H.U.

MINING ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MAD 256 – SURVEYING

BASICS OF TRAVERSING
What is a traverse?
• A polygon of 2D (or 3D) vectors
• Sides are expressed as either polar coordinates (,d)
or as rectangular coordinate differences (E,N)
• A traverse must either close on itself
• Or be measured between points with known
rectangular coordinates

A closed
traverse A traverse between
known points
Applications of traversing
• Establishing coordinates for new points

(E,N)known

(E,N)known

(E,N)new
(E,N)new
Applications of traversing
• These new points can then be used as a
framework for mapping existing features

(E,N)known
(E,N)new
(E,N)new (E,N)new (E,N)known

(E,N)new
(E,N)new
Applications of traversing
• They can also be used as a basis for setting
out new work

(E,N)known

(E,N)known

(E,N)new
(E,N)new
Equipment
• Traversing requires :
 An instrument to measure angles (theodolite) or
bearings (magnetic compass)
 An instrument to measure distances (EDM or tape)
Measurement sequence
C

E
Computation sequence
1. Calculate angular misclose
2. Adjust angular misclose
3. Calculate adjusted bearings
4. Reduce distances for slope etc…
5. Compute (E, N) for each traverse line
6. Calculate linear misclose
7. Calculate accuracy
8. Adjust linear misclose
Calculate internal angles
Foresight Backsight Internal Adjusted
Point
Azimuth Azimuth Angle Angle
A 21o 118o 97o

B 56o 205o 149o

C 168o 232 o
64
At each point :
o

D 232o • oMeasure foresight

352 120o azimuth
• Meaure backsight azimuth
E 303o • o Calculate 105
48 internal
o
angle (back-fore)
 =(n-2)*180 For example, at B :
• Azimuth to C = 56o
Misclose • Azimuth to A = 205o
• Angle at B = 205o - 56o = 149o
Adjustment
Calculate angular misclose
Foresight Backsight Internal Adjusted
Point
Azimuth Azimuth Angle Angle
A 21o 118o 97o

B 56o 205o 149o

C 168o 232o 64o

D 232o 352o 120o

E 303o 48o 105o

 =(n-2)*180 535o

Misclose -5o

Adjustment -1o
Calculate adjusted angles
Foresight Backsight Internal Adjusted
Point
Azimuth Azimuth Angle Angle
A 21o 118o 97o 98o

B 56o 205o 149o 150o

C 168o 232o 64o 65o

D 232o 352o 120o 121o

E 303o 48o 105o 106o

 =(n-2)*180 535o 540o

Misclose -5o

Adjustment -1o
Compute adjusted azimuths
• Adopt a starting azimuth
• Then, working clockwise around the traverse :
 Calculate reverse azimuth to backsight (forward azimuth 180o)
 Subtract (clockwise) internal adjusted angle
 Gives azimuth of foresight

• For example (azimuth of line BC)

 Adopt azimuth of AB 23o
 Reverse azimuth BA (=23o+180o) 203o
 Internal adjusted angle at B 150o
 Forward azimuth BC (=203o-150o) 53o
 Compute adjusted azimuths
C
Forward Reverse Internal
Line
Azimuth Azimuth Angle

AB 23o 203o 150o

B
o BC 53o
150 D
CD

DE

A EA

AB
E
 Compute adjusted azimuths
C
Forward Reverse Internal
Line
Azimuth Azimuth Angle
65o
AB 23o 203o 150o
B
BC 53o 233o 65o
D
CD 168o

DE

A EA

AB
E
 Compute adjusted azimuths
C
Forward Reverse Internal
Line
Azimuth Azimuth Angle

AB 23o 203o 150o

B
121o BC 53o 233o 65o
D
CD 168o 348o 121o

DE 227o

A EA

AB
E
 Compute adjusted azimuths
C
Forward Reverse Internal
Line
Azimuth Azimuth Angle

AB 23o 203o 150o

B
BC 53o 233o 65o
D
CD 168o 348o 121o

DE 227o 47o 106o

-59o
A 106o EA
301o

AB
E
 Compute adjusted azimuths
C
Forward Reverse Internal
Line
Azimuth Azimuth Angle

AB 23o 203o 150o

B
BC 53o 233o 65o
D
CD 168o 348o 121o

DE 227o 47o 106o

98o EA 301o 121o 98o

A
AB 23o (check)
E
(E,N) for each line
• The rectangular components for each line are
computed from the polar coordinates (,d)

E  d sin 
N  d cos 

• Note that these formulae apply regardless of

the quadrant so long as whole circle bearings
are used
Vector components
Line Azimuth Distance E N
AB 23o 77.19 30.16 71.05
BC 53o 99.92 79.80 60.13
CD 168o 60.63 12.61 -59.31
DE 227o 129.76 -94.90 -88.50
EA 301o 32.20 -27.60 16.58
 (399.70) (0.07) (-0.05)
Linear misclose & accuracy
• Convert the rectangular misclose components
to polar coordinates

1  E 
  tan   Beware of quadrant when
 N 
calculating  using tan-1
2 2
d  E  N

• Accuracy is given by
1 : (traverse length / linear misclose)
For the example…
• Misclose (E, N)
 (0.07, -0.05)

• Convert to polar (,d)

  = -54.46o (2nd quadrant) = 125.53o
 d = 0.09 m

• Accuracy
 1:(399.70 / 0.09) = 1:4441
Bowditch adjustment
• The adjustment to the easting component of
any traverse side is given by :
Eadj = Emisc * side length/total perimeter

• The adjustment to the northing component of

any traverse side is given by :
Nadj = Nmisc * side length/total perimeter
The example…
• East misclose 0.07 m
• North misclose –0.05 m
• Side AB 77.19 m
• Side BC 99.92 m
• Side CD 60.63 m
• Side DE 129.76 m
• Side EA 32.20 m
• Total perimeter 399.70 m
Vector components (pre-adjustment)

Side E N dE dN Eadj Nadj

AB 30.16 71.05

BC 79.80 60.13

CD 12.61 -59.31

DE -94.90 -88.50

EA -27.60 16.58

Misc (0.07) (-0.05)

The adjustment components
Side E N dE dN Eadj Nadj

AB 30.16 71.05 0.014 -0.010

BC 79.80 60.13 0.016 -0.012

CD 12.61 -59.31 0.011 -0.008

DE -94.90 -88.50 0.023 -0.016

EA -27.60 16.58 0.006 -0.004

Misc (0.07) (-0.05) (0.070) (-0.050)

Adjusted vector components
Side E N dE dN Eadj Nadj

AB 30.16 71.05 0.014 -0.010 30.146 71.060

BC 79.80 60.13 0.016 -0.012 79.784 60.142

CD 12.61 -59.31 0.011 -0.008 12.599 -59.302

DE -94.90 -88.50 0.023 -0.016 -94.923 -88.484

EA -27.60 16.58 0.006 -0.004 -27.606 16.584

Misc (0.07) (-0.05) 0.070 -0.050 (0.000) (0.000)