04-02-2024

Numerical
Compass Surveying
CE - 206

Problem 1
In an old survey, the value of magnetic declination was 4o W
at the time it was made, and the magnetic bearing of a given
line was 210o. The declination in the same locality is 10o E
now. What are true and present magnetic bearing of the line.

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Solution 1
In an old survey, the value of magnetic declination was 4o W at the
time it was made, and the magnetic bearing of a given line was
210o. The declination in the same locality is 10o E now. What are
true and present magnetic bearing of the line.
Ans:
True bearing = Magnetic bearing ± Declination (+ive when eastward)
= 210o + (− 4o) = 206o (−ve sign as declination is westward)
Present magnetic bearing = True bearing – Declination
= 206o – 10o = 196o
True bearing = 206o , Present magnetic bearing = 196o

Problem 2
Convert the following
I) Whole circle bearings to reduced bearings
(a) 42o 58′
(b) 156o 12′
(c) 219o 47′
(d) 327o 34′

II) Convert the following reduced bearings to whole circle bearings

(a) N 68o 32′ E
(b) S 37o16′ E
(c) S 54o 32′ W
(d) N 39o 52′ W.

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Solution 2
Convert the following N
I) Whole circle bearings to reduced bearings
0 - 900
(a) 42o 58′ = N 42o 58′ E 270 - 3600
Nϴ0W Nϴ0E
(b) 156 12′ =
o S 33o 48′ E
(c) 219o 47′ = S 39o 47’
W E
(d) 327 34′ =
o N 32o 26′ W
900 - 1800
180 - 2700
II) Reduced bearings to whole circle bearings Sϴ0W Sϴ0E
(a) N 68o 32′ E = 68o 32′
(b) S 37o16′ E = 142o 44′
S
(c) S 54 32′ W
o = 234o 32′
(d) N 39o 52′ W. = 320o 08′

Conversion of Fore Bearing into Back

Bearing
BB = FB ± 1800
• In WCB use the positive sign when FB is less than 1800, and
the negative sign when it is more than 1800.
If FB < 1800 then BB = FB of line + 1800
If FB > 1800 then BB = FB of Line - 1800

• In the QCB (i.e. reduced bearing) system, the FB and BB are

numerically equal but the quadrants are just opposite.
• For example, if the FB of AB is N 300 E, then its BB is S 300 W.

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Problem 3
Find the Back Bearing of the following observed Fore Bearing
i) AB = 420 34’
ii) MN = 1630 46’
iii) UV = 2040 29’
iv) XY = 3370 52’

Solution 3
Find the Back Bearing of the following observed Fore Bearing
i) ABFB = 420 34’ ABBB = 2220 34’
ii) MNFB = 1630 46’ MNBB = 3430 46’
iii) UVFB = 2040 29’ UVBB = 240 29’
iv) XYFB = 3370 52’ XYBB = 1570 52’

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Calculation of Included Angles

Included Angle = Bearing of line OA - Bearing of line OB
Included Angle = FB from Station O - BB from Station O

• When bearing of two lines as measured from point of

intersection of lines, i.e. from O, and lines OA and OB are
given, subtract smaller from greater.
• The difference will be the interior angle if it is less than 180o
and the exterior angle if it is more.

• Interior angle will then be (360o – exterior angle)

Problem 4
Find the angle between the following cases
i) 37º 10′ and 316o 28′
ii) 16o 34′ and 139º 43′
iii) FB of AB = 108o 24′, FB of BC = 210o 18′
iv) FB of AB = 196o 37′, FB of BC = 263o 19′

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Solution 4
Find the angle between the following cases
i) 37º 10′ and 316o 28′ = 800 42’
ii) 16o 34′ and 139º 43′ = 1230 09’
iii) FB of AB = 108o 24′, FB of BC = 210o 18′ = 780 06’
iv) FB of AB = 196o 37′, FB of BC = 263o 19′ = 1130 18’

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Compass Surveying
Method of application of correction
First Method
• The interior angles of a traverse are calculated from the
observed bearings. Then an angular check is applied. The sum of
the interior angles should be equal to (2n – 4) x 900 (n being the
number of sides of the traverse). If it is not so, the total error is
equally distributed among all the angles of the traverse.
• Then, starting from the unaffected line, the bearings of all the
lines may be corrected by using the corrected interior angles.
This method is very laborious and is not generally employed.

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Compass Surveying
Method of application of correction
Second Method
• In this method, the interior angles are not calculated. From
the given table, the unaffected line is first detected. Then,
commencing from the unaffected line, the bearings of the
other affected lines are corrected by finding the amount of
correction at each station.
• This is an easy method, and one which is generally
employed.

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Compass Surveying
Method of application of correction
Second Method
• Note: If all the lines of a traverse are found to be affected by
local attraction, the line with minimum error is identified.
The FB and BB of this line are adjusted by distributing the
error equally. Then, starting from this adjusted line, the fore
and back bearing of other lines are corrected.

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Problem 5
Measurements of bearings, while running a traverse ABCDE are
recorded in the table given below.

