LESSON 25

MEASUREMENT OF ANGLES AND DIRECTIONS

WARNING! DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NOT READ AND

UNDERSTAND LESSON 24

TARGET

This lesson will be dealing with, direction of lines.

After going through this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Discuss and illustrate the different ways of expressing direction of line.
2. Convert direction of line from one form to another

REMEMBER
To make this learning material help you, don’t just read the lesson like reading a
novel or pocketbook. Reading alone will make you forget easily. Instead, write or jot down
important terms and events transpired in the discussion. This is the best way that you can
visualize and interpret the words/ instrument carefully. For problem solving and
computation discussion see to it that you have calculator, paper and pen or pencil. Write
the numbers/ essential details being talked about. There are two important questions that
should be answered in studying involving computation, the How it is done? and most
important the why it is done? As much as possible answer the “how, why” question in
order not to forget easily the discussion. Do not be satisfied just to know the “how” part.

ANCHOR
You have learned on our previous lesson about meridians, expedient method of
determining meridian and angle unit of measurements..

Meridians are fixed line of reference for determining direction of lines.

Four Types of Meridians

True Meridian is a North-South line passing through the geographical poles of the earth.
It is sometimes known as the astronomic or geographic meridian. It is the generally
adapted reference line in surveying practice. The direction of true meridian at a survey
station is invariable and any record of true directions taken remains permanent and
unchanged regardless of time.
Magnetic Meridian are lines lies parallel to the magnetic lines of force of the earth and is
indicated by the direction of the magnetized needle. Magnetic meridians are not parallel
to the true meridian since it converges at a magnetic pole which is located some distance
away from the true geographical poles. Location of magnetic poles changes constantly.

Grid Meridian is a reference line parallel to the central true meridian of a system of plane
rectangular coordinates, one central meridian which coincide with the true meridian is
selected, and all other meridians are made parallel to this meridian.

Assumed Meridian is a line of reference arbitrarily chosen for convenience. This meridian
is usually the direction from a survey station to an adjoining station or some well-defined
permanent point.

Expedient Method of Establishing Meridian

1. Establishing Magnetic Meridian by Compass
2. Determining True North by the Aid of Sun and a Plumb Line
3. Determining the True North by the Rising and Setting of the Sun
4. Determining the True North by Polaris
5. Determining the True South by Southern Cross
6. Determining Direction of True North (or South) by a wristwatch

Units of Angular Measurement

1. Degree
• sexagesimal system
• circumference of the circle is divided by 360 parts or degrees
2. Grad
• centesimal System
• circumference of the circle is divided into 400 parts called grads
3. Mil
• circumference is divided into 6400 parts called mils
4. Radians
• one radian is defined as the angle subtended at the center of the circle by
an arc length exactly equal to the radius of the circle

Designation of North Points

(map users are concerned with the north point for determination of directions)
1. True North
• North point of the true meridian
• It portrays the actual direction of the actual location of the earth’s
geographical pole
• Symbols used (star, asterisk, TN)
2. Magnetic North
• North point established by magnetic compass when there ar no local
attractions affecting it
• Magnetic north maybe located either east or west of the true north
• Symbols used (half arrowhead, MN)
 3. Grid North
• North point established by lines on map which are parallel to selected
central meridian
• Symbols used (Full arrowhead, GN or Y)
4. Assumed North
• Used to portray the location of any arbitrarily chosen north point
• Symbols used (small blackened circle, AN)

IGNITE

Direction of Lines

The direction of line is defined as the horizontal angle the line makes with an established
line of reference.

Angles are computed by means of their relationship to known quantities in a triangle or

other geometric figures.

The best approach in expressing the direction in different ways is to draw/ sketch showing
the related quantity and visualize the required computation.

Interior Angles
The angle between two adjacent lines in a closed polygon. These angles may be
measured clockwise or counterclockwise. When the value of an interior angle is greater
than 180° it is referred to as re-entrant angle. In any closed polygon, the sum of interior
angles I equal to 180°(n-2), where n is the number of sides. Φa, ϕb, ϕc, ϕd, and ϕe are
interior angles.
Exterior angles
Exterior angles are located outside a closed polygon and are referred to as explements
of interior angles. An explement angle is the difference between 360° and anyone
angle.αa , αb, αc, αd, and αe are examples of exterior angles.

