Elementary

Surveying
Lecture : 5

By
Engr. Rafia Firdous
Department of Civil Engineering

University of Management and Technology Lahore

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Compass Traversing

Introduction and Purpose

Chain survey can be used when the area to be surveyed
is small and fairly flat.
But when the area is large, undulating and crowded with
many details, triangulation (principle of chain survey) is
not possible. For such areas method of traversing is
adopted.

In traversing, the framework consist of a number of

connected lines. The lengths are measured by chain or
tape and the directions are measured by angle
measuring instruments. One of the angle measuring
instrument is Compass.
The process in which directions are determined with
compass and lengths are measured with chain or tape is
known as Compass Traversing.
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Meridian
Definition of meridian: Any reference direction to
observe the bearing of survey line is called meridian.
The bearing of a line is the horizontal angle which it
makes with the reference line (meridian).

True Meridian

A line or plane passing through the

geographical
north
and
geographical south pole and any
point on the surface of earth is
known as true meridian.
The true meridian is constant at a
station.

The true meridian passing through

different points on the earths
surface are not parallel but
converge toward the poles.
But for small survey areas they
are assumed to be parallel.
The angle between the true
meridian and a line is known as
true bearing of line or azimuth.

Magnetic Meridian

When a magnetic needle is suspended freely and balanced

properly, unaffected by magnetic substances, it indicates
a direction, known as Magnetic Meridian.

The angle between the magnetic meridian and a line is

known as the Magnetic bearing or simply bearing of the
line.

Arbitrary Meridian

Sometimes, for the survey of small area, a convenient

direction such as starting line of survey is assumed as
meridian, known as Arbitrary Meridian.

The angle between the arbitrary meridian and a line is

known as Arbitrary Bearing.

Grid Meridian

Sometimes state agencies carrying survey assumes several

lines parallel to true meridian for particular zone. These
lines are termed as Grid Lines and the central line is
known as Grid Meridian.

System of Magnetic Bearings

Magnetic bearings are designated by two systems:

1. Whole Circle Bearing (WCB)

2. Quadrantal Bearing (QB)

1. Whole Circle Bearing (WCB)

The magnetic bearing of a line measured clockwise from the north pole
towards the line is known as the whole circle bearing of the line.

Such bearing have value between 0 to 360.

WCB is obtained by Prismatic Compass.

2. Quadrantal Bearing (QB)

The magnetic bearing of a line measured clockwise or counter

clockwise from the north pole or south pole towards the east or west is
known as the quadrantal bearing of the line.

This system consists of four quadrants NE, SE, NW, SW.

Such bearing have value between 0 to 90. And the quadrant should be
mentioned.

QB is obtained by Surveyors Compass.

Reduced Bearing

When the whole circle bearing of a line is converted to

quadrantal bearing, it is termed as Reduced Bearing.

Hence the quadrantal bearing and reduce bearing are

same.

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Fore and Back Bearing

Every line have two bearings.

1. Fore Bearing

2. Back Bearing

The bearing observed along the progress of the survey line or forward
direction is called Fore Bearing.

The bearing observed reverse or opposite direction is called back

bearing.

Fore bearing and back bearing differ by 180.

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Magnetic Declination

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Principle of Compass Surveying

The principle of compass surveying is traversing.

Traversing involves series of connected lines. The

magnetic bearings (angles) of lines are measured by
Compass and the distances of the line are measured by
chain.

Interior details are located by taking offsets from the

main survey line. Sometimes subsidiary lines are also
taken.

Compass surveying is not recommended for areas where

local attraction is suspected due to presence of
magnetic substance like steel structures, iron ore
deposits, electric cables conveying currents etc.
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Traversing

Series of connected lines is known as traverse.

The sides of traverse are known as traverse leg.

There are two types of traverse Closed and Open.

1. Closed Traverse:

When the finishing point coincide with the start point.

Suitable for the survey of boundaries of ponds, forests, estate etc.

2. Open Traverse:

When start and end point are not same.

Suitable for survey of roads, rivers, coast lines etc.

Some of interior angles of traverse = (2n 4) x 90, n = number of sides

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Compass & Types of Compass

A compass is a small instrument essentially consisting of

magnetic needle, a graduated circle and a line of sight.

The compass can not measure angle between two lines

directly but can measure angle of a line with reference to
a magnetic meridian at the instrument station point,
called magnetic bearing of a line.

The angle between two lines is then calculated by getting

bearing of these two lines.

There are two types of compass available:

1. Prismatic Compass

2. Surveyors Compass
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1. Prismatic Compass

In this compass magnetic bearing

readings are taken with the help of a
prism.

It consists of circular metallic nonmagnetic compass box of diameter 8

10 cm, magnetic needle, graduated
ring, sight vane, prism, dark glasses,
brake pin, lifting pin, glass cover and
adjustable mirror.

The ring of compass is graduated from

0 to 360, and the graduation begins
from the south end of the needle.

The magnetic needle is made of broad

magnetized iron bar.

The magnetic needle is attached with

the aluminium ring.

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1. Surveyors Compass

Surveyors compass is similar to the prismatic compass

except that,

There is no prism in it, readings are

taken with naked eye.
In place of prism there is an eye
vane.
The graduated aluminium ring is
attached to the circular box. And is
not fixed to the magnetic needle.
The ring is graduated from 0 to 90
in four quadrants. 0 is marked on
the north and south and 90 is
marked on east and west.

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