TRAVERSE

COMPUTATIONS
Presented by:
Gumahin, Khristine Jean J.
Delos Reyes, Jeffrey
Cañete, Jhon Harley
Buhawe, Aldren
Abecia, Jo-an
 Introductio
n:
• Measured angles or directions of closed traverses are readily
investigated before leaving the field. Linear measurements,
even though repeated, are more likely a source of error and
must also be checked.
• Investigation of precision and acceptance or rejection of the
field data are extremely important in surveying. Adjustment
for geometric closure is also crucial.
• The usual steps followed in making elementary traverse
computations are (1) adjusting angles or directions to fixed
geometric conditions, (2) determining preliminary azimuths
(or bearings) of the traverse lines, (3) calculating departures
and latitudes and adjusting them for misclosure, (4)
computing rectangular coordinates of the traverse stations,
and (5) calculating the lengths and azimuths (or bearings) of
 10.2 BALANCING ANGLES  10.3 COMPUTATION OF
• In elementary methods of traverse PRELIMINARY AZIMUTHS
adjustment, the first step is to
balance (adjust) the angles to the OR BEARINGS
proper geometric total. For closed
• After balancing the angles, the next
traverses, angle balancing is done
readily since the total error is known, step is calculating preliminary
although its exact distribution is not. azimuths or bearings. This requires
at least one course direction to be
• Angles of a closed traverse can be
known or assumed. True directions
adjusted to the correct geometric
can be determined using a previously
total by (1) applying an average
correction to each angle when established line, a known station, or
observing conditions were astronomical and GNSS surveys.
approximately the same at all stations • If a line of known direction exists,
or (2) making larger corrections to preliminary azimuths or bearings are
angles where poor observing computed using adjusted angles to
conditions were present.
avoid angular misclosure. These
values are "preliminary" as they will
change after traverse adjustment.
  10.4 DEPARTURE &  10.5 DEPARTURE AND LATITUDE
LATITUDES CLOSURE CONDITIONS
• After balancing the angles and calculating • In a closed-polygon traverse, the algebraic
preliminary azimuths or bearings, traverse closure is sum of all departures and latitudes should
checked by computing the departure and latitude of
each line. Departure is its orthographic projection
equal zero, while in a closed link-type
on the east-west axis, equal to the course length traverse, the sum of departures should
multiplied by the sine of its azimuth, and is match the total difference in departure (ΔX)
sometimes called "eastings or westings". and the sum of latitudes should match the
• Latitude is the projection on the north-south axis, total difference in latitude (ΔY). The
equal to the course length multiplied by the cosine differences that prevent these conditions
of its azimuth, and is also called "northing or
from being met are called departure
southing". Departures and latitudes represent
changes in X and Y components, with east misclosure and latitude misclosure.
departures and north latitudes as positive, and west • The magnitudes of departure misclosure and
departures and south latitudes as negative. Using
latitude misclosure provide an indication of
azimuths simplifies computations since computers
and calculators automatically apply the correct precision in the observed angles and
algebraic signs. distances. Large misclosures suggest
significant errors, while small misclosures
indicate precise data but do not guarantee
the absence of systematic or compensating
errors.
  10.6 TRAVERSE LINEAR MISCLOSURE
AND RELATIVE PRECISION
• Because of errors in the observed traverse angles and distances, if one were
to begin at point A of a closed-polygon traverse and progressively follow each
course for its observed distance along its preliminary bearing or azimuth, one
would finally return not to point A but to some other nearby point A'. Point A'
would be removed from A in an east-west direction by the departure
misclosure, and in a north-south direction by the latitude misclosure. The
distance between A and A' is termed the linear misclosure of the traverse and
is calculated as:

• The relative precision of a traverse is expressed as:

relative preciion = linear misclosure ÷ traverse lenth

• This fraction is then converted to reciprocal form, with the denominator

rounded to match the numerator’s significant figures.
  10.7 TRAVERSE ADJUSTMENT  10. 8 RECTANGULAR COORDINATES
• Traverse Adjustment: For any closed traverse, the • Rectangular X and Y coordinates define a
linear misclosure must be adjusted to "close" or
point’s position relative to perpendicular
"balance" the figure. The most commonly used
method is the compass rule (Bowditch method), reference axes. The X coordinate is the
while the least-squares method is a more perpendicular distance from the point to
advanced technique. the Y axis, and the Y coordinate is the
• Compass (Bowditch) Rule: This method perpendicular distance to the X axis. In
surveying, the Y axis runs north-south, and
adjusts departures and latitudes in
the X axis runs east-west. The state plane
proportion to their lengths. Although not
coordinate system, a grid-based system
as rigorous as the least-squares method, it
developed for the United States, provides
provides a logical distribution of
accurate location referencing by dividing
misclosures. The corrections have
states into zones with specific projections
algebraic signs opposite to those of the to minimize distortions. However, any
misclosures. arbitrary system may also be applied.
• Least-Squares Method: Based on the • In a closed traverse, assigning Y = 0.00 to
theory of probability, this method adjusts the most southerly point and X = 0.00 to
angles and distances simultaneously, the most westerly station simplifies
unlike the compass rule. It provides the calculations. The X coordinate is found by
most precise adjustment and allows adding the adjusted departure, and the Y
observations of varying precision to be coordinate by adding the adjusted latitude
weighted appropriately in calculations. to the previous coordinates.
  10.9 Alternative Methods for Traverse
Computations
Alternative Methods for Traverse Computations involve
adjusting azimuths or bearings instead of angles and
applying compass rule corrections directly to coordinates.
These methods provide variations to the standard
procedures discussed earlier.

