Whole Circle Bearing - Surveying

In civil engineering surveying, bearing is very important to get the direction of a survey line. The
whole circle bearing (W.C.B) is a common notation system of bearings. The definition of the
whole circle bearing along with the measuring formula and example is discussed below.

What is Whole Circle Bearing (W.C.B)?

The horizontal angle made by a line with the magnetic north in the clockwise direction is the
whole circle bearing of the line. This system is also known as the azimuthal system. In this
system, only the north direction is used as reference meridian.

Whole Circle Bearing Formula

In whole circle bearing, the value of the bearing varies from 0° to 360°. Just measure the angle
between true north line to the survey line to find the WCB. Don't forget to measure the clockwise
angle in determining the whole circle bearing.

If a survey line falls in the first quadrant, its WCB varies from 0° to 90°. Similarly, in the second
quadrant, WCB value varies from 90° to 180°; in the third quadrant, WCB value varies from
180° to 270°; in the fourth quadrant, WCB value varies from 270° to 360°.

Designation of Bearings in Surveying

The whole bearing system (WBS) and Quadrantal Bearing system (QBS) are two notations of
bearings that are used in compass surveying. The WCB system can be converted to QBS or vice
versa by a simple calculation.

Bearing and Angles

A survey line can be measured with relation to another survey line or with relation to the
meridian. The first method gives the angle between the line. The second gives the bearing.
Hence, the bearing can be defined as the direction of the line with respect to the given meridian.

There are mainly three types of meridian:

1. True meridian
2. Magnetic meridian
3. Arbitrary meridian
1. True Meridian

A line that passes through a point, with a plane passing through the point and the North-south
poles form the true meridian. In other words, it forms the line that passes through the true north
and the south poles.
The true bearing of a given line is the horizontal angle made with the true meridian through one
of the extremities of the line.

2. Magnetic Meridian

The direction that is shown by a freely suspended and floating balanced magnetic needle is the
magnetic meridian. A magnetic compass can be used to determine the magnetic meridian. The
magnetic compass used for this purpose must be free from other attractive forces.

The magnetic bearing of a given line is the horizontal angle that it makes with the magnetic
meridian that is passing through one of the extremities of the line.

3. Arbitrary Meridian

In certain situations, a convenient direction is established with respect to a permanent or a

common mark or a signal in the area, during the survey. These are called arbitrary meridians
which help to determine the relative positions of the survey line.

The horizontal angle made by a line with the arbitrary meridian passing through one of its
extremities is called as an arbitrary bearing.

Whole Bearing and Quadrantal Bearing Systems

The common bearing designations used in surveying are:

Whole Circle Bearing System or Azimuthal System (W.C.B)

The Quadrantal Bearing or Reduced Bearing System (QB)

1. Whole Circle Bearing System or Azimuthal System (W.C.B)

A WCB bearing method measures angles from the magnetic north or with the south in the
clockwise direction as shown in figure-1 below.
 The Whole Bearing System (WCB)

Hence, the value of the bearing varies from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. A prismatic compass is
graduated by a WCB system. As shown in the figure above, the WCB of AB, AC, AD, and AF
are Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4.

2. The Quadrantal Bearing or Reduced Bearing System (QB)

In the QB system, the bearing angle is measured either from North or South whichever is nearer.
This can be measured either in clockwise or anti-clockwise. Here, the quadrant at which the line
lies has to be mentioned.

As shown in figure-2, ‘B’ is the bearing of line AC with the south, which is lying in S-E
Quadrant. Hence, it is represented as S B E. The Q.B lines vary from 0 to 90 degrees.

The Quadrantal Bearing System (QBS)

What is the difference between an Azimuth and Bearing?
I use the words azimuth and bearing a lot. I also hear people using them interchangeably quite
often. However, there is a difference.

Azimuth

When we use a compass to determine a direction, we are technically talking about an

azimuth. We use a reference of North as 0 and measure our direction using degrees clockwise
from North (e.g. East is 90 degrees, South is 180 degrees, West is 270 degrees). Our reference
meridian can be true north, grid north, magnetic north, or an assumed north, but that is beyond
the scope of this article.
Bearing

While we often use the word bearing the same way we use the word azimuth, that isn’t
technically correct. A bearing is described from North or South, and what angle to the East or
West. So, we can say we are 20 degrees East of South or more commonly S 20 E. To put that in
terms of an azimuth, we say 160 degrees.

Confusing enough?

Here is a simple way to convert from azimuth to bearing:

With 0 to 90 degree azimuth = 0 to 90 degree bearing

With 90 to 180 degree azimuth, your bearing = 180 – azimuth

With 180 to 270 degree azimuth, your bearing = azimuth – 180

With 270 to 360 degree azimuth, your bearing = 360 – azimuth

For example, an azimuth of 296 degrees converts to a bearing of N 64 W.