Mapua Institute of Technology

ADVANCED SURVEYING FIELD MANUAL

FIELDWORK NO. 4
Laying of a Simple Curve on Uneven Ground Using
Transit and Theodolite
(Double-Deflection Angle Method)

Course/Section: CE121 1F / A1
Program/ Year: CE / 3
Student Number: 2010110418
Submitted by:
Joyel, Rea Janine E.

GROUP NO. 4

CHIEF OF PARTY/LEADER: EUGENIO, Jason

MEMBERS:
DULAY, Anthony Mark V.

GARCIA, Julienne

ESTAVILLO, Kyle

GATCHALIAN, Kenneth

FIELD WORK NO.3

LAYING OF A SIMPLE CURVE ON UNEVEN GROUND USING TRANSIT
AND THEODOLITE (DOUBLE-DEFLECTION ANGLE METHOD)
OBJECTIVE:

1. To be able to lay a simple curve on uneven ground.

2. To be able to lay a simple curve using double-deflection angle method.
3. To master the use of the transit and theodolite in laying a simple curve.

INSTRUMENTS:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

2 range poles
2 chalk for pavements
1 set of marking pins for soft grounds
50 meter tape
1 transit
1 theodolite

PROCEDURE:
1. The Professor gives the following data:
d1 = 0.11
D = 2.5
d2 = 1.39
Location of PC on the site (Note location and not station is now given since d 1 and d2 are
given.)
GIVEN:

I=d1+6D+d2= (Simple curve with 6 intermediate points.)

NOTE: Be very careful in assigning the location of PC and the direction of the backward tangent
so that the curve will not obstructed by any structure.
VERY IMPORTANT: Before going to the field the student must compute:
a. Angle of Intersection
I
= 49
b. Total deflection angle
I / 2 = 24.5
c. Length of the long chord
C
= 380.16
d. Half d1
d1 / 2 = 0.055
e. Half d2
d2 / 2 = 0.695
f. Half D
D / 2 = 1.25

2. The students:
2.1 Set up the transit at PC. Level and orient the transit to the magnetic south.
2.2 Turn the telescope in the direction of the backward tangent and mark its direction with a
range pole.

2.3 Set the horizontal vernier reading to zero. With the lower clamp still loosened, direct
telescope again direct to tangent.

2.4 Loosen the upper clamp and turn the telescope until the reading on vernier equals the
magnitude of the total deflection angle of the curve. Along this line and with a distance
equal to the length of the long chord from PC locate the position of PT.

2.5 Set the theodolite on the exact position of PT.

2.6 Level the theodolite and set the horizontal vernier to zero while sighting PC.
3. To locate the first intermediate point A in the curve mark on the ground the intersection of the
line of sight in both instruments with a reading equal to

. (Note that the first instruments

reading is referred from the back tangent while the second instruments reading is referred
from the long chord.)
4. The next intermediate point B may be located on the ground using the same procedure as in
step 8, but this time use a reading equal to (

5. The third intermediate point C may also be found following the same processes, but now use a
reading in the horizontal vernier equal to (

6. Continue the process to locate other intermediate points on the curve with a gradual increase
in the deflection angle up to the last intermediate point.

7. Compute the % error using the formula:

% Error = Computed.Long.Chord.Length Measured.Long.Chord.Length

Computed.Long Chord.Length.

FINAL DATA SHEET

FIELD WORK 3

LAYING OF A SIMPLE CURVE ON UNEVEN GROUND USINGF

(DOUBLE-DEFLECTION ANGLE METHOD)

DATE: 11/05/14

GROUP NO.: 5

TIME: 02:00 PM

LOCATION: MIT South Parking

WEATHER: Cloudy

PROFESSOR: Engr. B.Cervantes

THEODOLITE

DATA SUPPLIED:
d1 = 0.11
D = 2.5
d2 = 1.39
Adopt full chord length of 2 m
GIVEN:
I = d1 + 8D + d2 = 21.5
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Angle of intersection
Total deflection angle
Length of long chord
Half d1
Half d2
Half D

