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) Closed traverse
B
C

Az mk1

610.4

5m

720.4
8m

285

.10
m

64
7.0

2m
203m

(b)
D

E
A
F
Az mk2
b) Closed traverse
N
Az mk1
B
D
N
C
E
A

Control Pt
Traverse Pt

D E

B
N A

C
(c) Closed traverse

E
B

A
AM1

AM 2

D
C
Control point

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.
.

)(

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(
. )



(
. )

.

.

)(b
D

) Closed traverse
B
C

Az mk1

E
A
F
Az mk2
b) Closed traverse
N
Az mk1
B
D
C
E
A

Control Pt
Traverse Pt

B
C

N A

(c) Open traverse

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Radial traversing with 1 point

D
O

F
Radial traversing with 2 points

E
X

C
Interior
angles

E
To the
right

Interior

B
B

angles

E
A

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To the
left

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6.9 Traverse Computations

The usual procedures followed in traverse computations are:
1) Adjusting (balancing) measured angles to fixed geometric conditions.
2) Computing azimuths (or bearings) for each traverse side.
3) Computing departure and latitude then adjusting them for misclosure.
4) Computing rectangular coordinates of traverse stations (corners).
C

720. 48
m

28

5 .1
0m

B
Example 6-3
N
61 0.45
m
A clockwise polygon traverse ABCDEA is made to
determine the interior angles, lengths, and directions
o
'
A
of all traverse sides. Interior angles are: A=100 44.5 ,
64
7. 0
B=101o 35.0', C=089o 05.5' , D=017o 12.0', and E=
2m
231o 24.5'. Azimuth of AB=26o 10.0' Lengths of all
E
sides are given in the figure.
figure A(1000.00,1000.00).
A(1000 00 1000 00)
D
Do complete traverse computations.
Solution
The rest of this lecture is the complete adjustment of this traverse.
2003m

6.9.1 Balancing Measured Angles

(Interior angles) = A+B+C+D+E= 540o 1.5

Table (1)
Balancing interior angles
Interior Measured Balanced
angle
angles
angles
Angle misclosure EC =540 1.5 - 180 (5-2)
A
100o 44.5' 100o 44.2'
EC =540o 1.5 - 540o =+1.5
o
'
B
101 35.0 101o 34.7'
Correction per angle = -1.5/5 = -0.3
C
089o 05.5' 089o 05.2'
Add -0.3 to each interior angle.
o
Check: (Adjusted interior angles)=540 0.0. D 017o 12.0' 017o 11.7'
See table (1) for listing of adjusted angles.
E
231o 24.5' 231o 24.2'
SUM 540o 01.5' 540o 00.0'
6.9.2 Computing Azimuth Angles
o

Azimuth of one side must be given.

given ( AzAB = 26o 10.0
10 0' ).
)
Table (2)
For a clockwise polygon traverse:
Azimuth
Azimuth (Az) of a side = back azimuth (BAz) of the
computations
previous side - the interior angle between the two sides.
Side
Azimuth
AzAB = 26o 10.0'
=026o 10.0'
AB 026o 10.0'
AzBC = BAzAB - B = (AzAB + 180o) - B
=104o 35.3'
o
BC
104
35.3'
AzCD = BAzBC - C = (AzBC + 180o) - C
=195o 30.1'
CD 195o 30.1'
AzDE = BAzCD - D = (AzCD - 180o) - D
=-001o 41.6'
o
DE
358
18.4'
(add 360o) =358o 18.4'
EA 306o 54.2'
=-053o 05.8'
AzEA = BAzDE - E = (AzDE - 180o) - E
o
AB 026 10.0'
(add 360o)
=306o 54.2'
Check the computations by recalculating Az AB as:
AzAB = BAzEA - A = (AzEA - 180o) - A
=26o 10.0' O.K. (See Table (2))

Latitude Y

6.9.3 Computing Departures and Latitudes

Departure (X) of a traverse side is its projection on
the east-west axis. Latitude (Y) of a traverse side is its
projection on the north-south axis.
If L is the horizontal length of a traverse side, and Az
is its azimuth, then departure and latitude of this side
are:
Departure = X = Lsin(Az)
Latitude = Y = L cos(Az)

