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Civil Engineering QUESTION #2131
Question 1
In surveying, the 'closing error' of a closed traverse is corrected using Bowditch's (compass) rule, which distributes the error in proportion to:
  • The angle at each traverse station
  • The length of each traverse leg relative to the total perimeter — longer legs receive proportionally larger corrections in both latitude and departure✔️
  • The bearing of each traverse leg
  • The square of the length of each traverse leg
Correct Answer Explanation
Bowditch's rule (most common traverse adjustment): correction to latitude (or departure) of each leg \(= \dfrac{\text{length of leg}}{\text{perimeter}} \times \text{total closing error in latitude (or departure)}\). It assumes errors are proportional to distance traveled (random errors accumulating with distance). Transit rule distributes corrections proportional to the magnitude of latitudes/departures — used when angular measurements are more precise than linear.