AREA COMPUTATION

DOUBLE MERIDIAN METHOD

1. Compute the latitude and departure.
2. Determine the total closure in latitude and departure. (
3. Determine the corrections for latitude and departure. (balancing)
4. Adjust the latitude and departure. (corrected latitude and departure)
5. Adjust the lengths and bearings.
6. Compute the area of a close traverse by DMD or DPD.

DOUBLE MERIDIAN METHOD

Best known procedure for calculating land areas with hand-held calculators.

This method is an adaptation of method of determining areas by coordinates.

The DMD of any sides equals the DMD of the last side plus the departure
of the last side plus the departure of the present side.

DA Double Area
DMD Double Meridian Distance
Latitude Adjusted Latitude

DOUBLE MERIDIAN METHOD

LIN
E

Balanced
Departure
E

AB

-20.597

BC

86.606

CD

Balanced Latitude

Double Areas

DMD
N

+NDA

-20.597

-188.385

3880

45.412

-152.276

-6,915

-195.460

-63.442

29.968

-1,901

DE

-30.547

-289.449

139.081

-40,257

EA

159.998

-159.998

171.612

-27,458

-36, 325.5 sq. ft

NOTE: Disregard the sign (area)

3880

-SDA

-76,531

DOUBLE PARALLEL METHOD

Best known procedure for calculating land areas with hand-held calculators.

This method is an adaptation of method of determining areas by coordinates.

DA Double Area
DPD Double Parallel Distance
Departure Adjusted Departure

DOUBLE PARALLEL METHOD

LINE

Balanced Latitude

AB

-188.385

BC

CD

DPD

Balanced Departure

Double Areas

+NDA

-SDA

-188.385

-20.597

3880

-152.277

-529.047

86.606

-45819

29.968

-651.356

-195.46

127314

DE

139.082

-482.306

-30.547

14733

EA

171.612

-171.612

159.998

-27458

145927

-73,276

36, 325.5 sq. ft

NOTE: Disregard the sign (area)

SEATWORK:

From the given sets of balanced latitudes and departures, calculate the
areas of the traverses using DMDs.
SIDE

BALANCED LATITUDES
N

BALANCED
DEPARTURES
E

AB

500

300

BC

200

200

CD

400

DE

300

500

EA

400

400

ASSIGNMENT: (Due date: Feb. 12)

1. Compute the area of the irregular tracts of land shown by trapezoidal rule.

2. Compute the area by Simpsons one-third rule.