MODULE 08:

PARTITION OF LAND
(SUBDIVISION)

The subdivision of land is a usual task undertaken by surveyors and engineers in property surveys. When tracts of land
are sold or inherited it is often necessary to divide it into smaller parcels or into areas having certain proportions to
each other. There are numerous problems which may arise in the subdivision of land. The process of subdivision may
require the application of geometry and trigonometry or the use of special techniques in computations.

The following cases are the most used in portioning of land:

a. Division of land into two passes by a line running through a given point.
b. Division of area by a line through a point in a given direction.
c. To cut-off a required area by a line through a given point.
d. To cut-off a required area by a line running through a given direction.

Sample Problems:

1. A parcel of land has a technical description as shown in the tabulated data.

LINE Length (m) Bearing

1-2 27.72 S 01°27’ E
2-3 38.21 S 88°57’ W
3-4 27.90 N 07°00’ E
4-1 34.12 N 88°47’ E

The area of the lot is more or less than 1000 sq.m. If the lot is to be subdivided into two parts such that the
dividing line must start at the midpoint of the line 4-1 and must be parallel to line 1-2 of the boundaries.
a) What is the distance of the subdividing line?
b) What is the area of the lot subdivided on the eastern part?
c) What is the distance of the other end of the dividing line from corner 2 of the lot?

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2. Given the technical description of a lot as follows:

LINE Length (m) Azimuth

1-2 27.90 187° 00’
2-3 34.12 268° 47’
3-4 27.72 358° 33’
4-1 38.21 88° 57’

The area of the whole lot is 1000 sq.m. Subdivide the lot into two parts, the smallest part on the western side
is to have an area of 400 sq.m. whose dividing line is parallel to line 1-2 of the boundary.
a) Compute the length of the dividing line.
b) How far is the intersection point of the dividing line on the northern part of the lot from corner 2?
c) How far is the intersection point of the dividing line on the southern part of the line from corner 1
of the boundary?

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EXERCISE PROBLEMS:

A. Division of land into two passes by a line running through a given point.

Sample Problem:

In the given accompanying tabulated values of adjusted latitude and departure of a close traverse. Determine
the area east of dividing line at a point F drawn from point C. Find also the direction of the dividing line and its distance.

Course Latitude Departure Length (m) Bearing

AB 491.903 45.7450
BC 587.67 609.1678
CD -328.4043 787.9304
DE -1000.4207 215.8049
EF -125.7140 -1,114.6021
FA 374.9654 -544.046

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 B. Division of area by a line through a point in a given direction.

Sample Problem:

In the preceding example find the area of which the dividing line passes through point c with given bearing of
S 28°30’ W.

Course Latitude Departure Length (m) Bearing

AB 491.903 45.7450
BC 587.67 609.1678
CD -328.4043 787.9304
DE -1000.4207 215.8049
EF -125.7140 -1,114.6021
FA 374.9654 -544.046

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 C. To cut-off a required area by a line through a given point.

Sample Problem:

In the preceding problem. Determine the length and direction of the dividing line which passes through point
F and divides the area into two equal parts.

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 D. To cut-off a required area by a line running through a given direction.

Sample Problem:

In the preceding problem, determine the length of dividing line GH which passes to line CD and EF and divides
the area into two equal parts. Assume bearing of dividing line GH is due north.

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