1

OBJECTIVES
1. Define and explain the term magnetic
bearing
2. Explain the construction of a prismatic
compass and its use.
3. Explain the difference between prismatic
and surveyors compasses.
4. Explain the method of traversing with a
compass and chain.
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OBJECTIVES
5. Convert whole circle bearing to reduced
bearings and vice versa and find internal angles
from bearings.
6. Explain the methods used to plot and make
adjustments to a traverse.
7. Explain the terms local attraction, magnetic
declination an dip and precautions needed to
eliminate errors.
8. Explain the adjustments, upkeep and
maintenance of compass.
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AGENDA
Earths Magnetism
Bearings
Magnetic Compass
Conversion of Bearings
Angles and bearings
Local Attraction
Magnetic Declination
Plotting
Precision
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EARTHS MAGNETISM
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EARTH AS A MAGNET
Earth acts like a huge magnet
This is due to the iron core
Earths magnet is so powerful
that it affects every magnetic
substance on the surface
A freely suspended magnetic
needle thus takes up a position
along the earths magnetic
lines of force
This principle is used in
compass surveying
Earths magnetism
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MAGNETIC POLES
Magnetic poles are different from
geographic poles
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MAGNETIC NEEDLES
Magnetic needles are of many types
i) Edge bar needle
ii) Broad form needle
The needles have a central point by which it
is supported on a pivot. The pivot is
provided with a hard agate tip to reduce
wear and tear.
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BASIC PRINCIPLE
1. A freely suspended magnetic
needle lies along the
magnetic lines of force.
2. The magnetic lines of force
are horizontal at the equator.
3. The magnetic lines of force
are inclined away from
equator as they converge to
the poles.
4. The inclination of the lines of
force is the dip angle.
5. A magnetic needle giving the
direction of magnetic lines of
force is used in compass
survey
Magnetic compass
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MAGNETIC BEARING
Bearing is the angle to a
line from any
reference direction
When the reference
direction is the
magnetic north-south,
the angle is magnetic
bearing
Reference direction
Line
B
A

B
A
N
S

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MAGNETIC BEARING
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MAGNETIC BEARINGS
Whole circle bearing: Space is divided into
four quadrants by the North-South and
East-West directions.
1
st
quadrant
2
nd
quadrant
3
rd
quadrant 4
th
quadrant
N
S
E
W
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MAGNETIC BEARINGS
Whole Circle bearing is measured from the
North direction, clockwise.
North

Line in 4th quadrant
Line in 1st quadrant
North
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WHOLE CIRCLE BEARINGS
Whole circle bearing can have a value from
0 to 360 degrees
North
North

Line in 2nd quadrant

Line in 3rd quadrant
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REDUCED BEARINGS
Reduced bearing is the acute angle
measured from North or South directions.
It has a value from 0 to 90 degrees
North
South
W E
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REDUCED BEARINGS
Reduced bearings have to be designated by
the direction from which it is measured,
north or south and also the direction
towards which it is measured.
Examples N E, N W, S E or S W.
Whole circle bearings are designated by the
angle only while reduced bearings should
have these directions mentioned as a part
of the bearing.
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REDUCED BEARINGS
Whole circle bearing Reduced bearing
N N
S(180 )E
S
E W

