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Department of Civil Engineering
Computational Assignment #11
set cell vertical height

 

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."  -  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Objective

The purpose of this assignment is twofold: (1) compute the bearings of a traverse based on survey data and a reference bearing, and (2) develop a spreadsheet to compute the area of the traverse and the x and y coordinates of the points on a traverse.

You must submit the cover sheet for the assignment, printouts of your spreadsheet for Parts 1 and 2. Also, submit your spreadsheets for Parts 1 and 2 to Canvas. You must follow the Excel format.

Part 1. A five-sided closed field traverse has the following distances in feet: AB = 285.13', BC = 610.24', CD = 720.35', DE = 203.03', and EA = 647.25'. The interior angles are as follows (measured as angles to the right): A = 100° 45' 37", B = 101° 34' 24", C = 89° 03' 28", D = 17° 12' 59", and E = 231° 23' 43". The bearing of AB is N 26° 09' 40" E.

Determine the bearings of each side and then use your traverse spreadsheet to compute the corrected and balanced latitudes and departures for the traverse. Show all work to determine the bearing of each side, following the homework format. See the diagram below to visualize the orientation of the traverse and the location of the interior angles.

Part 2. This workbook should supplement your work from Assignment 10 to include the double meridian distance (DMA), the double area, and the x- and y-coordinate calculations. Your traverse workbook will be used in your design for the detention pond project. The workbook should compute latitudes and departures from given bearings and distances, DMDs, and the area of the closed, balanced traverse. The figure below shows a typical spreadsheet layout for this problem. Your spreadsheet may look different if it provides the same input and parameter definitions.  Note that the directions N/S and E/W are in individual cells.  Also, the values for degrees and minutes are in separate cells. 

 

Make a copy of the previous spreadsheet and use it to compute the x and y coordinates of the points in your traverse for given values of point A and the plot of ther traverse area. The figure below shows a typical spreadsheet layout for this problem. Your spreadsheet may appear differently if it uses the same input and parameter definitions.

 

Use your traverse spreadsheet to calculate the latitudes and departures. Balance the latitudes and departures using the compass rule. Then, compute the area using DMD, determine the x- and y-coordinates, assuming point A is located at (3,000, 3,000). Finally, plot the traverse area for the traverse shown below.

 

 

Cover sheet for homework


This website was originally developed by Charles Camp for CIVL 1112.
This site is maintained by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.

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Department of Civil Engineering | 104 Engineering Science Bldg |Memphis, TN 38152 | Phone: 901/678-2746 | Fax: 901/678-3026 | Last updated: 04/07/2025