Latitude Y
B
Y AB
A

X AB

C
Y BC
X
X BC Departure
X
Departure

(6-4)

For a polygon traverse with n sides, the departure misclosure, latitude

misclosure, and traverse perimeter P are computed from:
n

Departure misclosure =  Xi

i=1

(6-5)

Latitude misclosure =  Y i
i=1
n

Traverse Peremeter P =  L i

(6-6)

i=1

Corrections to departure and latitude of any side are computed from:

n

Correction to departure CX = L(  Xi /P)

n

i=1

(6-7)

Correction to latitude CY = L(  Y i /P)

i=1

Adjusted departure and adjusted latitude of any side are compute from:
Adjusted departure = X = X + C X
(6-8)
Adjusted latitude = Y = Y + CY
Departures and latitudes of the traverse of Example 6-3 are in Table (3).
Table (3): Departure and latitude computations
Side Length L

(m)
AB
BC

285.10
610.45
CD 720.48
DE
203.00
EA
647.02
 = 2466.05

LL

X

Y

CX

CY

X

Y

(m)
125.72
590.77
-192.56
-6.00
-517.39
0.55m

(m)
255.88
-153.76
-694.27
202.91
388.51
-0.72m

(m)
-0.064
-0.136
-0.161
-0.045
-0.144
-0.55

(m)
0.083
0.178
0.210
0.059
0.189
+0.72

(m)
125.66
590.63
-192.72
-6.04
-517.53
0.00

(m)
255.96
-153.58
-694.06
202.97
388.70
0.00

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6.9.4 Computing Rectangular Coordinates

Rectangular coordinates of traverse stations can be calculated from the
adjusted departure and latitude of traverse sides provided the (X,Y)
coordinates of at least one station is known.
If the coordinates (XA,Y A) of point A of a traverse such as that of
Example 6-3 are known, then the coordinates of point B will be:
X B = XA + XAB = XA + L AB sin(Az AB)
(6-9)
Y B = Y A + Y AB = Y A + L AB cos(Az AB)
In Example 6-3, coordinates of B are: Table (4) : Computations of coordinates
XB = 1000.00 + 125.66 = 1125.66 m
Sta. X
X
Y
Y
YB = 1000.00 + 255.96 = 1255.96 m
1,000 1,000
Coordinates ((XC ,YC) of station C are A
125
125.66
66
255
255.96
96
computed in a similar way using the
1,125.66 1,255.96
coordinates (XB,YB ) of point B and the B
590.63 -153.58
adjusted departure and latitude of side
C
1,716.29 1,102.38
BC. Coordinates of D and E are
-192.72 -694.06
computed in a similar way.
D
1,523.57 408.32
As a check, recompute coordinates
-6.04 202.97
of the given station A. See Table (4)
E
1,517.53 611.29
for the computed (X,Y) coordinates of
-517.53 388.7
traverse stations of Example 6-3.

6.9.5 Traverse Precision

0 ok

0 ok 1000 ok 1000 ok

Traverse precision is the linear misclosure L of the traverse divided by

traverse perimeter P. These are defined by the following two equations:
Linear misclosure L = ( X) 2 + ( Y) 2
(6-10)

Traverse precision = L/P

(6 11)
(6-11)
In Example 6-3 linear misclosure and traverse precision are:
L = ( X) 2 + ( Y) 2 = (0.55) 2 + (0.72) 2 = 0.9060 m
Traverse precision L/P = 0.9060/2466.1 = 3.674E-4 = 1/2722
Traverse precision indicates accuracy of traverse angles and distances.
Traverse precision is written as a ratio with one in the numerator.
In construction surveys, accepted traverse precisions range from 1/3000 to
1/10,000 depending on the value of land and job specifications. In control
surveys, higher precisions are required which can be as high as 1/30,000.
Calculated coordinates of traverse stations are then used to compute
adjusted lengths and azimuths for traverse sides as we will see later.
In Table (5) we have five points of checking computations, these are:

1) (Balanced interior angles)=180o(5-2)=540o, (2) (Balanced latitudes)=0.00 m, (3) (Balanced departures)=0.00 m.

(4) Recomputed XA= given XA coordinate
(5) Recomputed YA = given Y A coordinate.

