Unit 10

Control Surveys
According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT),
control surveys “establish a common, consistent network of physical points that are
basis for controlling the horizontal and vertical position of transportation improvement
projects and facilities”.

Generally speaking, control surveying is the determination of the precise position

of stations scattered on a large area. These stations will serve as a basis for checking
other surveys for engineering projects like hydrographic and topographic mapping, as
well as design of railroads and highways (route surveys). The types of surveys
mentioned are relying heavily on control surveys for position and relative accuracy.

This unit will discuss the following topics:

22. Triangulation and Triangulation Systems

23. Adjustment of a Quadrilateral
24. Strength of Figure and Spherical Excess
25. Trilateration
26. Towers

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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Module 22: Triangulation and Triangulation Systems
Author/Contributor: George P. Palada, RCE

To the students:

Please read pages 156 – 170 of the book Higher Surveying by La Putt for an in-depth
discussion on the topic.

Triangulation

According to Shafer, (in Robillard, Brinker and Minnick, 1995) triangulation is “the
surveying technique in which unknown distances between stations may be determined
by trigonometric applications of triangle or triangles”. In triangulation, one side of a
triangle is called a baseline, and at least two interior angles must be known. The interior
angles are determined and checked for measurement error.

Triangulation is a form of horizontal control. Another example is traverse surveying. In

triangulation, a number of lines of sight are required at each station. For longer
measurements, towers are built to serve as stations. Considering topography,
triangulation is better used for hilly areas while traversing is better used for flat areas.

Duggal (2013) enumerated the fieldwork needed to be carried out in doing triangulation:

1. Reconnaisance
2. Station preparation
3. Base line measurement
4. Measurement of angles

Duggal further enumerated the applications of triangulations:

1. Establishing accurately located control points for plane and geodetic surveys of
large areas.
2. Establishing accurately located control points in connection with aerial surveying
and
3. Accurately locating engineering projects such as center lines, terminal points and
shafts for long tunnels; and centerline and abutments for long span bridges.

Triangulation Systems

Triangulation system is a system consisting of triangulation stations connected by a

chain of triangles.

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
 Example of Triangulation Survey Data
Image source: https://structural-analyser.com/domains/Surveying/chapter07/

Definition of Terms

1. Triangulation. A horizontal control method for determining position of points for

which horizontal distances can be computed trigonometrically.
2. Triangulation System. A series of triangles in which one or more sides of the
triangles are adjacent.
3. Triangulation Stations. These are the vertices of the triangles formed in the
triangulation system.
4. Base line. The known side of a triangle in a triangulation system. Its length and
bearing is precisely determined and will be the basis of the other sides of the
triangle in the system.
5. Check base. Another side of a triangle in a triangulation system that will check
the closure of the survey. The length and direction of this line is also precisely
determined.
6. Trilateration. Another horizontal control survey that uses horizontal distances
only and not the angular direction of a line. It uses adjacent or overlapping
triangles

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
 Chain of Triangles

Chain of Quadrilaterals

Chain of Polygons

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
 Chain of Polygons with Diagonals

Choice of Figure

As shown above, we have four major types of triangulation system, so you may be
asking what should you use, should you a triangulation survey.

The criteria in choosing the triangulation system are as follows: (Punmia, 2015)

1. The figure should be that the computations can be done through two
independent routes.
2. The figure should be such that at least one, and preferable both routes should be
well conditioned.
3. All the lines in a figure should be of comparable length. Very long lines should be
avoided.
4. The figure should be such that least work may secure maximum progress.
5. Complex figures should not involve more than about 12 conditions.

Among the choices, the series of triangles is the most simple. It requires minimal
number of angles and to check the triangles, their internal angles must sum 180
degrees. Duggal recommends using double row of single triangles as a figure.

There may be times that a triangle must be adjusted so the sum of the internal angles
on a triangulation system be 180 degrees.

The approximate method of adjustment of triangles is a simple and convenient method.

Geometric consistency is attained when using this method. The method is divided into
two adjustments: station adjustment or figure adjustment

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
A station adjustment aim to make the sum of the angles about each station be equal to
360 degrees. If the sum of the angles on a station will not equal 360 degrees, the deficit
or the surplus will be divided amonst the angles on the station.

A figure adjustment is done after station adjustment. It uses the values obtained in the
first adjustment, requiring the sum of the internal angles on a triangle be equal to 180
degrees. If there will be a deficit or surplus, it will be divided into three and be added
algebraically to the internal angles.

Approximate Method of Adjustment of a Chain of Triangles

Example

From the chain of triangles as shown in the figure, perform the station and figure
adjustment using approximate method and determine the adjusted internal angles 1-9.