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DESIGNATION OF RB
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DESIGNATION OF RB
Reduced bearing Whole circle bearing
N
180+
SW
N
E
S
W
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PRISMATIC COMPASS
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PRISMATIC COMPASS
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PRISMATIC COMPASS
Main Parts:
1. Magnetic needle broad form, symmetrical,
with rider weight to remain horizontal
2. Graduated ring aluminium, graduated to half
minute, with zero on south end
3. Object vane metal frame, hinged for folding,
with a fine vertical thread or wire.
4. Prism and eye vane for taking reading of the
ring
5. Agate cap and pivot- on which the ring and
needle move.
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PRISMATIC COMPASS
Main Parts
6. Box and glass cover The assembly set
in a box and has glass cover on top.
7. Lifting lever- lifts the needle off the pivot
to reduce wear and tear.
8. Brake Pin to reduce oscillations of
needle
9. Screw head To screw the compass on
to a tripod.
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READING THE PRISMATIC
COMPASS
The reading is taken from the prism end.
When the line of sight is in the direction of
magnetic meridian, the reading, must be
zero. The reading is done at the south end
and hence the zero is marked there.
Prismatic compass gives whole circle
bearing. The ring is marked with zero at
south end and up to 360 degrees
clockwise
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SURVEYORS COMPASS
Old form not commonly used.
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GRADUATIONS AND READING
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COMPARISON
Prismatic Compass
1. Broad needle
2. Ring moves with needle
3. Graduations 0 to 360
clockwise
4. Whole circle bearings
5. Numbering inverted
6. Eye vane and prism used to
read
7. Reading taken at south end
8. Can be used hand-held
9. Sighting and reading
simultaneous
Surveyors Compass
1. Edge-bar needle
2. Ring fixed to box
3. 0at N and S to 90 at E and
W in four quadrants; E and
W interchanged.
4. Measures RB
5. Numbering erect
6. Eye vane not used for
reading
7. Reading taken at north end
8. Has to be used with tripod
9. Object sighted first; then
move around to take reading
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INTERCONVERSION
Whole circle to reduced bearing
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INTERCONVERSION
Whole circle bearing (WCB), , to reduced
bearing (RB)
WCB 0 to 90 RB N E
WCB 90 to 180 RB S (180 ) E
WCB 180 to 270 RB S ( 180) W
WCB 270 to 360 RB N(360 ) W
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INTERCONVERSION
Reduced bearing to whole circle bearing
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INTERCONVERSION
Reduced bearing to Whole circle bearing
Reduced bearing is
When RB is N E, WCB is equal to .
When RB is S E, WCB is (180 )
When RB is S W, WCB is (180 + )
When RB is N W, WCB is (360 )
Bearing
SW
WCB = 180 +
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ANGLES AND BEARINGS
Interior and exterior angles
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ANGLES AND BEARINGS
Forebearing and back bearing
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ANGLES AND BEARINGS
Forebearings and back bearings
For a line AB the bearing AB measured at A is the
forebearing and the bearing measured at B of
BA is the back bearing.
In WCB system, the fore- and back bearings differ
by 180 degrees.
In the RB system, the fore- and back bearing has
the same value bu the designating letters
change from N to S and E to W and vice versa.
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ANGLES AND BEARINGS
Reduced bearings Fore- and back
bearings
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ANGLES AND BEARINGS
Reduced bearings
Fore- and back
bearings
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INCLUDED ANGLES
Included angles from WCBs
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INCLUDED ANGLES
If whole circle bearings are given,
Included angle = Difference in the bearings
If the difference is more than 180 degrees
then included angle is (360 - difference ).
Included angles are generally acute angles
less than 180 degrees.
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INCLUDED ANGLES
Included angles from RBs
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INCLUDED ANGLES
Included angles from RBs
To calculate included angles from bearings, draw a sketch
and then decide the procedure to calculate the angle.
i) Both angles measured from N or S to E or W. (- )
ii) Both angles measured from N or S but in different
directions (+)
iii) Measured from N and S but in the same direction (180
(+); in different directions (180 (- ).
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INCLUDED ANGLES
Included angles from RBs
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LOCAL ATTRACTION
Presence of any magnetic materials like
overhead electric cables, iron ore, metallic
objects affect the movement of the needle.
This is called local attraction.
If the forebearing and back bearing of a line
do not differ by 180 degrees, even after
repeated measurements, then, one may
suspect the presence of local attraction.
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LOCAL ATTRACTION
Corrections to set of bearings with local attraction
* Identify the line with no local attraction
Or identify the line with least difference
First method based on principle that internal
angles between lines not affected by local
attraction.
Calculate internal angles and starting from
bearing of a line not affected, calculate other
bearings from angles.
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LOCAL ATTRACTION
Correction to local attraction
Second method based on principle that
bearings measured at a station are equally
affected by local attraction; the needle
deflects equally while measuring the
bearings at a station.
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Compass traversing: Important Definition
True meridian: Line or plane passing
through geographical north pole and
geographical south pole
Magnetic meridian: When the
magnetic needle is suspended freely
and balanced properly, unaffected by
magnetic substances, it indicates a
direction. This direction is known as
magnetic meridian. The angle
between the magnetic meridian and a
line is known as magnetic bearing or
simple bearing of the line.
North
pole
True meridian
Magnetic meridian
True bearing
Magnetic bearing
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MAGNETIC DECLINATION
Angle between true meridian and magnetic
meridian
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MAGNETIC DECLINATION
True meridian remains the same.
Magnetic meridian changes due to many
causes. Thus magnetic declination
changes;
If magnetic meridian is to the east of true
meridian, it is called East declination ( E)
and if to the west, it is west declination
( W).
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VARIATIONS
1. Diurnal Variation Daily variations of about
12; locality, season and time
2. Annual Variation Magnetic meridian changes
position over one year period.
3. the swinging motion of meridian; In one
direction for 200 years and then reverses.
4. Irregular variation due to magnetic
disturbances, Sun storms, volcanic eruptions,
Seismic shocks.
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MAGNETIC DECLINATION
In important maps magnetic bearing and
declination are mentioned.
This helps to locate the line, even if
magnetic meridian has changed over time.
The true bearing calculated from bearing
and declination as given in the map.
The present bearing calculated from true
bearing and present declination.
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PLOTTING A TRAVERSE
Traverse Data
343 38 274.5 EA
278 15 490 DE
202 30 430 CD
190 30 398 BC
60 45 402 AB
Bearing Length Line
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PLOTTING
1. Plotting by bearings
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PLOTTING
2. Plotting by included angles
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Problems
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Contd
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PRECISION AND CARE
1. Prismatic compass is graduated to half
degree and by judgment can be read up
to 15 minutes.
2. Ensure that magnetic materials like key
chains, watch etc are not affecting the
compass movement.
3. Take reading without parallax error.
4. Bisect targets like ranging rod at its
pointed base.
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PRECISION AND CARE
4. Centre and level the compass over the
station. Levelling is for convenience.
Centering can be done with a plumb bob
and by adjusting the legs of tripod.
5. Take double readings for important lines.
6. Take back bearings as a check. If there is
discrepancy, repeat.
7. The graduated ring should move freely.