Traverse Survey Guidelines

PURPOSE: This rule prescribes the minimum procedures for first or second order traverse surveys. (1) First Order Traverse Procedure. (A) The location of first order traverse lines and monumented stations shall be determined by a thorough field reconnaissance. The traverse point spacing shall not be less than six hundred meters (600m). (B) All first order traverse lines shall start from, and close upon, first order stations or higher order stations of the Missouri Geographic Reference System (MO GRS) or National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) in accordance with these procedures. (C) Properly maintained theodolites with a least count of one second (1") or a DIN 18723 specification of one and one-half seconds (1.5") or smaller shall be used to observe directions and azimuths. At least four (4) positions or repetitions of the angles shall be observed. The theodolite and targets should be centered to within two millimeters (2 mm) over the survey station or traverse point. (D) Electronic distance measuring (EDM) instruments shall be used to measure all distances. EDM instruments shall be tested on a Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) base line at the start of and on the completion of any first order traverse. Copies of the EDM base line comparisons shall be included in the survey report submitted to the department. Barometric pressure to the nearest five millimeters (5 mm) of mercury and temperature to the nearest one degree Celsius (1°C) shall be recorded for each measurement. (E) Each traverse shall be tied to a minimum of two (2) bench marks. Trigonometric or spirit leveling will be observed along all traverse lines. All Instrument Heights (HIs), Reflector Heights (HOs) and zenith angles shall be recorded and submitted. (F) The traverse shall be controlled by an astronomic azimuth at each end of the traverse line and at not more than every six (6) segments along the line. Astronomic azimuths shall have a standard deviation of one and onehalf seconds (1.5”) or less. (G) All field data shall be submitted to Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) in a format acceptable to the department. This shall include directions, distances, azimuth, and elevations. (2) Second Order Traverse Procedure. (A) The location of second order traverse lines and monumented stations shall be determined by a thorough field reconnaissance. The traverse point spacing shall not be less than three hundred meters (300m). (B) All second order traverse lines shall start from, and close upon, second order or higher order stations of the MO GRS or NSRS in accordance with these procedures. (C) Properly maintained theodolites with a least count of one second (1") or DIN 18723 specification of one and one-half seconds (1.5") or smaller shall be used to observe directions and azimuths. At least four (4) positions or repetitions of the angles shall be observed. The theodolite and targets should be centered to within two millimeters (2 mm) over the survey station or traverse point. (D) Electronic distance measuring (EDM) instruments shall be used to measure all distances. EDM instruments shall be tested on an MDA baseline at the start of and on the completion of any second order traverse. Copies of the EDM baseline comparisons shall be included in the survey report submitted to the department. Barometric pressure to the nearest five millimeters (5 mm) of mercury and temperature to the nearest one degree Celsius (1°C) shall be recorded for each measurement. (E) Each traverse shall be tied to a minimum of two (2) bench marks. Trigonometric or spirit leveling will be observed along all traverse lines. All HIs, HOs, and zenith angles shall be recorded and submitted. (F) The traverse shall be controlled by an astronomic azimuth at each end of the traverse line and at not more than every eight (8) segments along the line. Astronomic azimuth shall have a standard deviation of two seconds (2") or less. (G) All field data shall be submitted to the MDA in a format acceptable to the department. This shall include directions, distances, azimuth, and elevations. AUTHORITY: sections 327.041 and 327.272, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 30-18.060. Original rule filed May 3, 1994, effective Dec. 30, 1994. Moved to 20 CSR 2030-18.060, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, AND INSURANCE and Professional Landscape Architects Non-substantive change filed Oct. 21, 2015, published Dec. 31, 2015. Amended: Filed Nov. 18, 2016, effective June 30, 2017. *Original authority: 327.041, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2010, 2014 and 327.272, RSMo 1969, amended 1981, 1999, 2010, 2014, 2016.