Deflection Angles
The angle between line and the prolongation of the preceding line are called deflection
angle. It may be turned to the right (clockwise) or to the left (counterclockwise) and it is
necessary to append the letters R and L to the numerical value to define the direction of
the angle.
Usually, a positive sign is used to define a deflection angle to the right and negative sign
for deflection angle to the left. These angles may have values between 0° to 180°, but
often, they are not used for angles greater than 90°.In any closed polygon the algebraic
sum of deflection angles should always be equal to 360°. ω b, ωc, and ωd are examples of
deflection angle.
Angles to the Right
Angles to the right are measured clockwise from the preceding line’ These are also
referred to as azimuths from back line. βb, βc, and βd are examples of angle to the right.

Bearing
The bearing of a line is the acute horizontal angle between the reference meridian and
the line. A quadrantal system is used to specify bearings. The bearing of an angle never
exceeds 90°.

Either the letters N or S precedes the bearing angle, and the letter E or W follows the
indicated value. It is never done the other way around.
If the line lies parallel to the meridian and south, it is written due south, if it is perpendicular
to the meridian and east, it is written due east.

The reference meridian of a bearing may be true, magnetic, assumed or grid.

Line pa = N 44° 30’ E
Line pb = S 50° 15’ E
Line pc = Due South
Line pd = S 60° 18’ W
Line pe = Due West
Line pf = N 20° 40’ W
Forward and Back Bearing
If the bearing of a line is observed in the direction of the progress of the survey, it is
referred to as forward bearing, if the bearing of the same line is observed in opposite
direction, it is called back bearing.

Line Forward Bearing Back Bearing

AB N 44° 38’ E S 44° 38’ W
BC S 42° 30’ E N 42° 30’ W
CD N 56° 50’ E S 56° 50’ W
DE S 18° 12’ E N 18° 12’ W
Azimuth
The azimuth of the line is its direction as given b the angle between the meridian and the
line measured in a clockwise direction from either the north or south branch of the
meridian.
The azimuth of the line may range from 0° to 360° and letters are not required to identify
the quadrants. The direction of zero azimuth is either always north or always south.
Since both the north and the south branches of the meridians are used, it is important to
specify and record which branch is used whenever azimuths are recorded.
In practice azimuths are generally reckoned from north branch of the reference meridian,
for ordinary plane surveys. For large scales geodetic surveys and astronomical
observations, azimuth reckoned from south branch are used.

Azimuth reckoned from North Azimuth Reckoned from South

Line pa = 45° 10’ Line pa = 56° 18’
Line pb = 145° 05’ Line pb = 155° 44’
Line pc = 230° 52’ Line pc = 225° 29’
Line pd = 342° 48’ Line pd = 270° 00’
Line pe = 325° 05’
Forward and Back Azimuth
Any line on the earth’s surface has two azimuths – a forward azimuth and a back azimuth.
It depends on which end of the line is considered, and this direction differ by 180 from
each other since the back azimuth is he exact reverse of the forward azimuth.
To determine the back azimuth when the forward azimuth is known, the following rules
are used.

Rule 1. If the forward azimuth of the line is greater than 180°, subtract 180° to obtain
the back azimuth.

Rule 2. When the forward azimuth of the line is less than 180° add 180° to determine
the back azimuth.

Observed Azimuth from South Calculated Azimuth from North

Line
Forward Back Forward Back
AB 230° 00’ 50° 00’ 50° 00’ 230° 00’
BC 314° 00’ 134° 00’ 134° 00’ 314° 00’
CD 255° 00’ 75° 00’ 75° 00’ 255° 00’
DE 165° 00’ 345° 00’ 345° 00’ 165° 00’
Example

Compute the angles AOB, COB from the following set of lines whose magnetic bearings
are given.

a. OA N 23° 22’ W and OB N 76° 35’ W

b. OB N 32° 47’ E and OC S 24° 55’ E

Illustration N
a. A

W E
O

From the illustration

Angle AOB = 76° 35’ – 23° 22’

Angle AOB = 53° 13’

