Traverse is a method in the field of surveying

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

 to establish control networks. It is also used in geodesy

Geodesy

Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...

. Traverse networks involve placing survey stations along a line or path of travel, and then using the previously surveyed points as a base for observing the next point. Traverse networks have many advantages, including:

• Less reconnaissance and organization needed;
• While in other systems, which may require the survey to be performed along a rigid polygon
  Polygon
  In geometry a polygon is a flat shape consisting of straight lines that are joined to form a closed chain orcircuit.A polygon is traditionally a plane figure that is bounded by a closed path, composed of a finite sequence of straight line segments...
  
   shape, the traverse can change to any shape and thus can accommodate a great deal of different terrains;
• Only a few observations need to be taken at each station, whereas in other survey networks a great deal of angular and linear observations need to be made and considered;
• Traverse networks are free of the strength of figure considerations that happen in triangular systems;
• Scale error does not add up as the traverse is performed. Azimuth swing errors can also be reduced by increasing the distance between stations.

The traverse is more accurate than triangulateration (a combined function of the triangulation

Triangulation

In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than measuring distances to the point directly...

 and trilateration

Trilateration

In geometry, trilateration is the process of determinating absolute or relative locations of points by measurement of distances, using the geometry of circles, spheres or triangles. In addition to its interest as a geometric problem, trilateration does have practical applications in surveying and...

 practice).

Types

Frequently in surveying engineering

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

 and geodetic science

Geodesy

Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...

, control points (CP) are setting/observing distance and direction (bearings

Bearing (navigation)

In marine navigation, a bearing is the direction one object is from another object, usually, the direction of an object from one's own vessel. In aircraft navigation, a bearing is the actual compass direction of the forward course of the aircraft...

, angle

Angle

In geometry, an angle is the figure formed by two rays sharing a common endpoint, called the vertex of the angle.Angles are usually presumed to be in a Euclidean plane with the circle taken for standard with regard to direction. In fact, an angle is frequently viewed as a measure of an circular arc...

s, azimuths, and elevation

Elevation

The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....

). The CP throughout the control network may consist of monument

Monument

A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...

s, benchmarks

Benchmark (surveying)

The term bench mark, or benchmark, originates from the chiseled horizontal marks that surveyors made in stone structures, into which an angle-iron could be placed to form a "bench" for a leveling rod, thus ensuring that a leveling rod could be accurately repositioned in the same place in the future...

, vertical control

Sea Level Datum of 1929

The Sea Level Datum of 1929 was the vertical control datum established for vertical control surveying in the United States of America by the General Adjustment of 1929. The datum was used to measure elevation above, and depression below, mean sea level .Mean sea level was measured at 26 tide...

, etc.

Open/Free

An open, or free traverse (link traverse) consist of a series of linked traverse lines which do not return to the starting point to form a polygon.

• Open survey is utilised in plotting a strip of land which can then be used to plan a route in road construction.

Closed

A closed traverse (polygonal, or loop traverse) is when the terminal point closes at the starting point. A closed traverse enables a check by plotting or computation, with any gap called the linear misclosure. When within acceptable tolerances, the misclosure can be distributed by adjusting the bearings and distances of the traverse lines using a systematic mathematical method. The adjusted measurements then close. The "Bowditch rule" or "compass rule" in geodetic science

Geodesy

Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...

 and surveying

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

 assumes that linear error is proportional to the length of the side in relation to the perimeter of the traverse.

• Closed traverse is useful in marking the boundaries of wood or lakes. Construction
  Construction engineering
  Construction engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the designing, planning, construction, and management of infrastructures such as highways, bridges, airports, railroads, buildings, dams, and utilities. Construction Engineers are unique such that they are a cross between civil...
  
  and civil engineers utilize this practice for preliminary surveys of proposed projects in a particular designated area. The terminal (ending) point closes at the starting point.

Compound

A compound traverse is where an open traverse is linked at its ends to an existing traverse to form a closed traverse. The closing line may be defined by coordinates at the end points which have been determined by previous survey. The difficulty is, where there is linear misclosure, it is not known whether the error is in the new survey or the previous survey.

Usages

• Control point — the primary/base control used for preliminary measurements; it may consist of any known point capable of establishing accurate control of distance and direction (i.e. coordinates, elevation, bearings, etc.).

1. Starting – It is the initial starting control point of the traverse.
2. Observation – All known control points that are setted or observed within the traverse.
3. Terminal – It is the initial ending control point of the traverse; its coordinates are unknown.