 Balancing Angles by Adjusting  Balancing Departures and Latitudes

Azimuths or Bearings: by Adjusting Coordinates starts
with known coordinates:
calculates unadjusted azimuths or
bearings from observed angles, then adding unadjusted departures and
adjusts them for geometric closure. This latitudes to find preliminary
method applies to both closed-polygon coordinates. The differences between
traverses and closed-link traverses, preliminary and known coordinates at
ensuring proper preliminary values for the starting or closing station represent
computing departures and latitudes. departure and latitude misclosures,
which are corrected using the compass
rule to obtain adjusted coordinates.
  10. 10 INVERSING
refers to the process of determining the length,
azimuth, or bearing of a line when the coordinates of
its endpoints or its departure and latitude are known.
If the departure and latitude of a By substituting these
line AB are known, its length and
azimuth or bearing can be into the previous
determined using these equations, the formulas
relationships: become:

Departures and latitudes can also

be expressed in terms of
coordinate differences ΔX and ΔY:
• departure AB = XB - XA =ΔX
• latitude AB = YB - YA = ΔY
 10.11 COMPUTING FINAL ADJUSTED  10.12 Coordinate
TRAVERSE LENGTHS AND
Computations in Boundary
Survey
DIRECTIONS
• Computation of a bearing from the
• In traverse adjustments, corrections known coordinates of two points on a
are applied to computed departures line is commonly done in boundary
and latitudes to obtain adjusted surveys. If the lengths and directions
values, which are then used to of lines from traverse points to the
calculate X and Y coordinates of corners of a field are known, the
traverse stations. Since departures coordinates of the corners can be
and latitudes change in the determined, and the lengths and
adjustment process, line lengths and bearings of all sides calculated.
azimuths (or bearings) also change.
• By using Equations (10.11) and
• Ex: If the purpose of the traverse is (10.12), lengths and bearings of lines
to describe the boundaries of a AP and QD can also be determined.
parcel of land, the final adjusted Extreme caution must be used when
lengths and directions are used in employing this procedure, since no
the recorded deed. Final values for checks are obtained on the length
traverse lengths and directions can and azimuth measurements of lines
be computed based on adjusted BP and CQ, nor are there any
departures and latitudes or on final computational checks on the
coordinates. calculated lengths and bearings.
  10.13 USES OF OPEN TRAVERSES
• Open traverses should be used with reluctance,
but they can help compute the length and
direction of a "closing line." In Figure 10.5, a new
construction line AE must be laid out, but dense
forest blocks visibility between A and E. Instead of
running a direct line, which is difficult due to tree
density, an open traverse ABCDE can be used
along cleared roads, with an assumed azimuth for
line UA and assigned coordinates for A.
• By using observed lengths and angles, departures,
latitudes, and coordinates, the length and
azimuth of closing line AE can be calculated, along
with the deflection angle α needed to reach E
from A. Since open traverses lack built-in checks,
extreme caution is necessary, and procedures like
closing the horizon and verifying lengths from
both ends should be used to minimize errors.
10.14 STATE PLANE 10.15 TRAVERSE
COORDINATE SYSTEM COMPUTATIONS USING
• The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) COMPUTERS
developed statewide coordinate • Computers are widely used in
systems for each state in the United surveying for traverse computations,
States, ensuring an accuracy of 1 part in with handheld units, data collectors,
10,000 or better while fitting curved and personal computers helping
geodetic distances to plane grid verify data and adjust traverses.
lengths. If reduction of observations is Various software, including
properly performed, no accuracy will WOLFPACK, Excel® file C10.xls, and
be lost in the survey. Mathcad® worksheet TRAV.XMCD,
• State plane coordinates are tied to assist in computing departures,
geodetic latitude and longitude, latitudes, misclosures, and traverse
allowing NGS control stations and adjustments.
others to be part of the system. • Surveying and engineering firms use
Monumented control stations help programming languages like Fortran,
restore obliterated or destroyed marks. Pascal, BASIC, and C. Computers also
Another widely used system is the support computer-aided drafting
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). (CAD) and geographic information
system (GIS) software for mapping
and contour drawing.
 10.16 LOCATING BLUNDERS IN TRAVERSE
OBSERVATIONS
• A numerical or graphic analysis can often
be used to determine the location of a
mistake, saving considerable field time. If
the sum of the interior angles of a traverse
is incorrect, an error has likely occurred.
Figure 10.6 presents a data file and output
file of traverse computations using
WOLFPACK, showing angle summaries,
azimuths, distances, departures, latitudes,
and coordinate calculations.
• Figure 10.7 illustrates methods for
locating errors graphically. In Figure
10.7(a), a blunder in distance shifts the
computational path, making the azimuth
of the misclosure line closely match the
azimuth of the mistaken course. In Figure
10.7(b), an angular mistake rotates the
computational path, with the
perpendicular bisector of the misclosure
line pointing near the station where the
error occurred.
  10.17 MISTAKES IN TRAVERSE COMPUTATIONS
Some of the more common mistakes made in traverse
computations are:
1. Failing to adjust the angles before computing
azimuths or bearings
2. Applying angle adjustments in the wrong direction
and failing to check the angle sum for proper
geometric total
3. Interchanging departures and latitudes or their signs
4. Confusing the signs of coordinates
 CONCLUSION:
• Traverse computations are important for ensuring
accurate surveying, helping determine precise
locations, boundaries, and measurements while
minimizing errors.
• They also aid in detecting and correcting mistakes
in angles, distances, and coordinates, improving the
reliability and accuracy of survey data.
SALAMATSSSSS!!
!!!!🫰