How Do You Calculate Horizontal Angles in Surveying?

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SUMMARY

The calculation of Horizontal Angles in surveying involves subtracting the face left reading from the face right reading. For example, given the readings A - 26° 12' 48" (face left) and 206° 12' 59" (face right), the angle is calculated as 206° 12' 59" - 26° 12' 48" = 180° 00' 11". It is crucial to convert readings into decimal degrees for accurate calculations, especially when using a calculator without a DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds) function. Additionally, care must be taken when readings cross the 0/360-degree threshold.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Horizontal Angle calculations in surveying
  • Familiarity with Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS) format
  • Basic calculator skills, particularly with DMS functions
  • Knowledge of angular measurement conversions to decimal degrees
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to convert DMS to decimal degrees accurately
  • Study the use of calculators with DMS functions for surveying
  • Explore common pitfalls in angle calculations in surveying
  • Research methods for handling angles that cross the 0/360-degree boundary
USEFUL FOR

Surveyors, engineering students, and professionals involved in land measurement and mapping who need to calculate Horizontal Angles accurately.

ScieneBoy
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Homework Statement



I have been told to work out the Horizontal Angle when given the Horizontal reading of face left and face right at different sights. For example:

Face Left---------Face Right

A - 26 12 48--------206 12 59
C - 172 23 08--------352 23 17

I am unsure how to work out the Horizontal Angle from here. I know 172 - 26 = 146 is correct but when I attempt the likes of 8-48 = 40, it comes up wrong.

Any help on this please?
 
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You are supposed to subtract each face left from face right.
If you did it right you shoudl get the same answer for each set of measurements
 
As silly as this may sound, how would this be done on a calculator using the numbers given? Thanks so much.
 
if you have a caluclator with a dms button use that, otherwise simply convert into decimal degrees and then convert back at the end.
eg. 26 12 48 = 26 + 12/60 + 48/(60*60) = 26.2133

Be carefull of readings where you go over 0/360. ie left =359, right=1 is a difference of 2
 

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