CHAPTER 2

PRISMATIC COMPASS
SURVEYING
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
This chapter focuses on the surveying works using prismatic
compass. At the end of this chapter the student should be
able to:-
Determine the bearings of the lines of a traverse
survey.
Understand the method of traversing in surveys.
Reduce field data and plot the results graphically.
 INTRODUCTION
In every form of surveying, where angles are
measured, the bearings of the survey line
usually have to be obtained. The bearing of a
line in its direction relative to north
Cont

Surveying is concerned with relative location of points

on, above or below the surface of the earth.

If the location of 2 points is known, a third point

maybe located by measuring the distance from the
already located points.
Cont

In such cases, direction may be used for the location of a

point by any of the following methods:-
a) By measuring its distance from one of the given points
and its direction from the other points.
b) By measuring its distance and direction from any of
the two points.
c) By measuring its direction from each of the points
Cont

The direction of the survey lines is measured with the

help of an instrument known as compass.

Compass being light and portable is most suited for

exploratory and reconnaissance survey.

It is particularly advantageous when the survey line is

short.
Cont

Some of the application and uses of a compass

survey are:-
* To find out the magnetic bearing of a line
* To fill in details.
* Tracing streams.
* Plotting irregular shore lines.
* Reconnaissance survey.
 DEFINITIONS

Whole Circle Bearings (W.C.B.)

The direction of survey lines is generally
expressed as an angle measured from a
reference meridian, generally north, commencing
from 0 degrees (0) and increasing clockwise to
360 degrees (359 59 60).
 Quadrantal Bearings
* The quadrantal or reduced bearing of a line is
defined as the angle lying between 0 and 90,
between the direction to north or south and the
direction of the line.

* Note that, the east and west directions are never

used as the direction of the line but nevertheless are
included because they indicated the direction of the
line from grid north.
 Magnetic bearings
Magnetic bearings are measured using a
compass. On all compasses, there is a magnetic
needle which, when suspended freely or when
allowed to swing freely on a pivot will settle in the
magnetic meridian.
 FIGURE 2.1

True North, Magnetic North, Magnetic Bearing And True (W.C.B.) Bearing
 FIGURE 2.2
N

N/W N/E

W E

S/W S/E

Quadrantal Bearing
 Magnetic Declination
* In fig. 2.1, the true and magnetic W.C.B. Of any
line are different.

* The difference is called magnetic declination.

* Magnetic declination is said to be westerly when

the magnetic declination lies to the west of the true
meridian.
 FORWARD BEARINGS BACK BEARINGS
The bearings of a line in the The bearings of a line in the
direction of progress of the opposite direction of
survey. progress of the survey.

N N

Back W.C.B
Forward W.C.B

B
A
S
S
 RULE

TO OBTAIN BACK BEARINGS FROM FORWARD

BEARINGS OR VICE VERSA
=
ADD (+) OR SUBSTRACT (-) 180
 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FORWARD BEARING
AND BACK BEARING
W.C.B system
* If the fore bearing of a line is known then,

Back Bearing Fore Bearing 180

Q.B. System
* The fore and back bearings are numerically equally are in opposite
direction.
* I.E. = N is replaced by S or vice versa and E is replaced by W or vice
versa.
* Example = if the fore bearing of a line is N30E, its back bearing will
be S30W
 EXAMPLE 2.1

Convert the following whole circle bearings to

Quadrantal Bearings.
a) 56 20
b) 170 05
c) 218 30
d) 272 50
ANSWER
a) W .C.B. 5620 ' Q.B. N 5620 ' E

b)W .C.B. 17005' Q.B. 180 17005' S 955' E

c)W .C.B. 21830 ' Q.B. 21830 ' 180 S 3830 'W

d )W .C.B. 27550 ' Q.B. 360 27250 ' N 8710 'W

 EXAMPLE 2.2
Convert the following Quadrantal Bearings into
Whole Circle Bearing.
a) N10 00E
b) S30 14E
c) S02 10W
d) N18 20W
ANSWER
a) Q.B. N1000 ' E W .C.B. 1000 '

b)Q.B. S 3014 ' E W .C.B. 180 3014 ' 14946 '

c)Q.B. S 0210 'W W .C.B. 180 0210 ' 18210 '

d )Q.B. N1820 'W W .C.B. 360 1820 ' 34140 '

 SOURCES OF ERROR

Equipment (bending needle).

Observation (lack of precision and parallax).
Local attraction (local magnetic sources).
 STEPS TO REDUCED DISCREPANCIES

Compass must be leveled at every station.

Eye position should be level to the vertical plane.
Slightly knock the compass before doing
observation especially to the old one
Observation reading must be taken several time.
ADVANTANGES OF PRISMATIC COMPASS
Small, light, easy to carry and cheaper compared to
the other equipment such as theodolite.
Easy in surveying.
Bearing on the line is free from the discrepancies of
another line before and after.
Work can be done very quickly.
 DISADVANTAGES
Less accurate compared using theodolite
Always has local attraction.

