Topic 5:: Angle and Direction Measurements
Topic 5:: Angle and Direction Measurements
Topic 5:: Angle and Direction Measurements
GE 135: FUNDAMENTALS OF
SURVEYING AND MAPPING
TOPIC 5:
Outline
▪ Concepts of location, angles, and directions
▪ Components of an Angle
▪ Meridians and Its Types
▪ Bearing, Azimuths and Other Angles
▪ Methods and Instruments for Angle and Direction
Measurements
▪ Sources of errors in angles and direction
Lecture No. 1
Location
• A place where a particular point or object exists. It is an
essential term in geography, and is usually considered more
precise than "place.“
Source: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/location
Lecture No. 1
Angles
• Angle is a figure which is formed by two rays or lines that
shares a common endpoint. Source: https://byjus.com/maths/angle-definition/
• formed when two straight lines or rays meet at a common
endpoint. Source: https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/geometry/angle#:~:text=An%20angle%20is%20formed%20when,%2C'%20meaning%20%E2%80%9Ccorner.%E2%80%9D
Lecture No. 1
Directions
• Direction is used for the determination of where things are in
relation to other things.
• Example. Jeffrey’s direction is to the left of Jimmy.
• Cardinal directions are probably the essential directions in geography.
These are the north, south, east and west. It helps us orient ourselves
wherever we are.
• Example. Philippines is in the South-east of Asia.
Source: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/direction
Lecture No. 1
COMPONENTS OF AN ANGLE
Lecture No. 1
Defining Angles
• An angle is defined as
the difference in
direction between two
convergent lines.
• A horizontal angle is
formed by the
directions to two
objects in a horizontal
plane.
Lecture No. 1
Defining Angles
• A vertical angle is formed by two
intersecting lines in a vertical
plane, one of these lines is a
horizontal line (in the horizontal
plane).
•A zenith angle is the
complementary angle to the
vertical angle and is formed by
two intersecting lines in a vertical
plane, one of these lines directed
toward the zenith.
Lecture No. 1
Lecture No. 1
1. Degree.
• It is a measurement of a plane angle, defined so
that a full rotation is 360 degrees.
• The basic unit is a degree, which is further
subdivided into 60 minutes, and the minute is
subdivided into 60 seconds.
• The °, ‘, and “ are used to denote degrees,
minutes, and seconds, respectively. This system
is used extensively in surveying operations.
Lecture No. 1
2. Grad.
• It is a unit of measurement of an angle,
equivalent to 1/400 of a turn, 9/10 of a
degree, or π/200 of a radian.
• The circumference of a circle is divided into
400 parts.
• It is subdivided into 100 centesimal
minutes and a centesimal minute is further
subdivided into 100 centesimal seconds.
• The symbols g, c, and cc are used to denote grads,
centesimal minutes, and centesimal seconds, respectively.
Lecture No. 1
3. Mil.
• In this system, the circumference is
divided into 6400 parts and 1600 mils
are equal to 90 degrees.
• They are used in the adjustment of
firearm sights by adjusting the angle of
the sight compared to the barrel (up,
down, left, or right).
Lecture No. 1
4. Radian.
• It is the standard unit of angular measure, used
in many areas of mathematics.
• The length of an arc of a unit circle is numerically
equal to the measurement in radians of the
𝟏𝟖𝟎
angle that it subtends; one radian equals to
𝝅
or approximately equal to 57.2958 degrees.
• It is also sometimes used in determining the
length of circular arcs where high speed
electronic digital computers are used.
Lecture No. 1
Sample Problem.
Convert the following:
1. 238º25’30” to decimal degrees.
2. 456.2230º to degrees, minutes, seconds
3. 68º25’30” to grad, mil, radian
4. 140 grad to degrees, minutes, seconds
5. 40 mil to degrees, minutes, seconds
𝝅
6. to degrees, minutes, seconds
𝟑
Lecture No. 1
Meridians
• Meridian is the direction of a line that is
usually defined by the horizontal angle it
makes with a fixed reference line or
direction.
Types of Meridian
1. Astronomical Meridian.
• It is sometimes known as a true
meridian or geographic meridian.
• A plane passing through a point on
the surface of the earth and
containing the earth’s axis of
rotation defines the astronomical or
true meridian at that point.
Lecture No. 1
Types of Meridian
Types of Meridian
2. Magnetic Meridian.
• It lies parallel with the magnetic lines
of force of the earth.
• The earth acts very much like a bar
magnet with a north magnetic pole
located considerably south of the
north pole defined by the earth’s
rotational axis.
• The magnetic pole is not fixed in
position but rather changes its
position continually.
Lecture No. 1
Types of Meridian
2. Magnetic Meridian.
• The direction of a magnetized
needle defines the magnetic
meridian at that point at that time.
• Because of the magnetic meridian
changes as magnetic north changes,
magnetic meridians do not make
good lines of reference.
Lecture No. 1
Types of Meridian
3. Grid Meridian.
• It is a fixed-line of reference parallel
to the central meridian of a system
of plane rectangular coordinates.
• In-plane surveys, it is convenient to
perform the work in a rectangular XY
coordinate system in which one
central meridian coincides with a
true meridian.
Lecture No. 1
Types of Meridian
3. Grid Meridian.
• All remaining meridians are parallel to
this central true meridian. This
eliminates the need to calculate the
convergence of meridians when
determining positions of points in the
system.
