Republic of the Philippines

Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City

Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MODULE 5

MEASUREMENTS OF ANGLES AND DIRECTIONS (1)

CSU Vision
Introduction
Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST. In surveying, the direction of a line is described by the horizontal angle it makes with a
reference line or direction. Usually, this is done by referring to a fixed line of reference called the
meridian. There are three types of meridians: astronomic, magnetic and assumed. An astronomic
CSU Mission meridian is the direction of a line passing through the astronomic north and south poles and the
observer’s position.
CSU is committed to
transform the lives of Astronomic north is based on the direction of gravity and the axis of rotation of the earth. It
people and communities
through high quality is determined from observations of the sun or other stars whose astronomical positions are known (the
instruction and innovative
research, development, sun and the north star, Polaris, being the most common). Sometimes the term geodetic north is used.
production and extension.
It is a direction detrmined from mathematical approximation of the earth’s shape. It is slightly different
from astronomic north and that difference can be as much as 20 arc seconds in some parts of the
western United States. A magnetic meridian is the direction taken by the magnetized needle of a
compass at the observer’s position: an assumed meridian is an arbitrary direction taken for
convenience.(McCormac, Surveying p. 133)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the session, learners of this program are expected to:

a. Define the different systems of angular measurements

b. Convert one system of angular measurements to other systems of angular measurements.
c. Determine the bearing and azimuth of a given line.

Lesson Proper/ Discussion

Measurements of Angles and Directions

Units of Angular Measurements:

1. The Degree- units of measure in the sexagesimal system, is used in which the circumference of a
circle is divided into 360 parts called degrees.

2. The Grad- units of measure in the centesimal system, is used in which the circumference is divided
into 400 parts called grads

3.The Mils- units of measure in which the circumference of a circle is divided into 6400 parts called
Mils. It is commonly used in military operations as in fire direction of artillery units.

4. The Radian- is another measure of angles used frequently for a host of calculations. One radian is
defined as the angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc length exactly equal to radius of the
circle. One radian equals 180/л

To sum it up:

360 degrees = 400 grads 1 degree ( 0 ) = 60 minutes ( ‘ )

1|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

360 degrees = 6400 mils 1 min ( ‘ ) = 60 seconds ( “ )

360 degrees = 2 л rad

CSU Vision
360 degrees = 1 revolution
Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST.
Enrichment Activities:

CSU Mission 1. Convert the following angles:

a. 450 to grads; mils; rad; rev
CSU is committed to
transform the lives of b. 1200 mils to grads; deg; rad; rev
people and communities
through high quality c. 0.75 rev to deg; mils; grad; rad
instruction and innovative
research, development,
production and extension.
Solutions:
a) 45 0 x 400 grads/3600 = 50 grads Answer

450 x 6400 mils/3600 = 800 mils Answer

450 x 2 π rad/3600 = 0.785 rad Answer

450 x 1 rev/3600 = 0.125 rev Answer

b) 1200 mils x 400 grads/6400 mils = 75 grads Answer

1200 mils x 360 0/6400mils = 67.50 Answer

1200 mils x 2 π rad /6400 mils = 1.178rad Answer

1200 mils x 1rev/6400 mils = 0.1875 rev Answer

c) 0.75 rev x 3600/ 1 rev = 270 0 Answer

0.75 rev x 6400 mils/ 1 rev = 4800 mils Answer

0.75rev x 400 grad/1 rev = 300 grad Answer

0.75 rev x 2 π rad/ 1 rev = 4.71 rad Answer

Direction of a Line/Bearing and Azimuth of a Line

Direction of a Line- is defined as the horizontal angle the line makes with an established line of
reference.

Bearing- of a line is the acute horizontal angle between the reference meridian and the line.

Forward Bearing-of a line is observed in the direction in which the survey progresses.

2|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Example: N 30 0 45 ’ E

Back Bearing- if the bearing of the same line is observed in an opposite direction.

Example : S 30 0 45 ’ W
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Transforming lives by Bearings may also be designated in a different manner when the direction of a line lies
Educating for the
BEST. in the same direction as the reference meridian or reference parallel. If the line lies parallel to the
meridian and south, it is written as due south; if perpendicular to the meridian and east, it is written as
due east
CSU Mission

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of Quadrantal System for defining BEARINGS
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development,
production and extension.

