reading of face left horizontal is recorded to foresight station.
17. The bearing of foresight station is recorded.
18. The readings are taken and recorded in the form which has been provided
19. The tripod is transferred to the next station and the reading is taken by using the same method as
before.
20. The bearing is ensured to be closed from the first station till the last station.
21. Then, the data obtained are analysed.
xlviii.
xlix.
l.

7.0 DATA ANALYSIS

li.
lii.

Bearing from line 1-2

: 290 00 05

liii.

True bearing from line 1-2

: 290 00 00

liv.

Bearing misclosure

lv.

In second class traverse, it is stated that the bearing misclosure cannot exceed 2 30. In this case, the

05

bearing misclosure is 05, therefore this traverse field work is acceptable.

:

05 } over {4 }

lvi.

Correction

= 1.25 per station

lvii.

After adjusting all the bearing values, the calculations for latitude, departure, two times latitude and
departure and two times latitude x departure and two time departure x latitude were made. From the
table, corrections for latitude and departure were also done by using Bowditch Rule.

lviii.
lix.
lx.
lxi.
lxii.

lxiii.
lxiv.
lxvi.
Faculty of Civil and
lxvii.
Environmental Engineering
lxxi.
Department of Infrastructure and lxxii.
lxxvi.
Geomatic Engineering
lxxix.
Horizontal Control (Traverse)
lxxx.

lx v.

lxxxiv.

Sheet No.

lxviii.
5/9
lxix.
Edition
lxxiii.
Checking No.lxxvii.
Effective
lxxxi.
Date
Amendment lxxxv.
Date

lxxxvi.
lxxxvii.
lxxxviii.
lxxxix.

To find error of closure

Error in latitude (L) = -0.017

xc.

-0.017 is getting by:

xci.

(26.970+14.405) (29.071+12.321)
= -0.017

xcii.
xciii.

Error in departure (D) = -0.025

xciv.

-0.025 is getting by:

xcv.

(15.254+33.852) (17.090+32.041)
= -0.025

xcvi.
xcvii.
xcviii.

Error of linear closure can get by this way:

Eclosure =

xcix.

(L) + (D)
Total Distance

c.

ci.

(-0.017) + (-0.025)
135.862

cii.

2.228 104

ciii.
civ.
cv.
cvi.
cvii.
cviii.
cix.
cx.
cxi.
cxii.

To find the precision

Precision was obtained by using this formula:
Precision =

Eclosure
=

1
2.225 104

So the precision 1: 4487.962, it is acceptable because the precision should not be less than from ratio
1:4000

cxiii.

cxiv.
cxv.
cxvi.
cxv ii.

cxviii.
Faculty of Civil and
cxix.
Environmental Engineering
cxxiii.
Department of Infrastructure and cxxiv.
cxxviii.
Geomatic Engineering
cxxxi.
Horizontal Control (Traverse) cxxxii.
cxxxvi.

xxxviii.
cxxxix.

Sheet No.

cxx.
6/9
cxxi.
Edition
cxxv.
Checking No.cxxix.
Effective cxxxiii.
Date
Amendmentcxxxvii.
Date

To calculate the corrected latitude and departure

cxl.
cxli.

By calculated the corrected of latitude and departure, the transverse can obtain more accurate value

cxlii.

of location of corners. Therefore Bowditch method is used to calculate the corrected.

Since Bowditch method assumes that angle and distance have same error, and errors are accidental.
This formula is formed from what Bowditch method assumes.

cxliii.
cxliv.
cxlv.
cxlvi.
cxlvii.

For latitude correction

Correction in latitude = DISTANCE (LINE) L (ERROR OF CLOSURE)

TOTAL DISTANCE

cxlviii.
cxlix.
cl.
cli.

For departure correction

Correction in departure = DISTANCE (LINE) L (ERROR OF CLOSURE)
TOTAL DISTANCE

clii.
cliii.
cliv.

LATITUDE CORRECTION

clv.

Correction in station 1

clvi.
clvii.
clviii.
clix.
clx.
clxi.
clxii.
clxiii.
clxiv.

