FUNDAMENTAL SURVEYING Traversing and Coordinate Geometry 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'inverse' computation in surveying determine?
- The coordinates of an unknown point
- The bearing and distance between two known coordinate points (Correct answer)
- The area of a parcel
- The elevation difference between two points
Correct answer: The bearing and distance between two known coordinate points
An inverse computation uses two known coordinate points to compute the bearing (direction) and distance between them.
Question 2: Given coordinates N1000, E1000 and N1000, E1500, what is the bearing of the line?
- N 90° E (due East) (Correct answer)
- S 90° W (due West)
- N 0° E (due North)
- S 0° W (due South)
Correct answer: N 90° E (due East)
Both points have the same northing but the easting increases, so the line runs due East (azimuth 90°, bearing N 90° E).
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'link traverse'?
- To close a traverse back to the starting point
- To connect two known control points at different ends (Correct answer)
- To measure a closed loop for area calculation
- To survey a road centerline
Correct answer: To connect two known control points at different ends
A link (open) traverse connects two known control points, and closure is evaluated against the known end-point coordinates.
Question 4: In COGO (Coordinate Geometry), a 'radial survey' (radiation method) establishes points by:
- Traversing around a boundary
- Measuring direction and distance from a single instrument station to each point (Correct answer)
- Intersecting bearings from two stations
- Resecting from three control points
Correct answer: Measuring direction and distance from a single instrument station to each point
Radiation occupies one station and measures angles and distances to multiple points, computing each point's coordinates from that single setup.
Question 5: What is the formula for computing the bearing from point A to point B using inverse computation?
- tan(bearing) = ΔE / ΔN (Correct answer)
- sin(bearing) = ΔN / distance
- cos(bearing) = ΔE / distance
- tan(bearing) = ΔN / ΔE
Correct answer: tan(bearing) = ΔE / ΔN
The reference bearing angle is computed as arctan(|ΔE| / |ΔN|), with quadrant determined by the signs of ΔN and ΔE.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines a 'closed traverse'?
- A traverse that forms a closed polygon or begins and ends at known control points (Correct answer)
- A traverse with no angular errors
- A traverse conducted only at night
- A traverse using GPS only
Correct answer: A traverse that forms a closed polygon or begins and ends at known control points
A closed traverse either forms a closed polygon (loop) or begins and ends at separate known control points (link traverse), allowing for closure check.
FUNDAMENTAL SURVEYING Traversing and Coordinate Geometry 2
What does 'inverse' computation in surveying determine?