University of Southeastern Philippines

Tagum-Mabini Campus

BSAGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

TRAVERSE ADJUSTMENT
COMPASS RULE
(Laboratory 11)

Proponent:
Canlubo, Hanna Rebecca D.
BSABE 1-B

Engr. RonieLusares
Surveying Instructor

May 2019
 CLOSED COMPASS TRAVERSE

(Laboratory 10)

INTRODUCTION:

A traverse is a continuous series of connected lines of known lengths related to one

another by known angles. The lengths of the lines are determined by direct measurement of
horizontal distances, slope measurement, or by indirectmeasurement using the methods of stadia
or the subtense bar. The line courses runbetween a series of points are called traverse stations.
The angles at the traversestations, between the lines are measured by tape, transit, theodolite,
compass, planetable, or sextant. These angles can be interior angles, deflection angles, or angles
tothe right. The lengths and azimuths or bearings of each line of the traverse areestimated
through field measurements. The lengths are horizontal distances, andthe azimuths or bearings
are true, magnetic, assumed, or grid.

A closed traverse is one that either begins and ends at the same point or begins and ends
at points whose positions have been previously determined. In both cases, the angles can be
closed geometrically, and the position closure can be determined mathematically. A closed
traverse that begins and ends at the same point is called a loop traverse. In this case, the distances
are measured from one station to the next and verified, using a steel tape or EDM instrument.
The interior angle is measured at each station, and each angle is measured at least twice. Figure 4
illustrates typical field notes for a loop traverse survey. In this type of survey, distances are
booked simply as dimensions, not as stations or chainages.

OBJECTIVES:

a. understand various important terms and instruments used in compass surveying

b. understand the procedure of compass surveying,
c. measure bearing of survey lines and find the angle between these lines, and
d. know various types of error involved in compass surveying, their source and methods of
correction.
INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES:

Surveyor’s or Brunton Pocket Compass, Steel Tape, Range Poles, and Pegs or Chaining
Pins.
A. PROCEDURE:
1. Establish at least six distant stations for an open traverse. Call these station A, B, C, …
and so forth
2. Two people stay at the first station (one to take notes and the other to make
measurements).
3. The third person will take the numerically small end of the measuring tape to the second
station.
4. Person 1 at station 1 will measure, and person 2 will record:
a. foreshot angle (as azimuth, i.e., 1° to 360°)
b. elevation angle (as degrees; note + or –)
c. distance to station 2 (note: hold the measuring tape at waist height at both
locations, and
5. The crew will move to station 2 with the compass and notebook while person 1 stays at
station 1.
a. Person 2 will measure the backshot angle (from station 2 to station 1).
6. Repeat the process until all stations have been visited (it will be necessary to return the
the first station at the end of the traverse to record all necessary data).
7. Correction will be done to correct the length and the bearing as well to adjust the whole
traverse.

A note about error in the foreshot and backshot angles: The "perfect" sum of interior angles for
this traverse of 4 stations should be 360°. The maximum allowable error is k * sqrt(4), where k is
the smallest division on the compass (2°), therefore the maximum allowable error is 4°. If the
sum of your interior angles differs from 360° by more than 4°, you can either remeasure your
angles (best practice) or distribute the error by post-processing calculation (worse practice).
 N

A
S80˚E
N
S27˚W
N81˚W
F
N

N28˚E S18˚E
B
S29˚E
N

E
N18˚W
S22˚W
N
N30˚W
C
S33˚E
N
N34˚W
N21˚E
D

LINE LENGTH BEARING

AB 17.36 m 𝑆26°20′ 𝑊
BC 23 m 𝑆30°30′ 𝐸
CD 27.52 m 𝑆33°20′ 𝐸
DE 36.12 m 𝑁21°50′ 𝐸
EF 24.92 m 𝑁18°𝑊
FA 22.36 m 𝑁80°50′ 𝑊
SOLUTION:
a) Computing Latitudes: 𝑙𝑎𝑡 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑏 = 17.36 𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠26°20′ = −𝟏𝟓. 𝟓𝟔
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑏𝑐 = 23 𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠30°30′ = −𝟏𝟗. 𝟖𝟐
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑐𝑑 = 27.52 𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠33°20′ = −𝟐𝟐. 𝟗𝟗
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑑𝑒 = 36.12 𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠21°50′ = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟓𝟑
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑓 = 24.92 𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠18° = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟕𝟐
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑓𝑎 = 22.36 𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠80°50′ = 𝟑. 𝟓𝟔
b) Computing Departures: 𝑑𝑒𝑝 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑏 = 17.36 𝑚 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛26°20′ = −𝟕. 𝟕𝟎
𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑏𝑐 = 23 𝑚 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛30°30′ = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟔𝟕
𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑐𝑑 = 27.52 𝑚 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛33°20′ = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟏𝟐
𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑑𝑒 = 36.12 𝑚 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛21°50′ = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟒𝟑
𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑓 = 24.92 𝑚 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛18° = −𝟕. 𝟕𝟏
𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑓𝑎 = 22.36 𝑚 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛80°50′ = −𝟐𝟐. 𝟎𝟕
c) Tabulated Solution:
COURSE DISATNCE BEARING COMPUTED COMPUTED
LATITUDE DEPARTURE
+N -S +E -W
′ 15.56 7.70
AB 17.36 m 𝑆26°20 𝑊
′ 19.82 11.67
BC 23 m 𝑆30°30 𝐸
′ 22.99 15.12
CD 27.52 m 𝑆33°20 𝐸
DE 36.12 m 𝑁21°50′ 𝐸 33.53 13.43
EF 24.92 m 𝑁18°𝑊 23.72 7.71
′ 3.56 22.07
FA 22.36 m 𝑁80°50 𝑊
SUMS 151.3 m 60.81 58.87 40.22 37.48
d) Determining Total Closure in Latitude and Departure