Compass always used for:-

The reconnaissance.
Less accurate specification of surveying.
To take offsets from the bend/curve border.
 TRAVERSE SURVEY

A traverse survey consists of a series of survey lines,

connected to each other, each line having length and
direction.

A framework survey consists of a series straight lines,

arranged in the form of triangles (linear survey),
polygons (closed traverse surveys) or vector ( open
traverse surveys).
 In order to survey any parcel of land, two (2)
distinct operations are required namely:-

i. A framework survey
ii. A detail survey
TYPE OF TRAVERSE
 Basic principle of traversing
a) Measuring the slope length.
b) Measuring the angle of gradient of every line.
c) Measuring the clockwise horizontal angle between
adjacent lines.
d) Measuring the bearing.
 In traverse survey, the duties of the surveyors
are:-
a) To select suitable stations.
b) To measure the distance between the stations.
c) To attend and move the sightings target from
station to station.
d) To measure and record the angles.
e) To reference the stations for further use.
 The positions of stations are governed by the
following factors:-
a) Easy measuring conditions
b) Avoidance of short lines
c) Stations should be chosen so that the actual station
mark can be sighted
d) The stations should near to some permanent objects,
such as trees.
 REFERENCING TRAVERSE STATIONS

Traverse station often must be found and re-occupied

month or even years after they are established.
They may be destroyed through construction or etc.
So, it is important that they be referenced by creating
ties.
With the ties, the point can be re-established.
Typical Traverse Tie

5.0 m Fire Hydrant

3.5 m
3.5 m

Durian Tree
Mango Tree
 TRAVERSE FIELD NOTE

If prismatic compass is being used in the survey, the

observed clockwise horizontal angles and vertical
angles are measured using the compass.

The distance between stations will be measured

using tapes.
 EXAMPLE OF BOOKING FORM
Observed Observed Vertical Distance
Instrument Station Target Station
Horizontal Angles Angles (m)
E

B
 ANGLE MISCLOSURE
The angular misclosure for an interior-angle
traverse is the difference between the sum of the
measured angles and the geometrically correct
total for the polygon.
The sum of the interior angles of a closed polygon
should be:-

n 2180 Internal angles

n number of sides or angles in the polygon
(n 2)180 External angles
 TRAVERSE COMPUTATION
The usual steps followed in making elementary traverse
computations are:-
a) Adjusting angles/directions to fixed geometric
conditions.
b) Determining preliminary bearings of the traverse lines
c) Calculating the eastings and northings and adjusting
them for misclosure.
d) Computing the rectangular coordinates of the traverse
stations.
 EXAMPLE 2.3
Angle Observed value Correction Adjusted Value

A 122 42 20

B 08716 40

C 133 08 20

D 125 55 20

E 092 47 40

F 158 06 40

TOTAL 719 57 00
Angle Observed value Correction Adjusted Value

A 122 42 20 + 0 0 30 122 42 50

B 08716 40 + 0 0 30 08717 10

C 133 08 20 + 0 0 30 133 08 50

D 125 55 20 + 0 0 30 125 55 50

E 092 47 40 + 0 0 30 092 48 10

F 158 06 40 + 0 0 30 158 07 10

TOTAL 719 57 00 720 00 00

6 2 180 720 00 ' 00" error 720 71957 '00" 0003'00"

0003'00"
error 0000 '30"
6
 EXAMPLE 2.4
The following interior angles were measured in a
closed traverse. The bearing of AB was measured as
60. Calculate the bearings of all other lines if:-

A 14010 ', B 09908',

C 06022 ', D 06920 '
 B

099 08

60
A
Observed
Line
Bearing 140 10
AB 60 060 22

BA 240 C

BC 140 52
069 20
CB 320 52

CD 260 30 D

DC 80 30
EXAMPLE 2.4
DA 11 10

A-D 191 10
 EXAMPLE 2.5

Determine the value of included angles in a closed

compass traverse ABCD conducted in clockwise
direction, given the following fore bearing of
respective line:-

Line Fore Bearing

AB 40
BC 70
CD 210
DA 280
 METHOD OF BEARING ADJUSTMENT

MEAN BEARING METHOD

We assume one of the observed bearing is true

Mean Front
Station Front Bearing Back Bearing
Bearing

1 339 00 00 157 00 00 338 00 00

2 182 00 00 360 00 00 181 00 00

3 339 30 00 160 30 00 340 00 00

339 00 00 157 00 00 = 182 00 00
Assume that the FB is TRUE, so BB must be added +2 to
get 180 00 00differential
So, mean BB = (157 00 00 +159 00 00)/2
= 158 00 00
If BB = 158 00 00, it less than 180 00 00
So mean of FB = 158 00 00 + 180 00 00
= 338 00 00
 LOCAL ATTRACTION
The magnetic needle does not point to magnetic north.
In the presence of magnetic material such as iron pipes,
steel structure, iron lamps etc. The needle is deflected
from its normal position.
Hence, local attraction by the magnetic material is the
disturbing influence on the magnetic needle of the
compass.
The amount of deviation of the magnetic needle is the
measure of local attraction.
 DETECTION OF LOCAL ATTRACTION