• The methods of plane surveying
assume that all measurements are
projected to a horizontal plane and
that all meridians are parallel straight
lines.
Lecture No. 1
Types of Meridian
4. Assumed Meridian.
• It is an arbitrary direction assigned to some line in the
survey from which all other lines are referenced.
• This could be a line between two property monuments,
the centerline of a tangent piece of roadway, or even the
line between two points set for that purpose.
• They have no relationship to any other meridian and thus
the survey cannot be readily (if at all) related to other
surveys. Also, if the original monuments are disturbed,
the direction may not be reproducible.
Lecture No. 1
Direction of Lines
• It is defined as the horizontal angle the line makes
with an established line of reference.
• Kinds of angles which can be used to describe the
direction of lines:
1. Interior and Exterior Angles
2. Deflection Angles
3. Angles to the Right/Left
4. Azimuths
5. Bearings
Lecture No. 1
Sample Problem.
• Table below shows an example of forward and
backward bearing. Draw the direction of the lines.
Lecture No. 1
Sample Problem.
Converting Bearings to Azimuths. Convert the following
bearings to equivalent azimuths (azimuth from South).
a) AB, N 25º25’ E
b)BC, Due East
c) CD, S 50º12’ E
d)DE, S 45º50’
Lecture No. 1
The Compass
The Compass
• However, because of its portability, it is still employed for
reconnaissance and preliminary surveys, in timber cruising and
exploratory surveys, in retracing old land surveys, and in obtaining
rough checks on angles or directions measured by more precise
methods.
• The magnetic compass has three essential features – compass box,
magnetic needle and line of sight.
Lecture No. 1
Types of Compasses
• Magnetic directions
such as bearing
and azimuth could
be determined by
the use of the
compass.
Lecture No. 1
The Transit
Lecture No. 1
2. Lower Plate
a. Lower Clamp
b. Lower Tangent Screw
Transit Verniers
• The verniers are used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles
with a high degree of accuracy.
• There are three verniers in an engineer’s transit, two on the
horizontal circle, and one in the vertical circle.
• The verniers for the horizontal circle are named as A and B that
found on the opposite side of the upper plate and positioned
exactly 180 degrees apart.
•Vernier A is found below the eyepiece
when the telescope in direct position
and vernier B is near the objective end
of the telescope.
Lecture No. 1
Vertical Angles
• When using a transit with a full circle it
is advantageous to measure a vertical
angle once with the telescope in normal
position and once in reversed position.
• The mean of the two readings will be the
correct value of the vertical angle since
both measurements are made
independently of each other, thus
α’ = (αN + αR ) / 2
Lecture No. 1
Vertical Angles
α’ = (αN + αR ) / 2
where:
α’ - correct value of the vertical
angle.
αN – vertical angle measured with
telescope in direct or normal
position.
αR - same vertical angle measured
with telescope in reversed or
plunged position.
Lecture No. 1
Index Correction
• When a transit is used the accuracy in reading a
vertical angle is affected if the line of sight is not
parallel to the axis of the telescope level tube,
there is an inclination of the vertical axis, and the
vertical circle does not read zero when the
telescope bubble is centered.
• Due to any of the above reasons an error will be
introduced and is referred to as the index error.
Lecture No. 1
Index Correction
• Index error ( IE ) = (αN - αR) / 2
The index correction ( IC ) is equal in amount but
opposite in sign to the index error, thus
α’ = αN + IC
Lecture No. 1
The Theodolite
• It is an instrument designed to
accomplish the same primary purposes
as a transit, that is to measure horizontal
and vertical angles and to prolong
straight lines.
• Its appearance can easily be
distinguished from a transit since this
instrument is smaller, more compact,
lighter in weight, easy to operate, has a
short telescope, and no exposed verniers
and compass.
Lecture No. 1
The Theodolite
•A precision instrument used for
measuring angles both horizontally
and vertically angular
measurements are more accurate
than transits.
• They have horizontal and vertical
circles for angle measurements just
as in transit.
• Its graduated horizontal and vertical
circles are made of glass instead of
metal and are relatively small.
Lecture No. 1
The Theodolite
• They are viewed simultaneously from
the eyepiece of the telescope by means
of a system of microscopes and prism.
• It can be used at day and night time.
• It enables the instrument man to make
single observations of angles more
precisely than those which can be made
by several repetitions with an engineer’s
transit.
Lecture No. 1
References
▪ Ghilani, C.D., Wolf, P., 2012. Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics (13th Edition), Pearson Education
Inc., USA. Available online at: https://dl.icdst.org/pdfs/files3/b2b03a2010d7cfca226e3115636ee421.pdf
▪ Google Images
▪ La Putt, J. P., 2007. Elementary Surveying, 3rd Edition, Baguio Research & Publishing Center, Baguio City, Philippines.
▪ Website Sources:
▪ https://byjus.com/maths/angle-definition/
▪ https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/location
▪ https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/direction
▪ Source: https://www.splashlearn.com/math-
vocabulary/geometry/angle#:~:text=An%20angle%20is%20formed%20when,%2C'%20meaning%20
%E2%80%9Ccorner.%E2%80%9D
Lecture No. 1
Thank You!
Department of Geodetic Engineering
College of Engineering and Geosciences
Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City