The Pontifical and Royal

University of Santo Tomas

The Catholic University of the Philippines

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
CE 311L: Surveying Fieldwork/Laboratory

Year & Section

Group No.
Actual Site
Weather Condition

3CE-A
3
Benavides Park
Sunny

Lab 6, Ground Floor, Roque Ruao Bldg., Espaa

Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines 1008
(632)406-1611 loc. 8516

Date Performed
Time Started
Time Finished
Date Submitted

Group Members
Duran, Raphael V.
Escueta, John Ezekiel Y.
Florencio, Ken Andrew A.
Guancia, Sigmond Ted M.
Inocencio, John Angelo B.
Leyno, Iana Renza L.
Lopez, Arvyn Rey N.
Manalo, Raymund Jericho B.

October 20 2014
10:40 A. M.
12:07 P. M.
November 3, 2014
Designation
Computer
Instrument Man
Rodman
Data Collector
Rodman
Writer
Photographer
Chief of Party

Fieldwork No. 15

Closed Compass Traverse

I.

Objective
To be able to gather data of a closed traverse and adjust this accordingly.

II.

Introduction
A closed compass traverse consists of a series of lines of known length and magnetic
bearings which form a closed loop, or begin and end at points whose positions have been fixed
by other surveys of higher precision.

III.

Activities
Site: Benavides Park, University of Santo Tomas
Procedure:
1. Establish six points on the ground. Call these as stations A, B, C, D, E, and F,
respectively;
2. Measure distance between stations A and B by taping;
3. Set up and level the transit over point A (back station) and set the horizontal circle
and vernier to 0-0 reading;
4. Release the magnetic compass needle and orient it along the reference meridian
(North South Line). Note that the end with the copper wire should point towards the
South direction;
5. Sight point B (forward station) and observe the horizontal angle. Record this as
forward bearing of line AB;
6. Transfer the transit over point B. Set up and level the transit and set the horizontal
circle and vernier to 0-0 reading;
7. Orient the magnetic compass along the reference meridian;
8. Sight point A and observe the horizontal angle. Record this as the back bearing of
line AB;
9. Repeat steps 2-8 for lines BC, CD, DE, EF, and FA, respectively; and
CE 311L

Fieldwork No. 15
Closed Compass Traverse

10. Choose the best line and adjust the open traverse.

IV.

Formulas

V.

Theoretical sum of interior angle = (n-2)180 =720

Deficiency = Theoretical-Actual
Correction = Deficiency/6
FB-BB=0
Adjusted = (BB+FB)/2
Data and Results
15.1.1. Closed Compass Traverse

Back
Station

Forward
Station

Line

Forward
Bearing
0 00

Back
Bearing
0 00

Adjusted Forward
Bearing
0 00

Adjusted
Back Bearing
0 00

A
B
C
D
E
F

B
C
D
E
F
A

AB
BC
CD
DE
EF
FA

S 11 27 E
S 68 29 E
N 53 07 E
N 25 57 W
N 51 10 W
S 7 27 W

N 11 27 W
N 67 29 W
S 54 08 W
S 23 51 E
S 52 10 E
N 5 9 E

S 11 27 E
S 67 59 E
N 53 37 30E
N 24 52 30 W
N 51 40 W
S 6 18 W

N 11 27 W
N 67 59 W
S 53 37 30 W
S 24 52 30 E
S 51 40 E
N 6 18 E

VI.

Computations
BEST LINE:
AB: 11 27 - 11 27 = 0 0
BC: 68 29 - 67 29 = 1 0
CD: 53 7 - 54 08 = -1 0
DE: 25 54 - 23 51 = 2 3
EF: 51 10 52 10 = -1
FA: 7 27 - 5 9 = 2 18
THEREFORE, LINE AB IS THE BEST LINE

FOR LINE AB:

DE ADJUSTED = 11 27 - 11 27 = 11 27
2
INTERIOR ANGLE:
DEFICIENCY = 720 - (59 37 + 152 41 + 99 58 + 120 36 + 122 58 + 163
24)
= 0 46 0

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Fieldwork No. 15
Closed Compass Traverse

VII.

CORRECTION = 0 460 = 0 740

6
Drawings and Figure
15.7.1 Instruments Used

Marking Pins, Tripod, Leveling Rods and Theodolite

15.7.2 Closed Traverses

Actual Traverse

Adjusted Closed Traverse

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Fieldwork No. 15
Closed Compass Traverse

15.7.3 Site Area

15.7.4 Pictures

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Fieldwork No. 15
Closed Compass Traverse

CE 311L

Fieldwork No. 15
Closed Compass Traverse

VIII.

Sources of Errors
During an activity, the surveyors take note of the errors and its possible sources. In this
fieldwork, the only possible error that can be found is an opening in the traverse as this fieldwork
requires the traverse to be closed. The error that was noticed hasdifference of 46 minutes
between the theoretical and actual value of the total sum of interior angle. There are many
possible source that this error may have rooted. First error can be a simple human error in
computing as each line requires long input in computation, misreading numbers in a calculators
are common. Second error can be a wrong sighting while finding for the azimuth for the back and
front reading. Getting a traverse to close means getting the angle right down to its seconds, so
errors here cannot be easily avoided.

IX.

Conclusion and Remarks

After conducting the fieldwork, the surveyors were able to determine the bearing of 6 different
points for a closed traverse. The surveyors also concluded that to minimize the errors, the
angles must be aligned to 0 degrees horizontally.
X.

References
La Putt, J.P. (2010). Elementary Surveying. Baguio, Philippines: Baguio Research and Publishing
Center.

CE 311L

Fieldwork No. 15
Closed Compass Traverse