SP - CHP 02 - Surveying Mathematics

Surveying with
Construction Applications
8th Edition
Chapter 02
Surveying Mathematics
Copyright © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. Tsang Hai Book Co., Ltd.
Preface
◼ Construction layout puts the surveyor in the
unique role of “translating”
◼ the project visualized by the designer
◼ and shown on the architectural or civil
drawings
◼ for the contractor who will build the project.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317325601_Construction_Machin
es_as_a_Source_of_Construction_noise/figures?lo=1
Preface
◼ This role requires the surveyor to be able to
◼ read and interpret the drawings
◼ and make the necessary computations to
locate the project correctly on its site,
◼ and to accurately communicate those
interpretations to the contractor.
Preface
◼ Construction surveyors must be both
◼ fast and accurate in their computations
Preface
◼ They should have a mastery of such things as
the key conversion factors used in
◼ converting between systems of units,
◼ formulas for finding area and volume of basic
geometric shapes,
◼ and procedures for working with rectangular
coordinates and angles.
Preface
◼ The mathematical tools required to make
surveying computations are primarily
◼ algebra,
◼ geometry,
◼ and trigonometry.
Preface
◼ While modern surveying increasingly uses
electronic data collection and computers to
speed up the manipulation of data,
◼ it remains essential for the surveying student
◼ to have a thorough understanding of the
mathematical basis for the software
functions
◼ and to be able to carry out computations on
handheld calculators in the field
2.1 Unit Conversions
◼ Construction surveyors must be able
◼ to work with both metric and English units
◼ and to convert between them.
◼ Currently,
◼ federal and some state agencies require plans
to be drawn in metric units,
◼ while other states and most local agencies
continue to work in English units.
◼ In interpreting construction drawings, the
surveyor will also find that
◼ while architects use English units of feet,
inches, and fractional inches,
◼ civil engineers who produce drawings for site
improvements, parking lots, and entrance
roads prefer to work in survey feet (feet, and
tenths and hundredths of a foot).
◼ Drawings
https://traverse-pc.com/geodetics-geodesy-drawings-traverse-pc-land-surveying-software-
cogo-software/
https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/rudra-landsurveyors-chakan-
19699592491.html
◼ Meanwhile,
◼ surveyors’ tapes are divided into feet, and
tenths and hundredths of a foot,
◼ while carpenters tend to use tapes graduated
into feet and inches.
◼ Angular measurements in the United States and
Canada divide a complete revolution (circle) into
360 degrees (360°).
◼ Each degree contains
◼ 60′ (minutes) and
◼ each minute contains 60 ″ (seconds).
◼ Radians are also used to describe angular
measure.
◼ There are 2π radians
◼ in one complete revolution (360°),
◼ so 1 radian measures?
◼ 180°/π, about 57°.
Convert 10′-1½″ (read 10 feet, one and one-half inches) to

the metric equivalent.
◼ First, convert the given length to decimal feet, working

first with the fractional inches.
◼ Note that 1½″ can be expressed as 1.5 in.
◼ Answer: 10.125’
Convert 10′-1½″ (read 10 feet, one and one-half inches) to

the metric equivalent.
◼ Next, convert the result to metric.
◼ 1 ft = 0.3048 m
◼ Answer: 3.086 m
The conversion may be worked in reverse (i.e., convert

3.086 m to the English equivalent in feet and inches):
◼ Subtract the whole feet (10) before converting the decimal

feet to inches and fractional inches.
◼ Answer: 3.086 m = 10’ – 1*1/2’’
Convert 1 square mile to square feet.
How many acres are in a square mile?
How many hectares are in 1 square mile?
◼ Answer: 259.00 ha
Convert 36°46′28″ to decimal degrees.
◼ Answer: 36.7744°
Working the problem in reverse, convert 36.7744° to

degrees, minutes, and seconds.
◼ Answer: 36.7744° = 36°46’28’’
2.2 Lines and Angles
◼ Two-dimensional construction drawings (plans)
use lines to
◼ represent physical elements such as
◼ the edges of buildings or pavements,
◼ as well as abstract elements such as
◼ right-of-way lines,
◼ property boundaries or
◼ building setback lines (Figure 2.1).
◼ A line is defined by two points.
◼ A straight line forms the shortest distance
between those points.
◼ Lines in a two-dimensional plane may be
◼ parallel and never intersect,
◼ or nonparallel and intersect at a single point
[Figure 2.2(a), (b)].
◼ Two intersecting lines form equal opposite
angles and parallel lines cut by an intersecting
line form equal angles [Figure 2.2(c)].
◼ In the special case of perpendicular lines,
◼ all opposite angles formed by the intersecting
lines measure 90°.
◼ A perpendicular line forms the shortest distance between
a point and a line [Figure 2.2(d)].
◼ Two angles that add to form a 90° angle are called

complementary angles.
2.2 Polygons
◼ What is polygon?
◼ A closed figure formed by three or more
intersecting lines is a polygon.
https://byjus.com/maths/what-is-a-regular-polygon/
2.2 Polygons
◼ In construction surveying, simple polygons may represent
◼ such things as the shape of buildings, the edges of

