CALCULATION OF AREA & VOLUME

GENERAL METHODS OF DETERMINING AREAS:

The following are the general methods of calculating areas:

1. BY COMPUTATIONS BASED ON FIELD MEASUREMENTS:

a. For Figures Bounded by Straight Lines:

i. By Dividing the Area into a Number of Triangles:

In this method, the area is divided into a number of triangles and the area of each triangle is
calculated. The total area of the tract will then be equal to the sum of areas of individual
triangles.

If two sides and one included angle of a triangle are measured, the area of the triangle is
given by

Area = ½ ab sin C

When the lengths of three sides of a triangle are measured, its area is computed by the
equation,

Area = √ s(s-a) (s-b) (s-c)

Where, s = half perimeter = ½ (a + b + c)

ii. By Coordinate Methods:

In this method, the required area is equal to one half of the sum of products obtained by
multiplying each Y- coordinate by the difference between the adjacent X- coordinates. The
X- coordinate must always be taken in the same order around the traverse.

Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET
Let, (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3) and (x4, y4) be the coordinates of the stations A, B, C, D
respectively, of a traverse ABCD. If A is the total area of the traverse, we have

Area = (area aABb) + (area bBCc) – (area cCDd) – (area dDAa)

= ½((y1– y2) (x1+ x2) + (y2– y3) (x2+ x3) – (y4– y3) (x4+ x3) – (y1– y4) (x1+ x4))

= ½(y1(x2 – x4) + y2(x3 – x1) + y3(x4 – x2) + y4(x1 – x3)

In general, if we have n stations, we get,

Area = ½(y1(x2 – xn) + y2(x3 – x1) + y3(x4 – x2) + … … …. + yn(x1 – xn- 1))

iii. By Latitude and Departure

b. For Figures Bounded by Curved Lines:

i. Mid-Ordinate Rule:

Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET
Let, O1, O2, O3, … … …, On = ordinates at equal intervals

L = length of base line

d = common distance between ordinates

h1, h2, … … …, hn = mid-ordinates

Area of plot = h1 × d + h2 × d + … … … + hn × d

= d (h1 + h2 + … … … + hn)

i.e. Area = common distance × sum of mid-ordinates.

ii. Average Ordinate Rule:

Let, O1, O2, O3, … … …, On = ordinates or offsets at regular intervals

L = length of base line

n = number of divisions

n + 1 = number of ordinates

Area = [(O1 + O2 + O3 + … … … + On) / (n+1)]× L

i.e. Area = {sum of ordinates / no. of ordinates} × length of base line

Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET
iii. Trapezoidal Rule:

While applying the trapezoidal rule, boundaries between the ends of ordinates are assumed
to be straight. Thus the areas enclosed between the base line and the irregular boundary lines
are considered as trapezoids.

Let, O1, O2, O3, … … …, On = ordinates at equal intervals

d = common distance

1st area = (O1 + O2) / 2 × d

2nd area = (O2 + O3) / 2 × d

3rd area = (O3 + O4) / 2 × d

………………………

Last area = (On-1 + On) / 2 × d

Total area = (O1 + O2) / 2 × d + (O2 + O3) / 2 × d + (O3 + O4) / 2 × d + … … …

+ (On-1 + On) / 2 × d

= d × {(O1 + On) / 2 + O2 + O3 + … … … + On-1)}

The trapezoidal rule can, therefore, be stated as:

Area is equal to product of the common interval and sum of intermediate ordinates plus
average of the first and last ordinates. If the intervals are not equal, the areas of the
trapeziums have to be computed separately and added together.

Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET
iv. Simpson’s One-Third Rule:

In this rule, the boundaries between the ends of ordinates are assumed to form an arc of a
parabola. Hence Simpson’s rule is sometimes called the parabolic rule.

Let, O1, O2, O3 = three consecutive ordinates

d = common distance between the ordinates

From the fig.(basak 213), Area AFeDC = area of trapezium AFDC + area of segment FeDEF

Here, area of trapezium AFDC = (O1 + O3) / 2 × 2d

Area of segment FeDEF = 2/3 × area of parallelogram FfdD

= 2/3 × Ee × 2d

= 2/3 × (O2 - (O1 + O3) / 2) × 2d

So, the area between the first two divisions = (O1 + O3) / 2 × 2d + 2/3 × (O2 - (O1 + O3) / 2)
× 2d

= d/3 × (O1 + 4O2 + O3)

Similarly, the area between next two divisions = d/3 × (O3 + 4O4 + O5) and so on.

So, Total area = d/3 × (O1 + 4O2 + 2O3 + 4O4 + … … … + On)

= d/3 × (O1+ On + 4(O2 + O4 + … … …) + 2(O3 + O5 + … … …))

Simpson’s one third rule can be stated as follows:

The area is equal to the sum of the two end ordinates plus four times the sum of the even
intermediate ordinates plus twice the sum of the odd intermediate ordinates, the whole
multiplied by one-third the common interval between them.

Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET
 This rule is applicable only when the total number of ordinates is odd i.e. the total number of
area is even. If there is an odd numbers of divisions (resulting in even number of ordinates),
the area of the last division must be calculated separately, and added to the rest.

The trapezoidal rule and Simpson’s rule may be compared in the following manner:

Sl. No. Trapezoidal rule Simpson’s rule

1. The boundary between the ordinates is
considered to be straight.
2. There is no limitation. It can be applied
for any number of ordinates.
3. It gives an approximate result.
The boundary between the ordinates is
considered to be an arc of parabola.
To apply this rule, the number of
ordinates must be odd. That is, the
number of divisions must be even.
It gives a more accurate result.

2. BY COMPUTATION BASED ON MEASUREMENTS SCALED FROM A MAP:

a. By Sub-Division of The Area Into Triangles:

The most convenient method is to divide the figure into a number of triangles. The base and
altitude of each triangle are scaled and its area is found by multiplying half the base by the
altitude. When the boundaries are irregular, they are replaced by straight lines termed as
“give and take” or “equalizing” lines. These lines are so drawn that they exclude as much as
they include.

b. By Sub-Division Into Squares:

In this method a piece of tracing paper ruled out into square representing a definite number
of square meters or square centimeter, is placed over the drawing. The number of complete
squares is then counted and the portions of the squares broken by the curved boundary are
estimated in terms of a whole square. The required area is equal to the total number of
squares multiplied by the square meters etc. which each square represents.

Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET
c. By Division Into Trapezoids:

In this method a series of equidistant parallel lines are ruled on a tracing paper, the constant
distance between them representing some round number of meters or centimeters. The
centimeter is then placed over the plan so that the area is exactly enclosed between two of
the parallel lines. The figure is thus divided into a number of strips, the curved ends of which
are replaced by perpendicular give and take line. The sum of the length of the rectangles thus
obtained, multiplied by the common breadth gives the required area.

3. BY MECHANICAL METHOD:

The instrument used for computation of area from a plotted map is the Planimeter. The area
obtained by Planimeter is more accurate than that obtained by the graphical method.

There are two types of Planimeter- (more details in BC Punmia)

i. Amsler Polar Planimeter (frequently used)

ii. Roller Planimeter.

Assignment: What is Planimeter? Write down the equation for area calculation by
Planimeter. What is zero circle?
Md. Hamidul Islam, Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Construction Management, KUET