Angles, Directions and Azimuths

CVNG 305
Saint Louis University
Tom Bryant PLS

Angles

360 in a circle
60 in a degree
60 in a minute
3600 in a degree
One circle = 360
360 = 21,600 =
1,296,000

Angles
Sexagesimal System
Base 60
Ancient Sumerians 3rd millennium BC
Today used in
Time
Angles
Geographic Coordinates
Latitude 38 30 30N
Longitude 90 45 25W

Angles
Usually angles are expressed in Degrees,
Minutes and Seconds (DMS)
Can be expressed in any combination of units
35.37 (Decimal Degrees (DD))
2122.2
127332
348172
352212
All express the same magnitude of angle

Angles
The last form, Degrees Minutes Seconds, is
the preferred form
352212

Notice that minutes and seconds over 60 are

carried over to the next larger unit and
degrees and minutes do not have decimals in
them.
Decimal seconds are acceptable
451235.5

Angles
For performing some mathematical
operations with angles (trigonometric
functions, adding and subtracting) it is easier
to convert to DMS to DD, perform the
necessary math and convert back to DMS.

Angles
DMS>DD
231218
23 + (12/60) + (18/3600) = 23.205
DD>DMS
42.885 = 42+ (.885x 60)=4253.1
= 4253 + (.1 x 60)= 425306

Angles
Convert
352345 to Decimal Degrees

Convert
67.456 to Degrees Minutes Seconds

Azimuths

00000 is Due North

Azimuths are measured clockwise from North
No azimuths over 3600000
Abbreviated AZ

Azimuth

Azimuths

North 0
East 90
South 180
West 270
Azimuth AB= 60
Azimuth AC= 172
Azimuth AC= 284

Azimuths
What is the angle
between AB and AC?
172-60= 112

Azimuths

Azimuths
When we measured horizontal angles with out
total stations, we were measuring angles, not
azimuths.
We set 00000 on out back sight
The direction of our back sight could be any
direction
This Azimuth to the back sight will be provided to
you or you will calculate it from coordinates
We must use the azimuth to our back sight
combined with our measured horizontal angles to
calculate the azimuths to our side shots

Azimuths
Azimuth to Back Sight + Measured Horizontal
Angle = Azimuth to Side Shot
Azimuth to Back Sight = 340000
Measured Horizontal Angle = 1103025
340000+ 1103025= 1443025 Azimuth to
Side Shot
EACH azimuth to side shot is computed from the
azimuth to the back sight

Azimuths
RememberNO Azimuths over 360
Azimuth to back sight = 900000
Measured horizontal angle = 3100000
90 + 310 = 400
What??? Cant be
So 400 - 360 = 40Azimuth to Side Shot

Reverse Azimuths

Sketch for Azimuth Computation

Bearings
Besides Azimuths, Bearings are also used to
measure directions
Bearings are measured from North and South
and do not go over 90
Mostly used in North America
Computers and modern methods prefer
Azimuths
You need to be aware of Bearings, but we will
use Azimuths in this class

Bearings

Reverse Bearings

CONVERTING
Converting Azimuth to Bearing:
North East: the prefix N and the suffix E must be added
Ex: 76o 30 = N 76o 30 E
South East: the azimuth angle is subtracted from 180o and S and
E are added
Ex: 168o 40 = 180o 168o 40 = S 11o 20 E
South West: 180o is subtracted from the azimuth angle and S and
W are added
Ex: 195o 22 = 195o 22 180o = S 15o 22 W
North West: the azimuth angle is subtracted from 360o and N
and W are added
Ex: 314o 35 = 360o 314o 35 = N 45o 25 W

Zenith Angles