From the figure below:

Examples of Bearings of the Lines

1. Bearing of A-B = N 30000’ E

2. Bearing of A-C = S 25030’ E
3. Bearing of A-D = S 70045’ W
4. Bearing of A-E = N 60000’ W
5. 000N = Due North
6. 900E = Due East
7. 000S =Due South
8. 900W = Due West
Notice that in writing the bearing of a line, the primary meridian, N or S comes first, next is the angle,
then the secondary E or W parallel follows. If the angle lies exactly at the meridian or parallel, use the
word “due” and the direction. Therefore, the bearing angle ranges from 00 000’ 59” to 89059’59”.

3|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

CSU Vision

Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST.

CSU Mission

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development,
production and extension.

Azimuth of a line is the horizontal direction expressed as the angular distance between the direction of
a fixed point (such as the observer’s heading) and the direction of the object. It is either reckoned from
North or South meridian to the line measured in a clockwise direction only.

From the figure above, the azimuth of the line is

1. 2250 from North
2. 2250 from South

Enrichment Activities:

Bearing to Azimuth Conversion

4|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Convert the following bearing to azimuth from North and South:

1.N45030’E
2.S55015’W
CSU Vision
3.S30030’E
Transforming lives by 4.N65045’W
Educating for the
BEST. 5. Due East

Solution:
CSU Mission
Azimuth from North
CSU is committed to
transform the lives of
people and communities
through high quality
instruction and innovative
research, development,
production and extension.

1. N 45030’E, since the angle is reckoned from north therefore the azimuth is the same as the bearing
which is 45030’ and can be written as 𝜙N = 45030’ (note that the subscript N states that the angle is
reckoned from North).

2. S55015’W

𝜙N = bearing of the line + 1800

𝜙N =55015’ + 1800
𝜙N = 235015’ Answer

3. S30030’E

5|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

CSU Vision

Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST.

CSU Mission

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of
people and communities
𝜙N = 1800 – bearing of the line
through high quality
instruction and innovative
𝜙N = 1800 – 30030’
research, development,
production and extension.
𝜙N = 149030’ Answer

4. N65045’W

𝜙N = 3600 – bearing of the line

𝜙N = 3600 – 65045’
𝜙N = 294015’ Answer

5. Due East
𝜙N = 900 Answer

Solution:
Azimuth from South

1. N45030’E

6|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

CSU Vision

Transforming lives by
Educating for the
BEST.

CSU Mission

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of
people and communities 𝜙S = 1800 + bearing of the line
through high quality
instruction and innovative 𝜙S = 1800 + 45030’
research, development,
production and extension. 𝜙S = 225030’ Answer

2. S55015’W , since the angle is reckoned from south therefore the azimuth is the same as the bearing
which is 55015’ and can be written as 𝜙S = 55015’’ (note that the subscript S states that the angle is
reckoned from South)

3. S30030’E

𝜙S = 3600 – bearing of the line

𝜙S = 3600 – 30030’
𝜙S = 329030’ Answer

4. N65045’W

𝜙S = 1800 – bearing of the line

𝜙S = 1800 – 65045’

7|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering
 Republic of the Philippines
Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City
Cagayan State University
CARIG CAMPUS
Tel. No. (078) 304 - 0818

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

𝜙S = 1140 15’ Answer

5. Due East
CSU Vision
𝜙S = 1800 + 900
Transforming lives by 𝜙S 2700 Answer
Educating for the
BEST.

CSU Mission Self-Assessment Questions:

CSU is committed to
transform the lives of 1. Convert the following system of angular measurements:
people and communities
through high quality a. 65030’ to grad, rad, mils and rev
instruction and innovative
research, development, b. 3600 mils to deg, grad, rad and rev
production and extension.
c. 250 grad to deg, mils, rad and rev
d. 250 rad to deg, grad, mils and rev
2. Convert he following bearings to azimuth from north and south (Illustrate your solutions)
a. N 25045’W
b. S 85025’E
c. S60050’W
d. N75045’E
3. Convert the following azimuth from north to bearings. (Illustrate your solutions)
a. 175030’
b. 65015’
c. 328010’
d. 180000’
4. Convert the following azimuth from south to bearings. (Illustrate your solutions)
a. 175030’
b. 65015’
c. 328010’
d. 180000’

.
References:
1. Elementary Surveying 3rd edition by Juny Pilapil La Putt
2. Surveying by Jack McCormac Et. Al.
3. Surveying Theory and Practice By R.E Davis, F. S. Foote
4. The principles and Practice of Surveying by C. B. Breed; G.L. Hosmer and A. J. Bone

8|Page Prepared By: Engr. Natalio G. Pelovello

Faculty, College of Engineering