THEODOLITE TRAVERSING

Theodolite traversing is a method of establishing control points, their position being determined
by measuring the distances between the traverse stations (which serve as control points) and the
angles subtended at the various stations by their adjacent stations.

The angles are measured by using theodolite and the distances are measured by using the
measurement tape or chain.

1. A traverse consists of a series of straight lines of known length related one another by
known angles between the lines.

2. The points defining the ends of the traverse lines are called traverse stations.

Types of traverse

1. Closed traverse: When the lines form a circuit which ends at the starting point, it is known as a
closed traverse.
2. Open traverse: When the lines form a circuit ends elsewhere except starting point, it is said to be
an open traverse.

open traverse closed traverse

Purpose
 Theodolite traversing is used to compute the area of a traverse.
 To make a traverse survey.
 To reduce the field data, adjusting a traverse and plot the results graphically.
 To find the elevation or height of a pole or building indirectly.
 To find the horizontal, vertical and inclined distances indirectly etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF THEODOLITES
Theodolites may be classified as;

A. i) Transit Theodolite. ii) Non Transit Theodolite.

B. i) Vernier Theodolites. ii) Micrometer Theodolites.

TRANSIT VERNIER THEODOLITE

ADJUSTMENT OF A THEODOLITE
The adjustments of a theodolite are of two kinds:-

1. Permanent Adjustments 2. Temporary Adjustments

1. Permanent adjustments:
The permanent adjustments of theodolites are made to establish fixed relationship between the
instrument's fundamental lines. When once made, they remain permanent for long period.

The fundamental lines of the theodolite are:

1) Vertical axis
2) Axis of plate levels
3) Axis of telescope
4) Line of collimation
5) Horizontal axis
6) Axis of altitude bubble and the vernier should read zero.

The permanent adjustments of the theodolite consist of the following:

1. Adjustment of the Horizontal Plate Levels:

The axis of the horizontal plate levels must be perpendicular to the vertical axis.

2. Adjustment of the Collimation

The line of collimation should coincide with the axis of the telescope .

3. Adjustment of the Horizontal Axis

The horizontal axis must be perpendicular to the vertical axis.

4. Adjustment of the Telescope Level or Altitude Level:

The axis of the telescope level or altitude level must be parallel to the line of collimation.

5. Vertical Circle Index Adjustment:

The vertical circle vernier must read zero when the line of collimation is horizontal.

2.Temporary Adjustments:
The temporary adjustments are made at each set up of the instrument before starting taking
observations with the instrument. There are three temporary adjustments of a theodolite.

1) Setting up the instrument

1) Levelling up
2) Elimination of parallax
3)

Setting up the theodolite over a station

Setting up a theodolite includes two operations; Centering a theodolite and approximate levelling
it by tripod legs only.

Centering the instrument over a station Point

1. Place the instrument over the station by spreading the leg of the tripod well apart at a
convenient height.

2. Plumb bob is suspended from hook approximately over the station mark.

3. By moving each leg radially as well as circumference, bring the plumb bob exactly over the
station point then press the leg firmly into the ground.

4. By doing this the instrument approximately levelled.

If the instrument has a shifting head centering can be done rapidly.

2) Leveling:

After the approximately levelling by leg adjustment the accurate levelling properly done with the
help of foot screw. The objective of leveling in surveying is to make the vertical axis of the
instrument truly vertical.

1. Bring one of the level tubes parallel to any two of the foot screws, by rotating the upper part of
the instrument.

2. The bubble is brought to the centre of the level tube by rotating both the foot screws either
inward or outward.

3. The bubble of the other level tube is then brought to the centre of the level tube by rotating the
third foot screw either inward or outward.

Repeat Step 2 and step 3 till both the bubble remain central.

4. Now rotate the instrument about its vertical axis. Each bubble will now traverse provided the
plate levels are in correct adjustment. The vertical axis will then be truly vertical.

Otherwise, repeat the whole process.

3) Elimination of parallax:

Parallax is the condition arising when the image formed by the objective is not in the plane of
cross-hairs. The elimination of parallax can be done in two steps

Focusing the eye piece

 To focus the eye-piece for distinct visions of the cross-hairs, hold a sheet of white paper in front
of object glass and move eyepiece in and out till the cross hairs are seen sharp and distinct.

Focusing the objective:

The Telescope is now directed towards the object to be sighted and the focusing screw is turned
till the image appears clear and sharp.

Traverse Computations
In a survey work the positions of points are plotted on a map with reference to lines which are
parallel and perpendicular to the meridian. These lines are known as the axis of coordinates.

Latitude: distance measured parallel to the N.S line.

Departure: distance measured parallel to the E.W line.

In the figure, the latitude and the departure of the line AB of length l and reduced bearing are
given by

L= + l cos and D= + l sin

North latitude called ‘Northing’ and South latitude ‘Southing’. Similarly East departure known
as ‘Easting’ and West departure known as‘ Westings’

To calculate the latitude and departure of the traverse lines, it is first essential to reduce the
bearing in the quadrant system. The signs of latitude and departures will depend upon the
reduced bearing of the line. The following table gives signs of latitudes and departures.

W.C.B R.B and quadrant Sign of

Latitude Departure

0° to 90° N. E I + +
 90° to 180° S. E II - +

180° to 270° S. W III - -

270° to 360° N. W IV + -

Thus, latitude and departure co-ordinate of any point with reference to the preceding point are
called consecutive co-ordinates.

Adjustment of closed traverse

Error of closure

In any closed traverse the algebraic sum of the latitude ( L) should equal zero, and the algebraic
sum of the departure( D) should equal zero. In other words the sum of the northing should equal
to sum of southing and the sum of the easting should equal to the sum of the westing. But owing
to errors in the field measurements of angles and distances, the traverse will not close on paper,
i.e the distance by which the end point of survey falls short to coincide with the starting point is
called closing error.

Closing Error = ( L) + ( D)

DISTRIBUTUION OF ANGULAR ERROR

The angular error in a closed traverse is the difference between the sum of the measured angles
and the theoretical sun (2N+)4 right angles. When all the angles measured with equal care this
error is distributed equally among all the angles.