Area Computation using Coordinates

BY
Daniel Nyangweso
Computation of Area using Coordinates
Multiply the algebraic sum of the northing of each station
and the one following by the algebraic difference of the
easting of each station and the one following. The area is
half the algebraic sum of the products. Example of area
computation is shown below
 Area computation by Coord--cont
This latter rule is the one most
commonly used and is easily
remembered if written as
shown below:-

The stations must be lettered clockwise around the figure. If anticlockwise the result will
be the same but has a negative sign.
 Notes
• The method is used to find area of irregular
figures by dividing the area into triangles.
• An odd number of coordinates is chosen by
repeating first for a square or rectangle.
• List the co-ordinates in an anticlockwise or
clockwise order systematically.
• Use another method for curved sections.
• Area is given in Square metres but may be
required to be converted to Acres or Hactares.
• If one of the coordinates has a different algebraic
sign, then it must be input with its sign during
calculation.
End