33.722 0.017 = 0.004 m

135.862
Correction in station 2
35.130 0.017 = 0.004 m
135.862
Correction in station 3
30.985 0.017 = 0.004 m
135.862
Correction in station 4

clxv.
clxvi.

36.025 0.017 = 0.005 m

135.862

clxvii.
clxviii.
clxx. Faculty of Civil and
clxxi.
Environmental Engineering
clxxv. Department of Infrastructure andclxxvi.
clxxx.
Geomatic Engineering
clxxxiii.
Horizontal Control (Traverse) clxxxiv.

clxix.

clxxxviii.
cxc.

DEPARTURE CORRECTION

cxci.

Correction in station 1

cxcii.
cxciii.
cxciv.
cxcv.
cxcvi.
cxcvii.
cxcviii.
cxcix.
cc.
cci.
ccii.

Sheet No.

clxxii.
7/9
clxxiii.
Edition
clxxvii.
Checking No.clxxxi.
Effective
clxxxv.
Date
Amendmentclxxxix.
Date

33.722 0.025 = 0.006 m

135.862
Correction in station 2
35.130 0.025 = 0.006 m
135.862
Correction in station 3
30.985 0.025 = 0.006 m
135.862
Correction in station 4
36.025 0.025 = 0.007 m
135.862

cciii.
cciv.

AREA

ccv. Correction
ccvi.
2 times
ccvii.
2 times
ccviii.
ccix.
L ccx. Dep ccxi.
L ccxii.
Dep ccxiii.
Latit ccxiv. Depart
a
artu
a
artu
ude x
ure x
ti
re
ti
re
Depa
Latitu ccxv.
t
t
rture
de
u
u
d
d
e
e
ccxxiii.
ccxvii.
2
ccxix.
5
6
5.
.ccxviii.
15.2
ccxx.
15.2 ccxxi.
851.3 ccxxii.
411.62
7
9
60
60
86
3
9
7
2
0
ccxxv.

-ccxxvi.
1
2
.

33.8ccxxvii.
59

ccxxviii.
7
0.
4
5

64.3ccxxix.
79

2385.
367

ccxxx.

- ccxxxi.
792.89
1

Coordinate
N
ccxvi.
/
S
1
0
ccxxiv.
0
0.
0
0
0
9ccxxxii.
8
7.
6

E/
W

10
00.
00
0
10
33.
85
9

ccxxxiii.

ccxli.

ccxlix.

3
1
6
2
ccxxxv.
9ccxxxiv. .
17.0
0
84
6
7
1
ccxliii.
4
ccxlii.
.
32.0
4
35
0
9
0 ccl.
0.00 ccli.
.
0
0
0
0

8
4

2
9.
ccxxxvi.
0
6
7
1
4.
ccxliv.
4
0
9

ccxxxix.
ccxxxvii.
- ccxxxviii.
81.1
496.5
2358.9
54
81
03

ccxlvii.
32.0
35

cclii.

ccxlv.

ccliii.

ccxlvi.
461.5
92

461.59
2

=
2278.
580

cclv.
=
-2278.5
80

ccliv.

cclvii.
cclviii.
cclxii.
cclxvi.
cclxx.
cclxxiv.
cclxxviii.
cclxxxii.

cclix.
N/S
cclx.
E/W
cclxi.
cclxiii.
1000.000cclxiv. 1000.000
cclxv.
cclxvii.
987.684cclxviii.
1033.859
cclxix.
cclxxi.
958.617cclxxii.
1016.775
cclxxiii.
cclxxv. 973.026cclxxvi.
984.740
cclxxvii.
cclxxix.
1000.000cclxxx.
1000.000
cclxxxi.
cclxxxiii.
= cclxxxiv.
=
3955125.
3952847.cclxxxv.
904
324 cclxxxvi.

cclxxxvii.

cclxxxviii.
cclxxxix.
ccxc.
ccxci.

ccxcii.
ccxcvi.
ccc.

ccxcv.
ccxcix.
ccciii.
2 A= N /Scccv.
E/W
cccvii.
cccix.
3955125.9043952847.324
A=
cccxii.
2
cccxv.
cccxvi.
cccxix.

1139.290

ccxciii.
ccxcvii.
ccci.

ccxciv.
ccxcviii.
cccii.

ccciv.
cccx.
cccxvii.

cccxi.
cccxiv.
cccxviii.

