Area by Double Meridian Distance (DMD) and Double Parallel Distance (DPD)

***Key TERMS :

Meridian Distance of a Line – defined as the shortest distance from the

midpoint of the line to the reference meridian
(north–south direction).
Parallel Distance of a Line – defined as the distance of a line to the reference
parallel (east–west direction).

DOUBLE MERIDIAN DISTANCE (DMD)

RULES:
(1) DMD of the first course is equal to the departure of the course itself.
(2) DMD of any other course (succeeding courses) is equal to the DMD of
previous, plus departure of the previous course, plus the departure of the
course itself.
(3) DMD of the last course is numerically equal to the departure of the course
itself, but with opposite sign.

DOUBLE PARALLEL DISTANCE (DPD)

RULES:
(1) DPD of the first course is equal to the latitude of the course itself.
(2) DPD of any other course (succeeding courses) is equal to the DPD of
previous, plus latitude of the previous course, plus the latitude of the
course itself.
(3) DPD of the last course is numerically equal to the latitude of the course
itself, but with opposite sign.

FORMULAS:
1
AREA = Σ(DMD x LATITUDE)
2

1
AREA = Σ(DPD x DEPARTURE)
2

*Note: Applicable only for closed traverse (Σ LATITUDE = 0 and Σ DEPARTURE = 0)

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM:
Given the following data from a survey party. Compute the area of the
closed traversed by DMD and DPD Methods.

LINE DEPARTURE LATITUDE

1–2 + 02.29 – 20.55
2 –3 – 57.91 + 11.26
3–4 – 03.47 + 19.70
4 –1 + 59.09 – 10.41
 Solution: By Double Meridian Method (DMD)

(1) Initially, check the given data if Σ LATITUDE = 0 and Σ DEPARTURE = 0

Otherwise apply closed traversed corrections before computing the
area.

LINE DEPARTURE LATITUDE

1–2 + 02.29 – 20.55
2 –3 – 57.91 + 11.26
3–4 – 03.47 + 19.70
4 –1 + 59.09 – 10.41
Σ LATITUDE = 0 Σ DEPARTURE = 0

(2) Add another two (2) columns for DMD and (DMD x LATITUDE). For
DMD computation, follow the stated rules given above.

DOUBLE MERIDIAN
LINE LATITUDE DEPARTURE ( DMD x LATITUDE )
DISTANCE (DMD)
1–2 – 20.55 + 02.29
2 –3 + 11.26 – 57.91
3–4 + 19.70 – 03.47
4 –1 – 10.41 + 59.09

(3) Complete the tabulated computation, solve for the product of DMD
and Latitude for each Lines. Afterwards, get the sum of all the
products [ Σ (DMD x LATITUDE) ].

DOUBLE
MERIDIAN
LINE LATITUDE DEPARTURE ( DMD x LATITUDE )
DISTANCE
(DMD)
1–2 – 20.55 + 02.29 + 02.29 ( 02.29 x –20.55 ) = –47.0595
2 –3 + 11.26 – 57.91 – 53.33 ( –53.33 x 11.26 ) = –600.4958
3–4 + 19.70 – 03.47 – 114.71 ( –114.71 x 19.70) = –2259.787
4 –1 – 10.41 + 59.09 – 59.09 ( –59.09 x –10.41 ) = +615.1269
Σ (DMD x LATITUDE) = –2292.2154

(4) Lastly, to determine the area by DMD Method, multiply the result
of Σ (DMD x LATITUDE), considering absolute value, by a half.
1
AREA = Σ(DMD x LATITUDE)
2
1
AREA = (2292.2154) = 1146.1077 sq. m.
2
 Solution: By Double Parallel Method (DPD)

(1) Initially, check the given data if Σ LATITUDE = 0 and Σ DEPARTURE = 0

Otherwise apply closed traversed corrections before computing the
area.

LINE LATITUDE DEPARTURE

1–2 – 20.55 + 02.29
2 –3 + 11.26 – 57.91
3–4 + 19.70 – 03.47
4 –1 – 10.41 + 59.09
Σ LATITUDE = 0 Σ DEPARTURE = 0

(2) Add another two (2) columns for DPD and (DPD x DEPARTURE). For
DPD computation, follow the stated rules given above.

DOUBLE PARALLEL
LINE DEPARTURE LATITUDE (DPD x DEPARTURE)
DISTANCE (DPD)
1–2 + 02.29 – 20.55
2 –3 – 57.91 + 11.26
3–4 – 03.47 + 19.70
4 –1 + 59.09 – 10.41

(3) Complete the tabulated solution, solve for the product of DPD and
Departure for each Lines. Afterwards, get the sum of all the
product [ Σ (DPD x DEPARTURE) ].

DOUBLE
PARALLEL
LINE DEPARTURE LATITUDE ( DPD x DEPARTURE )
DISTANCE
(DPD)
1–2 + 02.29 – 20.55 – 20.55 (–20.55 x 02.29 ) = –47.0595
2 –3 – 57.91 + 11.26 – 29.84 ( –29.84 x –57.91 ) = +1728.0344
3–4 – 03.47 + 19.70 + 01.12 ( +01.12 x –03.47) = –03.8864
4 –1 + 59.09 – 10.41 + 10.41 ( 10.41 x 59.09 ) = +615.1269
Σ (DPD x DEPARTURE) = +2292.2154

(4) Lastly, to determine the area by DPD Method, multiply the result of
Σ (DPD x DEPARTURE), considering absolute value, by a half.
1
AREA = Σ(DPD x DEPARTURE)
2
1
AREA = (2292.2154) = 1146.1077 sq. m.
2
PRACTICE PROBLEM:
From the results of the illustrative example on traverse corrections.
Determine the area of the closed traverse (corrected latitudes and
departures) for both Compass Rule and Transit Rule’s data using:
A) Double Parallel Method (DPD)
B) Double Meridian Method (DMD)