Determining

Rectilinear Area by
Tape
• Aside from measuring horizontal distances, the use of the
tape is not limited to erecting perpendicular lines,
measuring and laying off angles but also in measuring a
rectilinear area in place of a transit when not available.

a) Quadrilateral Area

• The area of a quadrilateral lot could be determined by

measuring the length of the sides and the angle of the
corners applying trigonometric principles.

• Note that not all quadrilateral area have equal length of

sides and angles
 A

ø 35m

Area 1

24m 16m

Area 2 ø B

D 40m
• AREA 1
1) Measure the length of line AC and AD
AC = 35m
AD = 24m
2) Determine angle A using the angle measurement
method using the formula:

L = 4m Therefore: Sin ø = 4.43m/2 = 67.24˚

d = 4.43m 2 4m
 3. Determine the area
Area 1 = (AC)(AD)Sinø
2
= (35m)(24m)(Sin67.24˚)
2
Area 1 = 387.29 sq.m.
For Area 2 repeat the same process where:
BC = 16m Sin ø = 4.15m/2
BD = 40m 2 4
L = 4m = 62.49˚
d = 4.15m
•

Area 2 = (16m)(40m)Sin62.49˚ = 283.817 sq.m.

2
Total Area = A1 + A2 = 387.29 sq.m. + 283.817 sq.m. = 671sq.m.
b) To determine the area of more than four sides or a
rectilinear field,
1. Determine the corners of the field
2. Subdivide the area into a convenient series of connected
triangles. Mark point F as the common vertex of the triangles as
shown below:
3. Measure the length from the center F to all corners of the lot:
FA, FB, FC, FD, and FE
4. From the center F, determine the chord distance d of each
angle using the same length L.
5. Compute for the angle of each triangle
6. Determine the adjusted angle of each triangle to ensure that
the total angle will close to 360˚
7. Compute for the area of each triangle using the adjusted
angle.
8. Add all the area to determine the total area
 • Enter the measured and computed data on the table
a) Chord Method of Measuring Angles

Included Chord Length of Computed Correction Adjusted

Angle Distance Side (m) Angle Angle
(m)
ø1 4.88 75˚10’44.42” 74˚48’30.57”

ø2 5.27 82˚24’33.19” 82˚02’19.22”

ø3 4.57 4m
69˚40’29.55” 22’13.97” 69˚18’15.58”

ø4 4.2 63˚20’11.35” 62˚57’57.38”

ø5 4.66 71˚15’11.32” 70˚52’57.35”

Total 361˚51’9.23”
• Correction is the deviation of the total angle from 360˚
Correction = 361˚51’9.23” - 360˚
5
= 1˚51’9.23”
5
= 22’13.97”

Subtract 22’13.97” from all the angles to adjust the

angles
• b) Area of Triangles

Sides (m)
Triangle Included Angle Area (sq.m.)
1st 2nd
AFB 18.51 21.27 74˚48’30.45” 189.97
BFC 21.27 22.17 82˚02’19.22” 233.51
CFD 22.17 14.23 69˚18’15.58” 147.56
DFE 14.23 14.72 62˚57’57.38” 93.20
EFA 14.72 18.51 70˚52’57.35” 128.27
Total 782.60
Laboratory Exercise # 6
Select a quadrilateral field lot to measure and determine
the area using tape.

Laboratory Exercise #7
Create a five sided rectilinear lot and mark the corners
and center with peg or chaining pin. Determine the area of the
lot.

Assignment:
Make a research on the parts of an engineer’s transit
and their functions.