Angular Measurements
Angle: Angle represents direction of one line with respect to another line.
Bearing: It represents the direction of a line with respect to any meridian (any particular
direction). It means that the bearing is the horizontal angle which it makes with any meridian.
Meridian: A meridian is any particular direction like
True meridian Magnetic Meridian Arbitrary Meridian.
True Meridian : True meridian through a point is line in which a plane passing that point
and the north and south poles, intersects with the surface of the earth. It, thus, passes through
the true north and south.
True Bearing: True bearing of a line is the horizontal angle which it makes with the true
meridian through one of the extremities of the line.
Magnetic Meridian: Magnetic Meridian is the direction shown by a freely floating and
balanced magnetic needle free from all other attractive forces. The direction of magnetic
meridian can be established with the help of a magnetic compass.
Magnetic Bearing It is the horizontal angle which it makes with magnetic meridian passing
through one of the extremities of the line. A magnetic compass is used to measure it.
Arbitrary Meridian: It is any convenient direction taken towards a permanent and
prominent mark or signal, such as a church spire or top of a chimney
Arbitrary Bearing: It is the horizontal angle which it makes with any arbitrary meridian
passing through one of the extremities. A theodolite or sextant is used to measure it.
Designation of Bearings
The common systems of notation or Designation of bearings are:
a) Whole Circle Bearing System or Azimuthal System (W.C.B.)
b) The Quadrantal Bearing (Q.B.) System or Reduced Bearing (R.B)
Whole Circle Bearing system or Azimuthal System (W.C.B)The
system in which the bearing of a survey line is measured with
Magnetic North (or with South) in clockwise direction is called Whole
Circle Bearing system.
Quadrantal Bearing system (Reduced Bearing)
The system in which the bearing of a line is measured with eastward
or westward from north or south, whichever is nearer is called
Reduced Bearing System. Thus both North and south are used
as reference meridians and the directions can be either
clockwise or anticlockwise.
How do you convert bearings from one system to the other?
The bearing of a line can be very easily converted from one system to the other, with the aid
of a diagram.
How do you convert bearings from W.C.B to the R.B
The conversion of W.C.B. into R.B can be expressed in the following table:
Line W.C.B between Rule For R.B. Quadrant
AB 0 and 90 R.B. =W.C.B NE
BC 90 and 180 R.B. =180-W.C.B SE
AD 180 and 270 R.B. =W.C.B -180 SW
AF 270 and 360 R.B. =360 - W.C.B NW
How do you convert bearings from R.B to W.C.B?
Line R.B Rule For W.C.B. W.C.B between
AB Nα E R.B. =W.C.B 0 and 90
BC Sβ E R.B. =180-W.C.B 90 and 180
AD Sθ W R.B. =W.C.B -180 180 and 270
AF Nφ W R.B. =360 - W.C.B 270 and 360
Convert the following Whole Circle Bearings to Reduced Bearings
1. 48020’
2. 129005’
3. 226040’
4. 310030’
5. 29045’
Convert the following Whole Circle Bearings to Reduced Bearings
i. 120 20’ ii. 1600 10’ iii. 226040’ iv. 285030’ v. 29045’
What is fore Bearing?
If the Bearing of a line AB is measured from A to B Then it is known as forward Bearing.
What is Back Bearing?
If the Bearing of a line AB is measured from B to A Then it is known as Backward Bearing.
The following bearings were observed with a compass. Calculate the interior angles.
Line Fore Bearing Back Bearing
AB 135ᴼ 315ᴼ
BC 60ᴼ 30’ 240ᴼ 30’
CD 5ᴼ 30’ 185ᴼ 30’
DE 294ᴼ 30’ 114ᴼ 30’
EA 220ᴼ 40ᴼ
The following bearings were observed with a compass. Calculate the interior angles.
Line Fore Bearing Back Bearing
AB 107ᴼ 15’ 287ᴼ 15’
BC 22ᴼ 00’ 202ᴼ 00’
CD 281ᴼ 30’ 101ᴼ 30’
DE 181ᴼ 15’ 1ᴼ 15’
EA 124ᴼ 45 304ᴼ 45
Differences between Prismatic Compass & Surveyor’s compass
Item Prismatic Compass Surveyor’s compass
1.Magnetic The needle is of Broad type. The needle The needle is of “Edge bar
Needle does not act as index type” the needle acts as index
also
2.Graduated The graduations are in W.C.B. system The graduations are in Quadrant
card Bearing system
3.Reading The Reading is taken with the help of a The reading is taken directly by
prism provided at the eye slit seeing through the top of glass
4.Tripod May or May not be provided. The The instrument cannot be used
instrument can be used even by holding without tripod
suitably in hand
