MEASUREMENT OF ANGLES AND

DIRECTIONS
 FOUR TYPES OF MERIDIAN
1. True meridian
2. Magnetic Meridian
3. Grid Meridian
4. Assumed Meridian
1. True Meridian – The true meridian is
sometimes known as the astronomic or
geographic meridian. It is the generally
adapted reference line in surveying
practice. This is the line passes through the
geographic north and south poles of the
earth and the observers eyes.
2. Magnetic Meridian – A magnetic meridian
is a fixed line of reference which lies
parallel with the magnetic lines of force of
the earth. Magnetic meridians are not
parallel to the true meridians since they
converge at a magnetic pole which is
located some distance away from the true
geographic pole.
3. Grid Meridian – is a fixed line of
reference parallel to the central meridian of
a system of plane rectangular coordinates.
4. Assumed Meridian – is an arbitrarily
chosen fixed line of reference which is
taken for convenience.
 Units of Angular Measurements
1. The Degree – the sexagesimal system is used
in which the circumference of a circle is
divided into 360 parts or degrees. The angle
of one degree is defined as the angle which
requires 1/360 of the rotation needed to
obtain one complete revolution
The basic unit is degree, which is
subdivided into 60 minutes, and the minute is
subdivided into 60 seconds.
2. The Grad – The Grad is the unit of measure in the
centesimal system. In this system the circumference
of a circle is divided into 400 parts called grads. The
grad is subdivided into 100 centesimal minutes and
a centesimal minute is further divided into 100
centesimal seconds.

3. The Mil – the circumference is divided into 6400

parts called mills, or 1600 mills is equal to 90
degrees.

4. The Radian – the radian is another measure of

angles used frequently for a host of calculations.
180
One radian equals or approximately 57.2958
𝜋
degrees.
SP1. Convert the angle 238o25’50” into its
equivalent in decimal degrees.

SP2. Convert to degrees, minutes, and

seconds the decimal angle 325.7541667.
 Practice Problems
1. Convert 2700 into its equivalent value in
grads, mils, and radians.
2. Convert 1600 mils into its equivalent value in
grads, degrees, and radians.
3. If the value of an angle of elevation is
𝜋
computed to be radians, determine the
4
equivalent values in degrees, grads, and mils.
 Direction of lines
The direction of a line is defined as the
horizontal angle the line makes with an
established line of reference. There are various
kinds of angles which can be used to describe
the direction of line. In surveying, directions
may be defined by means of: interior angles,
deflection angles, angles to the right, bearing
and azimuth
 Forward and Back Azimuth
Rule 1: If the forward azimuth of the line is
greater than 180 degree, subtract 180 degree to
obtain the back azimuth

Rule 2. When the forward Azimuth of the line is

less than 180 degree add 180 degree to
determine the back azimuth.
SP.1 Determine Angle from Bearings.
Compute the angles AOB, COD, EOF, and
GOH from the following set of lines whose
magnetic bearings are given.

a) OA , N 39025’E and OB, N 75050’E

b) OC , N 34014’E and OD, N 53022’W
c) OE , S 15004’E and OF, S 36000’W
d) OG , N 70015’W and OH, S 52005’W
SP2. Determine angles from azimuths.
Compute the angles APB, CPD, and EPF
from the following set of lines whose
azimuths are given.
a) AZIMn of Line PA = 39048’ ; AZIMn of Line
PB = 115029’
b) AZIMs of Line PC = 320022’ ; AZIMs of
Line PD = 62016’
c) AZIMn of Line PE = 219002’ ; AZIMn of
Line PF = 154016’
Practice Problems
1. Convert the following bearing into azimuth
a. AB, N25025’W
b. BC, Due East
c. CD, S 50010’E
d. DE, S 45050’W
e. EF, N 66030’W
2. Convert the following azimuth into bearing
a. AZIMs of Line AB = 230030’
b. AZIMn of Line BC = 112046’
c. AZIMs of Line CD = 270000’
d. AZIMn of Line DE = 228015’
e. AZIMs of Line EF = 135000’
 The Compass
Essential Features of Magnetic Compass
1. Compass Box
2. Line of Sight
3. Magnetic Needle
Magnetic Declination
Since the magnetic poles of the earth do
not coincide with the geographic poles and
due to other irregularities of the earth's
magnetic field, the horizontal component of
the magnetic field at a given position, called
magnetic meridian, usually forms an angle
with the local geographic meridian. This angle
is called magnetic declination or, in mariner's
language, magnetic variation. Accordingly, the
needle of a magnetic compass, aligning itself
with the local magnetic meridian, does not
exactly indicate the direction of true north.
SP.1 The Magnetic declination in a locality is
2030’ E. Determine the true bearing and
true azimuth reckoned from north and
south of the following lines whose
magnetic bearings are given.
a. AB , N 25040’ E
b. AC , S 50012’ E
c. AD , N 62018’ W
• `
 LEVELING
Methods of determination elevation:

1. Direct or Spirit Leveling

2. Indirect Leveling or Trigonometric Leveling
3. Barometric Leveling
1. Direct or Spirit Leveling – this is the most
precise method determining elevation by
measuring vertical distances directly.

a) Differential Leveling – it is the operation

of determining differences in elevations of
points a some distances apart.
b) Profile Leveling – it is the operation of
determining elevations of points at short
intervals along a located line such as
center line of highways or sewers.
2. Indirect Leveling or Trigonometric
Leveling – this method is used in
determining elevations by measuring
vertical angles and horizontal distances.

3. Barometric Leveling – this method of

determining elevations of any point
requires the use of barometer
 Differential Leveling

HI = Elev BMa + BS
Elev TP1 = HI - FS
 SP1
Complete the differential level notes shown
below and perform the customary arithmetic
check
STA BS HI FS ELEV
BM1 1.256 127.133 m
TP1 1.116 1.886
TP2 1.228 1.527
BM2 1.189 2.246
BM3 1.070 2.017
TP3 1.831 2.656
BM4 2.765
 SP2. Following is a differential leveling operation
performed between two bench marks.
a) A Dumpy level is set up at a convenient location along the general route
between BM1, which has an elevation of 345.79m, and BM2 whose elevation is
to be determined.
b) A back sight of 1.25m is taken on BM1. The rodman then goes forward and
chooses TP1 at some convenient location within the range of the telescope, still
in the same general route. At TP1 a foresight of 2.48m is read.
c) The level is moved forward and set up at another location. A back sight reading
of 1.24m is taken on the rod held at TP1. The rodman goes forward to establish
TP2 and a foresight reading of 3.18m is taken on it.
d) From a new instrument man again sets up the level at another forward location
and takes a back sight reading on TP2 reads 1.14m, while a foresight reading of
2.77m is taken on TP3.
e) The instrument man again sets up the level at another forward location and
takes a back sight reading of 1.96m on TP3 and a foresight reading of 2.59 on
TP4
f) At the last set up of the instrument, a back sight reading of 0.55 meter is taken
on the rod held TP4. Finally a foresight reading of 1.62m is taken on the terminal
point, BM2.
For the whole operation it was seen to it
that each foresight distance was
approximately equal to its corresponding
back sight distance. Tabulate the observed
field data in a standard form for differential
level notes. Complete the level notes and
show the customary arithmetic check.
Profile leveling