Skip to main content

Closed traverse missing EA bearing, BC length

Short answer

Set closure equations ΣLat=0, ΣDep=0 for the known lines; solve quadratic for BC length: 274.321 m. Then compute lat/dep of EA, bearing = arctan(112.751/341.467) = 18°16' (NE quadrant). BC = 274.321 m, EA bearing = 18°16'. With C (1000 N, 1000 E), coordinates: A (1106.195 N, 620.683 E), B (1240.849 N, 868.685 E), D (696.934 N, 883.462 E), E (764.728 N, 507.932 E).

The bearings and lengths of the sides of a closed traverse ABCDEA are given below but bearing of EA and length of BC are missed, find those missing figures. Also compute the coordinates of other points if coordinates of C are: Northing of C = 1000.00 m, Easting of C = 1000.00 m.

LineABBCCDDEEA
Length (m)282.20?324.70381.60359.60
Bearings61°30'151°24'201°02'280°14'?

For a closed traverse ΣLat=0\Sigma\text{Lat}=0 and ΣDep=0\Sigma\text{Dep}=0. Two quantities are unknown, the length of BC and the bearing of EA, so the two closure equations are enough to find them.

Step 1: Latitudes and departures of the known lines

Lat=Lcos⁡θ,Dep=Lsin⁡θ\text{Lat}=L\cos\theta,\qquad \text{Dep}=L\sin\theta
LineLength (m)BearingLatitudeDeparture
AB282.20061°30'+134.654+248.002
CD324.700201°02'-303.066-116.538
DE381.600280°14'+67.794-375.530
Sum-100.618-244.066

Let the unknown length of BC be xx (bearing 151°24'). Its latitude is xcos⁡θx\cos\theta and its departure xsin⁡θx\sin\theta. The line EA has length 359.60 m and must close the traverse, so

((−100.618)+xcos⁡θ)2+((−244.066)+xsin⁡θ)2=359.602((-100.618)+x\cos\theta)^2+((-244.066)+x\sin\theta)^2=359.60^2

with cos⁡θ=−0.87798\cos\theta=-0.87798 and sin⁡θ=0.47869\sin\theta=0.47869 for 151°24'.

Step 2: Solve for the length

x2+2((−100.618)×(−0.87798)+(−244.066)×0.47869)x+((−100.618)2+(−244.066)2−359.602)=0x^2+2((-100.618)\times(-0.87798)+(-244.066)\times0.47869)x+((-100.618)^2+(-244.066)^2-359.60^2)=0 x2+(−56.984)x+(−59620.10)=0x^2+(-56.984)x+(-59620.10)=0 x=−(−56.984)±241727.52=274.321 or −217.337x=\frac{-(-56.984)\pm\sqrt{241727.5}}{2}=274.321\ \text{or}\ -217.337

The negative root has no meaning, so length of BC = 274.321 m.

Step 3: Bearing of EA

Latitude of EA =−((−100.618)+274.321×(−0.87798))=341.467=-((-100.618)+274.321\times(-0.87798))=341.467 m and departure =−((−244.066)+274.321×0.47869)=112.751=-((-244.066)+274.321\times0.47869)=112.751 m.

tan⁡θ=112.751341.467 ⇒ θ=18∘16′\tan\theta=\frac{112.751}{341.467}\ \Rightarrow\ \theta=18^\circ 16'

Both the latitude and departure are positive, so the line lies in the north-east quadrant and the whole circle bearing is 18°16' (N 18°16' E).

Step 4: Check

LineLength (m)BearingLatitudeDeparture
AB282.20061°30'+134.654+248.002
BC274.321151°24'-240.849+131.315
CD324.700201°02'-303.066-116.538
DE381.600280°14'+67.794-375.530
EA359.60018°16'+341.467+112.751
Sum+0.000+0.000

Both sums are zero, so the traverse closes.

Coordinates of the other stations (C = 1000.000 N, 1000.000 E)

Independent coordinates = previous coordinates + latitude/departure of the line, going C, D, E, A, B, C:

StationNorthing (m)Easting (m)
A1106.195620.683
B1240.849868.685
C1000.0001000.000
D696.934883.462
E764.728507.932

Check: B plus line BC returns exactly to C (1000.000 N, 1000.000 E).

Answer: length of BC = 274.321 m; bearing of EA = 18°16'.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

All Surveying II chapter 1 questions →