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INTRODUCTION
Compass Surveying

CHAPTER 3 :
COMPASS SURVEYING
Department of Surveying Science and Geomatics,
Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying,
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Seri Iskandar, Perak

Compass is a navigational instrument for determining direction

relative to the Earth's magnetic poles.
It consists of a magnetized pointer (usually marked on the
North end) free to align itself with Earth's magnetic field.
Determine the object position by angular measurement.
Angle can be classified into two:
Horizontal
Vertical
Unit of angle:
Degree() Minute() Second()

SURVEYOR COMPASS

Prismatic Compass

Vertical clamp

Focuss
Telescope
Compass needle
Compass reading
Bubble

SURVEYOR COMPASS

Surveyor Compass
Vertical clamp

Vertical angle reading

Telescope

Focus
Vertical tilt screw

Telescope
Vertical angle reading

Compass needle
Bearing reading

Zero clamp

Vertical slow
motion screw

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TRAVERSE
Surveyor Compass
Definition of Traverse
Vertical angle reading
Telescope
Focus

Traverse consists of line related by horizontal angle

(bearing) and lengths (distance).
The length are measured by chain or any suitable methods.
The direction of lines are obtained by measurement of
angle or bearings using theodolite or prismatic compass.

Bubble

Needle clamp
Bearing clamp

Types of Traverse

Types of Traverse

Closed Traverse

Close Traverse

Traverse which complete cycle is made.

Begins and ends on the same point or begin with known
point and ending to another known point.
Can checked and adjusted

1 coordinates
X= 1000m
Y= 1000m

N coordinates
X= 1400m
Y= 900m

Open Traverse

Cannot checked and adjusted

Useful when the survey is a long narrow strip

2
A coordinates
X= 1000m
Y= 1000m

4
D

Station 1 and n is known point (coordinate)

BEARING

Types of Traverse

Angle measured in clockwise direction between

survey lines with the north direction. The
following are types of bearing:

Open Traverse
1
coordinates
X= 1000m
Y= 1000m

2
4
Station 1 is known point (coordinate)
and station n is unknown point.

1. True Bearing
2. Magnetic Bearing
3. Grid Bearing
4. Whole Circle Bearing
5. Quadrantal Bearing
6. Forward/Backward Bearing

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1. True Bearing

2. Magnetic Bearing

Angle between the true north to the direction of

the direction of the line (A).

Angle between the direction of the magnetic north

showed by magnetic needle and the direction of the line
North Pole

North Pole
Magnetic
North Pole

Meridian Magnet

True Bearing

Magnetic South
Pole
South Pole
* Sudut akan berubah
dari masa ke semasa

South Pole
X

4. Whole Circle Bearing

3. Grid Bearing

Angle from any north direction to the surveyed line.

Whole circle bearing (WCB) is the measurement line where the
direction of the measurement is clockwise.
WCB range is 0 - 360 from north direction.

The grid whole circle bearing of any survey lines is the

clockwise angle between grid north line and the survey line.

GB

5. Quadrantal Bearing
Angle form any line which it makes with the northsouth axis.

0
T

N
S

Quadrantal bearing is N 0 E
NW

NE

Quadrantal bearing is S (1800- 0) E

U
U

E
SW

SE

0
T

S
S

Quadrantal bearing is S (0- 1800) W

Quadrantal bearing is N (3600- 0) W

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Whole circle bearing to quadrant bearing

LINE

WCB

RULE FOR
QB

QUADRANT

AX

0 AND 90

QB=WCB

NE

AY

90 AND 180

QB=
180 - WCB

SE

Quadrant bearing to whole circle bearing

180 AND 270

QB=WCB-180

SW

AW

270 AND 360

QB=
360 - WCB

NW

LINE

WHOLE CIRCLE BEARING TO QUADRANT BEARING

940000
1232000
1753200
1994650
2421223
2552833
2883413
3114322
111213
564456

U
S 860000 E
S 564000 E
Whole circle
bearing

S 42800 E
S 194650 W
S 621223 W
S 752833 W

N 712547 W
N 481638 W

Quadrant
bearing

N 111213 E
N 564456 E

QB

AZ

RULE FOR
QB

Y
WCB BETWEEN

AX

NE

WCB = QB

0 AND 90

AY

SE

WCB=180 - QB

90 AND 180

AZ

SW

WCB=180 + QB

180 AND 270

AW

NW

WCB=360 - QB

270 AND 360

QUADRANT BEARING TO WHOLE CIRCLE BEARING

N 840000 E
N 232000 E
S 753200 E
S 354650 E
S 421223 W
S 552833 W
N 883413 W
N 114322 W
S 111213 W
N 564456 E

840000

232000
Whole circle
bearing

1042800
1374737
2221223
2352833

2712547
3481638

Quadrant
bearing

1911213
564456

QUADRANT BEARING TO WHOLE CIRCLE BEARING

WHOLE CIRCLE BEARING TO QUADRANT BEARING

950000
1254000
1795100
2004650
2521223
2692833
2983413
3224322
091213
584456

U
??
??
Whole circle
bearing

??
??
??
??
??

