CE 201

Fundamentals of Surveying

Name: JOVEN LOCSIN Date: OCTOBER 12, 2021

Course & Section: BSCE – 2B
Measurement of Directions and Angles
Introduction
Angles and directions are a fundamental part of surveying information. It is a
must to learn the various systems for measuring directions (horizontal angles, azimuths,
bearings, and so forth) as well as field procedures for making such measurements.

ASSIGNMENT:
I. Define/Explain the following terms:
1. True Meridian – is sometimes known as the astronomic or geographic
meridian. This line passes through the geographic north and south poles of
the Earth and the observer’s position. They are not parallel to each other
because they are converging at the poles.
2. Magnetic Meridian – is a fixed line of the reference which lines parallel with
the magnetic lines of force of the Earth. Magnetic meridians are not parallel to
the true meridian because they converge at a magnetic pole which is located
some distance away from the true geographic poles.
3. Grid Meridian – is a fixed line of reference parallel to the central meridian of
the system of the plane rectangular coordinates. The use of grid meridians is
applicable only to plane surveys of limited extent. In such types of survey it is
assumed that all the measurements are all projected to a horizontal plane and
that all meridians are parallel straight lines.
4. Assumed Meridian – is an arbitrary chosen fixed line of reference which is
taken for convenience. This meridian is usually the direction from a survey
station to an adjoining station or some well- defined and permanent point.

II.What are the units of angular measurement? How are they related?
There are four units of angular measurement and these are the degree,
the grad, the mil, and the radian. They are related to each other because the
magnitude of the angle can be expressed in different units, and all of which are
basically derived from the circumference of the circle. The value of the angle
used these units. Even if they are from different system yet still they are all use to
measure the angles.
 CE 201
Fundamentals of Surveying

III. Describe the following direction of lines

1. Interior angles – the angles between adjacent lines in a closed polygon are called
interior angles. These angles can be measured clockwise or counterclockwise.
When the value of an interior angle is greater than 180 degrees it is referred to
as a re-entrant angle.
2. Exterior angles – are located outside a closed polygon and are referred to as
experiments of interior angles. These angles are often measured in surveying
work and used as a check, since the sum of the interior and exterior angles at
any station must equal to 360 degrees.
3. Deflection angles – the angle between the line and the prolongation of the
preceding line is called a deflection angle. It may be turned to the right or to the
left and it is always necessary to append the letters R or L to the numerical value
to define the direction in which the angle has been turned.
4. Whole circle bearing (WCB) – is defined as the bearing of the line at any point
which is measured with respect to the meridian. The whole circle bearings
values are ranging from 0 degrees to 360 degrees.
5. Quadrantal bearing (QB) – it is a horizontal angle or bearing less than 90
degrees, measured to North, South, East, or West from a survey line.
6. Forward bearing – when the bearing of a line is observed in the direction in which
the survey progress is called forward bearing.
7. Back bearing – if the bearing of the same line is observed in an opposite
direction in which the survey progresses is called back bearing
8. Forward Azimuth – the forward direction of the line is given by the forward
azimuth. The forward azimuth is converted into back azimuth by adding or
subtracting 180 degrees.
9. Back Azimuth – is the projection of the azimuth from the origin to the opposite
side of the azimuth circle. The back azimuth is calculated by adding 180 degrees
when the azimuth is less than 180 degrees or subtracting 180 degrees if the
azimuth is more than 180 degrees.