Lecture 6

Compass Surveying

• Measurement of angles and bearings

• Compass surveying
– Methods
– local attraction
 Compass Surveying
Principle of compass surveying

• The principle of compass surveying is

traversing.

• Traversing is that type of survey in which

a number of connecting survey lines form
the frame work
• the directions and lengths of the survey
lines are measured with the help of an
angle measuring instrument and a tape
respectively.
 Compass Surveying
• Types
• When the lines form a circuit
which ends at the starting
point, it is known as a closed
traverse.
• Eg: Ponds, forest & estates

• If the circuit ends elsewhere,

it is said to be an open
traverse.
• Eg: roads, river & costal lines

• There is no need of formation

of a network of triangles.
 Compass surveying
• chain or tape is used for linear
measurements
• compass is used for fixing direction.

• In compass, freely suspended magnetic

needle directs to north ‐ south and the
bearing of line is obtained by line of sight.

• When large area are involved, compass

surveying is used.
 Compass surveying is recommended when

• A large area is to be surveyed.

• The course of river or coastal line is to be

surveyed.

• The area is undulated and crowed with

many details and triangulation is not
possible.
Compass surveying is not recommended when

• Where local attraction is suspected due to

the presence of magnetic substances like
steel structures, iron ore deposits
 Definitions - Bearings
1. True Meridian
• The line or plane passing through the
geographical north pole, geographical south pole
and any point on the surface of the earth.
• The true meridians passing through different
points on the earth’s surface are not parallel,
but converge towards the poles.
• But for surveys in small areas, the true
meridians passing through different points are
assumed parallel.
• The angle between the true meridian and a line
is known as ‘true hearing’ of the line. It is also
known as the ‘azimuth’.
 Definitions - Bearings
2. Magnetic Meridian
• When a magnetic needle is suspended
freely and balanced properly, unaffected
by magnetic substances, it indicates a
direction. This direction is known as
magnetic meridian.
• The angle between the magnetic meridian
and a line is known as the ‘magnetic
bearing’ or simply the bearing of the line.
 Definitions - Bearings
• Magnetic bearing and true bearing
• Magnetic Bearing:
• It is the angle between the magnetic meridian and
the line.
• The angle is always measured in the clockwise
direction
• It is the direction shown by a freely suspended
magnetic needle.

• True Bearing:
• True bearing of a line is the angle between the true
meridian and the line.
• The angle is always measured in the anticlockwise
direction. (Azimuth angle)
 Types of Bearings

1. True bearing
2. Magnetic bearing
 Designation of Magnetic Bearing
• Magnetic bearing are designated by two
systems

1. Whole circle bearing

2. Quadrantal bearing
 Magnetic Bearing
Whole circle bearing
• The bearing of a line measured with the
magnetic north in clockwise direction.
• The value of bearing thus varies from 00
to 3600.
• The angle is reckoned in the clockwise
direction from 00 coinciding with the
north.
• It is obtained by prismatic compass.
 Magnetic Bearing
Whole circle bearing
• WCB of AB = θ1
• WCB of AC = θ2
• WCB of AD = θ3
• WCB of AE = θ4
 Magnetic Bearing
Quadrantal Bearing
• The bearing of a line measured clockwise or
counterclockwise from North or South
(whichever is near) towards East or west.
• The whole circle is divided into four
quadrants.
• The bearing is expressed with N or S as prefix
and E or W as suffix.
• Angle 00 to 900
• This system consists of four quadrants – NE,
SE, SW and NW.
• It is obtained by surveyor compass
 Magnetic Bearing
Quadrantal Bearing
• QB of AB = N θ1 E
• QB of AC = S θ2 E
• QB of AD = S θ3 W
• QB of AE = N θ4 W
 Reduced Bearing (RB)
• When whole circle bearing of a line is
converted into quadrantal bearing, it is
termed as reduced bearing.
• Reduced bearing is similar to QB
• Value = 00 to 900
 Problems on WCB to QB
• Convert the following WCBs to QBs. (a)
WCB of AB = 45°30' (b) WCB of BC =
125°45' (c) WCB of CD = 222°15' (d) WCB
of DE = 320°30‘
• Solution
• (a) QB of AB = N 45°30' E
• (b) QB of BC = I80°0' — 125°45'=S54°15' E
• (c) QB of CD = 222°15' —180°0'=S42°15' W
• (d) QB of DE = 360°0'—320°30'=N39°30' W
 Problems on QB to WCB
• Problem 2 Convert the following QBs to
WCB. (a) QB of AB = S 36°30' W (b) QB of
BC = S 43°30' E (c) QB of CD = N 26°45' E
J. QB of DE = N 40°15' W
• Soln
• (a) WCB of AB = 180°0' + 36°30' = 216°30'
(b) WCB of BC = 180°0' — 43°30' = 136°30'
(c) WCB of CD = given QB = 26°45'
• (d) WCB of DE = 360°0' — 40°15' = 319°45'
 Fore Bearing and Back Bearing

