TOPIC: CALCULATION OF

AREAS AND VOLUMES

ENGINEERING SURVEYING 1
SUG113
By:
En Noorsazwan Ahmad Pugi
Dept. of Surveying Science & Geomatics
UiTM Perak

CONTENT
z Introduction to areas n
volumes.
z Areas enclosed by straight
lines
y Triangles.
g
{ Areas by
{ Areas by Coordinates.
z Areas enclosed by irregular
lines.
{ Give n Take lines.
{ Graphical Method.
{ Mathematical Method

z Areas by Trapezoidal n
Simpsons formula.
z Calculations of volume from
sections.
{ Areas from cross-sections
z Calculations of volume from
spot heights n contours
z Planimeters principle n use.
{ Zero circle application
z MHD
z Uses of MHD

ENGINNERING SURVEY
z What is Engineering Survey
{Planning, designing & construction of manmade
features on/beneath the earths surface.
{These features are represented in:
z Analog
g i.e. contoured map,
p, p
plan,, chart
z Digital i.e. DEM,DTM, DSM, DHM

z Areas and Volumes Calculation

{Calculation involving measurements of areas of land
and
{Of volumes and other quantities connected with
engineering and building works

Cont
z Why do we need to calculate areas &
volumes?
{With increasing cost of areas of land and
volumes of material, thus accurate
measurements
t is
i vital
it l where
h
such
h quantities
titi
are involved in any particular project

z Areas and volumes calculation involves:

{Calculation of plan areas
{Calculation of cross-sectional areas
{Calculation of volumes

AREA CALCULATIONS
z The term area refers to the area of a land projected upon a
horizontal plane.
z Area may be expressed in the following units:
{ Square-metres (m2)
{ Hectares ( 1 hectare = ? m2)
{ Square-feet (ft2)
{ Acres (1 acre = ? ft
f 2)

z The data sources:

{ The field notes
{ The survey/engineering plan

z Areas can be divided into 3 types:

{ Areas enclosed by straight lines
{ Areas enclosed by irregular lines
{ Areas enclosed by combination of straight and irregular lines

AREAS FROM STRAIGHT LINES

z Areas enclosed by traverse or chain survey lines.
z Methods
{ Areas by Triangles
z Whole traverse/area are divided into well conditioned
triangles.
{ Areas by Coordinates
z a.k.a the Cross Coord. Method where the formula of area is
obtained from trapezium formula.
z Area of Trapezium = Mean Height x Width

Cont
A

1.

Areas by Triangles
c

Area = [s (s-a) (s-b) (s-c)]

Where: a,b,c is the side lengths
s = (a + b + c)
Area = (Width x Height)
Area = (ab Sin C)

Cont
2.

Areas by Coordinates
Area of Trapezium = Mean Height x Width

Area ABQP =

(NA + NB)(EB + EA)

2

Area BCRQ = (NB + NC)(EC + EB)

Area ACRP = (NA + NC)(EC + EA)

Area ABC = Area ABQP + Area BCRQ + Area ACRP

= (NA + NB)(EB + EA) + (NB + NC)(EC + EB) (NA + NC)(EC + EA)
2

Cont

Cross Coordinate Method

The coordinates are calculated as follows:
NA

NB

NC

NA

EA

EB

EC

EA

A
P

The sum of products of coordinates joined by solid lines

A = N E + N E + N E
A B

B C

C A

The sum of products of coordinates joined by dotted lines

B = E N + E N + E N
A B

2 X Area

B C

C A

= A B

1
Area ABC = ( A B )
2

AREAS FROM IRREGULAR LINES

z Areas enclosed by natural features boundaries (i.e. lakes, ponds, rivers
etc.).
z Methods
{ Give n Take Lines
z Irregular sided figure is divided into triangles/trapezia.
z The irregular boundaries are replaced by straight lines such that
any small area excluded from the survey by the straight line are
balanced by other area outside the line.
z Area can be calculated via one of the straight sided method.
Outside Surv. Line
(Included Area)

River
Give n Take Line
Inside Surv. Line
(Excluded Area)

Land

Cont
{ Graphical Method
z Involves the use of transparent overlay of squared paper (grid) which is
laid over the drawing/plan.
z Calculate area enclosed by complete squares n part of squares at a
known scale.
z An accurate method if small grids are used.

