ERROR PROPAGATION

TRAVERSE

I I -

J
- D + J
+ D
Departure Departure
(a) (b)

Every course in traverse affected by:

distance measurement errors.

angular measurement errors causing

computed errors in azimuth .

PLATE 7-1
 THE FUZZY TRAVERSE

Errors in distance and angle measurements result in

increasing uncertainty in computed coordinates at each
station.
PLATE 7-2
PLATE 7-3
 DERIVATION OF ERROR
PROPAGATION FORMULA

LAT = D Cos( Az )

DEP = D Sin( Az )

Need to use G.L.O.P.O.V. since latitude and departure are

functionally related by errors in distance and azimuth.

PLATE 7-4
 SOLVING EQUATIONS WITH MATRICES

MATRIX: a set of numbers or symbols arranged in an

array of “m” rows and “n” columns.

E.G.
1 0 2 3
A4 =
3 9 3 8 6
0 4 7 1

PLATE 7-5
 FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Elements designated by subscripted lower case letters.

E.G. For first row: a11, a12, a13, a14,

1 0 2 3
A= 9 3 8 6
0 4 7 1

a11 = 1 a12 = 0 a13 = 2 a14 = 3

a21 = 9 a22 = 3 a23 = 8 a24 = 6
a31 = 0 a32 = 4 a33 = 7 a34 = 1

a11 a12 a13 a14

A = a21 a22 a23 a24

a31 a32 a33 a34

PLATE 7-6
 MATRIX TRANSPOSE

Interchanging rows and columns, that is:

aij = aji

1 0 2 3
A= 9 3 8 6
0 4 7 1
then
1 9 0

T
0 3 4
A =
2 8 7
3 6 1

PLATE 7-7
 MATRIX ADDITION

Add matrices element by element

E.g. Let
7 3 1 1 5 6
A B
2 5 6 4 2 3

then
7 1 3 5 1 6
A B
2 4 5 2 6 3

PLATE 7-8
 MATRIX MULTIPLICATION

Row is multiplied by column. Let

4 8
1 2 3
A B 6 2
4 2 7
5 3

Then C2 = 2A3 × 3B2

2

c11 = 1×4 + 2×6 + 3×5 = 31

c12 = 1×8 + 2×2 + 3×3 = 21
c21 = 4×4 + 2×6 + 7×5 = 63
c22 = 4×8 + 2×2 + 7×3 = 57

or
31 21
C=
63 57

PLATE 7-9
REPRESENTING EQUATIONS USING MATRICES

Let
1x + 2y - 4z = 3
6x - 3y + 8z = 8
5x + 1y + 1z = 2

This can be written in matrix form:

AX = B
where
1 2 4 x 3
6 3 8 y 8
5 1 1 z 2

PLATE 7-10
 APPLYING G.L.O.P.O.V.

lat,dep =A AT

Lat Lat
D Az
where A
Dep Dep
D Az
Lat Lat
Cos( Az) D Sin( Az)
D Az

Dep Dep
Sin( Az) D Cos( Az)
D Az

2
D 0
2
Az
0

2
lat lat,dep
lat, dep 2
lat,dep dep

PLATE 7-11
 EXAMPLE

A traverse course has a length of 456.87 ± 0.02 ft, and

azimuth of 23° 35' 26" ± 9". What are the latitude and
departure for the course, and the estimated errors in each?

Lat = 456.87 Cos( 23° 35' 26" )

= 418.69 ft.

Dep = 456.87 Sin( 23° 35' 26" )

= 182.84 ft.

PLATE 7-12
 THEIR ESTIMATED ERRORS
BY G.L.O.P.O.V.
0.022 0
Cos(Az) DSin(Az) 2
Cos(Az) Sin(Az)
lat, dep
Sin(Az) DCos(Az) 9 DSin(Az) DCos(Az)
0

OR

0.0004 0
0.9164 456.87 (0.4002) 0.9164 0.4002
2
lat, dep 9
0.4002 456.87 (0.9164) 0 456.87 (0.4002) 456.87 (0.9164)

OR

0.00039958 0.00000096
lat, dep
0.00000096 0.00039781

PLATE 7-13
 ERROR ANALYSIS

q11 is the latitude's variance,

q22 is the departure's variance, and
q12 and q21 are their covariances.

