Chapter3: Compass survey

Definition

The branch of surveying in which direction of survey lines are determined

by a compass and their length by a chain or tape is called compass
surveying. This type of survey can be used to measure large areas with
reasonable speed and accuracy.

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Angle

Three basic requirements determining an

angle are:
•Reference or starting line,

•Direction of turning, and

•Angular distance (value of the angle)

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Kinds of horizontal angles
(1) Interior angles (or included angles): which are
observed on the inside of a closed polygon. The sum of all
interior angles in any polygon must equal to (n-2)1800 with
n being the number of angles.

(2) Deflection angles: they are observed from an extension

of the back line to the forward station. They may be
observed to measure the changes in direction of the route by
directly sighting the back line and turning the angle left or
right to the forward line.

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Included angles

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Deflection angles

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Horizontal angles (ct’d)

(3) Angles to the right: are measured

clockwise from the rear to the forward
station
(4)Angles to the left which are turned
counterclockwise from the rear station

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Bearings and angles

The direction of a survey line can either be established

a) with relation to each other, or b) with relation to any
meridian. The first will give the angle between two lines
while the second will give the bearing of the line.

Bearing of a line is its direction relative to a

given meridian
Meridian: is a reference direction with respect to which the direction of lines is
mentioned. There are three types of meridian: True meridian, Magnetic
meridian and Arbitrary Meridian.

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 Contd…
Bearings and angles

1 - True Meridian
It is the reference direction of North Pole of earth from a given station point. It is also
called geographic meridian.

2 - Magnetic Meridian
It is the direction of North Pole indicated by magnetic needle.

3 - Arbitrary Meridian
This is any assume direction to a well-defined object. It may be useful for small
areas.e.g. A mosque is taken as reference and location of road will be mentioned with
respect to this mosque. Direction of magnetic north with respect to true north is called
magnetic direction.

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Bearing
The bearing of a line is defined as the horizontal angle
between a reference meridian and the line.
The bearing, which can be measured clockwise or
counterclockwise from either the north or south end of
the meridian, is always accompanied by letters N or S and
E and W that locate the quadrant in which the line falls
(NE, NW, SE or SW).
Thus, a properly expressed bearing includes quadrant
letters and an angular value.

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 DESIGNATION OF BEARING

Bearings

There are two ways to represent the bearings,

Whole circle bearing (W.C.B) or Azimuthal system

•Reduced Bearing (R.B) or Quadrantal bearing

1) Whole Circle Bearing (W.C.B)

It can be taken 0° to 360°. Quadrants are taken clock-wisely and angles are also
determined in clockwise direction.
2) Reduced Bearing
Reduced bearing or Quadrantal bearing is the angle which a line makes from North or
South Pole whichever may be near. It is value is from 0° to 90°.

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Reduced bearing
N NΦE B
Either from north or south either
clockwise or anticlockwise as per
convenience
Value doesn’t exceed 900 W E
A
Denoted as N ΦE or S Φ W
The system of measuring this
S
bearing is known as Reduced N
Bearing System (RB System)

W E
A

B SΦW S

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Whole circle bearing (Azimuth)

Always clockwise either from N B

north or south end 450
Mostly from north end
Value varies from 00 – 3600 W E
The system of measuring this A
bearing is known as Whole S
Circle Bearing System (WCB N
System) B

3000
W E
A

S
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3.2 Conversion from one system to other

N
Conversion of W.C.B. into R.B.
D
θ A Φ

W o E
ß
α B
C
S
Line W.C.B. between Rule for R.B. Quadrants

OA 00 and 900 R.B. = W.C.B. = θ NθE

OB 900 and 1800 R.B. = 1800 – W.C.B. = 1800 – Φ SΦE
OC 1800 and 2700 R.B. = W.C.B. – 1800 = α – 1800 SαW
OD 2700 and 3600 R.B. = 3600- W.C.B. = 3600- ß. NßW

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3.2 Conversion from one system to otherContd…

N
Conversion of R.B. into W.C.B.
D
ß θ A

W o E
Φ
α
B
C
S
Line R.B. Rule for W.C.B. W.C.B. between
OA NθE W.C.B. = R.B. 00 and 900
OB SΦE W.C.B. = 1800 – R.B. 900 and 1800
OC SαW W.C.B. = 1800 + R.B. 1800 and 2700
OD NßW W.C.B. = 3600- R.B. 2700and 3600

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 3.2 Fore & back bearing

Each survey line has F.B. & B.B.

In case of line AB,
 F.B. is the bearing from A to B
 B.B. is the bearing from B to A
Relationship between F.B. & B.B. in W.C.B.
B.B. = F.B. ± 1800
Use + sign if F.B. < 1800 1800 + θ
C
ß
B
&
use – sign if F.B.>1 1800 θ ß - 1800

A D

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 Contd…
3.2 Fore & back bearing

Relationship between F.B. & B.B. in R.B. system

B.B.=F.B.
Magnitude is same just the sign
changes i.e. cardinal points changes to
opposite.