Angle Observed value Angle Observed value

1 58°25’15” 8 63°10’08”
2 59°10’05” 9 45°10’20”
3 62°25’10” 10 301°34’49”
4 60°29’10” 11 240°21’00”
5 59°25’10” 12 228°14’51”
6 60°05’10” 13 314°49’42”
7 71°40’02” 14 174°59’24”

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
Solution:

STATION ADJUSTMENT:

STATION A:

58°25’15” + 301°34’49” = 360°00’04” Error = 04” hence the correction is 02”

Adjusted angle for station A:

Angle 1 = 58°25’15” – 02” = 58°25’13”
Angle 10 = 301°34’49” – 02” = 301°34’47”

STATION B:

59°10’05” + 60°29’10” + 240°21’00” = 360°00’15” Error = 15” hence the

correction is 05”

Adjusted angle for station B:

Angle 2 = 59°10’05” – 05” = 59°10’00”

Angle 4 = 60°29’10” – 05” = 60°29’05”
Angle 11 = 240°21’00” – 05” = 240°20’55”

STATION C:

62°25’10” + 59°25’10” + 63°10’08” + 174°59’24” = 359°59’52” Error = 08” hence

the correction is 02” (to be added)

Angle 3 = 62°25’10” + 02” = 62°25’12”

Angle 5 = 59°25’10” + 02” = 59°25’12”
Angle 8 = 63°10’08” + 02” = 63°10’10”
Angle 14 = 174°59’24” + 02” = 174°59’26”

STATION D:

60°05’10” + 71°40’02” + 228°14’51” = 360°00’03” Error = 03” hence the

correction is 01”

Angle 6 = 60°05’10” – 01” = 60°05’09”

Angle 7 = 71°40’02” – 01” = 71°40’01”
Angle 12 = 228°14’51” – 01” = 228°14’50”

STATION E:

45°10’20” + 314°49’42” = 360°00’02” Error = 02” hence the correction is 01”

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
Angle 9 = 45°10’20” – 01” = 45°10’19”
Angle 13 = 314°49’42” – 01” = 314°49’41”

FIGURE ADJUSTMENT

Triangle ABC: (Angles 1, 2 and 3)

58°25’13” + 59°10’00” + 62°25’12” = 180°00’25” Error = 25” hence the correction

is 08” (apply the remaining 01” arbitrarily).

Adjusted Angle 1 = 58°25’13” – 08” = 58°25’05”

Adjusted Angle 2 = 59°10’00” – 08” = 59°09’25”
Adjusted Angle 3 = 62°25’12” – 09” = 62°25’03”

Triangle BCD: (Angles 4, 5 and 6)

60°29’05” + 59°25’12” + 60°05’09” = 179°59’26” Error = 34” hence the correction

is 11” (apply the remaining 01” arbitrarily).

Adjusted Angle 4 = 60°29’05” + 12” = 60°29’17”

Adjusted Angle 5 = 59°25’12” + 11” = 59°25’23”
Adjusted Angle 6 = 60°05’09” + 11” = 60°05’20”

Triangle CDE: (Angles 7, 8 and 9)

71°40’01” + 63°10’10” + 45°10’19” = 180°00’30” Error = 30” hence the correction

is 10”

Adjusted Angle 7 = 71°40’01” – 10” = 71°39’51”

Adjusted Angle 8 = 63°10’10” – 10” = 63°10’00”
Adjusted Angle 9 = 45°10’19” – 10” = 45°10’09”

Self-Assessment Questions

1. What is the difference between triangulation and trilateration?

2. Why is control surveying important?

Activity

From the tabulation and the figure on the next page, adjust the angles by station
adjustment method and by figure adjustment method.

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
 Angle Measured Value Station Adjustment Figure Adjustment
A 312°00’24”
B 47°59’40”
C 137°10’29”
D 57°02’42”
E 100°40’25”
F 65°06’20”
G 241°05’12”
H 66°53’30”
I 52°10’20”
J 289°00’30”
K 70°59’30”
L 280°43’58”
M 27°18’12”
N 51°57’53”

References

La Putt, J. (1990). Higher surveying, (2nd ed.). Baguio City: Baguio Research &
Publishing Center.

Basak, N. N. (2014). Surveying and levelling, (2nd ed.). New Delhi: McGrawHill India.

Duggal, S. K. (2013) Surveying vol I, (4th ed.). New Delhi: McGrawHill India.

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

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AY 2020 - 2021
Punmia, B. C., Jain, A. K., & Jain, A. K. ()Surveying vol I, (16th ed.). New Delhi: Laxmi
Publications.

Robillard, W., Brinker, R., & Minnick, R. (1995). The surveying handbook. (2nd ed.). New
York: Chapman and Hall.

CE 1: Fundamentals of Surveying George P. Palada, RCE

Course Guide Author
AY 2020 - 2021