I = 49
I/2 = 24.5
C = 380.16
d1/2 = 0.055
d2/2 = 0.695
D = 1.25

STATION
OCC. BY
1ST Inst.
PT
PT
PT
PT
PT
PT
PT
PT
PT
PT

OCC. BY
2nd Inst.
PC
PC
PC
PC
PC
PC
PC
PC
PC
PC

CHORD
OBSERVED

COMPUTED

ACTUAL

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J

11.1
31.09
51.053
71.006
900.95
110.882
130.827
150.813
170.80
190.77

11.1
31.1
51.1
71.1
91.1
111.1
131.1
151.1
171.1
191.1

DEFLECTION
ANGLE

% ERROR

0.69
1.94
3.19
4.44
5.69
6.94
8.19
9.44
10.69
11.94

0%
0.032%
0.092%
0.132%
0.165%
0.196%
0.208%
0.190%
0.175%
0.173%

SIGNATURE OF STUDENT

SAMPLE COMPUTATION
Given:
d1 = 0.11
D = 2.5
d2 =1.39
Solution:

Angle of intersection, I = 49
Length of long chord, C = 380.16
d2/2 = 0.695
D = 1.25
C = 380.16

Intersection Angle, I:
I = d1 + 8D + d2 = 21.5

First Intermediate Point, A

A = d1/2

Total Deflection Angle, I/2

A = 0.11/2

I/2 = 49/2

A = 0.055

I = 24.5
Second Intermediate Point, B
Long Chord, C:

B = [(d1+D)/2]

C = 2 * R * sin (I/2)

B = [(0.11+2.5)/2]

C = 2 * 458.37 * sin (49/2)

B = 1.305

Third Intermediate Point, C (Until 20th Intermediate

Point)

At Intermediate Point A
Computed Length of the Chord = 0.88

C = [(d1+2D)/2]
Measured Chord Length = 0.89
C = [(0.11+2(2.5))/2]
C = 2.555
Percent Error = (Computed-Measured)/Computed
Percent Error = (0.88-0.891)/0.88
Percent Error 0.01%

Analysis of Data
In the first part of this fieldwork, we were to lay a simple curve
on uneven ground, to lay a simple curve using double-deflection
angle method and to master the use of the transit and theodolite in
laying a simple curve.
From the gathered data taken from the said activity, it can be
seen that every detail gathered was tallied in the given data. The
summation of deflection angles taken was all equal to 35 which are
half of the given angle of point of intersection which is 70 degrees.
And also the chord distances were all equal to 280 meters and so
close to the length of the main curve.

Conclusion
In performing this fieldwork which deals with laying of a
simple curve on uneven ground using transit and theodolite using
double-deflection method. We gathered data which are almost similar
to the computed values. So the percentage error was just minimal.
At the end of this fieldwork, we were able to lay a simple curve
on the ground, to be able to lay a simple curve using doubledeflection angle method and to be able to master the use of the
transit and theodolite in laying a simple curve.

Acknowledgement
Firstly, I would like to thank God for giving me another day
to do what I have continued and another day to prove myself and do
all the tasks that life has given me. And also for all the people he
has given me to love, to care and to make my life more joyful.
Including my parents, friends, professors, acquaintances, and even
those people who make my life thrilling.
Also, I would like to thank my group mates for their effort
and their time and also their cooperation in participating in this
fieldwork. Also, I would like to mention about doing their assigned
tasks and doing it right in order for us to finish the field work on
time.
Lastly, I would like to show my gratitude to my professor,
Engr. Cervantes, for teaching us and guiding us for our activity and
for imparting his ideas regarding the topic and make it possible for
us to do it on our own. And at the end of the day, there was another
learning for us weve gathered which is also can be used in the
future as we exercise/apply our chosen field.

