Overview

A traverse is a series of consecutive lines or courses on which the lengths and directions have been determined. A traverse which comes back to its starting points is called a closed traverse. Closed traverses provide checks on the angles and distances. An open traverse is a series of lines which do not return to the starting point. Open traverses are sometimes used on route survey.

Meridian: The direction of a line may be expressed as an angle from an established reference line. This reference line is called reference meridian and may be expressed as one of the following:

1. Magnetic meridian (influenced by magnetic pole).

2. True meridian (passing the north and south pole).

3. Assumed meridian (arbitrarily chosen).

Bearing: The bearing of a line is the ACUTE horizontal angle between a reference meridian and the line.

• Bearing AB: N 30 E

• Bearing BA: S 30 W

• Back Bearing of AB: S 30 W

Azimuth: Azimuth is angle measured clockwise from a reference meridian.

• Azimuth is from 0 to 360 .

  • Azimuth AB (from the south): 30

  • Azimuth AB (from the north): 210

  

• Back Azimuth AB (from the north): 30

Latitude: The projection of a course on the north-south direction.

Departure: The projection of a course on the east-west direction.

• Latitude = L (cos ?)

• Departure = L (sin ?)

• L = length AB

• ? = bearing or azimuth

The first step in traverse calculation is to balance the angles. The sum of the interior angles of...