4

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

FIELD WORK NO. 4

Determining the area of a polygonal field using only the

tape
OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop the skills in determining the horizontal distance of
a uneven ground by breaking the tape method up and down
the slope.
2. To acquire the skills in determining the horizontal distance of
a sloping ground by using the tape and the automatic level.
3. To to apply the value of excellence and patience in
measuring the distance of the ground.

REASERCH
Measuring the polygonal field with different sides are called
measuring of irregular polygons.
An irregular polygon is any polygon that is not a regular polygon.
It can have sides of any length and each interior angle can be any
measure. They can be convex or concave, but all concave
polygons are irregular since the interior angles cannot all be the
same. If you drew a polygon at random, it would probably be
irregular.
Specific irregular polygons such as a parallelogram have some
interesting properties and have their own web pages.
So how to do it?
One approach is to break the shape up into pieces that
you can solve - usually triangles, since there are many ways to
calculate the area of triangles. Exactly how you do it depends on
what you are given to start. Since this is highly variable there is

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

no easy rule for how to do it. The examples below give you some
basic approaches to try.

1. Break into triangles, then add

In the figure on the right, the polygon

can be broken up into triangles by drawing all the diagonals from
one of the vertices. If you know enough sides and angles to find
the area of each, then you can simply add them up to find the
total. Do not be afraid to draw extra lines anywhere if they will
help find shapes you can solve.
Here, the irregular hexagon is divided in to 4 triangles by the
addition of the red lines.
2. Find 'missing' triangles, then subtract

In the figure on the left, the overall shape

is a regular hexagon, but there is a triangular piece missing.
We know how to find the area of a regular polygon so we just
subtract the area of the 'missing' triangle created by drawing the
red line.

3. Consider other shapes

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

In the figure on the right, the shape is an

irregular hexagon, but it has a symmetry that lets us break it into
two parallelograms by drawing the red dotted line. (assuming of
course that the lines that look parallel really are!)
We know how to find the area of a parallelogram so we just find
the area of each one and add them together.
As you can see, there an infinite number of ways to break down
the shape into pieces that are easier to manage. You then add or
subtract the areas of the pieces. Exactly how you do it comes
down to personal preference and what you are given to start.
4. If you know the coordinates of the vertices
If you know the x,y coordinates of the vertices (corners) of the
shape, there is a method for finding the area directly.. This works
for all polygon types (regular, irregular, convex, concave). There
is also a computer algorithm that does the same.

INSTRUMENTS NEEDED:

Qty. Materia
l

2
pcs.

Illustration

description
A range pole, which
may also be called a
lining pole, is a pole
painted with

Range
Poles

3
pcs.

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

alternating stripes of
different colors in
consistent widths
used often to site
measurements. The
tool may be a
common one for
surveyors, where
the colors for the
stripes are usually
red and white or red
and yellow. The
colors are picked
based on their
visibility. One end of
the pole will
typically have either
a pointed tip or
gripping shoe to aid
in standing it on
edge. Longer range
poles may be
equipped with a
tripod or stand.
is a soft, white,
porous sedimentary
rock, a form of
limestone composed
of the mineral
calcite. This is used
in marking
measurements on
ground.

Chalk

2
Pcs.

Plumb
bobs

1 pc.

50
meter
tape

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

A plumb bob is a
tool used to ensure
that a building
structure like a door
frame or a shelving
support is as vertical
as possible. It is also
used to measure if
an object is placed
directly under a
point above it, such
as placing a shower
drain relative to
some point on the
ceiling, or putting
something right
under a lighting
fixture.
A tape measure or
measuring tape is a
flexible form of ruler.
It consists of a
ribbon of cloth,
plastic, fiber glass,
or metal strip with
linear-measurement
markings. It is a
common measuring
tool. Its flexibility
allows for a measure
of great length to be
easily carried in
pocket or toolkit and
permits one to

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

measure around
curves or corners.
Today it is
ubiquitous, even
appearing in
miniature form as a
keychain fob, or
novelty item.
Surveyors use tape
measures in lengths
of over 100 m
(300+ ft).