Relevant Ideas / Principles Involve

In this method of traverse surveying, successive stations are
occupied and deflection angles are measured by a transit or
theodolite. At each station, a backsight is taken to the previous

station with vernier A set at zero. The telescope is then reversed by

plunging it. A foresight to the next station is then taken by turning
the instrument about the vertical axis on its upper motion, and the
deflection angle is observed. The angle is recorded as right R or left
L, according to whether the upper motion is turned clockwise or
counter clockwise. Usually, deflection angles are observed twice,
once with the telescope in face left and the other in face right
condition. Immediately after completion of traverse observation, an
arithmetical check on the angular error of closure should be
performed to detect any blunder or excessively large error in angular
measurement.
To check the angular closure, azimuths are calculated from
previously known azimuth of a line. The unknown azimuth of a line
is computed by adding the right deflection angle and subtracting the
left deflection angle with the forward azimuth of the previous line.
Thus,
W.C.B. of a traverse line = Forward W.C.B. of the preceding
line deflection angle.
360 needs to be subtracted from computed W.C.B., if it is
more than 360 and to be added, if the computed value is
negative. Figure 28.3 illustrates the computations of azimuth using
deflection angles to the left and right.
The error of closure in a traverse observation can be
determined by two ways. These are either based on the computed

azimuth or on the observed deflection angles.

In the azimuth adjustment method, the computed azimuth
of the closing line is compared with its previously observed value. If
both the values agrees each other, there is no error of closure
otherwise it exist. To remove the error, a correction equal in
magnitude but opposite in nature to the error of closure is to be
distributed among the observed deflection angles.
In the deflection angle adjustment method, the algebraic
sum of the deflection angles is being computed taking the right
deflection angles as positive and left deflection angles as negative.
The general relation to compute the error of closure by this method
is as follows:
Forward azimuth of the first side of traverse (at first
station) +

traverse (at terminating station) + 360 ---- (Equation 28-1)

Where
the sum of the left deflection angles. If the computed value differs
from the previously observed values, an error of closure exists in the
measurements of traverse. To find adjusted azimuth of the sides of
the traverse, first the deflection angles get adjusted by applying

correction equal to the amount of error of closure and then adjusted

azimuths are computed.

A deflection angle should never be measured without double

centering the instrument, because the error caused by the line of
sight not being normal to the horizontal axis of the instrument may
be too large to be tolerated. Moreover, the angular error of closure
should not exceed the estimated standard deviation for observing an
angle from a single setup times the square root of the number of
instrument stations. In practice, this estimated standard deviation in
angular measurement is usually taken equal to 0.5 to 1.0 times the
least count of the instrument used in measuring the angles. If the
error exceeds the permissible limit, then observation should be
repeated till permissible limit has been achieved.

Deflection angle method of traversing is being generally used

for open looped closed traverse. It is most useful for the location
survey of linear engineering works such as highways, railways,
canals and pipelines etc.

DOCUMENTATION

Everyone is looking for a space to

lay a simple curve

Intermediate points with range pole

Sighting the Intermediate Points

XI. Field Work Peer Assessment

Course: CE121 1F

Section: B1

Date: November 12, 2014

FIELDWORK 4:
LAYING OF A SIMPLE CURVE ON UNEVEN GROUND BY TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE
(Double-Deflection Angle Method)
Group Members:
ESTAVILLO, Kyle
EUGENIO, Jason
GARCIA, Julienne
GATCHALIAN, Kenneth

Score: 20
Score: 20
Score: 20
Score: 20

CRITERIA

EXCELLENT

VERY GOOD

LIMITED

POOR

TIME ELEMENT

Arrives exactly on
time.

Arrives within the

Late for at most

Late for more than 30

grace period of 15

30 minutes

minutes

Needs

Does not know what is

MEMBERS
4

minutes
PREPAREDNESS

COOPERATIVENESS

ACCURACY

Knows what exactly

is to be done in the
field

Familiar

Performs assigned
task willingly and is
willing
to
help
group mates

Performs

Computes for the

required
value
accurately and in
such a short time

Computes

with

the

procedure

further

explanation

only

assigned task

to be done

Performs

less

Does not want to help

satisfactory

the

at all

for

Fails to compute the

assigned task
for

the

Computes

required value with

the

required

little assistance

value with some

required value

assistance

OVERALL

Performs

an

CONTRIBUTION ON

important

role

THE GROUPWORK

efficiently

Performs
important role

an

Performs
secondary
in

manner

a
role
limited

Does nothing