COMPUTATION OF AREAS

Avulsion –the sudden removal of a portion of land belonging to one person and its
addition to the land of another by, for example sudden change in position of a stream or
river.

Planimeter – is an instrument used to measure the area of figures on drawing by tracing

a the boundaries of the figures.

Plat – a dimension drawing which shows in plan view the data pertaining to a land
survey.

1) Area by Triangle Method ; just divide the traverse

Into several trangles as shown.

For right triangle:

1
A= Bh
2

For oblique triangle ; with known

angle adjacent to two known sides
1
A= ab sin C
2

For oblique triangle ; with 3 sides known

Use Heron’s formula
A = √𝒔(𝒔 − 𝒂)(𝒔 − 𝒃)(𝒔 − 𝒄)
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐
Where s= and a , b , c, are sides of triangle
𝟐
2. Area by coordinates
1 𝑋1 𝑋2 𝑋3 𝑋4 𝑋5 𝑋1
A= | . .. |
2 𝑌1 𝑌2 𝑌3 𝑌4 𝑌5 𝑌1

1. Given the latitude and departure of a closed traverse, determine the area by Analytic
Method (Coordinate method).
line latitude departure
AB -37.52 -4.55
BC +0.44 -20.0
CD +8.45 -18.13
DE +22.55 +8.21
EA +6.08 +34.47

Solution:
Solving for coordinates:
At A: x= 8.21+34.47 =42.68
Y =31.44 +6.08 =37.52
At B ; x =18.13 + 20 =38.13
Y=0
At C: x =dep CD =18.13
Y= lat. BC = 0.44
At D x=0
Y = 0.44 + 8.45 =8.89
At E; x = dep DE =8.21
Y=8.89 + 22.55 = 31.44
1 0 8.21 42.68 38.13 18.13 0
A= | |
2 8.89 31.44 37.52 0 044 8.89
[(8.89)(8.21) + (31.44)(42.68) + 37.52)(38.13) + (0)(18.13) + (0.44)(0)]
1
A= |−[(0)(31.44) + (8.21)(37.52) + (42.68)(0) + 38.13)(0.44) + (18.13)(8.89)]|
2

A= 1,179.93 m2

3. Computing Area by D. M. D.( Double Meridian Distance) Method:

1. Compute the latitudes and departures of all courses
2. Compute the error of closure in latitudes and departures.
3. Balance the altitudes and departures by applying either transit rule or compass rule.
4. Compute for the D. M. D. of all courses.
5. Compute the double areas by multiplying each D. M. D. by the corresponding
latitude.
6. Determine the algebraic sum of the double areas.
7. Divide the algebraic sum of the double area to obtain the area of the whole tract.

Double Area = D.M.D. x latitude

How to Compute the D. M. D.

1. D. M. D. of the first course is equal to the departure of that course
2. D. M. D. of any other course is equal to the DMD of the preceding course plus the
departure of the preceding course plus the departure of the course itself.
3. D. M. D. of the last course is numerically equal to the departure of the last course
but opposite in sign.

Example : Compute the area of a closed traverse by DMD.

line bearing distance latitude departure DMD 2A
AB o 20 m.
N 65 W +8.45 -18.13 -18.13 -153.2
BC N 56o 07’ E 51.35 +28.63 +42.58 +6.32 +180.94
CD S 80o E 42 -7.29 +41.36 +90.26 -657.99
DE o
S 15 W 27.96 -27.01 -7.24 +124.38 -3,359.5
EF N 75o E 30.86 +8.0 -29.8 +87.34 +698.72
FA S 69o 38’W 30.72 -10.78 -28.77 +28.77 -310.18
∑2A = -3,601.18
𝟑,𝟔𝟎𝟏.𝟏𝟖
A =| |
𝟐
A = 1800.59 m2

4.) Area by: Double Parallel Distance (D.P.D)

Computation of D.P.D.:
1. D.P.D. of the first course is equal to the latitude of that course.
2. D.P.D. of any other course is equal to the D.P.D. of the preceding course, plus the latitude
of the preceding course, plus the latitude of the course itself.
3. D.P.D. of the last course is numerically equal to the latitude of the last course but opposite in
sign.

Double Area = Double Parallel Distance x Departure.

Example : Compute the area of a closed traverse by DPD.

line bearing distance latitude departure DPD 2A
AB N 65o W 20 m. +8.45 -18.13 +8.45 -153.20
BC N 56 07’ E
o 51.35 +28.63 +42.58 +45.53 +1938.67
o 42
CD S 80 E -7.29 +41.36 +66.87 +2765.74
DE S 15o W 27.96 -27.01 -7.24 +32.57 -235.81
o 30.86
EF N 75 E +8.0 -29.8 +13.56 -404.09
FA S 69o 38’W 30.72 -10.78 -28.77 +10.78 -310.14
∑2A = +3,601.18
 𝟑,𝟔𝟎𝟏.𝟏𝟖
A =| |
𝟐
A = 1800.59 m2