6.10 Length and Azimuth From Coordinates or Latitude and Departure

Adjusted Length of side AB = L AB = (X B XA ) 2 + (Y B Y A ) 2 = (X AB ) 2 + (Y AB ) 2

Station

Adjusted Azimuth of side AB =

Adjusted Azimuth of side AB =
Adjusted Azimuth of side AB =
Adjusted Azimuth of side AB =

Az AB = arctan(X AB /YAB )
Az AB = arctan(X AB /YAB ) + 180 o
Az AB = arctan(X AB /YAB ) + 180 o
Az AB = arctan(X AB /YAB ) + 360 o

(6-13)

Measured Balanced Azimuth Length Departure Latitude Balanced Balanced X-Coor- Y-Coor- Adjusted Adjusted
X
Y
departure latitude dinate dinate Azimuth Length
angles
angle
Az
L
(m)
(m)
(deg,min) (deg,min) (deg,min)
(m)
X
Az
L
Y
(m)
(m)

A 100o 44.5' 100o 44.2'

1,000
026o 10.0 285.10

'

125.72

255.88

125.66

026o 8.9

285.14

1,125.66 1,255.96
o

104 35.3 610.45

590.77

-153.76

590.63

-153.58

C 089o 05.5' 089o 05.2'

104 34.5 610.27

1,716.29 1,102.38

195 30.1 720.48

-192.56

-694.27 -192.72

195o 31.1 720.32

-694.06

D 017o 12.0' 017o 11.7'

1,523.57 408.32
358o 18.4 203.00

-006.00

202.91

-6.04

358o 17.7 203.06

202.97

231o 24.5' 231o 24.2'

1,517.53 611.29
306o 54.2 647.02

-517.39

388.51

-517.53

306o 54.5 647.25

388.7
1000 ok 1000 ok

A
SUM 540 o 01.5' 540o 0.0' ok

1,000

255.96

'

B 101 35.0 101 34.7

(6-12)

if X is (+) and Y is (+)

if X is (+) and Y is ()
if X is () and Y is ()
if X is () and Y is (+)

2,466.1

LL

0.55

-0.72

0.00 (ok) 0.00 (ok)

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6.11 Computations of Geometrically Open Traverses

The traverse shown in the figure is called mathematically closed but
N
Exaple 6-4
geometrically open because it starts at control point A
E
and ends at another control point E.
N
The azimuth of a line from control point A to an
B
D
azimuth mark, such as AM1 in the figure, must be known
C
along with the azimuth of another line from control point A
Control point
E to another azimuth mark AM2.
The usual computational procedures for geometrically open traverse are:
1) Computing azimuth angles of traverse sides.
2) Computing departures and latitudes of traverse sides.
3) Computing preliminary coordinates of traverse stations.
4) Computing departure and latitude corrections.
5) Computing adjusted coordinates of traverse stations.
AM 2

AM

Example 6-4
Traverse ABCDE in the figure starts at control point A(2765.48, 3280.21),
and closes at control point E(4797.12, 4384.41). Azimuth of line AM 1-A is
319o 5 45 and azimuth Az E-AM2 of E-AM2 is 86o 20 47. Traverse n sides
are:LAB= 1,045.50 m, L BC=1,007.38 m, L CD= 897.81 m, LDE= 960.36 m.
Traverse n+1 angles are: A=283 o 50 10, B=256o 17 18, C=98o 12 41,
D=103o 30 34, and E=285o 24 59. Do complete traverse computations.
Solution
The rest of this lecture is the complete solution of this traverse.

6.11.1 Computing Azimuth Angles

Compute angle misclosure EC using azimuth of azimuth line E-AM2 from:
EC = Computed AzEAM2 Actual Az EAM2
(6-14)
Angle misclosure EC = (86o 21
21 27
27)) - (86o 20
20 47
47)) = 40
40
Compute correction per azimuth CAz for the n+1 traverse azimuths from:
CAz = EC/(n + 1)
(6-15)
Correction per azimuth C Az= -40/(4+1) = -8
Compute adjusted azimuths: add -8 to AzAB, then add -16 to Az BC , then
add -24 to Az CD, then add -32 to Az DE, finally, add -40 to Az E-AM2 .
As a check, the adjusted azimuth Az E-AM2 of line E-AM2 must be equal to
the actual azimuth of line E-AM2. See table of azimuth computations.