Thus estimated errors are:

Lat = q11 0.00039958 = ±0.020 ft.

Dep = q22 0.00039781 = ±0.020 ft.

PLATE 7-14
 ESTIMATED ERRORS
IN TRAVERSE
TWO COMPONENTS:
1. Errors in azimuths

2. Errors in distances

PLATE 7-15
 ESTIMATED ERRORS
IN COURSE AZIMUTHS

FORMULA:
Azc = Azp + 180 +

where
Azc is the azimuth of the course,
Azp is the azimuth of the previous course

USING S.L.O.P.O.V.
2 2
Azc Azp

PLATE 7-16
 FOR A TRAVERSE WITH AZIMUTHS
COMPUTED FROM ANGLES

n
2 2
Azn Azinitial i
i 2

where
Azn is the azimuth of the n’th course

Azinitial
is the azimuth of the initial course

PLATE 7-17
 EXAMPLE

(Each angle was measured with four repetitions.)

Occ Std Distance S BS Inst FS Angle S
A B 1435.67 0.020 E A B 110 24' 40" 3.5"
B C 856.94 0.020 A B C 87 36' 14" 3.1"
C D 1125.66 0.020 B C D 125 47' 27" 3.6"
D E 1054.54 0.020 C D E 99 57' 02" 3.1"
E A 756.35 0.020 D E A 116 14' 56" 3.9"
540° 00' 19"

Check angular misclosure at 95% level of confidence:

t0.025,3 = 3.183

3.183 3.52 3.12 3.62 3.12 3.92

±24.6

Since 19" is less than 24.6", the angular misclosure is

acceptable.

PLATE 7-18
 Errors in Traverse Computations

FROM TO AZIMUTH ESTIMATED ERROR

A B 0 00' 00" 0"
B C 267 36' 14" ±3.1"
C D 213 23' 41"
3.12 3.62 ±4.8
D E 133 20' 43"
4.82 3.12 ±5.7
E A 69 35' 39"
5.72 3.92 ±6.9

PLATE 7-19
 Errors in Traverse Computations
Set up A matrix:
alternate columns with partial derivatives for distance
and azimuth
alternate rows with latitude and departure equations
for each course.

Cos(AzAB) DABSin(AzAB) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sin(AzAB) DAB Cos(AzAB) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 Cos(AzBC) DBC Sin(AzBC) 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 Sin(AzBC) DBC Cos(AzBC) 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cos(AzEA) DEA Sin(AzEA)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sin(AzEA) DEA Cos(AzEA)

PLATE 7-20
 Errors in Traverse Comps
Setup matrix:

2
DAB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
AzAB
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 DBC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
AzBC
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 0 0 DCD 0 0 0 0 0
2
AzCD
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 0 0 0 0 DDE 0 0 0
2
AzDE
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DEA 0
2
AzEA
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PLATE 7-21
 Errors in Traverse Computations
Substitute in appropriate values and compute:

lat, dep = A AT

0.00040 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0.00017 0.00002 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0.00002 0.00040 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0.00049 0.00050 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0.00050 0.00060 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00064 0.00062 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00062 0.00061 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00061 0.00034
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00034 0.00043

PLATE 7-22
 EXPECTED MISCLOSURE
IN A TRAVERSE

Computing the expected value for the linear misclosure of

a traverse.

LC ( LatAB LatBC LatEA )2 ( DepAB DepBC DepEA )2

The partial derivatives w.r.t. Lat and Dep for the i’th
course are:
LC Lats
Lati LC

LC Deps
Depi LC

PLATE 7-23
 EXPECTED MISCLOSURE
IN A TRAVERSE

Since the partial derivatives are course independent, the A

matrix structure is:

Lats Deps Lats Deps Lats Deps

A
LC LC LC LC LC LC

PLATE 7-24
 ACTUAL TRAVERSE MISCLOSURE

Course Latitude Departure

AB 1435.67 0
BC -35.827 -856.191
CD -939.811 -619.567
DE -723.829 766.894
EA 263.715 708.886
= -0.082 = 0.022

LC = ( 0.082)2 (0.022)2 0.085 ft.

