TPC 2026 - Carrying Elevations in a Traverse

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Carrying Elevations in a Traverse

Each point in a traverse can compute (carry) its own elevation based on the traverse data.

Survey Units

Each survey has default survey units of Feet, Chains or Meters. Elevations, instrument heights and target heights are always displayed in survey units.

Vertical distances displayed in a traverse however, are displayed in whatever distance units are being used for the traverse. So if survey units are feet but a traverses is set to display chains in a Traverse View, the vertical distances will display chains.

Starting a Traverse With an Assumed Elevation

•Choose View | Format View (or press [F9]) and add the letter Z to the Display Sequence.

•Back in the Traverse View move the cursor to the Z field and enter the assumed elevation of the first occupied point.

All of the subsequent elevations will be computed based on this elevation. If you start a traverse with a new point, its elevation is zero.

Later, when you find out what the actual elevation is, just enter the correct elevation and choose Tools | Recompute. TPC will update all the elevations based on the new elevation you entered.

See Starting a Traverse With an Assumed Elevation.

Using Benchmarks

Benchmarks are points of known elevation. When you take a shot on a benchmark, the elevation of the benchmark along with the target height, slope distance and vertical angle is used to establish the elevation of the instrument’s optics.

See Using Benchmarks.

Including Check Elevations in your Traverse

It is always a good idea to tie at least one point of known elevation other than the control point or benchmark used to establish the elevation at each occupied point.

See Including Check Elevations in your Traverse.

Translating to a Known Elevation

Another way to establish the elevation of a traverse is to take a side shot to a point of known elevation. When the traverse is finished, translate the traverse so that the elevation of the side shot is the same as the known elevation using the Translation dialog.

The disadvantage to this method is that all the points (even the control points) in the traverse will be translated up or down. You can get around this problem by recalling the points you want to translate into a separate traverse and translating that traverse.

See Translating to a Known Elevation.

Entering Elevations of Foresights and Side Shots

TPC treats every number you enter as raw data. Just enter the new elevation in the Traverse View. If the point is recomputed, the elevation you entered will take precedence over the elevation computed from a prior raw data entry.

See Entering Elevations of Foresights and Side Shots.