Measurements of Angles

and Directions
 Measurements of Angles and Directions
Surveying is the science and art of measuring
distances and angles on or near the surface
of the earth.
Surveying is an orderly process of acquiring
data relating to the physical characteristics of
the earth and in particular the relative
position of points and magnitude of areas.
The word angle comes from the Latin word
angulus, meaning “a corner”.
 Measurements of Angles and Directions

In surveying, the direction of a line is described

by the horizontal angle that it makes with a
reference line.
This reference line is call meridian.
The term “meridian” comes from the Latin
word meridies, meaning “midday”
Measurements of Angles and Directions

The sun crosses a given meridian midway

between the times of sunrise and sunset on
that meridian.

The same Latin term gives the terms A.M.

(Ante Meridian) and P.M. (Post Meridian)
used to disambiguate hours of the day when
using 12 hour clock.
 Measurements of Angles and Directions

A meridian (or line of longitude) is an

imaginary arc on the Earth’s surface from
North Pole to South Pole that connects all
locations running along it with a given
longitude.

The position of point on the

meridian is given by latitude.
 Types of Meridians
True Meridian – it 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.
Magnetic Meridian – is a fixed line of
reference which lies parallel with the magnetic
lines force of the earth.
 Types of Meridians
Grid Meridian – it is a fixed line of reference
parallel to the central meridian of the plane
rectangular coordinates. One central meridian,
which coincides the a true meridian, is usually
selected and all other meridians are made
parallel to this meridian.
Assumed Meridian – is an arbitrary chosen
fixed line reference which is taken for
convenience.
 Units of Angular Measurements

Degree – is unit of angular measurements of

the sexagesimal system in which the
circumference of a circle is divided into 360
parts called degrees. ̊ , ’ and ’’ used to denote
degrees, minute and seconds.
Grad– is unit of angular measurements of
the centesimal system in which the
circumference of a circle is divided into 400
parts called grads.
 Units of Angular Measurements

Mil –the circumference of a circle is divided

into 6400 parts called mils, 1600 mils equal to
90 degrees..
Radian – is another measurements of angles
used frequently for host of calculations. One
radian is defined as the angle subtended at
the center of a circle by an arc length exactly
equal to the radius equal 180/π
Symbols Used for North Points
 Direction of Lines
Azimuth
 A common terms for designating direction of a line
is the azimuth.
From the Arabic as-simt, from as (the) = simt (way).
The azimuth of a line is defined as the clockwise angle
from the north end or south end of the reference
meridian.
Azimuth are usually measured from the north end of
the meridian.
Direction of Lines
Direction of Lines
Direction of Lines
 Direction of Lines
Bearings
Another method of describing the direction of a
line is give its bearing.
The bearing of a line is defined as the smallest
angle which that line makes with the reference
meridian.
A bearing cannot be greater than 90o .
(bearing are measured in relation to the north or
south end of the meridian – NE, NW, SE or SW)
Direction of Lines
Direction of Lines
 Direction of Lines
Traverse
A traverse is a series of successive straight
lines that are connected together.
A traverse is closed such in a boundary survey
or open as for a highway.
 Direction of Lines
Angles
An exterior angle is one of that is not
enclosed y the sides of a closed traverse.
An interior angle is one enclosed y the sides
of a closed traverse.
 Direction of Lines
Angles
An angle to the right is the clockwise angle
between the preceding line and the next line of
the traverse.
 Direction of Lines
Angles
A deflection angle is the angle between the
preceding line and the present one.
 Direction of Lines
Angles
A deflection angle is the angle between the
preceding line and the present one.
Direction of Lines
Forward and Backward Azimuth
OBS AZIM FROM SOUTH CAL AZIM FROM NORTH
LINE
FORWARD BACKWARD FORWARD BACKWARD

AB 230o 00’ 50o 00’ 50o 00’ 230o 00’

BC 314o 00’ 134o 00’ 134o 00’ 314o 00’

CD 255o 00’ 75o 00’ 75o 00’ 255o 00’

DE 165o 00’ 345o 00’ 345o 00’ 165o 00’

Forward and Backward Azimuth
 Compass
Compass
The compass is a handheld instrument for
determining the horizontal direction of a line
with reference to the magnetic meridian.
 Type of Compasses
Brunton Compass
 Type of Compasses
Lensatic Compass
 Type of Compasses
Surveyor’s Compass
 Type of Compasses
Plain Pocket Compass
 Type of Compasses
Prismatic Compass
 Type of Compasses
Forester’s Compass
 Type of Compasses
Transit Compass
Magnetic Declination
 Magnetic Declination - Problem
The magnetic declination in a locality is 2o 30’ E.
Determine the true bearing and true azimuths reckoned
from north and south of the following lines whose
magnetic bearing are given .
A. AB, N 25o 40’ E
B. AC, S 50o 12’ E
C. AD, S 62o 18’ W

Note: ρ = true bearing

π = true azimuth from north
λ = true azimuth from south
 Magnetic Declination - Problem
The magnetic declination in a locality is 2o 30’ E. Determine
the true bearing and true azimuths reckoned from north and
south of the following lines whose magnetic bearing are
given .
A. AB, N 25o 40’ E
B. AC, S 50o 12’ E
C. AD, S 62o 18’ W

