--- title: "Plotting coordinated traverse on grid paper" subject: "Surveying II" chapter: 1 key: "semester_4/surveying_ii:traverse-plotting-grid-paper" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/surveying_ii/traverse-plotting-grid-paper site: BCT Engineering --- # Plotting coordinated traverse on grid paper Surveying II · Chapter 1: Traversing - Asked in: 2078 Poush, 4 marks; 2075 Baisakh, 4 marks (asked 2 times) - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/surveying_ii/traverse-plotting-grid-paper - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/surveying_ii/chapter-1 ## Question Explain about the plotting procedure of coordinated traverse in a grid paper on a given scale. ## Short answer Choose scale to fit sheet; draw grid lines labeled with northing and easting. Convert each station's independent coordinates by subtracting minimum values and dividing by scale. Plot each station by measuring from nearest grid lines, join in order, and check plotted lengths against field lengths. ## Answer Plotting a coordinated traverse means locating every station on a gridded sheet from its independent northing and easting, using a convenient scale. 1. Choose a scale so that the whole traverse fits on the sheet (for example 1 cm = 10 m). Find the range of N and E, subtract the minimum values and divide by the scale to get the size needed. 2. Draw the grid of squares (the grid sheet) and label the grid lines with the independent northing (vertical axis) and easting (horizontal axis) values, choosing an origin near the south-west corner so that all coordinates are positive. 3. Convert each station's independent coordinates to plotting units. For example, with scale 1 cm = 10 m, a station at $(N, E)$ is at $(E-E_0)/10$ cm along the east axis and $(N-N_0)/10$ cm along the north axis from the origin. 4. Mark each station with a fine pencil dot by measuring its coordinates from the nearest grid lines with a scale (no protractor is needed), and circle it and write the station name. 5. Join the stations in order with thin lines and check that each plotted line length, measured with the scale, agrees with the field length. This is a check for blunders. 6. Plot details (offsets and radiations) from the stations, ink the map and add the title, scale, north arrow, legend and border. Advantage: each station is located independently from its coordinates, so plotting errors do not accumulate and the plotted traverse closes exactly. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Why is the grid origin chosen near the south-west corner when plotting a coordinated traverse? A. So that all plotted coordinates are positive B. So that bearings can be read from the grid C. To reduce the closing error D. Because north is always at the south-west Answer: A. Placing the origin at the minimum N and E means every station has positive plotting distances from the origin. (Key point: Choice of origin) 2. With scale 1 cm = 10 m, where is a station (N, E) plotted? A. N/10 cm along east and E/10 cm along north B. (E - E0)x10 cm along the east axis C. (E - E0)/10 cm along the east axis and (N - N0)/10 cm along the north axis D. Using a protractor at the previous station Answer: C. Coordinates are measured from the origin and divided by the scale to give plotting distances along each axis. (Key point: Plotting units) 3. After joining the stations, how is the plot checked? A. The sum of interior angles is measured with a protractor B. Scaled plotted line lengths are compared with the field lengths C. The north arrow is checked against the title D. Latitudes are re-added Answer: B. Measuring each plotted line with the scale and comparing it to the field length detects plotting blunders. (Key point: Blunder check) 4. What is the main advantage of plotting by coordinates? A. No scale is needed B. Closing error is increased and so is easily seen C. Angles need not be measured D. Each station is located independently so no error accumulates Answer: D. Because each station is fixed from its own coordinates, plotting errors do not carry on from one station to the next. (Key point: Advantage of coordinate plotting) ## Related in Surveying II - [Closed loop/link traverse, grid plotting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Aclosed-loop-link-traverse-plotting-grid) — Surveying II, chapter 1 - [Omitted measurement cases, traverse plotting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Aomitted-measurement-cases-plotting) — Surveying II, chapter 1 - [Traverse field procedure between two known stations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Atraverse-field-procedure-between-known-stations) — Surveying II, chapter 1 - [Consecutive, independent coordinates, plotting](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Aconsecutive-independent-coordinates-plotting) — Surveying II, chapter 1 - [Contour interval, index contour, plotting, uses](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Acontour-interval-index-plotting-procedure-uses) — Surveying II, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Closing error; plotting methods in compass traverse](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aclosing-error-plotting-methods) — Surveying I, chapter 4 - [Plotting theodolite traverse; repetition errors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fsurveying_i%3Aplotting-theodolite-traverse-repetition-errors) — Surveying I, chapter 7