It is suspected that reading at some survey stations was affected

by local attractions. Locate the stations affected by local
attractions and find the corrected bearing of the lines.

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Solution 5
The first step is to obtain the difference between FB and BB of
every line and obtain its deviation from 180o

It is thus found that line DE has a perfect difference of 180o

between fore bearing and back bearing. It can be concluded
that stations D and E are free from local attraction.

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Solution 5
The result can be tabulated as follows:

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Solution 5
• Observed fore bearing EA and back bearing CD, are assumed to be correct.
• Since deviation at A is +2o 30′. The needle is deflecting to an amount of 2o 30′
from true north towards east.
• Correction to all readings of bearing taken at station A, therefore, shall be +
2o 30′, i.e. fore bearing of AB at A is corrected to 191o 45′ + 2o 30′ = 194o 15′
and the back bearing of line EA at A = 147o 45′ + 2o 30′ = 150o 15′.
• The corrected back bearing of line AB would be = Corrected FB of AB at A –
180o = 194o 15′ – 180o = 14o 15′.
• However, the observed back bearing of line AB at station B is 13o.
• This indicates that station B is also affected by the local attraction needle
deflecting eastwards by an amount of 1o 15′ from true north. (14o 5′ – 13o = +
1o 15′)
• Bearings at B are required to be corrected by + 1o 15′.
• Hence the fore bearing of BC as corrected would be 39o 30′ + 1o 15′ = 40o 45′.

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Solution 5
• The corrected back bearing of BC at C would be 40o 45′ +180o = 220o
45′.
• The observed back bearing of line BC at C is however 222o 30′.
• This concludes that needle at C is deflected (220o 45′ – 222o 30′) = – 1o
45′ from true north.
• Negative sign indicating deflection towards the west.
• The corrected fore bearing of line CD would be 22o 15′ – 1o 45′ = 20o 30′
• Corrected back bearing at CD at station D would be 20o 30 ′ + 180o =
200o 30′.
• The observed back bearing of DC at D = 200o 30′ giving a zero deviation
at D indicating station D is free from local attraction.
• Similarly, station E will also be free from local attractions.

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Problem 6
During the compass survey a traverse ABCDE was run. The
bearings as measured are recorded in table given below.
Compute the interior angle of traverse. Also calculate closing
error if any.

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Solution 6
a) Back bearing of AB = 286o 19′
Fore bearing of BC = 27o 06′
Included angle ABC = 286o 19′ – 27o 06′ = 259o 13′ > 180o
Exterior angle.
∠ B = 360o – 259o 13′ = 1000 47′ Interior angle.

b) Back bearing of BC = 207o 06′

Fore bearing of CD = 279o 42′
Included angle = Difference of bearings;
∠ C = 72o 36′ < 180o Interior angle.

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Solution 6
c) Back bearing of CD = 99o 42′
Fore bearing of DE = 193o 17′
Included angle = Difference of bearing;
∠ D = 93o 35′ < 180o Interior angle.

d) Back bearing of DE = 13o 17′

Fore bearing of EA = 126o 32′
Included angle = Difference of bearings;
∠ E = 113o 36′ < 180o Interior angle.

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Solution 6
e) Back bearing of EA = 306o 32′
Fore bearing of DE = 106o 19′
Included angle = Difference of bearing;
∠ A = 200o 13′ > 180o Exterior angle.
= 360o – 200o 13 ′ = 159o 47′ (Interior angle)

Check Σ ∠ = ∠ A +∠ B +∠ C + ∠ D + ∠ E
= 159o 47′ + 100o 47′ + 72o 36′ + 93o 35′ + 113o 15′ = 540o
= (2N – 4) × 90o = (10 – 4) × 90 = 540o
∴ There is no closing error in the traverse.

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Problem 7
Determine the correct bearing of lines of a closed traverse
PQRSTP. The readings are as follows
Line Fore Bearing Back Bearing

PQ 1950 30’ 170 0’

QR 73-30 250-30’

RS 36-15’ 214-30’

ST 266-45’ 84-45’

TP 234-15’ 57-0’

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Solution 7
Determine the correct bearing of lines of a closed traverse
PQRSTP. The readings are as follows

Line Fore Bearing Back Bearing | FB – BB | |1800 – C4|

PQ 1950 30’ 170 0’ 178-30’ 1-30’

QR 73-30 250-30’ 177 30

RS 36-15’ 214-30’ 178-15’ 1-45’

ST 266-45’ 84-45’ 182-0’ 20

TP 234-15’ 57-0’ 177-15’ 2-45’

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Solution 7
Determine the correct bearing of lines of a closed traverse
PQRSTP. The readings are as follows

Station Fore Direction Back Direction | FB – BB |

P 1950 30’ 570 <P = 138-30’

Q 73-30 170 0’ <Q = 56-30’

R 36-15’ 250-30’ <R = 214-15’

S 266-45’ 214-30’ <S = 52-15’

T 234-15’ 84-45’ <T = 149-30’

Total 5420 30’

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Solution 7

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Solution 7

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Thank you!

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