Computation of area and volume
The computation of area is very essential to
determine the catchment area of river, dam and
reservoir. Its also important for planning and
management of any engineering project.
For initial reports and estimates, low precision
methods can be used.
When a high level of accuracy is required, a
professional engineer or a land surveyor should be
employed.
The area is expressed in ft2, m2, km2, acres, hectares.
Methods to Compute Area
The method of computation of area depends on the
shape of the boundary of the surveyed area and accuracy
required.
If the plan is bounded by straight boundaries, it can be
tackle by subdividing the total area into simple
geometrical shapes, like triangle, rectangle, trapezoidal
etc… and the area of the figure are computed from the
dimensions.
If the boundaries are irregular, they are replaced by short
straight boundaries and the area is computed using
approximate method. While if the boundaries are very
irregular, the area can be determined by using planimeter.
Computation of Area
The surveyed area may be calculated from plotted
plan by following rules.
1. Mid ordinate rule
2. Average ordinate rule
3. Trapezoidal rule
4. Simpson’s one third rule
Mid Ordinate Rule
The method is used with the assumption that the
boundaries between the
edge of the ordinates are straight lines.
The base line is divided into a number of divisions
and the ordinates are
measured at the mid points of each division.
The area is calculated from following formula,
Area = ∆ = Common distance x Sum of mid
ordinates
= (h1 x d) + (h2 x d) + …… + (hn x d)
= d (h1+ h2+….. +hn)
Where,
n = Number of divisions
d = common distance between ordinates
h1, h2, … hn = Mid ordinates
Average Ordinate Rule
This rule also assume that the boundaries
between the edges of the ordinates are straight
lines. The offsets are measured to each of the
points of the divisions of the base line.
The area is given by following equation,
Area = ∆ = average ordinate x Length of the
base
Trapezoidal Rule
This rule is based on the assumption that the figures
are trapezoids. The rule is more accurate than the
previous two rules which are approximate versions of
the trapezoidal rule.
The area of the first trapezoid is given by
Similarly, the area of the second trapezoid is given by
So, the total area is given by
∆ = ∆1 + ∆2 + …. ∆n
Total area = (O1 + 2O2 + 2O3 + 2O4 +… + 2On-1 + On) x
(d/2)
= (O1 + On + 2(O2 + O3 + O4 +…+ On-1)) x (d/2)
= (Common distance/2) x [(1st ordinate + last
ordinate) + 2(sum
of other ordinates)]
Simpson’s One Third Rule
This rule assumes that the short lengths of
boundary between the ordinates are parabolic
arcs. So this rule is some times called the
parabolic rule.
This method is more useful when the boundary
line departs considerably from straight line.
Here, O1, O2, O3 = Three consecutive ordinates
d = Common distance between the
ordinates
Now, Area of AF2DC = Area of AFDC + Area of segment
F2DEf
Area of trapezium =
Area of segment =
So, the area between the first two divisions,
Similarly, the area between next two divisions,
Total area
= (Common distance/3) x [(1st ordinate +
last ordinate) + 4(sum of even
ordinates) + 2(sum of odd ordinates)]
Computation of Volume
The volume of earth work is calculated by following
two method after calculation of cross sectional area,
1. Trapezoidal rule
2. Prismoidal rule
Trapezoidal rule
Volume,
V = (d/2) x [A1+An+ 2(A2+A3+…..+An-1)]
= (Common distance/2) x [(1st section area + last
section area) + 2(sum of area of other
section)]
d
Prismoidal rule
Volume,
V = (d/3) x [A1+An+ 4(A2+A4+…..+An-1) + 2 (A3+A5+
…..+An-2)]
Limitation:
The prismoidal formula is applicable when there are odd
number of sections. If the number of sections are even,
the section is treated separately and area is calculated
according to the trapezoidal rule.