• Every line has two bearings one observed at each end of the line.

• The bearing of the line in the direction of progress of the survey is called Fore
Bearing (FB)
• the bearing in the opposite direction is called Back Bearing (BB).

• The difference between the fore bearing and the back bearing should be 1800.
 Fore Bearing and Back Bearing

• Reduced Bearing: When the whole circle bearing of a line is converted

to quadrantal bearing it is termed as reduced bearing.
• Fore and Back Bearing:
– In WCB the difference between FB and BB should be exactly 180°
– BB=FB+/-180°
– Use the +ve sign when FB<180°
– Use the –ve sign when FB> 180°
 Problems on Fore Bearing and Back Bearing

• Problem I The FBs of the following lines are given.

Find the BBs. (a) FB of AB = 310°30' (b) FB of BC =
145°15' (c) FB of CD = 210°30' (d) FB of DE = 60°45'
• Solution
• (a) BB of AB = 310°30' - 180°0' = 130°30'
• (b) BB of BC = 145°15' + 180°0' = 325°15'
• (c) BB of CD = 210°30' - 180°0' = 30°30'
• (d) BB of DE = 60°45' + 180°0' = 240°45'
 Magnetic Declination
• The horizontal angle between the magnetic
meridian and true meridian is known as
'magnetic declination'.
• When the north end of the magnetic needle is
pointed towards the west side of the true
meridian, the position is termed Declination
West (θW).
• When the north end of the magnetic needle is
pointed towards the east side of the true
meridian, the position is termed Declination
East (θE).
 Local Attraction
• A magnetic needle indicates the north direction when
freely suspended or pivoted. But if the needle comes
near some magnetic substances, such as iron ore,
steel structures, electric cables conveying current;
etc. it is found to be deflected from its true direction,
and does not show the actual north. This disturbing
influence of magnetic substances is known as 'local
attraction'.
• To detect the presence of local attraction, the fore
and back bearings of a line should be taken. If the
difference of the fore and back bearings of the line is
exactly 180° that 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 instrumental error.
 Instruments used in compass surveying

