Plane Surveying

Traverse, Electronic Distance

Measurement and Curves

Civil Engineering Students

Year (1)
Second semester Phase II

Dr. Kamal M. Ahmed

Introduction
Topics in Phase II: Angles and Directions, Traverse,

EDM, Total Stations, Curves, and Introduction to

Recent and supporting technologies
Introduction of the Instructor
Background, honors, research interests, teaching, etc.
Method of teaching:
) what to expect and not to expect, what is allowed.
) Language used.
) Lecture slides: NO DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT
PERMIT
) Breaks

Introduction
Lab sections
E-mail list
Textbook
Sheets
Exams

Example Of Current Research

Based on Laser Distance
Measuerements
LIDAR Terrain Mapping in Forests
LIDAR DEM

USGS DEM

LIDAR Canopy Model

WHOA!

(1 m resolution)

Canopy Height (m)

Package

Raw LIDAR point cloud,

Capitol Forest, WA
Package

LIDAR points colored

by orthophotograph
FUSION visualization
software developed
for point cloud
display &
measurement

Angles and Directions

Angles and Directions

1- Angles:
Horizontal and Vertical Angles

Horizontal Angle: The angle between the projections

of the line of sight on a horizontal plane.
Vertical Angle: The angle between the line of sight
and a horizontal plane.
Kinds of Horizontal Angles
Angles to the Right: clockwise, from the rear to the
forward station, Polygons are labeled counterclockwise.
Interior (measured on the inside of a closed polygon),
and Exterior Angles (outside of a closed polygon).

Angles to the Left: counterclockwise, from the rear to the

forward station. Polygons are labeled clockwise.
Right (clockwise) and Left (counterclockwise) Polygons

2- Directions :
Direction of a line is the horizontal angle between the line
and an arbitrary chosen reference line called a meridian.
We will use north or south as a meridian
Types of meridians:
Magnetic: defined by a magnetic needle
Geodetic meridian: connects the mean
positions of the north and south poles .
Astronomic : instantaneous , the line that
connects the north and south poles at that
instant. Obtained by astronomical observations.
Grid : lines parallel to a central meridian

Distinguish between angles, directions, and

readings.

Angles and Azimuth

Azimuth :
Horizontal angle measured
clockwise from a
meridian (north) to the line,
at the beginning of the line
-The line AB starts at A,
the line BA starts at B.
-Back-azimuth
is measured at
the end of the line.

Azimuth and Bearing

Bearing (reduced azimuth): acute

horizontal angle, less than 90, measured from the
north or the south direction to the line. Quadrant is
shown by the letter N or S before and the letter E or
W after the angle. For example: N30W is in the
fourth quad .
Azimuth and bearing: which quadrant ?

AZ = 360 - B

AZ = B
N

AZ = 180 + B

AZ = 180 - B

Departures and Latitudes

= E

= L* sin(AZ)

= N

= L* cos(AZ

Azimuth Equations
How to know which quadrant from the signs of departure and
latitude?
For example, what is the azimuth if the departure was (- 20
m) and the latitude was (+20 m) ?
The following are important equations to memorize and understand

E B E A Departure
E
tan(AZ AB ) =
=
=
NB NA
Latitude
N
E = L * sin( AZ )
N = L * cos( AZ )

Azimuth of a line (BC)=Azimuth of the previous line AB+180+angle B

Assuming internal angles in a counterclockwise polygon

N
C
N
B
N

N
N

A
A

C
Azimuth of a line such as BC = Azimuth of AB The angle B +180

Easting and Northing

P (E ,N)

E
In many parts of the world, a slightly different form of notation is used.

instead of (x,y) we use E,N (Easting, Northing) .

In Egypt, the Easting comes first, for example: (100, 200) means that easting is
100
In the US, Northing might be mentioned first.
It is a good practice to check internationally produced coordinate files before
using them.

