SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

The main objective of the surveying is to compute the areas and volumes.

Generally, the lands will be of irregular shaped polygons.

There are formulae readily available for regular polygons like, triangle, rectangle, square and
other polygons.

But for determining the areas of irregular polygons, different methods are used.

Earthwork computation is involved in the excavation of channels, digging of trenches for laying
underground pipelines, formation of bunds, earthen embankments, digging farm ponds, land
levelling and smoothening. In most of the computation the cross sectional areas at different
interval along the length of the channels and embankments are first calculated and the volume of
the prismoids are obtained between successive cross section either by trapezoidal or prismoidal
formula.

Compution of Area • The term area in the context of surveying refers to the area of a tract of land
projected upon the horizontal plane, and not to the actual area of the land surface
• Area may be expressed in the following units • Square metre • Hectares • Square feet • Acres
• Various methods of Computation of Area Area

•Computation of Area from Field Notes This is done in two steps Step-I
• In cross-Staff survey, the area of field can be directly calculated from the field notes. During
survey work the whole area is divided into some geometrical figures, such as triangle, rectangles,
square, and trapeziums, and then the area is calculated .
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

•Computation of Area from Field Notes Where a, b and c are the sides, s = a+ b+ c 2 Or Area of
the triangle = ½ x b x h Where, b= base h= Altitude Area of square= a2 Where a is the side of the
square Area of trapezium= ½ (a+b) x d Where a and b are the parallel sides, and d is the
perpendicular distance between them.
• Computation of Area from Field Notes • The Area along the boundaries is calculated as
follows • O1, O2= Ordinates • X1, X2, = Chainages • Area of Shaded Portion= O1 + O2 x (X1 +
X2 ) 2

•Computation of Area from Field Notes • Similarly, the areas between all pairs of ordinates are
calculated and added to obtain the total boundary area. • Hence, Total area of the field = area of
geometrical figure + Boundary areas (Step-1 + Step-2) = Area of ABCD + Area of ABEFA
•Computation of Area from Plotted Plan Case-I Considering the entire area • The entire area is
divided into regions of a convenient shape, and calculated as follows: (a) By dividing the area
into triangles • The triangle are so drawn as to equilize the irregular boundary line. • Then the
bases and altitude of the triangles are determined according to the scale to which the plan was
drawn. After this, the area of these triangles are calculated • (area= ½ x base x altitude) • The
area are then added to obtain the total area.
• Computation of Area from Plotted Plan
• Computation of Area from Plotted Plan (b) By dividing the area into Squares • In this method,
squares of equal sizes are ruled out on a piece of tracing paper. Each square represents a unit
area, which could be 1 cm2 or 1 m2. The tracing paper is placed over the plan and the number of
full squares are counted. The total area is then calculated by multiplying the number of squares
by the unit area of each square.
• Computation of Area from Plotted Plan (c) By drawing parallel lines and converting them to
rectangles In this method, a series of equidistant parallel lines are drawn on a tracing paper. The
constant distance represents a metre or centimetre. The tracing paper is placed over the plan in
such a way that the area is enclosed between the two parallel lines at the top and bottom. Thus
the area is divided into a number of strips. The curved end of the strip are replaced by
perpendicular lines and a number of rectangles are formed. The sum of the length of the
rectangles is then calculated. Then, Required area= ∑ Length of Rectangle x constant distance

• Computation of Area from Plotted Plan Case II • In this method, a large square or rectangle is
formed within the area in the plan. Then ordinates are drawn at regular intervals from the side of
the square to the curved boundary. The middle area is calculated according to one of the
following rules:

a) Mid-ordinate method

b) Average ordinate method

c) Trapezoidal rule
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

d) Simpson’s rule

The mid-ordinate rule

Consider figure.

Let O1, O2, O3, O4……….On= ordinates at equal intervals

l=length of base line

d= common distance between ordinates

h1,h2,……..hn=mid-ordinates

Area = common distance* sum of mid-ordinates

Average ordinate method

Let O1, O2, …..On=ordinates or offsets at regular intervals

l= length of base line

n= number of divisions

n+1= number of ordinates

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

THE TRAPEZOIDAL RULE

While applying the trapezoidal rule, boundaries between the ends of ordinates are assumed to be
straight. Thus the areas enclosed between the base line and the irregular boundary line are
considered as trapezoids.

Let O1, O2, …..On=ordinate at equal intervals, and d= common distance between two ordinates

Total area=d/2{ O1+2O2+2O3+…….+2On-1+On}

Thus the trapezoidal rule may be stated as follows:

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

To the sum of the first and last ordinate, twice the sum of intermediate ordinates is added. This
total sum is multiplied by the common distance. Half of this product is the required area.