{ Math Method
z Use mathematical formula to calculate area of irregularly sided
figure.
z Math Formula include:
Trapezoidal Rule/Formula
Simpson Rule/Formula

Cont
z Application of the formula
Area enclosed by
irregular lines

Traverse Line
L

A O1

O6
O2

Irregular Bdry.

O3

O4

O5

Offsets at
regular
interval

Area calculated via

any straight
line/sided method

Area by TRAPEZOIDAL Formula

Trapezoidal Rule
z
z

Assuming that if the interval between offsets is small, the boundary

can be approximated to a straight line between offsets.
Thus the areas enclosed between the base line and the irregular
boundary line are considered as series of trapezia. (See Figure)

Therefore, from the Figure:

A1 =
z

Hence, for N offsets, the total area (A) is given by

A=
z

(O1 + O2)
(O2 + O3)
L; A2 =
L;
2
2
(O1 + O2) (O2 + O3)
ON 1 + ON
L+
L + ...+
L
2
2
2

General formula:

L
A = (O1 + ON + 2(O2 + O3 + O4 + ... + ON 1))
2
z

The trapezoidal rule applies to any number of offsets.

Areas by SIMPSONS Formula

Simpsons Rule
z
z

Assuming that instead of straight lines, the boundaries consist of a

series of parabolic arcs.
More accurate since a better approximation of the true shape of
the irregular boundary is achieved.

Simpsons rule consider offsets in sets of three. Thus, the area

between offset 1 & 3 is given by

L
A1 + A2 = (O1 + 4O2 + O3)
3
z

Similarly

General formula:

L
A3 + A4 = (O3 + 4O4 + O5)
3

L
Total _ Area = (O1 + ON + 4 even _ offsets + 2 remaining _ odd _ offsets)
3

N must be an ODD number.

Planimeter Principle & Use

z
z
z
z
z
z

A planimeter is a mechanical device for determining area of any

irregular sided plane figure.
Able to obtain ahigh degree of accuracy.
The area is obtained from a measuring unit that consists of an
g
g disc.
integrating
The disc revolves and alters the readings as the tracing point is
moved round the perimeter of the figure.
The reading is related directly to the length of the tracing arm.
Two (2) types of planimeter:
{
{

Mechanical planimeter
Digital Planimeter

Area can be measured with pole block outside or inside the figure.
Measuring area with pole block inside the figure is based on zero
area/circle application.

The Procedure Of Finding An Area Using A Planimeter Based

On Zero Circle Application
A

Zero circle
r

z
z
z
z
z

When the tracing point is moved along the perimeter, a circle

enclosed by the tracing arm is known as zero circle.
circle
The zero circle is obtained by moving the tracing point is such a
way that the tracing arm makes an angle of 90 with the pole arm.
To find area of zero circle, the radius (R) of zero circle is
measured.
The tracing point is moved clockwise round the perimeter of the
figure back to point A and the scale is again read.
The different between the 2 readings (2nd scale-1st ) is multiplied
with the scale factor, gives the ground area

VOLUMES CALCULATIONS
z Excavation, removal n dumping of earth is
a frequent operation in construction works.
z Examples: route, sewer n trench
construction pipe
construction,
pipe-lay
lay operations
z Volumes of earthworks can be calculated
in several ways, they are:
{Volumes from cross-sections
{Volumes from spot heights
{Volumes from contour

Volumes from Cross Sections

z Volumes from cross-sections
2 ways: End Area Method
Prismoidal Formula

CL

Depth at CL
=h
Side slopes
= 1 in n
Formation width = 2b
Side width
=W
Plan width
= 2W

Original ground
surface

Formation level

Side slope 1 vertical

in n horizontal

Cross sectional area = A = h(2b+nh)

Plan width = 2W = 2(b+nh)

For an embankment, the diagram is inverted & the same formula

apply.

Cont
d1

d2

CS1

CS2

A1

V1

CS3

A2

V2

A3

Cross-section

Cont
z

End Areas Method

{ A.k.a. the Trapezoidal Rule for volumes.
{ For two cross-sectional areas (A1 & A2) with horizontal
distance d1, the volume contained between them is given by

V1 = d1

( A 1 + A 2)
2

{ General End Areas Formula for a series of N cross-sections

are:

d
Volume = (A1 + AN + 2(A 2 + A 3 + ..... + AN 1)
2

Cont
z Prismoidal Formula
{ A.k.a. Simpsons Rule for volumes.
{ More accurate than end areas method.
{ For a series of three cross-sections, the volume V1-3 contained
between them is g
given by
y

d
V1 3 = (A1 + 4A2 + A3)
3
{ General Prismoidal Formula for a series of N cross-sections are:
d
Volume = (A1 + AN + 4(even _ areas) + 2(remaining _ odd _ areas))
3

Volumes from Spot Height

z This method of volume determination is useful in the
determination of volumes for:
{ Large open excavation i.e. tanks, basements, borrow pits
{ Ground levelling operations i.e. playground n building site
{ Volumes determination for spoil heap
hb

ha

Existing GL

Volume of 1 square grid:

d
Formation Lvl

hd

hc
d

Cont
z

Calculations of volume from spot heights.

