FIELDWORK REPORT

Title of Fieldwork: Traverse Survey

Table of Contents

Title

Theory

Objectives

Apparatus

Procedure

Result

Calculation

Discussion

Conclusion

Appendix

Reference

Title

Traverse Survey
Theory

Traverse survey is a method in the field of surveying to establish control network. [1] It
consist of a series of points which angles and distance are measured. There is a few
type of traverse survey, including the open traverse, closed traverse and compound
traverse. The closed traverse is choose in this survey. The closed traverse is a series of
linked traverse lines where the last line will go back to the first point. The last line
will go back to the first point in the actual survey but the total sum of the northing and
the easting will not reach an absolute zero as there are some avoidable errors in every
surveying. To solve this, the adjustments are carried out for the northing and easting
of each line after the survey is done.
Objectives

To make a traverse survey, reduce the field data and plot the result graphically.
Apparatus

A theodolite, any object around the field as the marking point, a Compass, and a
Measuring tape.
Procedure

1. 5 points are chosen.

2. A theodolite is set up on the first point.
3. The bubbles on the theodolite are centralized and the theodolite is made sure
to be exactly on the point.
4. An angle is measured by facing the theodolite north by using a compass and it
is rotated clockwise till the next point, the angle is taken.
5. The distance between the points which the theodolite is on it and the next
points is measured, the reading is taken.
6. The theodolite is moved to a next point.
7. Steps 2 to 5 are repeated on other points respectively.
8. Reading are tabulated and values are adjusted accordingly.

Results

Table 1 : Distance and whole circle bearing of traverse line.

Line
AB
BC
CD
DE
EA

Distance (m)
14.92
18.55
17.99
18.8
16.12
Total = 86.38

WCB ()
2171327
2870055
70129
804751
1590608

Table 2 : Linear closure of closed loop traverse.

Line
AB
BC
CD
DE
EA
Total

Original
Northing
Easting
-11.88
-9.026
5.428
-17.738
17.855
202
3.007
18.558
-15.06
5.75
-0.65
-0.256

Adjustment
Northing
Easting
0.112
0.044
0.14
0.055
0.135
0.053
0.141
0.056
0.122
0.048
0.65
0.256

Corrected
Northing
Easting
-11.768
-8.982
5.568
-17.683
17.990
2.253
3.148
18.614
-14.938
5.798
0
0

Table 3: Coordinates of points

Point
A
Corrected Northing and Easting
B
Corrected Northing and Easting
C
Corrected Northing and Easting
D
Corrected Northing and Easting
E
Corrected Northing and Easting
A

North

East
0
-11.768
-11.768
5.568
-6.200
17.990
11.790
3.148
14.938
-14.938
0

0
-8.982
-8.982
-17.683
-26.665
2.253
-24.412
18.614
-5.798
5.798
0

By letting the coordinate of A to be (0,0),adding the corrected northing and easting of

the line AB will find the coordinate of B. These steps are repeated for other points
respectively and other coordinates are found. The last calculations for point A had
proved that the corrected northing and easting is correct by making sure that the
easting and northing of point A are both zero.
Calculation

Northing distance

Easting distance

Adjustment

Coordinates

Discussions

Fieldwork is conducted around a circle walk path which is suitable for a

closed traverse survey. A closed traverse survey is started with known point and ended
at the first point, the points which have been chosen are shown at the Figure 1.
The fieldwork is conducted within 1hour and a half, each line and angle
measured need at least 15 minutes. 5 points on the floor are marked with a temporary
bench mark which is a small stone and a circle is drawn around the stone using a
pencil as back up for the stone may be moved by other sources.
After the fieldwork is conducted, the total values of departures and latitudes are not an
absolute zero due to human error, random error and etc.
The angles measured will have random errors as the markings which are the
stones have big areas and none symmetrical shapes which the centre is not accurately
shown. The measurements taken may have some error as the instruments used are not
checked whether it is in good conditions. Fieldwork done under a hot weather may
increase the chances for blunder error to occur as humans often get fatigue and hasten
to finish the fieldwork under such weathers.
The random error cannot be eliminated but can minimized using better
instruments and equipment, and making repeated measurement. For the blunder error,
students must concentrate and be careful while conducting the fieldwork and always
refer and double check with the provided procedure.
Besides, closed traverse survey should have started with the same coordinates
and end with the same coordinates, thus, corrections are applied to all departures and
latitudes according to the Bowditchs Rule to obtain the nearest perfect value. The
coordinates calculations are done as well to ensure that the northing/latitudes and the
departures/easting are corrected correctly.

Conclusions :
The final is that the closing point and the first point became the same after the
adjustment and we can conclude that the fieldwork is successful. In addition, we are
appreciate to have the fieldwork as it benefit the students a lot and give a chance to
student to have their outdoor lesson. After the fieldwork, students became familiar
with the apparatus such as the telescope and procedures as well as the techniques
necessary for the closed traverses survey. Besides that, this fieldwork open a chance
for students to meet the error and some technical problems that they may meet in their
future fieldwork and this gave them ability to get through these problems more easily
in that time.

Appendix

Figure 1 : Plan view of traverse points.

Figure 2 : Points Coordinates

6

References

[1] B.C. Punmia, Ashock Kumar Jain (2005). Surveying. Firewall Media. ISBN 817008-853-4.