PLATE 7-25
 EXPECTED TRAVERSE MISCLOSURE

From previously determined Lat, Dep and G.L.O.P.O.V.

0.9647

0.2588

0.9647

0.2588

0.9647
LC [ 0.9647 0.2588 0.9647 0.2588 0.9647 0.2588 ] Lat, Dep

0.2588

0.9647

0.2588

0.9647

0.2588

[ 0.00229 ]

PLATE 7-26
 STATISTICAL CHECK OF
TRAVERSE MISCLOSURE

Expected traverse misclosure:

LC = 0.00229 ±0.048 ft

PLATE 7-27
 STATISTICAL CHECK OF
TRAVERSE MISCLOSURE

At 95% level of confidence use a t multiplier of t0.05, 3 =

2.35

Thus E95 = 2.35 × 0.048

= ± 0.11 ft.

Actual traverse misclosure 0.085 ft. within 95%

confidence interval.

PLATE 7-28
 LINK TRAVERSE EXAMPLE

2
D

B
A
C

Distance Observations
From To Distance S
1 A 1069.16 ±0.021
A B 933.26 ±0.020 Control Stations
B C 819.98 ±0.020 Station X Y
C D 1223.33 ±0.021 1 1248.00 3979.00
D 2 1273.22 ±0.021 2 4873.00 3677.00

Angle Observations Azimuth Observations

BS Inst FS Angle S From To Azimuth S
1 A B 66 16' 35" ±4.9" 1 A 197 04' 47" ±4.3"
A B C 205 16 '46" ±5.5" 2 D 264 19' 13" ±4.1"
B C D 123 40' 19" ±5.1"
C D 2 212 00' 55" ±4.6"

PLATE 7-29
 ANGULAR MISCLOSURE
Course Azimuth
1A 197 04' 47" ±4.3"
AB 83 21' 22" ±6.5"
BC 108 38' 08" ±8.5"
CD 52 18' 27" ±9.9"
D2 84 19' 22" ±11.0"

The actual difference in the azimuths:

84° 19' 22" - 84° 19' 13" = 9"

Using S.L.O.P.O.V., the estimated difference is:

11.02 4.12 ±11.7

Thus, there is no reason to suspect any problems in the

angle measurements.

PLATE 7-30
 CHECKING TRAVERSE
MISCLOSURE

Course Latitude Departure

1A -1022.007 -314.014
AB 107.976 926.993
BC -262.022 776.989
CD 747.973 968.025
D2 125.952 1266.975
= -302.128 = 3624.968

ACTUAL MISCLOSURE
Dep = Dep - (X2 - X1) = 3624.968 - 3625.00
= -0.032

Lat = Lat - (Y2 - Y1) = -302.128 - (-302.00)

= -0.128

LC Dep 2 Lat 2

( 0.128)2 ( 0.032)2
0.132

PLATE 7-31
 EXPECTED TRAVERSE
MISCLOSURE

SETUP MATRICES

Cos(Az1A) D1ASin(Az1A) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sin(Az1A) D1ACos(Az1A) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 Cos(AzAB) DABSin(AzAB) 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 Sin(AzAB) DABCos(AzAB) 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cos(AzD2) DD2Sin(AzD2)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sin(AzD2) DD2Cos(AzD2)

PLATE 7-32
EXPECTED TRAVERSE MISCLOSURE
2
D1A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
Az1A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 DAB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
AzAB
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 0 0 DBC 0 0 0 0 0

2 2
AzBC
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 0 0 0 0 DCD 0 0 0
2
AzCD
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DD2 0
2
AzD2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PLATE 7-33
 EXPECTED TRAVERSE MISCLOSURE
0.000446 0.000263 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.000263 0.000492 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0.000859 0.000145 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0.000145 0.000406 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0.00107 0.000467 0 0 0 0
lat, dep
0 0 0 0 0.000467 0.000476 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0.002324 0.001881 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0.001881 0.001565 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.004570 0.000497
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000497 0.000482

Expected Traverse Misclosure:

Lat Dep Lat Dep Lat Dep

A
LC LC LC LC LC LC

LC =A lat, dep AT = [ 0.01000 ]

LC = ± 0.10 ft.

E95% = t0.05,3 LC = 2.35 × 0.10 = 0.24 ft.

PLATE 7-34