6.11.2 Computing Departures and Latitudes

Use Equations (6-4) to compute preliminary departures and latitudes.
No departure and latitude misclosure need to be computed.
See Table (2) for the computed preliminary departures and latitudes.

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6.11.3 Computing Preliminary Coordinates

Preliminary coordinates of points are computed using the preliminary

departures and latitudes, provided the coordinates of one point is given.
XB = X A + XAB
(6-16)
Y B = Y A + Y AB
Compute coordinates of all stations including control point E.

6.11.4 Computing Corrections to Departure and Latitude

Compute coordinates misclosures from:
X Misclosure = Computed XE Actual XE
(6-17)
Y Misclosure = Computed Y E Actual Y E
Compute correction per latitude and correction per departure from:
CX = (X
(X Misclosure)/n
(6-18)
C = (Y Misclosure)/n
Y

Correction per departure CX = -0.18/4 = -0.045 m

Correction per latitude CY = -(-0.22)/4 = 0.055 m.

6.11.5 Computing Adjusted Coordinates

Compute adjusted coordinates (X, Y) as follows:
XB = XB + 1CX X C = XC + 2CX XD = XD + 3CX XE = XE + 4CX
Y B = YB + 1CY Y C = YC + 2CY YD = Y D + 3CY YE = YE + 4CY

(6-19)

Station

From Equations (6-22):

measured preliminary azimuth adjusted
X B = 3696.44 + 1(-0.045)
angle
azimuth correc- azimuth
deg,min,sec deg,min,sec
= 3696.395 = 3696.40 m
tion deg,min,sec
Y B = 3756.00 + 1(0.055) AM1
319
05
45
319 05 45
= 3756.055 = 3756.06 m
A 283 50 10
4354 47 + 2(-0.045)
2( 0 045)
X C = 4354.47
062 55 55 -8 062 55 47
= 4354.380 = 4354.38 m B 256 17 18
139 13 13 -16 139 12 57
Y C = 2993.24 + 2(0.055)
= 2993.350 = 2993.35 m C 098 12 41
057 25 54 -24 057 25 30
X D = 5111.04 + 3(-0.045)
D 103 30 34
= 5110.905 = 5110.91 m
340 56 28 -32 340 55 56
Y D = 3476.62 + 3(0.055)
E 285 24 59
086 21 27 -40 086 20 47
= 3476.785 = 3476.79 m
X E = 4797.30 + 4(-0.045) AM2
= 4797.120 = 4797.12 m. Check: XE must be equal to the actual XE .
YE = 4384.29 + 4(0.055)
= 4384.510 = 4384.51 m. Check: Y E must be equal to the actual YE .

Station

A
B
C
D
E

Length Azimuth Departure Latitude Preliminary Coordinates Corrections to dept & lat
L
Departure
Latitude
Az
X
Y
X
Y
(m)
(m)
(m)
(m)
(m)
(m)
(deg,min,sec ) (m)
2,765.48
3,280.21
1,045.50 062 55 47 930.96 475.79
-0.045
0.055
3,696.44
,
3,756.00
,
1,007.38 139 12 57 658.03 -762.76
-0.090
0.110
4,354.47
2,993.24
897.81 057 25 30 756.57 483.38
-0.135
0.165
5,111.04
3,476.62
960.36 340 55 56 -313.74 907.67
-0.180
0.220
4,797.30 4,384.29
Actual coord. of E
 L = P = 3911.05
4,797.12
4,384.51
Coord. misclosure

+0.18

Adjusted Coordinates

(m)
2,765.48

(m)
3,280.21

3,696.395
,

3,756.055
,

4,354.38

2,993.35

5,110.905

3,476.785

4,797.12

4,384.51

-0.22

6.11.6 Computing
p
g Traverse Precision
Compute linear misclosure from X-misclosure and Y-misclosure as follows:

Linear misclosure L = (X Misclosure) 2 + (Y Misclosure) 2

(6-20)

Traverse precision = L/P

(6-21)

Linear misclosure L = (0.18) 2 + (0.22) 2 = 0.28 m

Traverse precision = 0.28/3911.05 = 7.268E-5 = 1/13760
See the table above for complete computations of this traverse.

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