FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & EARTH

RESOURCES

ENGINEERING SURVEY
FIELDWORK

THEODOLITE TRAVERSING
(Standard Of Procedure)

Subject Code
Date
Group Number
Student Name &
ID Number
Group Member Name
& ID Number 1
2
Lecturer 3
4
5
6
7

Marks
Remarks

Endorsement
Objective:

1. To make close traverse survey (planimetric control) of a parcel of ground within

UMP area using built-in EDM (Total Station).
2. To produce of the scaled drawing of traverse survey.

Scope of works:

1. Each group shall be carried out on a planimetric control traverse within the
allocated area employ all normal survey practice to control the accuracy of the
survey works.
 Minimum station for traverse survey is Five (5).
 Minimum length of each line not less 30m.
2. The permissible closing errors ;
 Angular : 00’10” per station with a maximum difference of 01’15” between
the traverse on closing circuit.
 Linear : 1 in 8000 between the length derived from the traverse on closing a
circuit.
3. Each group shall be prepared a plan of traverse had been done.
4. Each group shall be prepared a report of had been done (Appendix IV).
The report shall be submitted one week after completed the fieldwork.

List of Devices:

1. 1 set of Built-in EDM or Total Station completed with accessories.

2. 2 set of Reflector completed with accessories.
3. Fieldbook.

Procedure of works:

1. Reconnaissance survey
The survey team’s first task is to make a reconnaissance survey of the area, i.e. the
simply walks over the area with a view to establishing the best sites for survey
stations. The sites must be chosen with care and are in fact governed a
considerable number of factors.
 The survey stations may have to be used at some future date when setting-out
operations take place.
 Strictly speaking it is necessary to be able to see only from any one station to
the other two stations of any triangle.
 While such problems can be overcome they should be avoided if at all
possible.
2. Conducting a survey (Appendix II).
 Line 2-1 shall be determined as datum for starting the traverse. Using
prismatic compass to obtain bearing of this line.
3. Recording the survey (Appendix III).
Measurements must be recorded in permanent ink in the appropriate columns of
the observation pages immediately after they are made.

4. Plotting.
Appendix I
THEODOLITE TRAVERSING

Introduction:

The theodolite is an instrument that is used to measure angles, with an accuracy

varying from 1 to 60 seconds of arc. A conventional theodolite cannot be used to find
north and the bearing, i.e. the direction, of a line relative to magnetic north.

Modern developments in electronics have now made possible the measurement of

bearing and distance electronically, both of which are continuously updated and
displayed in real time from sighting point. Angular accuracy varies between one and
10 seconds. Meanwhile, the measurement of distance is accomplished in seconds
with a very high degree of accuracy. These instruments are commonly called built-in
EDM (total station).

Traverse surveys:

In order to survey any parcel of ground, two distinct operations are required, namely
(a) a framework survey, and
(b) a detail survey

A framework survey consists of a series of straight lines, arranged in the form of

triangles (linear surveys), polygons (closed traverse surveys) or vectors (open traverse
surveys). A detail survey consists of a series of offsets, which are added to and
supplement the framework survey.

A traverse survey consists of a series of survey lines, connected to each other, each
line having length and direction. They are, therefore, vectors. The vectors, may or
may not close to form a polygon.

Figure shows, point A, B, C and D are the survey stations of an open traverse,
following a stream that is to be surveyed and plotted to scale. Line AB, BC and CD
are the measured legs of traverse and bearing AB, BC and CD, measured using a
theodolite. Together they form the survey framework.

Figure shows a closed traverse, where the vectors 12, 23, 34, 45, 51 and 12 form a
closed polygon. The bearing and lengths of the lines are measured.
Another closed traverse, the traverse begins on two points A and B of known bearing
and ends on two different known points C and D. The survey is one again self-
checking in that the bearing of line CD deduced from the traversing should agree with
the already known bearing of CD.
Appendix II

Procedure

1. Setting up the Theodolite

 Setting the tripod
The tripod legs are spread out and rested lightly on the ground around
the survey point. Judging by eye, the legs are moved to bring the
tripod head over the point, keeping the tripod head as level as possible.
 Mounting the instrument
The theodolite is carefully removed from the box and screwed to the
tripod.
 Centring
A sight is taken through the optical plummet to view the survey peg.
The footscrews are turned to bring the instrument exactly over the peg.
The theodolite is now centred but, not level.
 Levelling
Levelling is accompolished by raising or lowering the legs of the
tripod, using the sliding leg arrangement, until the circular spirit level
is centred.
Refinements to the centring and leveling of the instrument must now
be made;
(a) Set the plate spirit level over two screws and centralize the bubble,
(b) Turn the instrument through 90o and recentralize the bubble
(c) Repeat operations (a) and (b) until the bubble remains central for
both positions.
 Parallax elimination
A piece of paper is held in front of the telescope and the observer,
sighting the paper through the telescope, turns the eyepiece carefully
until the cross-wires of the reticule are sharply defined.

2. Setting up Back Bearing (Topcon GTS220)

 Released Horizontal and vertical plate, and the theodolite in face left
position.
 Switch On Theodolite Display Panel. Make sure horizontal bearing in
the mode Horizontal Right (HR).
 Rotate the theodolite horizontally, till the required horizontal bearing
had been display in panel.
 Refinements to the required horizontal bearing, using horizontal
tangent screw.
 Press the (F2)(HOLD) key.
 Collimate the target above the back station.
 Press the [F3](YES) key to finish holding the horizontal angle.

3. Obtained Front bearing

 Released Horizontal and vertical plate.
 Rotate the theodolite horizontally, collimate the target above the front
station.
 Horizontal bearing have display.
 4. Measure Distance
 Collimate the center of prism.
 Press the [| ]key. Distance measurement starts. Display panel shows HR
(Horizontal angle), HD (horizontal distance) and VD (Vertical distance).
 Press F1 (Meas). New distance display.

Repeat operations (2) to (4) for face right position.

Appendix III

Observation page
Diagram Page
Line Bearing Length Depart Latitude ΔE ΔN Corrected Corrected Eastings Northings Stations
ΔE ΔN Correction Correction ΔE ΔN
100.000 100.000 1
1-2 131 26 30 21.795 16.338 -14.425 -0.003 -0.003 16.335 -14.428 116.335 85.572 2
2-3 217 25 40 18.476 -10.986 -14.354 -0.002 -0.002 -10.988 -14.356 105.347 71.216 3
3-4 308 09 40 22.149 -17.415 13.685 -0.003 -0.003 -17.418 13.682 87.929 84.898 4
4-5 305 29 50 48.428 -39.427 28.120 -0.005 -0.006 -39.432 28.114 48.497 113.012 5
5-6 38 41 50 27.395 17.127 21.381 -0.003 -0.003 17.124 21.378 65.621 134.390 6
6-1 135 00 00 48.627 34.384 -34.384 -0.005 -0.006 34.379 -34.390 100.000 100.000 1
 186.470
Errors 0.021 0.023 0.021 0.023 0.000 0.000
Correction -0.021 -0.023

Accuracy 1 : 5900

Area = 0.3080ha
Appendix IV

Report:

Each group shall submit the report one week after completed the fieldwork.

The report shall be consisted hereunder-

a) Introduction
b) Objective
c) Devices
d) Procedure
e) Product
 Fieldbook.
 Plan
f) Analysis
g) Conclusion