• Prismatic compass
• Chains
• Arrows
• Ranging rods
 Types of compass

• The Prismatic compass

• The surveyor’s compass
Prismatic Compass
PRISMATIC COMPASS
• Compass box
• Magnetic needle
• Graduated ring
• Sight vane and
prism
• Brake pin
 Prismatic compass
• This Prismatic Compass - purpose of measuring
magnetic bearings.
• The graduations - light aluminium ring
fastened to the needle, and the zero of the
graduations coincides with the south point of
the needle.
• The graduations remain stationary with the
needle, and the index turns with the sighting
vanes.
• Since the circle is read at the observer's (rather
than the target's) end, the graduations run
clockwise from the south end of the needle (0°
to 360°).
 Prismatic compass
• The prismatic attachment consists of a 45° reflecting
prism with the eye and reading faces made slightly convex
so as to magnify the image of the graduations.
• The prism - moves up and down between slides fixed on the
outside of the case.
• The purpose of this up‐and‐down movement is to provide
an adjustment for focusing.
• The image of the graduations is seen through a small
circular aperture in the prism mounting, and immediately
above this aperture is a small V cut on top of the
mounting, over which the vertical wire in the front vane
may be viewed.
• When the V cut, the vertical wire and the station whose
bearing is required are viewed in one line; the bearing is
directly read off the graduated arc at the point
immediately underneath the vertical wire.
 Surveyor compass
• The surveyor's compass is similar to the prismatic compass
except for the following points.
• (a) There is no prism on it. Readings are taken with the
naked eye.
• (b) It consists of an eye-vane (in place of prism) with a fine
sight slit.
• (c) The graduated aluminium ring is attached to the circular
box. It is not fixed to the magnetic needle.
• (d) The magnetic needle moves freely over the pivot. The
needle shows the reading on the graduated ring.
• (e) The ring is graduated from 0° to 90° in four quadrants. 0°
is marked at the north and south, and 90° at the east and
west. The letters E (east) and W (west) are interchanged
from their true positions. The figures are written the right
way up.
• (f) No mirror is attached to the object vane.
 Adjustments
• Two initial adjustments required before
starting the measurement of bearings are,
Centering and levelling
• Centering
• The approximate centre of the plot is
located and the compass is exactly
centered over the stations, say ‘O’ using a
plumb bob
• Leveling
• Making the compass needle horizontal by
adjusting the ball and socket joint
 Methods of Compass survey
• Radiation Method

• Intersection method
 Methods of Compass survey
• Radiation Method
– Suitable for locating objects from a single
station.
– Rays are drawn from the station to objects &
distance from statin to objects are measured
& plotted to any suitable scale.
• Intersection method
– Suitable for locating the inassessable points
by the intersection of rays drawn from the two
instruments
 Radiation Method
• First complete the initial adjustments
• Raise the sighting vane and prism of the compass
• Compass is rotated until ranging rod at first station A, hairline of
object vane and slit of the sighting vane are in same line
• Note down the bearing of OA in the field book
• In similar way the bearing of OB, OC, OD, & OE by rotating the
compass in the respective direction
• Measure the distance OA, OB, OC, OD, & OE.
• By knowing the observed bearing & distances to all stations from the
centre point O, the plan of the plot can be drawn by adopting
suitable scale.
• Joint the station points A, B, C, D & E which will indicate plan of plot
• From this area enclosed by plot may be calculated by splitting the
plan in to no of triangles.
 Intersection Method

• Similar to previous method

• Mark two points @ a distance of 10-15 m in such a way that all station around the
boundary can be seen.
• Name the points be P & Q
• Set the compass over the point P and complete the temp arrangements.
• Observe the bearing of all stations (A,B,C,D,E) in clockwise direction.
• Take the fore bearing of line PQ. Then shift the compass to oher station Q and
complete initial adjustments.
• Rotate compass to other station (A,B,C,D,E)
• Note down all the observed bearings clearly and base line distance.
• Plot the observed bearings taken at P and project the corresponding rays.
• Mark the point Q by taking suitable scale.
• Then draw rays from station Q to all the points.
• The intersection of ray PA & QA will give the location of station, A.
• Similarly locate other stations B, C, D, and E on the paper.
• Then the area can be divided into number of triangels and the area can be calculated
 Errors in Compass observations
The errors may be classified as
1. Instrumental errors
2. Personal errors
3. Errors due to external influence
 Errors in Compass observations
1. Instrumental errors
• Errors are due to the faulty adjustments of the
instruments.
• Reasons are:
• The needle not being perfectly straight.
• Pivot being bent, i.e. not at the centre of the
graduated circle
• Sluggish needle, i.e. the needle having lost its
magnetism
• Blunt pivot point
• Needle neither moving quite horizontally nor moving
freely on the pivot due to the dip of the needle
• Plane of sight not being vertical
• Line of sight not passing through the centre of
graduated ring
 2. Personal errors
• These errors are those which rise due to the
mistakes done by the surveyor.
• Inaccurate centering of the compass over the
station
• Inaccurate levelling of the compass box when
the instrument is set up
• Imperfect bisection of the ranging rods at
stations or other objects
• Carelessness in reading the needle or in reading
the graduated circle through the prism in a
• wrong direction
• Carelessness in recording the observed readings
 3. Natural Errors
• Variation in declination
• Local attraction
• Magnetic changes in the atm
• Irregular variations due to magnetic
storms etc