LAB EXERCISE NO.

9:
CLOSED COMPASS TRAVERSE

I. OBJECTIVES
a.) To determine the magnetic bearings of each line of a closed compass
traverse.
b.) To learn how to adjust close compass traverse.

II. INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Surveyor’s or Brunton Pocket Compass, Pegs or Chaining Pins, Steel tape,

Range Poles and Hubs.

III. PROCEDURE

1. Establish at least five traverse stations at designated points on the field

sassigned to be surveyed. Call these stations (or corners) A, B, C, and so forth.
2. Set and level the compass at A and release the needle of the compass so that
it will swing freely on its pivot.
3. Sight the compass on the last traverse station and read the magnetic bearing.
Record this as the back bearing of the last line in the traverse.
4. Sight B and read the compass box. Record this as the forward bearing of line
AB.
5. Transfer the compass to B. Sight on A and read the compass box and record
this as the back reading of line AB.
6. Turn towards the direction C. then read and record the forward bearing of line
BC.
7. Transfer to C and sight on B. Read and record the back bearing of line BC,
then sight on D and read and record the forward bearing of line CD.
 8. Proceed to the next station and repeat the above procedure of determining
back and forward bearings for each line. Continue until the last traverse station
is occupied and the forward bearing of the last line has been read and
according recommended.
9. With a steel tape, measure the length of each line in the traverse twice and
record the mean as the actual length of the line.
10. Tabulate observed and adjusted values accordingly.

IV. RESULTS: FIELD DATA AND COMPUTATIONS

A. TABULATION OF LEVEL NOTES

LINE LENGTH OBSERVED BEARINGS STA COMPUTED CORR ADJUSTED

FORWARD BACKWARD INT. ANGLE INT. ANGLE

AB 19 m 40° 6’ 49° 47’ A 106° 17’ -0° 107° 7’

50’30’’ 30’’
BC 7.9m 19° 30’ 70° 25’ B 159° 17’ -0° 160° 7’
50’30’’ 30’’
CD 19.02 m 60° 29° 45’ C 130° 25’ -0° 131° 15’
50’30’’ 30’’
DE 7.89 m 19° 24’ 70° 31’ D 135° 9’ -0° 134° 18’
50’30’’ 30’’
EF 18.78 m 61° 29° E 131° 31’ -0° 132° 429’
50’30’’ 30’’
FG 8m 12° 76° F 131° -0° 131° 50’
50’30’’ 30’’
GH 19.6 m 64°42’ 25° 13’ G 140° 42’ -0° 141° 32’
50’30’’ 30’’
HA 7.9 m 23° 42’ 66° 11’ H 138° 55’ -0° 139° 45’
50’30’’ 30’’
 C

PUP
E
INTERFAITH
A
CHAPEL

G
V. CONCLUSION

On this fieldwork, we’re determining the magnetic bearings of each line of a closed
compass traverse to learn how to adjust close compass traverse. During the fieldwork,
we’re able to learn how to use a Brunton Pocket Compass.