COLEGIO DE MUNTINLUPA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SURVEYING LABORATORY
PROFESSOR: ENGR. IDA P. PANDAWE
EXERCISE NO. 4

DETERMINING THE AREA OF A RECTILINEAR FIELD BY TAPING

TITLE

NAME : CRIS JESTER H. DAVID DATE PERFORMED : 10/05/2020

SECTION : BSCE - 3 DATE SUBMITTED : 10/15/2020

I) INTRODUCTION
Measuring the linear dimensions of a field to determine its area by taping requires a.
lot of time, computations, measuring, and of course walking long distances which is needed
in order to perform measurements by taping. These criteria vary upon the lot area, the
bigger the area is, the longer it is performed. Most would perform this surveying technique in
a group about 3 people to divide the work, to maximize the efficiency, and to finish in no
time. What makes this type of measurement unique is that the area to be measured is an
irregular polygon. If the area to be determined is an irregular polygon with different interior
angles, principles of trigonometry should be considered.
II) OBJECTIVES
1) To Learn how to measure horizontal angles with tape.
2) To determine the area of a rectilinear field with tape.
III) INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES
o 5m Steel Tape Measure

- Used for measuring distances.

o Masking Tape

- Used for marking a certain point from the ground.

IV) PROCEDURE
1) Establish the corners of the assigned field and also establish with in the field a centrally-
located point.
2) Subdivide the field into a convenient series of connected triangles (refer to an
accompanying figure). Use pegs hubs, or pins to mark the vertices of each triangle. Call
these points A, B, C, and etc.
3) From the centrally-located point, measure distances to each point defining the corners or
vertices of each triangle. Call these distances d1, d2 and etc.
4) Using the chord method of measuring angles by tape, determine all the angles about the
central point, i.e. Ɵ1, Ɵ2 and etc.
V) DATA, TABLES AND COMPUTATIONS
Figure 1: Measured Distances

Figure 1 shows the measured distances between the vertices.

Table 1: Dimensions of the Rectilinear Field

LENGTH OF SIDE MEAN

INCLUDED CHORD COMPUTED ADJUSTED
LENGTH OF
ANGLE DISTANCE 1st 2nd ANGLE ANGLE
SIDE
θ1 (AFB) 3.92 m 3.05 m 3.85 m 3.45 m 69.238˚ 68.480˚
θ2 (BFC) 3.65 m 3.85 m 3.25 m 3.55 m 61.873˚ 61.114˚
θ3 (CFD) 4.67 m 3.25 m 4.08 m 3.67 m 79.153˚ 78.395˚
θ4 (DFE) 3.58 m 4.08 m 3.30 m 3.69 m 58.037˚ 57.279˚
θ5 (EFA) 4.70 m 3.30 m 3.05 m 3.18 m 95.490˚ 94.732˚
TOTAL: 363.791˚ 360˚

Table 1 shows the dimensions of the rectilinear field divided into 5 sections of
triangles. The chord distance and the length of the side (1 st side and 2nd side) were
determined by measuring, while the mean length of the side, computed angle, and the
adjusted angle were determined by computation.
Figure 2: Computed Included Angles

Figure 2 shows the computed included angles of each triangle.

Table 2: Area of the Rectilinear Field

LENGTH OF SIDE
TRIANGLE INCLUDED ANGLE AREA
1ST 2ND
AFB 3.05 m 3.85 m 68.480˚ 5.462 m2
BFC 3.85 m 3.25 m 61.114˚ 5.478 m2
CFD 3.25 m 4.08 m 78.395˚ 6.494 m2
DFE 4.08 m 3.30 m 57.279˚ 5.664 m2
EFA 3.30 m 3.05 m 94.732˚ 5.015 m2
TOTAL: 360 ˚ 28.113 m2

Table 2 shows the length of sides of each triangle and its included angle, the area of
each triangle, and the total area of the rectilinear field.
Figure 3: Computed Area

Figure 3 shows the computed area of each triangle and the total area of the field.
Computations:
A) Mean Length of Side Computation:

AFB:

∑L 3.05 m + 3.85 m CFD:

x́ = x́ =
n 2
x́ =
∑L x́ =
3.25 m + 4.08 m
x́ = 3.45 m n 2

x́ = 3.665 m

BFC:

∑L 3.85 m + 3.25 m DFE:

x́ = x́ =
n 2
x́ =
∑L x́ =
4.08 m + 3.30 m
x́ = 3.55 m n 2

x́ = 3.69 m

EFA:

x́ =
∑L x́ =
3.30 m + 3.05 m
n 2

x́ = 3.175 m
B) Computed Angle Computation:

