Quick Tips for Using COLUMBUS

Traverse

• Trig Level traversing and adjustment
  
  
• 2D Geodetic traverse using Public Land Surveying System (PLSS) record bearings and distances

Trig Level traversing and adjustment

Follow this example.

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Calculating a 2D Geodetic traverse using Public Land Surveying System (PLSS) record bearings and distances

To calculate a 2D geodetic traverse using PLSS record bearings and distances, do the following:

1. Review the Calculating Loop Closures and Traverses topic.

2. Run COLUMBUS.

3. From the File menu, select New.

4. From the Options menu, select Datums and select the datum to be active.

5. From the Data menu, select Stations.

6. Select the Geodetic grid and enter the known geodetic coordinates (lat and long) for the starting station. Enter any remaining stations and assign them coordinates of zero.

7. Click Keep and Exit. The stations with coordinates of zero will display as a spiral.

8. From the Data menu, select Observations.

9. Select the Bearing Set grid and enter the recorded bearings and distances between each geodetic station.

   Hint: You may find it helpful to change the linear units to Chains before entering the distances (from the Options menu, select Units and then select Chains).

10. Click Keep and Exit.

11. From the Options menu, select Global Settings and enter an average project height in the 2D Height field.

12. If the bearings between stations are average bearings (PLSS plats are generally in this format), enable the Rotate Bearings check box.

13. From the View menu, select 2D Geodetic to set up the context of 2D traverse/adjustment.

14. Following the procedures outlined in the Calculating Loop Closures and Traverses topic, define the traverse and compute the new coordinates.

15. Click the Keep button to save the newly-computed positions into memory. The coordinates can now be used to compute State Plane, UTM or any other coordinate types supported by COLUMBUS.