ΣNL = 33.53 + 23.72 + 3.56

𝚺𝐍𝐋 = 𝟔𝟎. 𝟖𝟏

ΣSL = −15.56 + (−19.82) + (−22.99)

𝚺𝐒𝐋 = −𝟓𝟖. 𝟖𝟕

ΣED = 11.67 + 15.12 + 13.43

𝚺𝐄𝐃 = 𝟒𝟎. 𝟐𝟐

ΣWD = −7.70 + (−7.71) + (−22.07 )

 𝚺𝐖𝐃 = −𝟑𝟕. 𝟒𝟖
𝐶𝐿 = ΣNL + ΣSL = 40.22 − 37.48
𝑪𝑳 = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟒 (𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞)
𝐶𝐷 = ΣED + ΣWD = 40.22 − 58.87
𝑪𝑫 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟒 (𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞)
𝐷 = 𝑑1 + 𝑑2 + 𝑑3 + 𝑑4 + 𝑑5 + 𝑑6
𝐷 = 17.36 𝑚 + 23 𝑚 + 27.52 𝑚 + 36.12 𝑚 + 24.92 𝑚 + 22.36 𝑚
𝑫 = 𝟏𝟓𝟏. 𝟑 𝒎 (𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆)
𝐶𝐿
e) Determining Corrections for Latitude: 𝐾1 = ; 𝑐𝑙 = 𝑑𝐾1
𝐷

2.44
𝐾1 = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟏𝟑
151.3
𝑐𝑎𝑏 = 17.36 𝑚 𝑥 0.01613 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟖

𝑐𝑏𝑐 = 23 𝑚 𝑥 0.01613 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟕

𝑐𝑐𝑑 = 27.52 𝑚 𝑥 0.01613 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟒𝟒

𝑐𝑑𝑒 = 36.12 𝑚 𝑥 0.01613 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟖𝟑

𝑐𝑒𝑓 = 24.92 𝑚 𝑥 0.01613 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟎𝟐

𝑐𝑓𝑎 = 22.36 𝑚 𝑥 0.01613 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟔𝟏

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑪𝑲: 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 = 𝐶𝐿

0.28 + 0.37 + 0.444 + 0.583 + 0.402 + 0.361 = 2.44

𝟐. 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟒 (𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌)
𝐶𝐷
f) Determining Corrections for Departure: 𝐾2 = ; 𝑐𝑑 = 𝑑𝐾2
𝐷

2.74
𝐾2 = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟖𝟏𝟏
151.3
𝑐𝑎𝑏 = 17.36 𝑚 𝑥 0.01811 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟏𝟒

𝑐𝑏𝑐 = 23 𝑚 𝑥 0.01811 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟏𝟕

𝑐𝑐𝑑 = 27.52 𝑚 𝑥 0.01811 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟗𝟖

𝑐𝑑𝑒 = 36.12 𝑚 𝑥 0.01811 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟓𝟒

𝑐𝑒𝑓 = 24.92 𝑚 𝑥 0.01811 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟓𝟐

𝑐𝑓𝑎 = 22.36 𝑚 𝑥 0.01811 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟎𝟓

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑪𝑲: 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 = 𝐶𝐷

0.314 + 0.417 + 0.498 + 0.654 + 0.452 + 0.405 = 2.74

𝟐. 𝟕𝟒 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟒 (𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌)

g) Adjusting the Latitudes: 𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡 = 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑎𝑡 ± 𝐶𝑙

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑏 = −15.56 − 0.28 = −𝟏𝟓. 𝟖𝟒

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑏𝑐 = −19.82 − 0.37 = −𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟗

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑐𝑑 = −22.99 − 0.444 = −𝟐𝟑. 𝟒𝟑𝟒

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑑𝑒 = 33.53 − 0.583 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟗𝟒𝟕

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑓 = 23.72 − 0.402 = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟑𝟏𝟖

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑓𝑎 = 3.56 − 0.361 = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟗𝟗

*Note: Since the sum of north latitudes exceeds the sum of south latitudes, latitude corrections
are subtracted from the corresponding north latitudes and added to corresponding south
latitudes to determine the adjusted latitudes.

