Traverse Closure Calculator
Check angular and linear closure, quantify misclosure and precision, and calculate properly distributed corrections.
Angular Closure Check
Enter the observed interior angles of a closed traverse. The calculator compares their sum with the theoretical polygon sum and distributes the angular misclosure equally.
Traverse Settings
For interior angles, the theoretical sum is (n − 2) × 180°. For a consistently directed set of exterior/deflection angles, the theoretical sum is 360°.
Observation Entry
Use decimal degrees. Minimum three angles are required. The calculator also reports the misclosure in degrees, minutes and seconds.
Observed Angles
| Station | Observed angle (°) | Remove |
|---|
Linear Closure Check
Enter the starting coordinate and observed whole-circle bearings and distances. Latitude and departure are computed before the closing error and relative precision are determined.
Starting Coordinate
Traverse Settings
Bearings are clockwise from North. North latitude and East departure are positive; South and West are negative.
Observed Traverse Lines
| Line | To point | Bearing | Distance | Remove |
|---|
For a closed traverse, the final coordinate should return to the starting coordinate. This tool reports the unadjusted closure; it does not silently force observations to close.
Traverse closure reference
Angular misclosure = observed sum − theoretical sum. An equal correction is −misclosure/n when observations are considered of equal weight. Linear closure is the vector error between the computed closing point and the known starting point.