Limitation: There is no limitation for this rule. This rule can be applied for any number of
ordinates

SIMPSON’S RULE

In this rule, the boundaries between the ends of ordinates are assumed to form an arc of parabola.
Hence simpson’s rule is some times called as parabolic rule. Refer to figure:

Let

O1, O2, O3= three consecutive ordinates

d= common distance between the ordinates

area AFeDC= area of trapezium AFDC+ area of segment FeDEF

Here,

Area of segment= 2/3* area of parallelogram FfdD

= 2/3* eE*2d

= 2/3 *{ O2- O1+O3 /2 }*2d

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

So, the area between the first two divisions,

= d/3(O1+4O2+O3)

Similarly, the area of next two divisions

∆2 = d/3(O1+4O2+O3) and so on

Total area = d/3[O1+On+4(O2+O4+……) + 2(O3+O5)]

Thus the rule may be stated as the follows

To the sum of the first and the last ordinate, four times the sum of even ordinates and twice the
sum of the remaining odd ordinates are added. This total sum is multiplied by the common
distance. One third of this product is the required area.

Limitation: This rule is applicable only when the number divisions is even i.e. the number of
ordinates is odd.

The trapezoidal rule may be compared in the following manner:

Trapezoidal rule Simpson’s rule

The boundary between the
1. The boundary between the
ordinates is considered to be an
ordinates is considered to be
arc of a parabola
straight

To apply this rule, the number of

1. There is no limitation. It can be
ordinates must be odd
applied for any number of
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

ordinates

It gives a more accurate result.

1. It gives an approximate result

Note: sometimes one or both the end of the ordinates may be zero. However they must be taken
into account while applying these rules.

Worked- out problems

Problem 1: The following offsets were taken from a chain line to an irregular boundary line at
an interval of 10 m:

0, 2.50, 3.50, 5.00, 4.60, 3.20, 0 m

Compute the area between the chain line, the irregular boundary line and the end of offsets by:

a) mid ordinate rule

b) the average –ordinate rule

c) the trapezoidal rule

d) Simpson’s rule

Solution: (Refer fig)

Mid-ordinate rule:
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

Required area= 10(1.25+3.00+4.25+3.90+1.60)

= 10*18.80=188 m2

By average-ordinate rule:

Here d=10 m and n=6(no of devices)

Base length= 10*6=60 m

Number of ordinates= 7

Required area=10((1.25+3.00+5.00+4.60+3.20+0)/7)

By trapezoidal rule:
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

Here d=10m

Required area=10/2{0+0+2(2.50+3.50+5.00+4.60+3.20+)}

= 5*37.60=188 m2

By Simpson’s rule:

d=10m

required area=10/3{0+0+4(2.50+5.00+3.20)+2(3.50+4.60)}

= 10/3{ 42.80+16.20}=10/3*59.00

10/3*59= 196.66m2

Problem 2: The following offsets were taken at 15 m intervals from a survey line to an irregular
boundary line

3.50,4.30, 6.75, 5.25, 7.50, 8.80, 7.90, 6.40, 4.40, 3.25 m

Calculate the area enclosed between the survey line, the irregular boundary line, and the offsets,
by:

a) the trapezoidal rule

b) simpson’s rule

solution:

a) the trapezoidal rule

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

required area=15/2{3.50+3.25+2(4.30+6.75+5.25+7.50+8.80+7.90+6.40+4.40)}

= 15/2{6.75+102.60} = 820.125 m2

c) simpson’s rule

if this rule is to be applied, the number of ordinates must be odd. But here the number of
ordinates must be odd. But here the number of ordinate is even(ten).

So, simpson’s rule is applied from O1 to O9 and the area between O9 and O10 is found out by the
trapezoidal rule.

A1= 15/3{ 3.50+4.40+4( 4.30+5.25+8.80+6.40)}+2(6.75+7.50+7.90)

= 15/3( 7.90+99.00+44.30)= 756.00 m2

A2= 15/2(4.40+3.25)= 57.38 m2

Total area= A1+ A2 =756.00+57.38 = 813.38 m2

Problem 3: the following offsets are taken from a survey line to a curves boundary line, and the
first and the last offsets by:

a) the trapezoidal rule

b) simpson’s rule

solution:

here the intervals between the offsets are not reglar through out the length.

