Bharat Bahadur Dhakal

Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I

9. Computation of Area and Volume: Pulchowk Campus
9.1 Basic definitions
9.2 Area by division into simple figures
9.3 Area by coordinates, area by double-meridian distance
method
9.4 Trapezoidal rule, Simpson’s 1/3 rule
9.5 Volume by average end area, prismoidal formula, prismoidal
correction, curvature correction, volume by transition area
9.6 The mass diagram, overhaul, limit of economic overhaul and
determination of overhaul

Area in the context of surveying refers to the area of tract of

land projected upon the horizontal plane. It does not refer to the
actual area of the land surface. The main objective of the
surveying is to compute the areas and volumes.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Aim: Computational of area from field notes
One of the main objectives of the surveying is to compute the In this method whole area is divided into some geometrical figures during survey work such as
rectangles, triangles, squares, and trapezium, and the area is calculated as:
areas and volumes. Generally, the lands will be of i. Area of triangle  = s (s  a) (s  b) (s  c)
irregular shaped polygons. There are formulae readily available Where a, b and c are the sides and
for regular polygons like, triangle, rectangle, square and other s = a b c
2
polygons. But for determining the areas of irregular polygons, 1
Also area of right angle triangle   xbxh
different methods are used. 2
Where b = base and h = altitude/ perpendicular
They are: ii. Area of rectangles = l × b, where l = length and b = width
(1) Graphical method iii. Area of square = a 2 where, a = side of square
iv. Area of trapezium = 1 × (a + b) × d
(2) Co-ordinate method 2
(3) Planimeter Where, a and b are parallel sides and d is the perpendicular distance between them.
The area along the boundaries is calculated as follows:
Let O1 and O2 are the ordinates and X1, X2 are the chainages then area of shaded portion may be
Out of these three methods, the co-ordinate method is calculated as:
popularly used, in land surveying for computing area of shaded portion =
O1  O 2
× (X2 – X1)
2
catchment area, drainage area, cross section of rivers, Area of given plan = area of ABCD + area of curve portion ADEF
channels etc. Under this method the given area is split
into two with a base line run at the center.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus

2
5 1
4
3
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Area Of A Tract With Irregular Boundaries
(computational of area from plotted plan):
The area between the traverse line and the irregular
boundary is determined by:
1. Mid-ordinate method
2. Average ordinate method
3. Trapezoidal rule
4. Simpson’s rule 4
Mid-ordinate method
3
2
1
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Statement: Area is equal to product of the common interval d and sum of Pulchowk Campus
intermediate ordinates plus average of the first and last ordinates. If the
intervals are not equal the areas of the trapeziums have to be computed
separately and added together.

Limitation: This rule is applicable only when the number divisions is even i.e.
the number of ordinates is odd.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus

If question like below same procedure

 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Meridian distance method
The meridian distance of a line is the perpendicular distance
from the line’s midpoint to a reference meridian (North-South
line).
To avoid negative signs, the reference meridian is generally
chosen as passing through the most western comer of the
traverse or further away from it. Figure shows the different
•The latitude of a line is its associated terms.
projection on the north-south
meridian and is equal to the
length of the line times the cosine
of its bearing.
•The departure of a line is its
projection on the east-west
meridian and is equal to the
length of the line times the sine of N
O D
its bearing. J I
L K
•The latitude is the y component N C

of the line (also known A

H G
as northing), and the departure is E F

the x component of the line (also M B

known as easting).

S
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
EF is the meridian distance of AB. GH is the meridian distance Pulchowk Campus

of BC.
Mathematically
Meridian distance of BC is = meridian distance of AB + half
the departure of AB + half the departure of BC
Similarly,
Thus
The meridian distance of any line = meridian distance of the
preceding line plus half the departure of the preceding line
plus half the departure of the line itself
Meridian distance of CD = meridian distance of BC + half the
departure of BC + half' the departure of CD
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Double meridian distance method
In order to avoid working with half departures, surveyors use
the double meridian distance, i.e., twice the meridian distance
in making computations.
DMD of BC = DMD of AB plus the departure of AB plus the
departure of BC.

Rules for DMDs for a closed traverse.

 The DMD of the first line is equal to the departure of the 1 st
line. If the 1st line is chosen as the one that begins at the
western most corner, negative DMDs can be avoided.
 The DMD of each succeeding line = the DMD of the
previous line + the departure of the previous line + the
departure of the line itself.
 The DMD of the last line of a balanced closed traverse is
equal to the departure of the line but with opposite sign.
The DMD of each succeeding line = the DMD of the
previous line + the departure of the previous line +
the departure of the line itself
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Cross section method
Volume computation
 for highways, railways and canals etc.
Earthwork operations involve the determination of  series of cross sections are taken along the
volumes of material that is to be excavated or length of the line at regular intervals
embankment in engineering project to bring the ground  measurements in the field.
surface to a predetermined grade.

1. Cross section method

2. Unit area or borrow pit method
3. Contour area method.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus

Two Level Section:

When the ground surface has a transverse slope 1 in n

Level Section:
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Side-Hill Two-Level Section Pulchowk Campus
Three-Level Section In this case the ground is sloping transversely, but the
slope of the ground intersects the formation level such
In this case, the transverse slope of the ground is not uniform. that one portion of the area is in cutting and the other in
filling (part cut and part fill).

