MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Muralla St, Instramuros, Manila, Metro Manila

Surveying Department

ELEMENTARY SURVEYING
FIELD MANUAL

FIELD WORK NO. 10:

AZIMUTH TRAVERSE USING
THEODOLITE AND TAPE

CE120-2F/A2
MANALO, Ervin Jonzeth DR.
2014180071
Group 5
SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
Prof. Bienvenido Cervantes
MIT, Intramuros, Manila, Metro Manila

OBJECTIVES:
1. To acquire knowledge in getting the area of a rectilinear field by
staking station on each corner points on a piece of land.
2. To learn how to read the horizontal angle of a theodolite.
3. To learn how to perform a closed azimuth traverse survey using
theodolite and tape.
4. To develop the ability to lead or to follow the
designated/desired task of ones party or group and to be fully
responsible in the performance of the assigned task.

INSTRUMENTS:
THEODOLITE
A Theodolite is a surveying
instrument with a telescope
that is used to measure the
horizontal and vertical angles
of the ground form a chosen

TRIPOD

A tripod is a portable, three-legged

frame, used as a platform for
supporting the weight and
maintaining the stability of the

 LEVELING ROD

The leveling staff, or leveling rod,

is a graduated aluminum rod, used
with a levelling instrument to
determine the difference in height
between points or heights of points

PROCEDURE:
The professor assigns the corners of the rectilinear field to be
observed. These points must be visible from each adjacent point and
must be accessible for setting the instrument. Mark each point of the
lot by chalk on pavement. Name the points as stations 1, 2, 3 etc.
Set- up the theodolite on the 1st station.
Orient the instrument to the magnetic south
after leveling. Make sure that the tubular and
bulls eye spirit level are correctly calibrated
to minimize errors.
Set the horizontal vernier to zero reading.
Sight the next corner station and record the
azimuth reading in the horizontal vernier.
Compute also for the bearing of this line.
Sight the last station and record the reading
of the horizontal vernier for its back azimuth
to be used for checking the traverse later.
Follow the same procedure until the last
station is reached.

Figure 2: Horizontal angle

sighting
using
the theodolite.
Figure
1: The
bulls-eye
level
and tubular level must be in
the middle to ensure that the
instrument is calibrated.

DATA SHEET
TABLE
STATIO
N
1

LEVEL
PROFILE
1.26m

ANGLE
197

ANGLE OF
DEPRESSION
11

HORIZONTAL
DISTANCE
6.48m

1.305m

157

8.9

8.33m

1.35m

327

13.5

5.62m

1.42m

337

10.10m

1.1125m

329

7.92m

COMPUTATIONS
The only computed quantities in the data are the bearing, and the
horizontal distances because its more accurate to compute than
to actually measure the length using measuring tapes that can
sometimes sag and give inaccurate readings.

DATA ANALYSIS
The closed azimuth traverse that was performed in this field work
had a slight variation from what the manual instructs. Instead of using
tape measures and range poles, only a theodolite, leveling rod, and chalk
is used to accurately gather data. The tape measure was removed from
the list because it may give wrong measurements due to the fact that it
sags and requires a great amount of pull to be accurately aligned with the
ground. Instead, the more convenient way of measuring is used, which is

computation via use of right triangles. Aside from that, all other
procedures are done by the book. The azimuth traverse was gathered in
each station by the use of the theodolite that is properly calibrated and
oriented.
As you can see above, this is the closed traverse that was marked
and measured with corresponding sides/stations colored differently.
CONCLUSION
Using this method is easier compared to others. By its definition,
Traverse is a method in the field of surveying to establish control
networks. It involves placing survey stations along a line or path of
travel, and the using the previously surveyed points as a base for
observing the next point. It has many advantages, including:
Less reconnaissance and organization needed

Figure 3: The lot in front of the research building is the one that was used to survey.

In other systems, which may require the survey to be

performed along a rigid polygon shape, the traverse can
change to any shape and thus can accommodate a great
deal of different terrains.
Only a few observations need to be taken at each station,
whereas in other survey networks, a great deal of angular
and linear observations need to be made and considered.
Scale error doesnt add up as the traverse is performed.
Azimuth swing errors can also be reduced by increasing the
distance between stations.