So, the section is divided into three compartments

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

Let

∆I= area of the first section

∆II= area of 2nd section

∆III= area of 3rd section

Here

d1= 5 m

d2=10 m

d3=20 m

a) by trapezoidal rule

∆I= 5/2{2.50+6.10+2(3.80+4.60+5.20)} = 89.50 m2

∆II= 10/2{6.10+5.80+2(4.70)} =106.50 m2

∆III= 20/2{5.80+2.20+2(3.90)} = 158.00 m2

Total area = 89.50+106.50+158.00 = 354.00 m2

b) by simpson’s rule

∆I= 5/3{2.50+6.10+4(3.8+5.20) + 2(4.60)} = 89.66 m2

∆II= 10/3{6.10+5.80+4(4.70)} =102.33 m2

∆III= 20/3{5.80+2.20+4(3.90)} = 157.33 m2

Total area= 89.66+102.33+157.33 = 349.32 m2

• Instrumental method: Using planimeter

• Planimeter is used to compute the area of given plan of any shape.
• In the first step anchor point is to be fixed at one point. If the given plan area is small,
then anchor point is placed outside the plan. Similarly, if the given plan area is large then
it is placed inside the plan.
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

• After placing the anchor point, place the tracing point on the outline of the given plan
using tracing arm. Mark the tracing point and note down the reading on Vernier as initial
reading A.
• Now move the tracing needle carefully over the outline of the given plan till the first
point is reached. The movement of tracing needle should be in clockwise direction. Note
down the reading on Vernier after reaching the first point and it is the final reading B.
• Now the area of the plan which boundary is traced by the planimeter is determined from
the below formula.
• Area = M (B – A + 10N + C)
• Where, A = initial reading
• B = final reading
• N = no. of completed revolutions of wheel during one complete tracing. N is positive if
dial passes index in clockwise, N is negative if dial rotates in anti-clock wise direction.
• M and C = constants which values are provided on the planimeter. Constant C is used
only when the anchor point is placed inside the plan.
 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

FORMULA FOR CALCULATION OF VOLUME:

D= common distance between the sections

A. trapezoidal rule

volume (cutting or filling), V=D/2(A1+An+2(A2+A3+….+An-1))

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

1. Prismoidal formula

Volume( cutting or filling), V= D/3{A1+ An +4(A2+ A4+ An-1)+ 2(A3+ A5+….+ Ann-1)}

i.e. V=common distance {area of 1st section+ area of last section+ 4(sum of areas of even
sections)

3 +2(sum of areas of odd sections)

Note: the prismoidal formula is applicable whrn there is an odd number of sections. If the
number of sections is even, the end strip is treated separately and the area is calculated according
to the trapezoidal rule. The volume of the remaining strips is calculated in the usual manner by
the prismoidal formula. Then both the results are added to obtain the total volume.

Works out problems

Problem 1: an embankment of width 10 m and side slopes 1 ½:1 is required to be made on a

ground which is level in a direction transverseto the centre line. The central heights at 40 m
intervals are as follows:

0.90,1.25,2.15,2.50,1.85,1.35, and 0.85

Calculate the volume of earth work according to

i) Trapezoidal formula

ii) Prismoidal formula

Solution: the c/s areas are calculated by

∆= (b+sh)*h

∆1= (10+1.5*0.90)*0.90 = 10.22 m2

∆2= (10+1.5*1.25)*0.90 = 14.84 m2

∆3= (10+1.5*1.25)*2.15 = 28.43 m2

 SAGAR INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Lecture Notes
BCE and M
Computation of Area and Volume

∆4= (10+1.5*2.50)*2.50 = 34.38 m2

∆5= (10+1.5*1.85)*1.85 = 23.63 m2

∆6=(10+1.5*1.35)*1.35 = 16.23 m2

∆7=(10+1.5*0.85)*0.85= 9.58 m2

(a) Volume according to trapezoidal formula

V= 40/2{10.22+ 9.58+2(14.84+28.43+34.38+23.63+16.23)}

= 20{19.80+235.02} = 5096.4 m2

(b) Volume calculated in prismoidal formula:

V = 40/3 {10.22+9.58+4(14.84+34.38+16.23)+2(28.43+23.63)}

= 40/3 (19.80+ 261.80+104.12) = 5142.9 m2

Problem the areas enclosed by the contours in the lake are as follows:

Contour (m) 270 275 280 285 290

Area (m2)
2050 8400 16300 24600 31500

Calculate the volume of water between the contours 270 m and 290 m by:

i) Trapezoidal formula

ii) Prismoidal formula

Volume according to trapezoidal formula:

=5/2{2050+31500+2(8400+16300+24600)}

=330,250 m3