Area calculation

Area is divided into triangles, rectangles, squares or trapeziums

Area of the one figure (e.g. triangles, rectangles, squares or
trapeziums) is calculated and multiplied by total number of figures.
Area along the boundaries is calculated as

Total area of the filed=area of

geometrical figure +
boundary areas

Problem-1

Problem 1-Result

Computation of area from plotted

plan
Boundary area can
be calculated as one
of the following rule:
The mid-ordinate rule
The average ordinate
rule
The trapezoidal rule
Simpsons rule

Mid-ordinate rule
l

Average ordinate rule

Trapezoidal rule

Simpsons rule

Problems

The following perpendicular offsets were taken from chain line to an

irregular boundary:
Chainage 0
10
25
42
60
75 m
offset
15.5 26.2 31.8 25.6 29.0 31.5
Calculate the area between the chain line, the boundary and the end
offsets.

The following perpendicular offsets were taken from a chain line to a

hedge:

chainage

15

30

45

60

70

80

100

120

140

offsets

7.6

8.5

10.7

12.8

10.6

9.5

8.3

7.9

6.4

4.4

Calculate the area by mid ordinate and Simpsons rule.

 Area by double meridian distances

Meridian distance of any point in a traverse is
the distance of that point to the reference
meridian, measured at right angle to the
meridian.
The meridian distance of a survey line is
defined as the meridian distance of its mid
point.
The meridian distance sometimes called as the
longitude.

d4/2
d

d4/2

d3/2

d3/2
D

m4

m3
4

Mid points
Meridian distance
of points (d1, d2,
d3, d4)

A
C

c
1
b

d1/2

B
d1/2

m1
m2

2
d2/2

d2/2

 Meridian distances of survey line:

m1=d1/2
m2= m1+d1/2+d2/2
m3=m2+d2/2-d3/2
m4=m3-d3/2-d4/2

Area by latitude and meridian distance

Area of ABCD=area of trapezium CcdD + area of
trapezium CcbB area of triangle AbB area of
triangle AdD
= m3*L3+ m2*L2-1/2*2*m4*L4-1/2*2*m1*L1
=m3*L3+m2*L2-m4*L4-m1*L1

 Double meridian distance:

M1= meridian distance of point A + meridian
distance of point B
M1=0+d1
M2=meridian distance of point B + meridian
distance of point C
=d1+(d1+d2)
=M1+(d1+d2)
M3=(d1+d2)+(d1+d2-d3)

 Area of the traverse ABCD =

M3*L3+M2*L2-M1*L1-M4*L4
Area by Co-Ordinates

 The following table gives the corrected latitudes and

departures (in m) of the sides of a closed traverse
ABCD. Compute the area by (a) M.D. method (b) coSide ordinate method Latitude
Departure
N

AB

108

BC

15

249

CD
DA

123
0

4
257

Volume calculation
From cross sections
From spot levels
From contours

Measurement of volume
3 methods generally adopted for
measuring the volume are
(i) from cross sections
(ii) from spot levels
(iii) from contours

Methods of volume calculation

Prismoidal method

D2

A2
B2

C2
D2

D1

A2

A1
C1
B1
D1
A1
B

C2
B2

 Also called Simpsons rule for volume.

Necessary to have odd number of cross
sections.
What if there are even number of C/S?
Trapezoidal method:
Assumption mid area is mean of end areas.
Volume =d{(A1+An)/2+A2+A3++An-1}

 A railway embankment is 10 m wide with side slopes 1.5:1.

assuming the ground to be level in a direction transverse to
the centre line, calculate the volume contained in a length of
120 m, the centre heights at 20 m intervals being in metres
2.2, 3.7, 3.8, 4.0, 3.8, 2.8, 2.5.
A railway embankment 400 m long is 12 m wide at the formation
level and has the side slope 2:1. The ground levels across the
centre line are as under:
Distance

100

200

300

400

R.L.

204.8

206.2

207.5

207.2

208.3

The formation level at zero chainage is 207.00 and the

embankment has a rising gradient of 1:100. The ground is
level across the centre line. Calculate the volume of
earthwork.