Traverses

Traverses is a term used in several disciplines, with meanings related to crossing, connecting, or moving through spaces.

In surveying and geodesy, a traverse is a sequence of connected survey lines whose positions are established by measured angles and distances. The network may be closed, where the end point coincides with the start, or open. Observations must be checked for misclosure; adjustments—often using Bowditch methods or least-squares—improve consistency and yield an adjusted set of coordinates and residuals. Traverses underpin map making, property surveys, and route planning.

In computing and mathematics, traversal denotes the act of visiting every element of a data structure or space. Common forms include depth-first and breadth-first traversals of graphs and trees. Traversal algorithms are fundamental in search, pathfinding, data processing, and navigation.

In architecture and construction, a traverse is a crosspiece or horizontal member that spans between supports, helping to form a frame or scaffold. Historically, traverses appear in timber framing, scaffolding, and bridge construction, where they distribute loads and provide attachment points.

In geography and outdoor activities, to traverse means to move laterally along a slope or feature, rather than directly uphill or downhill. In mountaineering and rock climbing, traverses describe routes that progress horizontally across a face or ledge, often requiring careful footing and rope work. The term also appears in aerial surveying to describe flight paths that cross terrain.