A printed reference book used to look up the latitude and departure of a survey line based on its bearing and distance. Before handheld calculators, surveyors used these tables to resolve right-angled triangles rapidly in the field. The tables list the sine and cosine equivalents for specific angles, usually in quarter-degree increments, allowing a crew to compute coordinates by simple multiplication or direct inspection.
Heard on the job
I found an old traverse table in the bottom of the truck box, but we just use the data collector for everything now.
Insider tip
Historic traverse tables are mostly collector's items, but understanding how they work builds a solid foundation in coordinate geometry.