Polar Coordinates
+P (r , )
r

-The polar coordinate system describes a point by (angle, distance)

instead of (X, Y)
-We do not directly measure (X, Y in the field
-In the field, we measure some form of polar coordinates: angle and
distance to each point, then convert them to (X, Y)

Examples

Example (1)
Calculate the reduced azimuth of the lines AB and AC,
then calculate the reduced azimuth (bearing) of the
lines AD and AE
Line
AB
AC
AD
AE

Azimuth
120 40
310 30

Reduced Azimuth (bearing)

S 85 10 W
N 85 10 W

Example (1)-Answer
Line

Azimuth

AB

120 40

Reduced Azimuth
(bearing)
59 20

AC

310 30

49 30

AD

256 10

S 85 10 W

AE

274 50

N 85 10 W

Example (2)
Compute the azimuth of the line :
- AB if Ea = 520m, Na = 250m, Eb = 630m, and
Nb = 420m
- AC if Ec = 720m, Nc = 130m
- AD if Ed = 400m, Nd = 100m
- AE if Ee = 320m, Ne = 370m

Note: The angle computed using a calculator is the

reduced azimuth (bearing), from 0 to 90, from north or
south, clock or anti-clockwise directions. You Must
convert it to the azimuth , from 0 to 360, measured
clockwise from North.
Assume that the azimuth of the line AB is (AB ),
the bearing is B = tan-1 (E/ N)
If we neglect the sign of B as given by the calculator, then,
1st Quadrant : AB = B ,
2nd Quadrant: AB = 180 B,
3rd Quadrant: AB = 180 + B,
4th Quadrant: AB = 360 - B

- For the line (ab): calculate

Eab = Eb Ea and Nab = Nb Na
- If both E, N are - ve, (3rd Quadrant)
ab = 180 + 30= 210
- If bearing from calculator is 30 & E is ve& N is +ve
ab = 360 -30 = 330 (4th Quadrant)
- If bearing from calculator is 30& E is + ve& N is ve,
ab = 180 -30 = 150 (2nd Quadrant)
- If bearing from calculator is 30 , you have to notice if both
E, N are + ve or ve,
If both E, N are + ve, (1st Quadrant)
ab = 30
otherwise, if both E, N are ve, (3rd Quad.)
ab = 180 + 30 = 210

Example (2)-Answer
Quad. Calculated bearing Azimuth
tan-1(E/
N)
1(
32 54 19
1st
32 54 19

Line E

AB 110

170

AC 200

-120 2nd

-59 02 11

120 57 50

AD -120 -150 3rd

38 39 35

218 39 35

AE -200 120

-59 02 11

300 57 50

4th

Example (3)
The coordinates of points A, B, and C in meters are
(120.10, 112.32), (214.12, 180.45), and (144.42,
82.17) respectively. Calculate:
a) The departure and the latitude of the lines AB and
BC
b) The azimuth of the lines AB and AC.
c) The internal angle CAB
d) The line AD is in the same direction as the line
AB, but 20m longer. Use the azimuth equations to
compute the departure and latitude of the line AD.

Example (3) Answer

A

DepAB = EAB = 94.02, LatAB = NAB = 68.13m

DepBC = EBC = -69.70, LatBC = NBC = -98.28m
b) AzAB = tan-1 (E/ N) = 54 04 18
AzBC = tan-1 (E/ N) = 215 20 39
c) Anti-clockwise: Azimuth of BC =
Azimuth of AB - The angle B +180
Angle CBA = AZAB- AZBC+180 =
= 54 04 18 - 215 20 39 +180 = 18 43 22
a)

d) AZAD:
The line AD will have the same direction
(AZIMUTH) as AB = 54 04 18
LAD = (94.02)2 + (68.13)2 = 116.11m
Calculate departure = E = L sin (AZ) = 94.02m
latitude = N= L cos (AZ)= 68.13m

Example (4)

A
115

105
110

120

30

90
C

In the right polygon ABCDEA, if the azimuth of the

side CD = 30 and the internal angles are as shown in
the figure, compute the azimuth of all the sides and
check your answer.

Example (4) - Answer

A
115

E
105

D
CHECK : Bearing of CD = Bearing of BC + Angle C +110
180
30
120
= 120 + B90 + 180 = 30 (subtracted
from 360), O. K.
90

Bearing of DE = Bearing of CD + Angle D + 180 C

= 30 + 110 + 180 = 320
Bearing of EA = Bearing of DE + Angle E + 180
= 320 + 105 + 180 = 245 (subtracted from 360)
Bearing of AB = Bearing of EA + Angle A + 180
= 245 + 115 + 180 = 180 (subtracted from 360)
Bearing of BC = Bearing of AB + Angle B + 180
=180 + 120 + 180 = 120 (subtracted from 360)