Local attraction is detected by observing the fore

and back bearing of the line.
If the difference between them is 180, both the
end stations are considered to be free from local
attraction provided the compass is devoid of
instrumental errors.
 If not, the discrepancies may be due to:-
*An error in observation of either fore and
back bearing or both.
*Presence of local attraction at either or
both of the stations.
 Observed Local Attraction
Line Differential Final Bearing
Bearing Correction
AB 060 30 00 - 006 15 00 054 15 00
EXAMPLE 2.5

169 45 00
BA 230 15 00 + 004 00 00 234 15 00
BC 338 00 00 + 004 00 00 342 00 00
176 00 00
CB 162 00 00 000 00 00 162 00 00
CD 184 15 00 000 00 00 184 15 00
180 00 00
DC 004 15 00 000 00 00 004 15 00
DE 219 00 00 000 00 00 219 00 00
174 30 00
ED 044 30 00 - 005 30 00 039 00 00
E A 316 15 00 - 005 30 00 310 45 00
179 15 00
A-E 137 00 00 - 006 15 00 130 45 00
 CALCULATION METHOD

Calculate the difference of the Front Bearing (FB) and

Back Bearing (BB).

Start with the station without error of local attraction

and followed with the next station.
 C and D station has no local attraction. So the
observed bearing for that station will be the
final bearing.

Remember, (bb fb) = 180 00 00

So, station e has no local attraction error. Every

bearing observed from station E has the same
local attraction error and has the same
correction.
 ATTENTION !

If you found that after elimination of local

attraction, some of the final bearing are not
giving 180 00 00differential between FB
and BB, THERE ARE SOME DISCREPANCIES
OCCURRED.
 THREE CASES OF LA

Normally well deal with 3 cases of LA:

1ST : Only one station is free from LA
2nd : More than one station are free from LA
3rd : All stations are affected by LA
Typical Compass Data
Only One Station Is Free From LA
Cont..
Cont..
Cont..
 Next calculate new difference
Calculate misclosure
 Calculate misclosure for each line BACKWARD.
Start from 30 minus error distribution 6.
Then 24 6 so on.
What if we have more than one misclosure?

Each misclosure must be divided

with (no. of line before it + 1).

1st :
Error = 30/3 = - 10

2nd:
Error = + 15/2 = + 7 30
More than one station are free from LA

As you can see line BC and

EA are free from LA.

Just fill all the respective line

with 0 and proceed as in
1st case.
All stations are affected by LA
Where all the lines have
local attraction:
Choose a line close
to 180.
Choose a line with
shorter ditance
 1st determine New Bearing:
118 30 + 180 = 29830
(29830 + 298 45)/2 = 298 3730
298 3730 - 180 = 118 3730

Then calculate local attraction:

298 3730 - 298 45 = - 7 30
Cont.. 118 3730 - 118 30 = +7 30
 PLOTTING OF COMPASS SURVEY
Errors in plotting always occurred and the allowable
discrepancies is around 1/400.

Method that can be used in plotting the compass

traverse is coordinate/Bowditch Method.
 COORDINATE/BOWDITCH METHOD
This method assume that the error in the bearing of a line due to some
accuracy in angular or length measurement gives a displacement of
end of that line, relative to the other end equal and at right angles to
that displacement.

CALCULATION STEPS:
1. Use W.C.B.
2. Calculate the latitude and departure.
3. Calculate the total latitude and departure.
4. Calculate adjustment and eliminate discrepancies.
LATITUDE AND DEPARTURE
 Closure of a traverse is checked by computing
latitude and departure.
Latitude of a line is its projection on the n-s
meridian.
This line is equal its length times the cosines of its
bearing.
(Lat = l x cos )
Cont

The departure of a line is its projection on E-W line.

The line is equals its length times the sine of its
bearing.
(Lat = l x sin )
 Adjustment for every line must be done.
Line correction/adjustment:-

DISCREPANCIES
X LENGTH OF THE LINE
TOTAL LENGTH

Latitude = L cos
Departure = L sin
 ERROR OF CLOSURE

When doing a closed traverse survey, a surveyor walk

as far as north as him/her walk the same distance to the
south.
This is applied also to the east and west direction.
In this situation the sum of latitude and departure should
be the same or equal to zero.
Cont

In reality, the summed of the two, will never be exactly

equal to zero.
When latitude are added together and departure also
the same, the resulting error is referred as error in latitude
(el) and error in departure (ed).
Cont

For example, in this figure below a scale drawing a

closed traverse survey.
The figure will not close because el and ed.
Cont

The formula to correct this errors are as follows: -

Error of closure

Eclosure EL ED
2 2

Precision of measurements
Eclosure
precision
Total Length
 EXAMPLE 2.6
Given in the bearings for a traverse compass survey
conducted by a group of student. Find the
coordinated for each point by using Bowditch
Method.

Line Distance (m) W.C.B.

AB 103.4 187 22 20
BC 157.25 185 41 17
CE 143.36 124 05 58
EG 169.08 038 45 20
GJ 176.74 016 52 38
JL 110.60 285 56 38
LA 140.83 273 12 24'