concrete structures, or the boundaries of a building lot
(Figure 2.3).
2.2 Polygons
◼ A complex polygon has sides that cross each
other, and may represent such things as project
control networks.
https://structural-analyser.com/domains/Surveying/chapter07/
2.2 Polygons
◼ When used alone, the term “polygon” is
understood to refer to a simple polygon.
2.2 Polygons
◼ The perimeter of any polygon is the sum of the
length of all the sides.
◼ Perimeter and area relationships for four-sided
figures (quadrilaterals) that include parallel sides
(parallelograms), such as squares, rectangles,
and trapezoids, as given in Figure 2.4.
2.2 Polygons
2.2 Polygons
◼ The angles inside a simple polygon are called
interior angles.
◼ The sum of the measures of the interior angles
of a polygon (Figure 2.5) is related to the number
of sides (n) by the following relationship:
2.2 Polygons
◼ Similarly, the sum of the exterior angles of a
polygon (Figure 2.6) is related to the number of
sides (n) by:
2.2 Polygons
2.2 Polygons
A survey crew is measuring the interior angles of an arena,

the shape of which is represented in Figure 2.7. What
should the sum of the interior angles be if there were no
errors?
◼ Solution:
◼ The figure has 8 sides. The sum

of the interior angles should be
(8 - 2)180° = 1,080°
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
Given a pair of isosceles triangles [Figure 2.10(c)] with base
angles equal to 35°, if the height of the larger triangle is 15.27′,
what is the height of the smaller triangle?
b = 8.35’; xb = 12.50‘.
xb
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
◼ The Pythagorean theorem:
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
A survey crew is laying out a rectangular building that measures
33′-4″ by 46′-10″. Verify that the building is square by checking the
length of the diagonals, which should be equal.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
2.2 Polygons
2.3.1 Triangles
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
◼ Trigonometry is the study of triangles and the
relationships between angles and sides.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
A 30-60-90 right triangle has a base (b) of 32.51′ [Figure 2.12(b)].
What is the length of the hypotenuse (c) and the altitude (a) of this
triangle?
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
A 30-60-90 right triangle has a base (b) of 32.51′ [Figure 2.12(b)].
What is the length of the hypotenuse (c) and the altitude (a) of this
triangle?
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
◼ Law of Sines
◼ Law of Cosines
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
A surveyor needs to determine the distance across an eight-lane highway as
shown in Figure 2.15. Points A and C on the near side of the highway are
selected for convenience. Occupying point A, the surveyor sights on point B on
the far side and finds the angle BAC. The distance from A to C can be measured.
Moving to point C on the near side of the
highway, point A is sighted, and the angle ACB
is found.
Knowing the length of one side and two

angles, the surveyor can compute the
angle at B and find the unknown distance
AB using the law of sines.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
Knowing the length of one side and two angles, the surveyor can
compute the angle at B and find the unknown distance AB using
the law of sines.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
Knowing the length of one side and two angles, the surveyor can
compute the angle at B and find the unknown distance AB using
the law of sines.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
Given the building shown in Figure 2.16, find the angle (A) from
line KL to a point Q that lies outside the building, 10′ from point K
and 14′ from point L.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
Given the building shown in
Figure 2.16, find the angle (A)
from line KL to a point Q that
lies outside the building, 10′
from point K and 14′ from
point L.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
A surveyor needs to know the distance between points C and B in
Figure 2.17. A building obscures the view directly between the two
points. Setting up at the end of the building at point A, the surveyor
measures the two distances AC and AB, and the interior angle at
A. What is the desired distance, CB?
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
What is the desired distance, CB?
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
◼ The area of a right triangle
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
◼ The area of a oblique triangle
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
What is the area of the triangle ABC of Example 2.12? For this
triangle, a = 748.40’, b = 566.81’, and c = 591.13’.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
triangle, a = 748.40’, b = 566.81’, and c = 591.13’.
2.2 Polygons
2.3.2 Trigonometry
triangle, a = 748.40’, b = 566.81’, and c = 591.13’.

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Surveying with

Convert 10′-1½″ (read 10 feet, one and one-half inches) to

◼ First, convert the given length to decimal feet, working

◼ Note that 1½″ can be expressed as 1.5 in.

Convert 10′-1½″ (read 10 feet, one and one-half inches) to

◼ Next, convert the result to metric.

The conversion may be worked in reverse (i.e., convert

◼ Subtract the whole feet (10) before converting the decimal

◼ Answer: 3.086 m = 10’ – 1*1/2’’

Convert 1 square mile to square feet.

How many acres are in a square mile?

How many hectares are in 1 square mile?

Convert 36°46′28″ to decimal degrees.

Working the problem in reverse, convert 36.7744° to

◼ Answer: 36.7744° = 36°46’28’’

◼ Two angles that add to form a 90° angle are called

◼ such things as the shape of buildings, the edges of

A survey crew is measuring the interior angles of an arena,

◼ The figure has 8 sides. The sum

◼ The Pythagorean theorem:

Knowing the length of one side and two

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