B D

NΦE NßW
SΦW SßE

A C

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3.2 Calculation of angles from bearing and
vice versa
In [Link] ( Angle from bearing)
 Easy & no mistake when diagram is drawn
 Use of relationship between F.B. & B.B.
 Knowledge of basic geometry

ß B
ß

Θ-1800 -ß θ
A
1800 + θ-ß
θ C
A
C

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3.2 Calculation of angles from bearing and
Contd…
vice versa
In R.B. system (Angle from Bearing)
 Easy & no mistake when diagram is drawn
 Knowledge of basic geometry

B
NθE
SθW SßE
1800-(θ+ß)
A
A Θ+ß C
SßE
C

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3.2 Calculation of bearing from angle

Normally in traverse, included angles are

measured
if that has to be plotted by co-ordinate methods,
we need to know the bearing of line
 Bearing of one line must be measured
 Play with the basic geometry
 Diagram is your good friend always

?
Ø
?
? ?

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3.2 Calculation of bearing from angle
Contd…

 =?

Bearing of line AB = θ1
Back Bearing of line AB = 1800 + θ1
 = 3600 – BB of line AB = 3600 -(1800 + θ1)
 is also = alternate angle of (1800 – θ1) = (1800 – θ1)

Fore Bearing of line BC =θ2 = α –  = α -[3600 –(1800 + θ1) ] = α+ θ1- 1800

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 Contd…
3.2 Calculation of bearing from angle


=?

Bearing of line BC = θ2
Back Bearing of line BC = 1800 + θ2
 = 3600 – BB of line BC = 3600 -(1800 + θ2)

Fore Bearing of line CD = θ3 = ß –  = ß -[3600 –(1800 + θ2) ] = ß+ θ2- 1800

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3.2 Calculation of bearing from angle
Contd…

?


Bearing of line CD= θ3

Back Bearing of line CD? = 1800 + θ3
 = 3600 – BB of line CD = 3600 -(1800 + θ3)

Fore Bearing of line DE = θ4 = γ –  = γ -[3600 –(1800 + θ3) ] = γ+ θ3- 1800

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3.2 Calculation of bearing from angle
Contd…

Ø
=?

Bearing of line DE= θ4

Back Bearing of line DE = 1800 + θ4

Fore Bearing of line EF = θ5 = BB of line DE + Ø = 1800 + θ4 + Ø

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3.2 Numerical on angle & bearing

What would be the bearing of line FG if the following

angles and bearing of line AB were observed as
follows: (Angles were observed in clockwise
direction in traverse)
ABC = 1240 15’ BCD = 1560 30’ CDE = 1020 00’ DEF = 950 15’

EFG = 2150 45’ Bearing of line AB = 2410 30’

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3.2 Numerical on angle & bearing

ABC = 1240 15’ BCD = 1560 30’ CDE = 1020 00’ DEF = 950 15’

EFG = 2150 45’ Bearing of line AB = 2410 30’

2410 30’
A

G
1240 15’
B
2150 45’ ?
F
1560 30’
C
950 15’
1020 00’ E

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3.2 Numerical on angle & bearing

2410 30’ FB of line BC = (2410 30’- 1800) + 1240 15’ = 1850 45’
A

1240 15’
B
1850 45’
B

C
1560 30’
C

D FB of line CD = (1850 45’- 1800) + 1560 30’ = 1620 15’

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3.2 Numerical on angle & bearing

1620 15’ FB of line DE =1020 00’ - (1800- 1620 15’) = 840 15’
C F

E 950 15’
102 00’
0

840 15’ E
D
D

FB of line EF = (840 15’+1800) + 950 15’ = 3590 30’

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 3.2 Numerical on angle & bearing

FB of line FG =2150 45’ - {1800+(BB of line EF)}

FB of line FG =2150 45’ - {(1800 +(00 30’)} = 350 15’
2410 30’
A

G
1240 15’
B
2150 45’
2150 45’ F
F 1560 30’
C
950 15’
1020 00’ E
359 30’
0

E D

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3.3 Error in compass survey (Local
attraction and observational error)
Local attraction is the influence that prevents magnetic
needle pointing to magnetic north pole
Unavoidable substance that affect are
 Magnetic ore
 Underground iron pipes
 High voltage transmission line
Influence caused by avoidable magnetic substance
doesn’t come under local attraction such as instrument,
watch wrist, key etc
Ore: type of rock that contains sufficient minerals with important elements
including metals that can be economically extracted from the rock.

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3.4 Local attractions

A magnetic meridian at a place is established by a magnetic needle which is

uninfluenced by other attracting forces. However, sometimes, the magnetic
needle may be attracted and prevented from indicating the true magnetic
meridian when it is in aproximity to certain magnetic substances.

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3.4 Local attractions

Let Station A be affected by local attraction

Observed bearing of AB = θ1
Computed angle B = 1800 + θ1 – ß would not be right.

B
ß

θ
θ1 C
A

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 Prismatic compass and surveyor’s
compass
PRISMATIC COMPASS
 The graduated ring remains stationary as it is attached to magnetic
needle. While the compass needle and the eye sight vane can be
rotated
 The graduations are made in such a way that 00 or 3600 is at the North,
1800 at South, 900 at East and 2700 at West
 Prismatic compass can be used without a tripod

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 Prismatic compass and surveyor’s
compass
SURVEYORS COMPASS
 The graduated ring being attached to the compass moves with sights. But needle
remains stationary when box is rotated
 The graduations are made as 00 at north and south 900 at east and west. The east
and west positions are interchanged in order to read the bearing in quadrantal
bearing system
 Surveyor's compass cannot be used without a tripod 

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