Angles and Directions Surveying

Location of Point
Y-axis
P
r

 X-axis
P’
METHODS OF MEASURING ANGLES
Angles in surveying are measured with theodolite/transit or total
station, although angles can be measured with clinometers, sextants
(by hydrographic surveys), or compasses ..
For all closed polygon of n sides,

Sum of interior angles = (n – 2) x 180
Sum of exterior angles = (n + 2) x 180
ANGLES AND DIRECTIONS
In order to fix the direction of one line with respect to another one of the following
angles (directions) can be used.
1- DIRECT ANGLES:
Is the angle that is measured directly from one line to another at the point of
intersection of the lines.
2- DEFLECTION ANGLES:
The angle measured from the prolongation of one line (preceding) to Another. Here
the direction (to the right or left) must also be specified.
3- AZIMUTH ANGLES / WHOLE CIRCLE BEARING (WCB):
Is the direction of a line as given by an angle measured CW from the North end of a
meridian.
Azimuth angle ranges
from 0 to 360 degree,
values in excess of 360ᵒ
are simply reduced by
360ᵒ before final listing.
4- ANGLE(S) TO THE RIGHT:
Is measured in CW direction from the preceding to the following line as Shown below.
5- INTERIOR ANGLES:
In a closed polygon angles inside the figure between adjacent lines are called Interior
angles.
6- BEARING ANGLES / REDUCED BEARING:
Is the direction of a line as given by the acute angle between the line and a Meridian.
The bearing angle, which can be measured CW or CCW from the north or south end
of the meridian is always accompanied by letters that locate the quadrant in which the
line falls (NE NW SE SW).
DIRECTION OF A LINE
A line has two directions. In surveying a direction is called forward if it is oriented
in the direction of the fieldwork or computation staging. If the direction is in the
reverse of that it is called a back direction. N
N W E
60
Direction of AB N60°E S
Direction of BA S60°W W E
S
MERIDIANS
A meridian is generally a reference line chosen to indicate the direction

of another line.
1- TRUE (ASTRONOMIC) MERIDIAN: is the reference line that passes through the N and
S geographic poles of the earth. For a given point on the earth’s surface its direction is
always the same. Usually lines of most extensive survey and the lines making the boundaries
of landed properties are referred to this meridian.
2- GRID MERIDIAN: is a reference line parallel to a central true meridian.
3- MAGNETIC MERIDIAN: is a of the earth as indicated by the direction of a magnetic

needle. Reference line, which lies parallel to the magnetic line of force.
4- ASSUMED MERIDIAN: is a line, which is arbitrarily chosen to be a reference to indicate the

direction of another line.
MAGNETIC vs TRUE MERIDIAN
Magnetic north pole is located at some distance from the geographic north pole.
Hence a magnetized needle does not for the most part direct to the geographic north.
The deflection of the magnetic north from the geographic north is known as
magnetic declination. The magnetic declination varies with place and with time as
magnetic north varies with time and place.
Isogonic charts (lines joining point of equal magnetic declination) are prepared to
retrace the original maps and collected data.
PROBLEMS
1: Calculate bearing for the following lines:
N
8 5
10ᵒ 45’ 58ᵒ 20’
W E
0
62ᵒ 30’ 65ᵒ 10’
7 6
S
2: For line AB forward bearing is N 62ᵒ 30’ E. Calculate:
(a) Its reverse bearing
(b) Azimuths
3:The azimuth of line CD is 128ᵒ 30’. Calculate:
(a) Azimuth of DC
(b) Bearing for CD & DC
4: A closed five sided field traverse has the following interior angles:
A = 87ᵒ 05’, B = 120ᵒ 28’ , C = 118ᵒ 37’ , D = 105ᵒ 22’ , E = 108ᵒ 28’
and the azimuth of side AB is 330ᵒ 00’.
Compute the (a) azimuths and (b) bearing of the remaining sides.
C N
118ᵒ 37’ B
120ᵒ 28’
D 105ᵒ 22’
87ᵒ 05’ A
108ᵒ 28’ 330ᵒ
E
Key Points:
1- To check that figure is geometrically closed i.e. sum of interior angles = (n – 2)*180
2- Select the direction (CW or CCW) for computation of remaining azimuths or
bearings.
3- For azimuth calculations:
3a- In a CCW direction add interior angle to back azimuth of the pervious course.
3b- In a CW direction subtract interior angle from back azimuth of the pervious
course.
3c- Azimuth for the same side differ by 180ᵒ.
Key Points:
4- For bearing calculations:
4a- There is no systematic method of directly computing bearings, each bearing
computation will be regarded as separate problem.
4b- It is essential that a neat, well-labeled diagram accompany each computation.
4c- The sketch of each individual bearing computation should show the appropriate
interior angle together with one bearing.
4d- The required bearing should also be shown clearly.

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Location of Point

For all closed polygon of n sides,

A meridian is generally a reference line chosen to indicate the direction

2- GRID MERIDIAN: is a reference line parallel to a central true meridian.

3- MAGNETIC MERIDIAN: is a of the earth as indicated by the direction of a magnetic

4- ASSUMED MERIDIAN: is a line, which is arbitrarily chosen to be a reference to indicate the

108ᵒ 28’ 330ᵒ

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