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑪𝑲: 𝐴𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 = 0.00

−15.84 + (−20.19) + (−23.434) + 32.947 + 23.318 + 3.199 = 0.00

𝟎. 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎 (𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌)

g) Adjusting the Departures: 𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐷𝑒𝑝 = 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 ± 𝐶𝑑

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑏 = −7.70 − 0.314 = −𝟖. 𝟎𝟏𝟒

𝐴𝑑𝑗𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑏𝑐 = 11.67 − 0.417 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟐𝟓𝟑

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑐𝑑 = 15.12 − 0.498 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟔𝟐𝟐

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑑𝑒 = 13.43 − 0.654 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟕𝟕𝟔

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑓 = −7.71 − 0.452 = −𝟖. 𝟏𝟔𝟐

𝐴𝑑𝑗 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑓𝑎 = −22.07 − 0.405 = −𝟐𝟐. 𝟒𝟕𝟓

*Note: Since the sum of east departures exceeds the sum of west departures, departure
corrections are subtracted from the corresponding east departures and added to corresponding
west departures to determine the adjusted departures.

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑪𝑲: 𝐴𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 0.00

 −8.014 + 11.253 + 14.622 + 12.776 − 8.162 − 22.475 = 0.00

𝟎. 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎 (𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌)
i) Tabulated Solution:

COURSE CORRECTION ADJUSTED ADJUSTED

LATITUDE DEPARTURE
LAT DEP +N -S +E -W
AB 0.28 0.314 15.84 8.014
BC 0.37 0.417 20.19 11.253
CD 0.444 0.498 23.434 14.622
DE 0.583 0.654 32.947 12.776
EF 0.402 0.452 23.318 8.162
FA 0.36 0.405 3.199 22.475
SUMS 2.441 2.74 59.464 -59.464 38.651 -38.651

j) Determining Linear Error of Closure, Bearing of the Side of Error, and Relative Error of
Closure

𝐿𝐸𝐶 = √𝐶𝐿 2 + 𝐶𝐷 2

𝐿𝐸𝐶 = √2.442 + 2.742

𝑳𝑬𝑪 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟗 𝒎 (𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆)

−𝐶𝐷
tan 𝛽 =
−𝐶𝐿
−2.74
tan 𝛽 = = 1.12295
−2.44
𝛽 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (1.12295)

𝜷 = 𝟒𝟖°𝟏𝟗′ (𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = 𝑺𝟒𝟖°𝟏𝟗′ 𝑾)

𝐿𝐸𝐶
𝑅𝑃 =
𝐷
3.69
𝑅𝑃 =
151.3
𝟏
𝑹𝑷 = (𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏)
𝟒𝟏
 2. ADJUSTMENT OF LENGTHS AND BEARINGS

a. Determining Adjusted Length of Each Course.

𝐿′ = √𝐿𝑎𝑡′2 + 𝐷𝑒𝑝′2

𝐿′𝑎𝑏 = √(−15.84)2 + (−8.014)2 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕𝟓 𝒎

𝐿′𝑏𝑐 = √(−20.19)2 + (11.253)2 = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟏𝟏 𝒎

𝐿′𝑐𝑑 = √(−23.434)2 + (−14.622)2 = 𝟐𝟕. 𝟔𝟐 𝒎

𝐿′𝑑𝑒 = √(32.947)2 + (12.776)2 = 𝟑𝟓. 𝟑𝟒 𝒎

𝐿′𝑒𝑓 = √(23.318)2 + (−8.162)2 = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟕𝟏 𝒎

𝐿′𝑓𝑎 = √(3.199)2 + (−22.475)2 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟕𝟎 𝒎

b. Determining Adjusted Bearing of Each Course.

𝐷𝑒𝑝′
tan ∝ =
𝐿𝑎𝑡′
−8.014
∝′𝑎𝑏 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑺𝟐𝟔°𝟓𝟎′ 𝑾
−15.84
11.253
∝′𝑏𝑐 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑺𝟐𝟗°𝟖𝟎′ 𝑬
−20.19
11.253
∝′𝑐𝑑 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑺𝟑𝟏°𝟓𝟖′ 𝑬
−23.434
12.776
∝′𝑑𝑒 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑵𝟐𝟏°𝟏𝟐′ 𝑬
32.947
−8.162
∝′𝑒𝑓 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑵𝑬𝟏𝟗°𝟏𝟕′ 𝑾
23.318

′
−22.475
∝𝑓𝑎 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑵𝟖𝟏°𝟓𝟒′ 𝑾
3.199
c. Tabulated Solution
.

LINE ADJUSTED ADJUSTED

LENGTH BEARING
AB 17.75 m 𝑆26°50′ 𝑊
BC 23.11 m 𝑆29°80′ 𝐸
CD 27.62 m 𝑆31°58′ 𝐸
DE 35.34 m 𝑁21°12′ 𝐸
EF 24.71 m 𝑁19°17′𝑊
FA 22.70 m 𝑁81°54′ 𝑊