#.

Compass surveying

• The survey in which the directions of survey lines are measured with the compass and
their length are directly measured on the ground with chain or tape.
• It is suitable for the area free from local attraction
#. Difference between prismatic and surveyor’s compass

Item Prismatic compass Surveyor’s compass

1. bearing Whole circle bearing Quadrantal bearing
2. graduations Inverted (00-3600) 0 at south and Erect (00-900) – 0 at north and
clockwise south.
• 90 at east and west
3. tripod Not essential Essential (most)
4. scale Attached to needle.(the graduated Attached to the box (it rotates of
scale or ring is attached with box rotates)
needle it does not rotate when
box rotates.
5. magnetic Broad magnetic needle Edge bar magnetic needle
needle
6. use Mostly Rarely
7. least count 30 min 15 min
8. reading system The readings are taken with the The readings are taken directly by
help of a prism provided at the seeing through the top of the glass
eye silt • Bisecting the target and
reading cannot be taken
simultaneously.
• Mirror is attached to the object vane so that the target below or above can bee seen
too.
• Horse hair is provided to bisect the object.
#. Temporary adjustments of compass
1. Centering – by judgements or by dropping a small pebble or by plumbob.
2. Levelling – it is done by eye judgment.
3. Focusing the prism – only applicable to prismatic compass.
#. Meridian :- the fixed direction on the surface of the earth, with reference to which, bearings
of survey lines are expressed is called a meridian.
#. Bearing :- the horizontal angle between the reference meridian and the survey line measured
in clockwise direction is called bearing.

1
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer
#. Types of meridian
1. True meridian :- the line of intersection of the earth surface by a plane containing north pole,
south pole and the observer’s position is called true meridian or geographical meridian.
- It does not vary with time or places.
- The geographical meridian at different places are not parallel to each other. They
converges to a point in northern and southern hemisphere.
- True meridian is determined by making astronomical observation to heavenly
bodies. i.e. sun and stars
- True meridian are adopted for large scale survey only.

2. Magnetic meridian :-the longitudinal of a freely suspended and properly balanced magnetic
needle, unaffected by local attractive forces, defines the magnetic north-south line which is
called the magnetic meridian.

2
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer
3. grid meridian :- if a true meridian passes through intersecting the central part of any country
such meridian is called grid meridian.
4. arbitrary meridian :- the convenient direction which is assumed as a meridian for measuring
bearings of survey lines is known as arbitrary meridian.
#. Types of bearing
1. true bearing :- bearing of survey line with respect to true meridian.
2. magnetic bearing :- bearing of survey line with respect to magnetic meridian.
3. grid bearing :- bearing of survey line with respect to grid meridian is called bearing.
4. Arbitrary bearing :- bearing of survey line with respect to arbitrary meridian is called
arbitrary bearing.
#. Azimuth :- it is the smallest horizontal angle of a survey line with respect to the true
meridian.
#. Traverse :- a series of connected straight lines each joining two ground stations is called
traverse.
- End point are known as traverse station
- The straight lines between consecutive station, are called traverse leg.
#. Types of traverse
1. Closed traverse :- a traverse which runs between two known station or which returns to the
same station after completing a circuit is known as closed traverse.
2. Open traverse :- the traverse which neither returns to its starting station nor closes on any
other known station, is called an open traverse.
#. Designation of bearings
1. The whole circle bearing system
- It is also known as azimuthal system.
- Bearing of line always measured with respect to north and in clockwise direction.
- Value is 00-3600
2. The quadrantal bearing system (Q.B) :- in Quadrantal bearing system bearing of survey lines
are measured eastward or westward north and south which ever is nearer
- clockwise or anticlockwise
- value 00-900

3
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer
- it is also known as reduced bearing
#. Conversion from WCB to Q.B

WCB Q.B
0<θ<900 NθE
900<θ<1800 SθE
1800<θ<2700 SθW
2700<θ<3600 NθW
00,3600 N
1800 S
900 E900
2700 W900

#. In closed traverse
- Sum of internal angles = (n-2) x 1800
= (2n-4) 900
= (2n-4) right angle
- Sum of external angles = (2n+4) right angle
- Algebraic sum of deflection angles = 3600
#. Local attraction :- it is defined as an influence which prevents magnetic needle from pointing
to the magnetic north in a given locality.
- It occurs due to effect of electric wire, magnetic, iron ores etc.
- The influence of local attraction is same for all the observation taken from the influenced
station.
- It is defected by taking back bearing and fore bearing of a line.
- The difference between fore bearing and back bearing of line should be 180 0, if not
there is presence of local attraction.
- The difference between back bearing and fore bearing of a line should be 1800 if both
the stations are equally affected in same direction.
#. Fore bearing :- the bearing of a line in the direction of the progress of the survey is called fore
or forward bearing. (F>B)
#. Back bearing :- the bearing of line in opposite direction of the progress of survey, is known as
reverse or back bearing.

4
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer
 - Fore bearing of line AB = θ1
- Back bearing of line AB = θ2
- Fore bearing of line BA = θ2
- Back bearing of line BA = θ1
(back bearing = fore bearing ±1800
#. Deflection angle :- deflection angle is the included angle between the prolongation of the
previous line and succeeding line.
- Clockwise deflection is called right deflection and is additive (Q2)
- Anticlockwise deflection is called left deflection and is subtractive. (Q1)

#. Dip :- dip is the inclination between the longitudinal axis of magnetic needle and the
horizontal plane through its pivot. It is a vertical angle.

5
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer
 - It varies place to place.
- It is zero at equator and 90 at the north and south magnetic poles.
- The line joining points of equal dip is called isoclinic line.
#. Magnetic declination :- it is the horizontal angles between the true meridian and magnetic
meridian.
- Magnetic declination = true bearing – magnetic bearing if +ve, then the magnetic
meridian is east of true meridian.
- If -ve , then the magnetic meridian is west of true meridian.

Q). if true bearing of a line is 45 and magnetic bearing is 50 then what will be magnetic
declination.
a. 50 east b. 50 west
concept :- the line is same for both the meridian.
ʠ = 450-500
= -50
= 5 west
- Magnetic declination varies from place to place and time to time.
- The line joining points of equal declination is called isogonic line.
- The line joining zero declination is called agonic line.
- The variation is more near poles and less on the equator.
#. The variation of magnetic declination
1. secular variation
6
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer
 - Variation over a very long.
- Reason still not defined.
- Fixed value is not known.
- Range may be (0.02’- 12’).
2. annual variation
- Variation within a year.
- It occurs due to rotation of earth around the sun.
- It is more during summer and less during winter.
- Value (1' to 2’)
3. diurnal variation
- Variation within same day.
- It is due to rotation of earth in its own axis.
- More during day time and less during night time.
- Value (3' to 12’)
4. irregular variation
- It is due to earthquake, volcanic, storm, influence etc.
- Value (10 to 20)
Note :- true bearing of sun at noon in southern hemisphere is – 1800
And true bearing of sun at noon in northern hemisphere is – 0 or 3600

• Closed traverse is better than open traverse for considering the degree of accuracy.
• Theodolite traverse is the most accurate traverse.

7
Surveying Full Notes Sub Engineer & Assistant Sub-Engineer