Republic of the Philippines

Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

ASSIGNMENT #5
IN
ELEMENTARY
SURVEYING
Submitted by:
Aeron T. Lamsen (BSCE III – C)

Submitted to:

Engr. Kevin Lester L. Mabalay

Four Types of Meridians

Meridian

Meridian is a reference direction with respect to which the directions of lines

are mentioned. There are three types of meridian - True Meridian, Magnetic
Meridian & Arbitrary Meridian

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

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

needle.

Grid Line - That line, in a grid on a map, parallel to the line representing the
central meridian or y-axis.

Assumed meridian - can be established by merely assigning any arbitrary

direction—for example, taking a certain street line to be north. The directions of
all other lines are then found in relation to it.

Commonly used referencing North points

True North – is the north point of true meridian. In maps and sketches, it is
portrayed in the direction of the actual location of the earth’s north geographic
pole and is always shown along vertical line. It is symbolized by a start, an
asterisk, or the letters TN.
Magnetic North – A north point that is established by means of magnetic
compass needle when there are no local attractions affecting it. It may be located
either east or west of true north. The point is usually symbolized by a half
arrowhead or letters MN.
Grid North – A north point which is established by lines on a map which are
parallel to a selected central meridian. It may be symbolized by full arrowhead or
the letters GN.
 Assumed North – is used to portray the location of any arbitrary chosen north
point. It may be symbolized by a small blackened circle or the letters AN.

Discuss The Following:

Interior angles - Located inside of a closed polygon. May be measured
clockwise or counterclockwise, but the direction must be consistent throughout
Deflection angles - Are measured right or left from an extension of the current
line to the next station

Bearings - Designate the direction of a line by an angle and quadrant letters.

e.g. N30° E. Bearings are never greater than 90°. Bearings are referenced from
north or south and the angle to the east or west from the north-south meridian.
True bearings are based on true north. Magnetic bearings are based on magnetic
north.

Azimuths - Angles measured clockwise from any reference meridian. Azimuths

range from 0 to 360°. Azimuths are referenced from north. True azimuths are
based on true north. Magnetic azimuths are based on magnetic north.

Discussion about Compass

4-1. Parts of a Compass
Baseplate Hard, flat surface on which the rest of the compass is mounted. It
has a ruler on its edges for measuring distances on maps. It's edge
is straight and useful for laying lines on a map

Scales each edge of a compass may have different rulers for use with
different map scales

Direction-of- Marked on the base plate. You point this the way you will be
Travel Arrow traveling
Magnifier for seeing small map features better

Index Pointer Butt end of the direction-of-travel arrow. It ends right at the edge
of the dial and is where you take degree readings

Dial Ring around the housing that has degree markings engraved. You
hold the dial and rotate it to rotate the entire housing

Declination use to orient the compass in an area with known declination

Marks

Orienting Marked on the floor of the housing. It rotates with the housing
Arrow when the dial is turned. You use it to orient a compass to a map

Orienting Lines series of parallel lines marked on the floor of the housing and on
the base plate

Needle Magnetized piece of metal that has one end painted red to
indicate North. It sits on a fine point that is nearly frictionless so it
rotates freely when the compass is held fairly level and steady

Housing Main part of the compass. It is a round plastic container filled with
liquid and has the compass needle inside

Bubble a bubble of air in the housing liquid is useful for making sure you
are holding the compass fairly level

Mirror Lets you see the compass face and distant objects at the same
time. Useful for emergency signaling