Multi-Level Section
In this case, the transverse slope of the
ground is not uniform but-has multiple
cross-slopes as is clear from the figure.
The numerator denotes cutting (+ve) or
filling (-ve) at the various points, and the
denominator their horizontal distances from
the centre line of the section. The area of
the section is calculated from these notes by
co­ordinate method. The co-ordinates may be
written in the determinant form irrespective
of the signs.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Prismoidal Formula: Pulchowk Campus
Formulae for volume:
To calculate volumes of the solids between sections, it must be
assumed that they have some geometrical from. They must
nearly take the form of prismoids and therefore, in calculation
work, they are considered to be prismoids.
Let A1, A2, A3…………….. An = the areas at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd……………… last cross-
section.
D = the common distance between the cross-section.
V = the volume of cutting or filling.
Trapezoidal Formula:

In order to apply the prismoidal formula, it

is necessary to have odd number of
sections giving the areas. If there be even
areas, the prismoidal formula may be
applied to odd number of areas and the
The number of cross-sections giving the
volume between the last two sections may
areas may be odd or even. Since the areas at
be obtained separately by trapezoidal
ends are averaged in this formula, therefore,
formula and added.
it is also known as Average end Area
formula.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Prismoidal Correction: Pulchowk Campus

The difference between the volumes

computed by the trapezoidal formula and the
prismoidal formula is known as prismoidal
correction.

The volume by prismoidal formula is more nearly

correct.

Since the volume calculated by trapezoidal

formula is usually more than that calculated
by prismoidal formula, therefore the
prismoidal correction is generally
subtractive.

Thus volume by prismoidal formula = volume

by trapezoidal formula - prismoidal
correction.

In the formulae of prismoidal correction given

below, the small and capital letters refer to the
notations of the adjacent sections. The prismoidal
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Curvature Correction for Volumes:

The trapezoidal and prismoidal formulae are derived on

the assumption that the sections are parallel to each
other and normal to the centre line.

But when the centre line is on a curve, the sections do

not remain parallel to each other and a correction for
curvature has to be applied.
Plus or minus sign indicates that the centroid is
This effect is not much pronounced and does not involve on the opposite side or the same side of the
large quantities of earth work in ordinary cases, therefore centre line as the centre of curvature.
it is neglected. But it has to be considered in final Alternatively, areas are corrected for eccentricity
estimates and precise results. of centroid and the corrected areas are used in
prismoidal formula for calculation of volume.
This is quite appreciable in the case of road widening and
hill side sections which are partly in cutting and partly in
filling. Curved volumes are calculated from Pappu’s
theorem. It states that the volume swept by a constant
area rotating about a fixed axis is equal to the product of
that area and the length of the path traced by the
centroid of the area. When the areas are not uniform,
mean distance of the centroid from the centre line is
taken as
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Example: A railway embankment is 10m wide with
side slopes 2:1. Assuming the ground to be level in
a direction transverse to the center line, calculate
the volume contained in a length of 150 meters,
the central heights at 30m intervals being 2.5,
3.00, 3.5, 4.0, 3.75 and 2.75m respectively.

The prismoidal formula necessitates odd number

of X-sections but in this case they are even.
Therefore, volume of the last strip will be found
separately by trapezoidal formula which shall be
added to the volume of the remaining strips giving
odd number of X-sections, found by prismoidal
formula to get the total volume.
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
Example: The width of formation level of a certain
cutting is 10m and the side slopes are 1: 1. The
surface of the ground has a uniform side slope of 1
in 6. If the depths of cutting at the Centre lines of
three sections 30m apart are 3m, 4m and 5m
respectively, determine the volume of earth work
involved in this length of cutting.
Solution:
Two –level section b=10m; h=3, 4 ,5
m; s=1; r= 6
Example: A road embankment 8m wide at
formation level with side slopes 2 :1, and an
average height of bank 2m constructed with an
average gradient of 1 in 30 from a 320m contour
to 450m contour, find (i) the length of the road,
and (ii) the quantity of earth for embankment.
Solution:
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
The width at formation of a certain road is 12m Pulchowk Campus

and the side slopes of 1 in 1 in cutting and 1 in 2 in

filling. The original ground has a cross-fall of 1 in 5.
If the depth of excavation at the centre lines of the
two sections 50m apart are (1.4 m and 0.8 m
respectively, find the volume of cutting and
volume of filling over this length.
Solution:
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Mass haul Diagram : Pulchowk Campus

Mass Diagram - A graphical representation of the cumulative Free haul: A free project’s average haul is
amount of earthwork moved along the centerline and distances referred to as a free haul.
over which the earth and materials are to be transported.
Average haul: You can find the average haul
using the mass diagram. The average haul is
a specific area in a mass diagram. It
represents how many cubic yard stations are
between balance points divided by the
ordinate of mass that the yardage gets
Some of the key terms you should know to hauled.
read a mass haul diagram properly include:

Haul: A haul refers to the transportation of

your project’s excavated materials. The haul
includes the movement of material from the
position where you excavated it to the
disposal area or a specified location. A haul
is also sometimes referred to as an
authorized haul.

Overhaul: When you get authorization to

haul material farther than the original free-
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus
 Bharat Bahadur Dhakal
Chapter-9 : Computation of Area and Volume : Surveying I
Pulchowk Campus

Thank You !