9
5 ccxl.
8.
6
1
7
9
7
ccxlviii.
3.
0
2
6
1 cclvi.
0
0
0.
0
0
0

10
16.
77
5

98
4.7
40
10
00.
00
0

cccxx.
cccxxi.

cccxxii.
Faculty of Civil and
cccxxiii.
Environmental Engineering
cccxxvii.
Department of Infrastructure and
cccxxviii.
Geomatic Engineering cccxxxii.
cccxxxv. Horizontal Control (Traverse)cccxxxvi.
cccxl.

cccxlii.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Sheet No.

cccxxiv. 8/9
cccxxv.
Edition
cccxxix.
Checking No.
cccxxxiii.
Effective cccxxxvii.
Date
Amendment cccxli.
Date

8.0 PRECAUTION
The picket should be placed same level with the ground level.
Before the survey is carried out, the observer should identify the direction of northing point.
The survey should not carry out during the sunny day for a better result.
Avoid parallax error while shooting the prism for a more accurate reading.
Make sure the distance between the total station and prism is between 30-40m.

cccxliii.
cccxliv.

9.0 DISCUSSION

cccxlv.

Traversing is a form of a control survey that requires the establishment of a series of stations that
are linked together by angles and distances. The angles and distances are measured by total station.

cccxlvi.

From the survey, there are few errors and precautions. First and foremost is may come from
bearing. This is occurred when clamping the instrument. Hard clamping can affect the pointing of the
instrument. The precaution should be taken by applying light clamp to the vertical and horizontal
locks. Failure to eliminate parallax error and poor focusing also can affect accurate pointing. The
error of parallax can be avoided by adjusted the eyepiece screw for better line of stadia and the
focusing screw should be adjusted to focus the target. Besides, the observer should always keep the
target in the centre of the field of view. All the movement of the total station should be kept as
smooth as possible and all the movement around the instrument should be kept to a minimum. Next
is centring error. It is important to ensure that the total station instrument and targets are centred
correctly in the circle over each survey station. For the distance error, when the data is recorded, all
distance should be recorded to three decimal places and to get the accurate reading, the reading are
taken for several time and take the average of the reading. Other than that, the condition of the
ground and working environment will affect the reading taken. Thus, ensure that the stations are
located in a better condition. The peg for all station should be same with the ground level. Focusing
can increase the accuracy of the reading. During the sunny day, the total stations are difficult to get
accurate target due to the refraction of the sunlight. Hence the accurate reading cannot be taken.

cccxlvii.
cccxlviii.
cccxlix.
cccl.
cccli.

10.0 CONCLUSION

ccclii.

From the traverse work, the coordinate for each pegs and station is determined. The traverse map
surrounding field work has been created. From the traverse and latitude/departure data calculation,
the area of field work is 1139.290m2. Then the linear misclosure we calculated is 1: 4487.962. So,
our traverse class is included in Second Class.

cccliii.

The survey had carried out successfully. After the transverse survey, we had learnt how to
construction the Total Station in traversing. Besides, we learnt the traverse design and the procedures
of computing and adjusting a traverse. This application of coordinates for point will be very useful in
a Civil Engineering project.

cccliv.
ccclv.
ccclvi.
ccclvii.

ccclviii.
Faculty of Civil and
ccclix.
Environmental Engineering
ccclxiii.
Department of Infrastructure and
ccclxiv.
Geomatic Engineering ccclxviii.
ccclxxi.
Horizontal Control (Traverse) ccclxxii.
ccclxxvi.

ccclxxviii.

Lab sheet given by Sir Saifullizan Mohd Bukari, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Faculty of
Civil & Environmental Engineering

ccclxxx.
ccclxxxi.

ccclx.
9/9
ccclxi.
Edition
ccclxv.
Checking No.
ccclxix.
Effective ccclxxiii.
Date
Amendment
ccclxxvii.
Date

11.0 REFERENCE

ccclxxix.

Sheet No.

ccclxxxii.
ccclxxxiii.

ccclxxxiv.
ccclxxxv.
ccclxxxvi.
ccclxxxvii.
ccclxxxviii.