AFB:

d1 3.92 m
θ4 = 2sin -1 (d2 x́ ) θ
4
4 = 2sin -1
[ 3.58 m
2 ( 3.69 m ) ]
θ1 = 2 sin-1
2 x́( )
θ1 = 2 sin-1
[
2 (3.45 m ) ] θ4 = 58.03737394°
θ1 = 69.23789777°

BFC: EFA:

d2 3.65 m d5 4.70 m
θ2 = 2 sin-1 ( )
2 x́
θ2 = 2 sin-1
[2 (3.55 m ) ] θ5 = 2 sin-1 ( )
2 x́
θ5 = 2 sin-1
[
2 ( 3.175 m ) ]
θ2 = 61.87256355° θ5 = 95.48966441°

CFD: Total Computed Angle:

d3 4.67 m θT = ∑ θn
θ3 = 2 sin-1 ( )
2 x́
θ3 = 2 sin-1
[2 ( 3.665 m ) ] θT = 69.238° + 61.873° + 79.153°
θ3 = 79.15298037° + 58.037° + 95.490°
DFE:

θT = 363.79048°
C) Error/Residual Angle Computation:
Total Error Computation:
360° - θT 360° - 363.790°
θE = θE = θE = -0.7580960089°
n 5

D) Corrected Angle Computation (Error Distribution):

AFB: DFE:

θC1 = θ1 + θE θC1 = 69.238° + ( -0.758° ) θC4 = θ4 + θE

θC1 = 68.47980176° θC4 = 58.037° + ( -0.758° )

θC4 = 57.27927793°

BFC:

θC2 = θ2 + θE θC2 = 61.873° + ( -0.758° ) EFA:

θC5 = θ5 + θE
θC2 = 61.11446754°
θC5 = 95.490° + ( -0.758° )
θC5 = 94.7315684°
CFD:
θC3 = θ3 + θE
Total Corrected Angle:
θC3 = 79.153° + ( -0.758° )
θTC = ∑ θCn
θC3 = 78.39488436°
θTC = 68.480° + 61.114° + 78.395°

+ 57.279° + 94.732°

θTC = 360°
E) Area Computation:

AFB:
1 DFE:
A AFB = L L sin ( θC1 )
2 1 2
1
A DFE = L L sin ( θC4 )
1 2 1 2
A AFB = ( 3.05 m )( 3.85 m ) sin ( 68.480° )
2
1
A DFE = ( 4.08 m ) ( 3.30 m ) sin ( 57.279° )
A AFB =5.461955235 m 2 2

BFC: A DFE = 5.663734863 m 2

1
A BFC = L L sin ( θC2 )
2 1 2
EFA:
1 1 m ) sin ( 61.114° )
A BFC = ( 3.85 m )( 3.25
2 A EFA = 2 L1 L2 sin ( θC5 )
A BFC =5.477888234 m 2
1
A EFA = ( 3.30 m )( 3.05 m ) sin ( 94.732° )
2

CFD: A EFA =5.015349691 m 2

1
A CFD = L L sin ( θC3 )
2 1 2
Total Area Computation:
1 AT = ∑ A ∆
A CFD = (3.25 m ) ( 4.08 m ) sin ( 78.395° )
2
A T = 5.462 m2 + 5.478 m 2 + 6.494 m 2
A CFD =6.494464849 m 2
2 2
+5.664 m + 5.015 m

A T = 28.11339287 m 2
VI) CONCLUSION
This kind of measurement can be done even with the simplest materials, assuming
that the field being measured is not that enormous. This Kind of surveying technique in
measuring an area of a field can be accurate only if the measurements are correct, because
the computation might do most of the work.
VII) RECOMMENDATIONS
If one might not want to consume too much time performing this fieldwork, it is
suggested that it should be done by a group of at least two (2) people depending on the size
of the area, because taping requires at least 2 tapemen especially in long distances. If the
area to be measured has an even ground, consider using taping in an even technique,
otherwise use the taping in a sloping ground technique which requires additional instruments
such as plum bob. It is recommended to have patience in this fieldwork because it has a lot
be done especially in measuring the horizontal distance. Unlike measuring horizontal
distance in a leveled ground, measuring horizontal in a sloping ground is a more complex
method because it requires the taping to be completely parallel to the ground and
perpendicular to the vertical reference created by the plumb bob. Wind should also be
observed in placing the plumb bob, because strong winds might cause swinging or
displacement in to it, and make sure to suspend it correctly.
APPENDIX A: DOCUMENTATION

Figure 1: Marking Points

Figure 2: Measuring a Distance