Sight improves aiming your compass at distant objects

4-2. Types of a Compass

Brunton Compass – Is one of the most versatile and widely used. It combines
the main features of a prismatic compass, sighting compass, hand level, and
clinometers.
 Lensatic Compass – Consists of aluminum case containing magnetic dial
balanced on a pivot, a hinged cover with a sighting wire, a hinged eyepiece
containing magnifying lens for reading the dial graduations, and a sighting slot for
viewing distant object. It was designed for military use.
Baseplate Compass - The baseplate compass is one of the most common and
affordable types of compass. The liquid-filled compass mounts on a rectangular
base made of clear plastic. The baseplate often includes a magnifying lens for map
reading, luminous components for low-light conditions and different scales for
worldwide use.
Card Compass - The card compass, or marine compass, commonly used on
ships and boats, differs from most other compasses because it uses a fixed
needle, relying on a moving compass card for directional readings.
Thumb Compass - Competitors in various orienteering sports often use thumb
compasses, also known as competition compasses. The compass attaches to the
user's thumb, allowing the competitor to hold both map and compass in one hand
while travelling at speed, be it on foot, by bike or by canoe.
Prismatic Compass - The prismatic compass is a sophisticated device designed
for highly accurate navigation. The prism sighting arrangement allows the user to
read the compass bearings while sighting distant objects.
Gyrocompass - This sophisticated compass always finds true north, rather than
magnetic north. It is also unaffected by external magnetic fields, unlike magnetic
compasses. Most large sea-going vessels use a gyrocompass as part of their
navigation system.
Electronic Compass - Electronic compasses provide bearings on a numerical
readout. They give quite accurate readings and include a number of special
features, including the option to store bearings in the memory and the ability to
notify the user if he wanders off course.

4-3. Local Attraction

 - Is any deviation of the magnetic needle of a compass from its normal
pointing towards magnetic north. Objects made of steel or iron such as
reinforcing bars, fences, buried pipelines, and even moving vehicles may
considerably affect the compass needle.

4-4. Magnetic Dip

- Is a characteristic phenomenon of the compass needle to be attracted
downward from the horizontal plane due to the earth’s magnetic lines of
force.

4-5. Magnetic Declination and Variations in Magnetic Declination

(A)Magnetic Declination
- The horizontal angle and direction by which the needle of a compass
deflects from the true meridian at any particular locality is called the
magnetic declination. Deflection of the needle may be eastward or
westward of the true meridian.
(B) Variations in Magnetic Declination
1. Daily Variation – This variation, also called diurnal variation, is an
oscillation of the compass needle through a cycle from its mean position
over 24 hour period.
2. Annual Variation – Annual Variation is another form of periodic swing
taken by the magnetic meridian with respect to the true meridian. It
usually amounts to only less than 1 minute or arc and thus considered
negligible.
3. Secular Variations – is a slow, gradual, but unexplainable shift in the
position of the earth’s magnetic meridian over a regular cycle.
4. Irregular Variation – this type of variation is uncertain in character and
cannot be predicted as to amount or occurrence. Irregular variations are
most likely to occur during magnetic storms and disturbances associated
with sun spots, and when auroral displays occur.

4-6. Types of Compass Surveys

 A) Open Compass Traverse – Consists of a series of lines of known lengths and
magnetic bearings which are continuous but do not return to the starting
point or close upon appoint of known position. An open traverse is generally
avoided since they offer no way of checking the field measurements for
errors and mistakes.
B) Closed Compass Traverse – consists of a series of lines of known lengths
and magnetic bearings which form a closed loop, or begin and end at points
whose positions have been fixed by other surveys of higher precision.

4-7. Sources of Errors in Compass Work

(A)Bent Needle - When a magnetic compass with a bent needle is used, all
observed bearings will have a constant error. Either end of the needle will
read higher or lower than the correct value.
(B) Bent Pivot - A variable systematic error is introduced when a magnetic
compass has a bent pivot. The magnitude at the error will depend upon the
direction in which the sight it made.
(C) Sluggish Needle - When the magnetism of the needle is weak it tends to lag
and move in sluggish manner. This lag produces a random error since the
needle is not likely to come to test exactly on the magnetic meridian.
(D)Plane of Sight not vertical - When observing the direction of a line, the line
of sight may be steeply inclined if the sight vanes are bent. The correct
alignment of the vanes may be tested by aligning it with a plumb line, when
the compass is leveled.
(E) Electrically Charged Compass Box - The glass cover at the compass box
becomes slightly charged with electricity when its surface is rubbed. It
attracts the magnetic needle and causes it to stick. Touching the glass cover
with a moistened finger will remove static electricity.
(F) Local Attraction - The correct pointing of the magnetic needle toward
magnetic north is usually affected by different forms of local attraction such
as power transmission lines, items made of iron or steel, underground ore
deposits, and etc.
(G)Magnetic Variations - Systematic errors in compass surveys are caused by
daily, annual, secular, or irregular variation in magnetic declination. Such
 variations are the sources of the largest and most significant errors in
compass work.
(H) Errors in Reading the Needle - Usually the source of most accidental errors
in compass work is due to the inability of the observer to determine exactly
the point on the graduated circle where the needle comes to rest.