Note: ρ = true bearing

π = true azimuth from north
λ = true azimuth from south
 Magnetic Declination - Problem
The magnetic declination in a locality is 2o 30’ E. Determine
the true bearing and true azimuths reckoned from north and
south of the following lines whose magnetic bearing are
given .
A. AB, N 25o 40’ E
B. AC, S 50o 12’ E
C. AD, S 62o 18’ W

Note: ρ =true bearing

π = true azimuth from north
λ = true azimuth from south
 Magnetic Declination - Problem
A field is in a form of a regular
pentagon. If the true bearing of side AB
is N 30o 25’ E, determine the true
azimuth from south of the following
sides of the field. AB, BC, CD, DE and
EA. Assumed that the corners of the
field are labelled in a clockwise
direction.
 Compass Surveys
Traverse – is a series of lines connecting
successive points whose lengths and
direction have been determine from field
measurements.

Traversing – is the process of measuring

the lengths and direction of the lines of a
traverse for the purpose of locating a
certain points.
 Compass Surveys
Traverse Station – any temporary if
permanent points of a reference over
which the instrument is set up. It is
usually marked by a peg or a hub.

Traverse Lines - are lines connecting

traverse stations and whose lengths and
directions are determine.
 Types of Compass Surveys
Open Compass Traverse
consists of series of lines of known lengths
and magnetic bearing which are continuous
but do not return to the starting point or
close upon the point of known position.

Closed Compass Traverse

consists of series of lines of known lengths
and magnetic bearing which forms a close
loop, or begin and end at the points whose
position have been fixed by other surveys of
higher precision..
 Adjustment of an Open Compass Traverse
Given in the tabulation below are the observed forward and
backward bearings of an open compass traverse. Plot the traverse
and adjust the forward and backward bearing of each course.
Tabulate answers and show accompanying computations.

OBSERVED BEARINGS CORRECTED BEARINGS

LINE LENGTH
FORWARD BACKWARD FORWARD BACKWARD

AB 178 m N 60˚ 30’ E S 60˚ 38’W

BC 151 S 85˚ 00’ E N 85˚ 30’ W

CD 200 N 48˚ 10’ W S 48˚ 10’ E

DE 189 N 85˚ 10’ W S 85˚ 00’ E

EF 166 S 50˚ 38’ W N 50˚ 00’ E

Adjustment of an Closed Compass Traverse
The following are observed bearing of a closed compass traverse.
Compute the interior angles and correct them for the observational
errors, Assuming the observed bearing if line AB (“best line”) to be
corrected, adjust the bearing of the remaining sides.

OBSERVED BEARINGS CORRECTED BEARINGS

LINE LENGTH
FORWARD BACKWARD FORWARD BACKWARD

AB 46.50 m S 30˚ 40’ W N 30˚ 40’ E

BC 75.15 S 85˚ 50’ E N 84˚ 30’ W

CD 117.35 N 02˚ 00’ W S 02˚ 15’ E

DE 74.92 N 89˚ 30’ W Due East

EA 60.25 S 28˚ 50’ E N 28˚ 50’ W

 Closing The Horizon
In the Figure 31-6, the horizontal angles about
point A were measured as follows: θ1= 44°14’,
θ2= 58°59’, and θ3= 256°50’. Determine the
horizontal misclosure and adjust the measured
angles assumed that theerror is the same for
each angle.
 Adjustment of Interior Angles Traverse
The interior angle of a five sided closed traverse were
measured as follows: A=180°30’, B= 95°33’, C= Not Measured,
D= 134°10’,and E= 140°50’, (Fig. 34-6), If all observed angles
are assumed to be correct, determine the interior angle of C,
also, determine the bearing of each line if the bearing of line AB
is N 15°30’ E. Tabulate values accordingly.
Adjustment of interior Angles Traverse

STA LINE INTERIOR ANGLE BEARINGS

A AB 118°30’ N 15°30’ E
B BC 95°33’ S 80°03’ E
C CD 50°57’ S 49°00’ W
D DE 134°10’ N 85°10’ W
E EA 140°50’ N 46°00’ W
 Adjustment of Deflection Angles Traverse
The following are the observed deflection angles of a close
traverse. A= 28°25’00’’ (L)
B= 68°03’30’’ (L) D= 58°30’00’’ (R) F= 16°50’00’’ (R)
C=120°34’00’’ (L) E= 108°13’30’’ (L) G= 110°00’30’’ (R)
OBSERVED DEFLECTION ANGLE C0RR. ADJUSTED DEFLECTION ANGLE
STA
LEFT (L) RIGHT (R) + 30’’ LEFT (L) RIGHT (R)
A 28°25’00’’ + 30’’ 28°25’30’’
B 68°03’30’’ + 30’’ 68°04’00’’
C 120°34’00’’ + 30’’ 120°34’30’’
D 58°30’00’’ - 30’’ 58°29’30’’
E 108°13’30’’ + 30’’ 108°14’00’’
F 16°50’00’’ - 30’’ 16°49’30’’
G 110°00’30’’ + 30’’ 110°01’00’’
SUMS 435°16’30’’ 75°20’00’’ 435°19’00’’ 75°19’00’’
(ΣDEF LL) (ΣDEF LR) (ΣAdjDEF LL) (ΣAdjDEF LR)