MODULE 4 Chapter 4

PARTITION OF LAND
4.1 SUBDIVISION OF LAND
The usual task of surveyors and engineers in property surveys is the subdivision of
land. Sometimes it is necessary to divide tracts of land into smaller parcels or into areas
having certain proportions to each other especially when these tracts of land are sold or
inherited.

There are factors to be considered in subdivision of land. These are,

1. It requires the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry or the use of
special techniques in computations.
2. Other cases are performed by trial-and-error methods.
3. Initial assumption of the starting point or the direction to be taken by the cut off line.
Four of the most common cases encountered in the subdivision of land are,
1. Dividing an area into two parts by a line between two points.
2. Dividing an area by a line running through a point and in a given direction
3. To cut off a required area by a line through a given point.
4. To cut off a required area by a line running in a given direction.
Note: For any of the above-mentioned cases, a resurvey is run, the latitudes and departures
are determined, the surveyed traverse is balanced, and the area of the entire tract is
computed. When computing the desired subdivision scheme only the adjusted latitudes and
departures are used.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Sample Problem No. 1

Subdivide a lot using a line passing through Point A to Point C. Compute the two areas.

LINE LENGTH BEARING

AB 353.62 N 51°47’ E
BC 199.81 S 46°49.362’ E
CD 434.73 S 23°20’ W
DE 205.753 N 19°25’ W
EA 220.50 N 56°04’ W

Solution 1
Solve for Latitudes and Departures, DMD and DA;

LINE LENGTH BEARING LAT DEP (m) DMD DA

(m)
AB 353.62 N 51°47’ E 218.76 277.83 277.83 60778.091
BC 199.81 S 46°49.362’ E -136.72 145.71 701.37 -95891.306
CD 434.73 S 23°20’ W -399.18 -172.19 674.89 -269402.59
DE 205.753 N 19°25’ W 194.05 -68.40 434.30 84275.915
EA 220.50 N 56°04’ W 123.09 -182.95 182.95 22519.316
Ʃ𝐷𝐴 = −197, 720.574

Solve for the total area,

1
𝐴 𝑇 = (−197, 720.574)
2
𝑨𝑻 = 𝟗𝟖, 𝟖𝟔𝟎. 𝟐𝟖𝟕 𝒎𝟐

Consider DL,
∑ 𝐿𝑎𝑡 = 0

𝐿𝑎𝑡𝐷𝐿 = −218.76 + 136.72

𝑳𝒂𝒕𝑫𝑳 = −𝟖𝟐. 𝟎𝟒 𝒎

∑ 𝐷𝑒𝑝 = 0

𝐷𝑒𝑝𝐷𝐿 = −277.83 − 145.71

𝑫𝒆𝒑𝑫𝑳 = −𝟒𝟐𝟑. 𝟓𝟒 𝒎

Consider A1 using DL,

LINE LAT (m) DEP (m) DMD DA
AB 218.76 277.83 277.83 60778.091
BC -136.72 145.71 701.37 -95891.306
DL -82.04 -423.54 423.54 -34747.222
Ʃ𝐷𝐴 = −69, 860.437

2
Solve for A1,
1
𝐴1 = (−69, 860.437)
2
𝑨𝟏 = 𝟑𝟒, 𝟗𝟑𝟎. 𝟐𝟏𝟗 𝒎𝟐 answer

Solve for A2,

𝐴2 = 𝐴 𝑇 − 𝐴1
𝐴2 = 98 860.287 − 34 930.219

𝑨𝟐 = 𝟔𝟑, 𝟗𝟑𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟖 𝒎𝟐 answer

Solution 2
Using Area by triangle, solve for A1
423.54
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
82.04
𝜃 = 79°2.252′

𝐷𝐿 = √(423.54)2 + (82.04)2 = 431.412 𝑚

𝛽 = 𝜃 − 𝐵𝐸𝐴𝑅𝐼𝑁𝐺, 𝐴𝐵 = 27°15.252′
𝛽 = 79°2.252′ − 51°47′ = 27°15.252′
1
𝐴1 = (𝐴𝐵)(𝐴𝐶)𝑆𝑖𝑛𝛽
2
1
𝐴1 = (353.62)(431.412)𝑆𝑖𝑛27°15.252′
2
𝑨𝟏 = 𝟑𝟒, 𝟗𝟑𝟎. 𝟔𝟓𝟕 𝒎𝟐 answer

