Traverse workflow

• Example of a closed-loop traverse

• Control points

• Building the traverse

• Adjusting traverses

A traverse is a surveying method used by construction surveyors to establish horizontal and vertical control point networks in situations where high accuracy is needed and where GPS is unsuitable to use. The process involves placing survey stations (control points) along a path of travel, and then using the previously surveyed points as a base for observing the next point. To perform a traverse measurement, you require the Advanced Measurement Module.

Traverses consist of three parts: the starting station, the intermediate stations, and the ending station. The starting and ending stations may, or may not, be the same control point. A traverse is said to be closed when it starts and ends on two sets of known control points, and open when it ends on an unknown point. Traverses can be closed with two, three, or four control points depending on traverse type, but the starting and ending stations must be set on and shot to another control point that existed prior to starting the traverse. Currently, the Siteworks software only supports closed traverses.

The intermediate stations are all the stations between the starting and ending station that are “set” as part of the traverse. In all configurations, the points these intermediate stations are set up on will be adjusted after the traverse measurements are completed.

By using the traverse feature in the Siteworks software, you can run any closed traverse and get final adjustment results in the field without needing to export data to other software. The adjustment results will match those calculated in a Trimble Business Center project.