Illustration N
b. B

W E
O

C
S

Angle COB = 180 – (32° 47’ + 24° 55’)

Angle COB = 121° 18’

Example

Convert the following bearings to equivalent azimuths reckoned from south.

a. AB, N 25° 25’ W
b. BC, N 39° 50’ E
c. CD S 25° 45’ W

Illustration

N
a. B

W E
A
β

C
S

Let β = azimuth reckoned from south

β = 180° - 25° 25’
β = 154° 35’
Illustration

N
b. B

W E
A

Let β = azimuth reckoned from south

β = 180° + 39° 50’
β = 219° 50’
Illustration

N
c. B

W E
A

Let β = azimuth reckoned from south

β = 25° 45’

More discussions and illustrative problems are available on your book. It is

recommended that you also read, understand the discussions and solve the
illustrative problems from your book.
 EXPLORE

After reading, understanding and solve problems on the topic, direction of lines
you can now answer/solve the question/problems in UE 5 problems 3, 7, 11, 12

Note: Compile your work (UE 5). Follow the guide in compiling UE problems.
(Deadline of Submission will be posted on the GC. Thank you.)

IN A NUTSHELL
In this lesson you have learned about, direction of lines and how to convert from one form
to another.

The direction of line is defined as the horizontal angle the line makes with an established
line of reference.

Angles are computed by means of their relationship to known quantities in a triangle or

other geometric figures.

The best approach in expressing the direction in different ways is to draw/ sketch showing
the related quantity and visualize the required computation.

Interior Angles are the angle between two adjacent lines in a closed polygon. These
angles may be measured clockwise or counterclockwise. When the value of an interior
angle is greater than 180° it is referred to as re-entrant angle. In any closed polygon, the
sum of interior angles I equal to 180°(n-2), where n is the number of sides.

Exterior angles are located outside a closed polygon and are referred to as explements
of interior angles. An explement angle is the difference between 360° and anyone angle.

The angle between line and the prolongation of the preceding line are called deflection
angle. It may be turned to the right (clockwise) or to the left (counterclockwise) and it is
necessary to append the letters R and L to the numerical value to define the direction of
the angle.
Usually, a positive sign is used to define a deflection angle to the right and negative sign
for deflection angle to the left. These angles may have values between 0° to 180°, but
often, they are not used for angles greater than 90°.In any closed polygon the algebraic
sum of deflection angles should always be equal to 360°. ω b, ωc, and ωd are examples of
deflection angle.
Angles to the right are measured clockwise from the preceding line’ These are also
referred to as azimuths from back line.

The bearing of a line is the acute horizontal angle between the reference meridian and
the line. A quadrantal system is used to specify bearings. The bearing of an angle never
exceeds 90°.

Either the letters N or S precedes the bearing angle, and the letter E or W follows the
indicated value. It is never done the other way around.
If the line lies parallel to the meridian and south, it is written due south, if it is perpendicular
to the meridian and east, it is written due east.

The reference meridian of a bearing may be true, magnetic, assumed or grid.

If the bearing of a line is observed in the direction of the progress of the survey, it is
referred to as forward bearing, if the bearing of the same line is observed in opposite
direction, it is called back bearing.

The azimuth of the line is its direction as given b the angle between the meridian and the
line measured in a clockwise direction from either the north or south branch of the
meridian.
The azimuth of the line may range from 0° to 360° and letters are not required to identify
the quadrants. The direction of zero azimuth is either always north or always south.
Since both the north and the south branches of the meridians are used, it is important to
specify and record which branch is used whenever azimuths are recorded.
In practice azimuths are generally reckoned from north branch of the reference meridian,
for ordinary plane surveys. For large scales geodetic surveys and astronomical
observations, azimuth reckoned from south branch are used.

Any line on the earth’s surface has two azimuths – a forward azimuth and a back azimuth.
It depends on which end of the line is considered, and this direction differ by 180 from
each other since the back azimuth is he exact reverse of the forward azimuth.
To determine the back azimuth when the forward azimuth is known, the following rules
are used.

Rule 1. If the forward azimuth of the line is greater than 180°, subtract 180° to obtain
the back azimuth.

Rule 2. When the forward azimuth of the line is less than 180° add 180° to determine
the back azimuth.