AREAS AND VOLUMES:

Computation of areas from field notes

Whenever the area of a plot of land is to be determined directly from notes, it should be
ensured that survey lines include the whole area and the land is divided into geometrical
figures such as triangles, squares, rectangles, ect. In case of triangles, altitudes of the
triangles should also be measured in the field to simplify calculations.
The area of geometrical figures is calculated from one of the following formula
1. The area of triangle = s(s-a) (s-b) (s-c) where a, b and c are the sides of triangle and
s=1/2(a+b+c) or Area of triangle =1/2xbxh where b is the base and h is the altitude of he
triangle.
2. The area of square =a2 where a is the side of he square
3. The area of a rectangle = a x b where as a and b are sides of the rectangle
4. The area of a trapezium= (a+b) x d where as a and b are its parallel sides and d is the
perpendicular distance between them
AREAS BETWEEN A STRAIGHT LINE AND IRREGULAR BOUNDARY
The area enclosed between a straight line drawn on the plan and an irregular boundary
line, may be determines as under:
(i)
Divided the base line into suitable number of equal parts
(ii)
Draw ordinates at each of the points of division and scale off their lengths.
The required area between the base line and boundary line may be calculated by one of
the following methods:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The mid- ordinate rule

the average ordinate rule
The trapezoidal rule
The Simpsons rule

In the first three rules, it is assumed that the portions of the boundary between the ends
of the ordinates are straight lines. In Simpsons rule, it is assumed that the portions are
parabolic arcs and as such the Simpsons rule some times known as the Parabolic Rule.

1. The mid- ordinate Rule.

In this method a base line AB is divided into a number of equal parts and ordinates are
drawn at the mid-points of each division. The length of each ordinate is then scaled off.

h1

h2

h3

h4

h5

h6

h7

h8

B
0

If

4
L

L= Scaled length of the base line AB

n = number of division of the base line
d = common distance between the ordinates
h1 , h2 , hn etc Scaled lengths of the ordinates at the mid points of each

divisions
The area of the plot

h1 d h2 d h3 d hn d

h1 h2 h3 hn d

Or Area= Sum of the mid ordinates multiplied by the common distance d.

2. The average ordinate Rule.

In this method, base line is drawn on the plan dividing the area in two approximately
equal parts and is divided into a number of equal divisions. Ordinates are drawn at the
points of division and their lengths are scaled off.

h0

h1

h2

h3

h4

h5

h6

h7

h8

B
A
d

Let h0 , h1 , h2 , h3 , hn etc , be the lengths of the ordinates

d = Distance between adjacent ordinates

L = length h of the base line AB
n = Number of equal parts in which base line AB is divide
The area of the plot
= Average ordinate x length of the base
h h h2 hn
0 1
L
n 1

Note: It is assumed that the entire area is made equal to the rectangle whose length is
equal to the base line and breadth is equal to the average ordinate. The accuracy of the
area obtained by this method will depend upon the number of division.
3. Trapezoidal Rule
Statement. To the sum of the first and the last ordinates, add twice the sum of the
remaining ordinates. Multiply the total sum by the common distance between the
ordinates. Half of the product equal to the required are
Let h1 , h2 , h3 , hn etc. Be the lengths of the ordinates

N = Number of the divisions

3

L = length of the base line

d = distance between adjacent ordinates
L h 2h2 2hn 1 hn
1

n
2

Area

1
d h1 2h2 2h3 2hn 1 hn
2

d
h1 2h2 2h3 2hn1 hn
2
h hn

d 1
h2 h3 h4 hn 1
2

Or

Or A=d/3(First offset + Las offset + 2 x Sum of remaining offset)

Note: when there is an apex at one or both the ends of the base, resulting h1or and hn ,
though being equal to zero, is also included in the trapezoidal formula.
The Simpsons Rule
Statement. To the sum of the first and last ordinates, add twice the sum of the remaining
odd ordinates and four times the sum of the even ordinates. Multiply the total sum by
one third the common distance between the ordinates, the result gives the required area
i.e.
Area

Or

d
h1 2 h3 h5 h7 4 h2 h4 hn
3

d
h1 hn 2 (Sum of remaining odd ordinates +4 (Sum of
3

remaining even ordinates)

Note: The following points may be noted
1. The Simpsons rule is applicable only if number of ordinates is odd. If the
number of the ordinates is even, the area of the last trapezoid may be
calculated separately and added to the result obtained by applied the
Simpsons rule to remaining trapezoids
2. Even if first / and last ordinates happens to be zero, these are not omitted
from the Simpsons formula.

Comparison of accuracies achieved b Simpson rule and trapezoidal rule

The results obtained by using the Simpsons rule are more accurate s compared to those
obtained by trapezoidal rule. Hence, Simpsons rule is in variably used when better
accuracy is required.

VOLUMES:
The volume of the earth work between cross section taken along a route, my be
calculated by one of the following methods:
1. Prismoidal formula
2. End area formula
Prismoidal formula
Volume =V=D/3(A1+4A2 +2 A3+ 4 A4+..+2 An-2 + 4 An-1 + An)
V=D/3(A1+An + 2odds + evens)
The prismoidal formula for volumes is sometimes known as Simpsons rule.
End area formula
While calculating volumes b the ends area formula, it is assumed that volume of a
prismoid, is equal to the product of the prismoid b the average of the ends areas
V=Lx A1+A2/2
Where as V=volume of the prismoid
A1 =Area of one end section
A2 = Area of other end section
L= distance between the section
For a series of cross section he equation m be simplified as
V=L/2(A1 +2A2+2 A3 +..+2 An-1 + An-1)
V=L (A1 +An/2 +A2+A3 +. + An-1 )

Example:

The area enclosed within the contour lines and along he face of a dam area are given
below
Contour (m)
Area (m2)
310
26400
300
23200
290
19100
280
16000
270
12500
260
9600
250
7700
Compute the volume of the water in he
Example. The following perpendicular offsets were taken at 10m intervals from survey
line AB to an irregular boundary line, 2.30, 3.80, 4.55, 6.75, 5.25, 7.30, 8.95, 8.25 and
5.50 metres. Calculated the area in square metres, enclosed between the survey line, the
irregular boundary, the first and last offsets by the application of (i) the Simpsons rule,
(ii) The trapezoidal rule and (iii) the average ordinate rule

2.30
A

10m

3.80

4.55

6.75

5.25

7.30

8.95

10m

10m

10m

10m

10m

10m

Given: Common distance = 10m

(i)
By Simpsons rule

8.25
10m

5.50
B

The area

First offet Last offset Twice the sum of remaining odd offsets Four times the sum
d

A of remaining even offsets

Substituting the values in equation (i) we get,

10
2.30 5.50 2 4.55 5.25 8.95 4 3.80 6.75 7.30 8.25
3
10

2.30 5.50 37.50 104.40

3

(ii)

10
149.70 449 sq.m
3

By the trapezoidal rule

A

10
First offset Last offset 2 sum of remaining offset
2

10
2.30 5.50 2 44.85 5 97.5
2

487.5 sq.m

(iii)

By the average ordinate rule

Sum of ordinates

The area A No.of orridnates lenght of base

.30 3.80 4.55 6.75 5.25 7.30 8.95 8.25 5.50

80
9

4212
480.0 sq.m
9