Solve for A2,

𝐴2 = 98 860.287 − 34 930.657
𝑨𝟐 = 𝟔𝟑, 𝟗𝟐𝟗. 𝟔𝟑 𝒎𝟐 answer

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Sample Problem No. 2
Subdivide the lot using a line passing through point A with a bearing of S 68°30’ E.
LINE LENGTH BEARING
AB 353.62 N 51°47’ E
BC 199.81 S 46°49.362’ E
CD 434.73 S 23°20’ W
DE 205.753 N 19°25’ W
EA 220.50 N 56°04’ W

Solution
Solve for Latitudes and Departures, DMD and DA;
LINE LENGTH BEARING LAT DEP (m) DMD DA
(m)
AB 353.62 N 51°47’ E 218.76 277.83 277.83 60778.091
BC 199.81 S 46°49.362’ E -136.72 145.71 701.37 -95891.306
CD 434.73 S 23°20’ W -399.18 -172.19 674.89 -269402.59
DE 205.753 N 19°25’ W 194.05 -68.40 434.30 84275.915
EA 220.50 N 56°04’ W 123.09 -182.95 182.95 22519.316
Ʃ𝐷𝐴 = −197, 720.574
Solve for the total area,
1
𝐴 𝑇 = (−197, 720.574)
2
𝐴 𝑇 = 98, 860.287 𝑚2

Consider the figure and solve for closing line CL,

∑ 𝐿𝑎𝑡 = 0
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝐶𝐿 = −218.76 + 136.72
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝐶𝐿 = −82.04 𝑚

∑ 𝐷𝑒𝑝 = 0
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝐶𝐿 = −277.83 − 145.71
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝐶𝐿 = −423.54 𝑚
423.54
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
82.04
𝜃 = 79°2.252′
𝐶𝐿 = √(423.54)2 + (82.04)2 = 431.412 𝑚

Solve for the angles α, γ and Ø,

∝= 180° − 𝜃 − 68°30′ = 32°27.748′
∅ = 𝜃 − 23°20′ = 55°42.252′
𝛾 = 180°−∝ −∅ = 91°50′

Using Sine Law,

𝐷𝐿 431.412
= 𝑆𝑖𝑛91°50′
𝑆𝑖𝑛∅

431.412𝑆𝑖𝑛∅
𝐷𝐿 = = 356.589 𝑚
𝑆𝑖𝑛91°50′

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 𝐶𝐹 431.412
= 𝑆𝑖𝑛91°50′
𝑆𝑖𝑛∝
431.412𝑆𝑖𝑛∝
𝐶𝐹 = = 231.678 𝑚
𝑆𝑖𝑛91°50′

Using DMD for A1,

LINE LAT (m) DEP (m) DMD DA

AB 218.76 277.83 277.83 60778.091
BC -136.72 145.71 701.37 -95891.306
CF -212.73 -91.76 755.32 -160679.223
FA 130.69 -331.78 331.78 43360.328
Ʃ𝐷𝐴 = −152, 432.11
Solve for A1,
1
𝐴1 = (−152, 432.11)
2
𝟐
𝑨𝟏 = 𝟕𝟔, 𝟐𝟏𝟔. 𝟎𝟓𝟓 𝒎 answer

Solve for A2,

𝐴2 = 𝐴 𝑇 − 𝐴1
𝐴2 = 98 860.287 − 76 216. 055
𝑨𝟐 = 𝟐𝟐, 𝟔𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟑𝟐 𝒎𝟐 answer