PROCEDURE:
A. Determination of the area of triangle components using
the basic formula.
A= B x H
2
1. The students designates the locations of 5 random
points that is likely to be a pentagonal shape.
2. The chief of party divides the field area into convenient
triangular components and calls them A1 ,A2 and A3.
3. For first trial use the basic formula to compute the field
and designate this as the base of the triangle.
4. Determine the length of the altitude to this base. The
determination of the altitude is done by locating a point
on this base after dropping a line perpendicular to this
from opposite vertex by swaying.
5. Record the length of the base and altitude in the
fieldwork computation sheet provided.
6. Repeat the same procedures 4-6 with the rest of the
triangular components of the polygonal field and the
sum up the areas.

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

B. Determination of the triangles by using the formula.

1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Area = ab sin C
2
The same triangular field will be used for this second
trial but change the naming of the vertices of polygonal
filed.
The chief of party divides the field area into convenient
triangular components and calls them A1 ,A2 and A3.
For second use the basic formula in B to compute the
field and designate this as the base of the triangle.
Determine the measurement of the angles between the
lines.
Record the lengths of two sides and and included angle
in the field work. Record in the data.
Repeat procedures 4-6 with the rest of triangular
components of the polygonal area to compute the
entire area.

C. Determination of the area using the formula.

A= s(sa)(sb)(sc)

S=

A+ B+C
2

1. The same triangular field will be used for this second

trial but change the naming of the vertices of polygonal
filed.
2. The chief of party divides the field area into convenient
triangular components and calls them A1 ,A2 and A3.
3. For third use the basic formula in C the herons formula
to compute the field and designate this as the base of
the triangle.
4. Record the lengths of the three sides of each triangles.
5. Repeat procedures 3-5 with the rest of the triangular
components until the data is complete.

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

COMPUTATIONS:
A=

bxh
2

A= area of the triangle

B= Base of the triangle
H= Altitude of the triangle

A=

absin
2

A= area of the triangle

b and a = random two sides of the triangle
sin = sine of the included angle of the measured sides a and b

s (sa)(sb)(sc)

S=

A= area in triangle in square meters

S = half perimeter of triangle
a,b and c= sides of the triangles

PRINCIPLE

A+ B+C
2

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

There are several ways that we can measure the distance of the
ground. It can be accomplished by breaking the tape method, by
making a irregular polygon. A horizontal line of sight is
established if the bubble is centered while sigthing through the
tube. This device is simply a level adopted for measuring vertical
angles. Vertical aide is acted on where angles are read. It gives
the value and the slope in terms of arc measure.

Final Data Sheet

A)1st method: By base and altitude
Triangle
1
2
3

Base
21.9m
21.9m
21.9m

Altitude
12.1m
14.4m
8.6m
Total

Area
132.485sqm
156.68sqm
93.68sqm
382.845sqm

B)2nd method by two sides and included angle

Triangle

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

Angle in

Sides

Area

82.89

90.97

100.71

a
17.55m

b
15.2m

21.9m

21.8m

17.6m

10.75m
Total

132.39sq
m
156.51sq
m
92.95sqm
381.80sq
m

C)3rd method: By herons formula

Triangl
e
1
2
3

Sides
a
17.55
m
21.9m

b
15.2m

c
21.9m

21.8m

10.75
m

17.6m

15.86
m
21.8m

Semi
perimeter
s
27.325m
29.58m
25.058m
Total

ILLUSTRATION

Area

132.55sq
m
157.97sq
m
93.77sqm
384.29sq
m

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

Marking the 5points of the polygon.

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

Measuring the field by breaking the tape method.

CONCLUSION
Based on my own observation to get more accurate
results you need to measure the measurement slowly and
carefully to obtain better results. You may also measure
along the ground on a. But to obtain horizontal distances,
you will need to correct these ground measurements
afterwards by using correct mathematical formulas . As
an additional information we must also apply the value of
patience in making the task because the location is
outside so expect extreme heat or rain. Calculate all
solutions properly and make the distance measured more

[DETERMINING THE AREA OF A POLYGONAL FIELD

USING ONLY THE TAPE]

accurate. We need to be patient and follow all the

procedures carefully to make the measurement accurate.