??
Quadrant
bearing

??
??

N 800000 E
N 302000 E
S 803200 E
S 454650 E
S 461223 W
S 682833 W
N 893413 W
N 184322 W
S 241213 W
N 664456 E

??

??
Whole circle
bearing

??
??
??
??
??

??
Quadrant
bearing

??
??

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6. Forward/ Backward

6. Forward/ Backward

Angle from any meridian to the surveyed line.

Exterior angle from bearing

880

AB line =
(Forward Bearing)

268
88
B

BA line = 2680
(Back Bearing)

150 10 20

3
Find back bearing (2-1)
Back bearing (2-1) Forward bearing (2-3)
Interior angle (at 2 ) = 119 49 40
Exterior angle = 360 00 00 - 119 49 40
240 10 20

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

BA line = 1800 + 880

If the survey line is in clockwise then AB is

forward bearing and BA is backward bearing.

6. Forward/ Backward

6. Forward/ Backward

Forward bearing from interior angle

1

90 00 00

90 00 00

Interior angle from bearing

1

90 00 00

110 20 20
150 10 20

3
1. Find back bearing (2-1)
2. Back bearing (2-1) Interior angle
3. Forward bearing (2-3 ) = 159 39 40

3
1. Find back bearing (2-1)
2. Back bearing (2-1) Forward bearing (2-3)
3. Interior angle (at 2 ) = 119 49 40

TYPES OF ANGLE
1.
2.
3.
4.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ANGLE

INTERIOR
EXTERIOR
DEFLECTION
ANGLE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT

Angle

Internal
Angle

EAB

98o

ABC

150o

BCD

65o

CDE

121o

DEA

106o

98

External
Angle

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FIELDWORK PROCEDURES

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ANGLE

C

Angle

Internal
Angle

External
Angle

EAB

98o

262o

ABC

150o

210o

D
BCD

98o

65

295o

CDE

121

239o

DEA

106o

254o

1. Reconnaissance Survey
2. Station selection
3. Station marking (Pegging)
4. Observation and measurement
5. Booking and Calculation
6. Plotting

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
3. Station Marking (Pegging)

1. Reconnaissance Survey
Prior to a compass survey is required to provide suitable
station positions.
2. Station Selection
Station should be kept away from metal post or fence,
electrical substation or other sources of local magnetism.
Short traverse legs need not be avoided because any errors
will not be carried forward with compass observation.
Stable ground at stations is not so important with light or
hand held equipment of low order accuracy.

The station can be marked when the station criteria had

been fulfilled.
The common station marking are wood pegs and nails. The
selection of the station marking depend on the site
condition.
The survey works on the road, the suitable marking is nails.
If the survey works in the forest or construction site, the
wood peg is the best used as station marking. For
permanent marking, the station can be in concrete.

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
4. Observation and Measurement
Measurement taken in compass surveying are:
Linear measurement
Bearing measurement
In compass traversing every bearing may be observed
directly from the magnetic meridian established at each
station by the floating needle.

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
4. Observation and Measurement
STN 2
STN 1

compass
STN 3

STN 4
Stn marked by pegs or nails

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FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
4. Observation and Measurement

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
4. Observation and Measurement

STN 2
STN 1

STN 2
STN 1

STN 3

STN 3

STN 4

STN 4
Station marked by pegs or nails

Stn marked by pegs or nails

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
4. Observation and Measurement

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
4. Observation and Measurement

STN 2
STN 1

STN 2
STN 1

Clockwise

STN 3

STN 4

STN 4
Stn marked by pegs or nails

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
5. Booking and Calculation

STN 3

Stn marked by pegs or nails

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
5. Booking and Calculation (example)

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FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
5. Booking and Calculation (example)

After reducing the field observations, the traverse is

plotted using a scale and circular protractor.

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
6. Plotting

University
Technology
MARA

The Advantages Of Compass Surveying

The equipment is light and easy to carry.
Observations can be made quickly.
Each bearing taken is independent of previous
observations so errors do not accumulate.

N 1000
E 1000

Diploma in
Building

The Disadvantages Of Compass

Surveying

Area m

Grouping

FIELDWORK PROCEDURES
6. Plotting

N 500
E 1500

Readings can be very inaccurate. Precautions have

always to be taken against the effect of local
magnetic attraction.

Sources of Error In Compass

Surveying
Inaccurate centering of the compass.
Inaccurate bisection of the target.
Parallax not eliminated.
Improper focusing of telescope.
Observation are done near to metal post.