5
Sample Problem No. 3
Subdivide the lot using a line originating from B. The area in the western part of the lot is
one-third of the total area. Determine the other end point of the Division Line and also find its
length and bearing from point B.
LINE LENGTH BEARING
AB 353.62 N 51°47’ E
BC 199.81 S 46°49.362’ E
CD 434.73 S 23°20’ W
DE 205.753 N 19°25’ W
EA 220.50 N 56°04’ W
Solution
Solve for Latitudes and Departures, DMD and DA;
LINE LENGTH BEARING LAT DEP (m) DMD DA
(m)
AB 353.62 N 51°47’ E 218.76 277.83 277.83 60778.091
BC 199.81 S 46°49.362’ E -136.72 145.71 701.37 -95891.306
CD 434.73 S 23°20’ W -399.18 -172.19 674.89 -269402.59
DE 205.753 N 19°25’ W 194.05 -68.40 434.30 84275.915
EA 220.50 N 56°04’ W 123.09 -182.95 182.95 22519.316
Ʃ𝐷𝐴 = −197, 720.574
Solve for the total area,
1
𝐴𝑇 = (−197, 720.574)
2
2
𝐴 𝑇 = 98, 860.287 𝑚
Solve for the closing line CL,

∑ 𝐿𝑎𝑡 = 0
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝐶𝐿 = 136.72 + 399.18 − 194.05
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝐶𝐿 = 341.85 𝑚

∑ 𝐷𝑒𝑝 = 0
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝐶𝐿 = −145.71 + 172.19 + 68.40
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝐶𝐿 = 94.88 𝑚
94.88
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 341.85
𝜃 = 15°30.715′
𝐶𝐿 = √(341.85)2 + (94.88)2 = 354.773 𝑚

Using DMD, solve for area of ∆ ABE,

LINE LAT (m) DEP (m) DMD DA

AB 218.76 277.83 277.83 60778.091
BE -341.85 -94.88 460.78 -157517.643
AE 123.09 -182.95 182.95 22519.316
Ʃ𝐷𝐴 = −74, 220.236

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 1
𝐴𝐴𝐵𝐸 = (−74, 220.236)
2
2
𝐴𝐴𝐵𝐸 = 37, 110.118 𝑚

Solve for A1, ABEF

1
𝐴1 = 𝐴
3 𝑇
1
𝐴1 = (98 860.287)
3
𝐴1 = 32, 953. 429 𝑚2

𝐴𝐵𝐸𝐹 = 𝐴𝐴𝐵𝐸 − 𝐴1
𝐴𝐵𝐸𝐹 = 37 110.118 − 32 953.429
𝐴𝐵𝐸𝐹 = 4, 156.689 𝑚2
1
𝐴𝐵𝐸𝐹 = 2 (𝐵𝐸)(𝐸𝐹)𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∝

∝= 𝐵𝐸𝐴𝑅𝐼𝑁𝐺, 𝐸𝐴 + 𝜃
∝= 56°04′ + 𝜃 = 56°04′ + 15°30.715′
∝= 71°34.715′
Solve for EF,
1
4, 156.689 = (354.773)(𝐸𝐹)𝑆𝑖𝑛71°34.715
2

𝑬𝑭 = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟔𝟗𝟗 𝒎
The other end of the Division Line is 24.699 m from Point E. answer
Using Cosine Law, solve for DL,

(𝐷𝐿)2 = (𝐸𝐹)2 + (𝐶𝐿)2 − 2(𝐸𝐹)(𝐶𝐿)𝐶𝑜𝑠 ∝

(𝐷𝐿)2 = (24.699)2 + (354.773)2 − 2(24.699)(354.773)𝐶𝑜𝑠71°34.715′
𝑫𝑳 = 𝟑𝟒𝟕. 𝟕𝟓𝟖 𝒎 answer
Using Sine Law, solve for bearing of BF,
𝐷𝐿 𝐸𝐹
𝑆𝑖𝑛∝
= 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝛽

347.758 24.699
=
𝑆𝑖𝑛71°34.715′ 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝛽

𝛽 = 3°51.825′
𝐵𝐸𝐴𝑅𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝑂𝐹 𝐵𝐹 = 𝜃 + 𝛽
𝐵𝐸𝐴𝑅𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝑂𝐹 𝐵𝐹 = 15°30.715′ + 3°51.825′
𝑩𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑶𝑭 𝑩𝑭 = 𝑺 𝟏𝟗°𝟐𝟐. 𝟓𝟒′ 𝑾 answer