{ Using grid of spot height to calculate volumes of
excavations.
h1

h2
4.76

h5

h3
5.14

h6
3.21

h9

h7
4.77

h10
1.98

h4
6.72

8.10
h8

5.82
h11

2.31

3.55

6.07

Plan area of each

grid square

{ Volume calculation for 1 square grid

4 . 76 + 5 . 14 + 4 . 77 + 3 . 21
Volume =
x 100 = 447 m3
4

A
Volume = ( sin gle _ depths + 2 double _ depths + 3 triple _ depths + 4 quadruple _ depths )
4

Where
A
Single depths
Double depths
Triple depths
Quadruple depths

= Plan area of each square

= Depths such as h1 & h4, which are used once
= Depths such as h2 & h3, which are used twice
= Depths such as h7, which are used three times
= Depths such as h6, which are four times

Volumes from Contours

z The volumes contained by each contour can be

measured using:
{ Mathematical methods
z End areas method
z Prismoidal method

MASS HAUL DIAGRAM (MHD)

MHD is a graph of volume against chainage which
greatly helps in planning earthmoving.
Used to compare the economy of various methods of
earthwork distribution on route (i.e. road/railway)
construction schemes.
The MHD would be plotted directly below the longitudinal
section
ti off the
th survey center
t line.
li
From MHD :

z
z
z
z

{ X-Axis Represent the chainage along the project starting from

0.
{ Y-Axis Represent the cumulative volume of material up to any
chainage from the position of 0 chainage.
{ Volume of cut are considered positive n volume of fill are
considered negative.
{ The vertical n horizontal axes are drawn at diff scales to
exaggerate the diagram.

Cont

Embankment

Excavation
Haul Dist.

Average Haul Dist.

Terminology of MHD
Haul distance

z
{

Distance from excavation point to tipped point.

Freehaul distance

z
{
{

Distance specified in contract.

Charge is levied only for the volumes of earth excavated and not
its movements.

Overhaul distance

z
{

The excess distance of the free haul distance (charged distance).

Waste

z
{

Volumes of excess materials to be exported from the site.

Borrow

z
{

Volumes of required materials to be imported into the site.

Balancing line

z
{

Line of MHD that balances the amount of cut and fill volumes.

10

Table for Mass Haul Diagram

MHD Calculation
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Table for Volumes of Earthwork

Chainage
(m)

Cut(+)
(m3)

050
50100
100150

150
120
90

150 200
150200
200250

60

SumofCutnFill NetVolume
(m3)
0
0
0 150
150
150+120
30
30+90
60
+60 60
0
0+100
100
+100 80
20
+20 120
100
100
100+130
+ 130
30

100

250300
300350

80
120

150
100
100

130
Net Volume (m3)

350400

Fill()
(m3)

Chainage
(m)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400

60

50
0

0
-50

-30
100

200

30

20

300

400
-100

500
Chainage (m)

-100
-150
-150
-200

MHD

Drawing the MHD

End of section in cut
(max point)
- g
End of section in fill
(min point)
- j
Volume of fill
- gh
Volume of a cutting
- ef + kj
Maximum Haul Distance
- chainage c chainage b
Balancing line
- a to d

Uses of MHD
z

In Design
{ Several formation levels would be used on MHD for comparisons
purposes.
{ The one that gives the most economical results & maintains any
specific standards can be used.
{ Nowadays, MHD tend to be produced using computer software
packages.
In Financing
{ Once the formation level has been designed, the MHD can be used to
indicate the most economical method of moving the earth around the
project.
{ Good estimate of the overall cost of the earth moving can be
calculated.
In Construction
{ The required volumes of material are known before construction
begins.
{ Enable suitable plant/machinery to be chosen n sites for spoil heaps
In Future Planning
{ Can be used to indicate the effects of other engineering works within
the overall project (tunnels & bridge will have on the earth-moving).

11