The exact method used in transit-tape survey may vary slightly, depending upon the nature of the survey, the intended purpose, the command or unit policy, and the pReferences of the survey party chief. The procedures presented in this section are customary methods described in general terms.

All points where a traverse changes direction are marked, usually with a hub that locates the station exactly, plus a guard stake on which the station of the change-of-direction point is inscribed, such as 12 + 35. In the expression "station 12 + 35," the 12 is called the full station and the 35 is called the plus.

The points that are to be tied to the traverse or set in the vicinity of the traverse are usually selected and marked or set as the traverse is run. The corresponding tie stations on the traverse are selected and marked at the same time. The first consideration in selecting tie stations is VISIBILITY, meaning that tie stations and the point to be tied or set must be inter-visible. The next is PERMANENCY (not easily disturbed). Last is the STRENGTH OF INTER-SECTION, which generally means that the angle between two tie lines should be as close to 90 as possible. The more acute or obtuse the angle is between tie lines, the less accurate the location of the point defined by their intersection.

A typical transit-tape survey party contains two chainmen, a transitman, a recorder (sometimes the transitman or party chief doubles as recorder), a party chief (who may serve as either instrumentman or recorder, or both), and axmen, if needed. The transitman carries, sets up, and operates the transit; the chainmen do the same with the tapes and the marking equipment.

When the transitman turns an angle, he calls out the identity and size of the angle to the recorder, as "Deflection angle AB to BC, 7516, right." The recorder repeats this, then makes the entry. Similarly, the head chainman calls out the identity and size of a linear distance, as "B to C, 265.72 ft," then the recorder repeats this back and makes the entry at that time. If the transitman closes the horizon around a point, he calls out, "Closing angle, such and such." The recorder repeats this and then adds the closing angle to the original angle. If the sum of the angles doesnt come close to 360, the recorder notifies the party chief.

The party chief is in complete charge of the party and makes all the significant decisions, such as the stations to be marked on the traverse.