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# Formulas That Work

## Community Hub Information

Formulas That Work is a surveyor support group for sharing common or not so common calculation shortcuts and formulas for survey data calculations

Group Forum or Related Website: http://bit.ly/surveying-formulas
Members: 74
Latest Activity: Jun 14

## Formulas That Work and Surveying Calculations Discussion Group

Share and discuss surveying calculation methods and formulas for finding solutions in the field.

Have a formula you'd like to share?

Start a new discussion, give your formula a title and describe what the formula allows you to calculate and a few situations when you have found your formula to be valuable in the field...

## Surveyor Community Forum Discussions

### L. R. , What is L R ? I was asked that one day. He was not ready for the answer.

Started by Billy Brooks. Last reply by Billy Brooks Jun 14.

One Day, On the tailgate of my survey truck I had plans waiting to be look at , and calculators here and there with Data Collectors, scales ,triangles erasers pen , pencils the every day survey…Read more →

### Traverse, Traverse Line and How does GPS fit into all of this with GPS Traverse

Started by Billy Brooks. Last reply by Billy Brooks Apr 1.

If you look the word traverse up it is used as a noun, a verb, a adverb, a adjective and the list goes on.It also  has many definitions other than the survey term .  In…Read more →

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Subject Tags: surveying, GPS, traverse

### Double rodding, I never called it this, I used Double turns, 2 of something

Started by Billy Brooks. Last reply by Billy Brooks Mar 21.

Hello Eveyone, I guess it does not matter what you call it ,if it can be mastered it saves time and money.Running…Read more →

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Subject Tags: surveying, method, levelling, double rodding

### Calculation for levelling -- Collimation method or what ever else its called

Started by Rolita Rode La cock. Last reply by Billy Brooks Feb 24.

I created a spreadsheet to explain the collimation methods calculations to my surveying students, they found it very useful, hope that you will to !!! Just remember this is for 1st year students and…Read more →

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Subject Tags: equations, formula, students, field book, reduce

## All Math and Surveeying Formula Videos on the Network tagged "Math"

### Linear Algebra 21i: The Cholesky Decomposition and a Tribute to Land Surveyors

Linear Algebra is one of the most important subjects in mathematics. It is a subject with boundless practical and conceptual applications.

Linear Algebra is the fabric by which the worlds of geometry and algebra are united at the most profound level and through which…

### Full Circle Bearings (Nazeer A. Khan)

Calculation of Deflection Angles and Bearings

### Applied Maths - Calculate Bearings WCB - Closed Surveying Traverse

Skip to 10:00 for a quick recap, otherwise, how to calculate the concurrent bearings of a closed traverse. Similar method for open…

### Learn How Bearings Work

Education for surveyors on how bearings work

### Traverse by Bearing and Distance

Watch this insightful tutorial on Traverse by Bearing and Distance for land surveying

Reply by Chris Root on March 12, 2011 at 7:28pm
$a^2 + b^2 = c^2\!\,$ is one that will save the day in many occasions.  A right triangle solution called the Pythagorean theorem.

Reply by George Spencer on March 12, 2011 at 9:55pm
Thanks Justin for this website. When I was just starting out (1968), I sure would have liked for some kind of insight to help me to figure out various calculations. Of course, all I had then was a "Log Book" and my paper and pencil. In the office, I did have the availability of a Munroe hand-cranked calculator, but most of my calcs were by the old pencil and paper. In '72, we got a hand-held HP 35 (I think that's what it was), and that was the "cat's meow" for calculating. However, it still was manual calcs for figuring areas, closures, pre-determined areas, etc.
Reply by cujoBoudreaux on March 13, 2011 at 9:51am
(DELTA ANG/ 360 DEG) x ( PIE X 2 RAD) = LENGTH OF ARC. This formula shows that the delta ang establishes the percent of a circle, and that percent is directly proportional to the length of circumference it projects.....This can be done on a cheepy calc and needs minimum info. Hope this helps someone out there.
Reply by cujoBoudreaux on March 13, 2011 at 10:03am
to establish the chord...... Sin of Delta X Rad dist...... This should give you your chord but watch those significant digits, cuz if you round too early, it will be wrong.....lol..... again, hope it helps.
Reply by Scott D. Warner, PLS on March 17, 2011 at 10:17pm

A good base for understanding the triangle, the simplest polygon, which is, in the main, the most important to the Professional Land Surveyor, is the foundation of all other calculations.
Reply by Arnel M. Domag on March 18, 2011 at 7:51pm

Sometimes we are prompted to relate degree values to slope values in the field. Usually, our instrument only provide as degree values for vertical angles. How about if you're asked for a slope value corresponding to a given measured degree value? Just hit the tan function button in your calculator for that degree value and get the corresponding slope value.

Reply by Saleem javed ansari on March 21, 2011 at 6:33am

all  lsu member please tell me how can adjust the level and coordinate in excell. thank u

Reply by Arnel M. Domag on April 3, 2011 at 9:02am

@Saleem: I guess the space this venue provides is not enough to discuss how to do data reduction using Excel. In addition, it requires some graphic presentation to significanlty reduce the learning curve. Cheers..

Reply by ePalmetto on April 3, 2011 at 2:27pm
not sure what you mean by "not enough space to present"  because you can upload presentations, videos, graphics etc.
Reply by Jaybird on April 5, 2011 at 1:05am
why won't anyone in this group start a new discussion? all of these comments would become a lot more helpful within searchable discussions...

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## Members (74)

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## Latest Activity

### Eric Colburn's blog post was featured

Eric Colburn's blog post was featured

### Jaybird posted a surveying story

Jaybird posted a surveying story

### Land Surveyors United 10000 Members Strong!

Bitter sweet accomplishments today. It was a dream of my dad's to have a place where he could easily and openly communicate with his customers (Land Surveyors) and help professionals solve problems from the field. In March of 2007, I began building Land Surveyors United Community during a time when Myspace was still the primary social network. Every single day since then, I scroll through applications to join at least 3 times a day and decline most due to lack of seriousness in the answers they provide. Over the years, I have had over 63,000 applications to join. I protect the integrity of the network by letting in only those who I feel will contribute- i don't just let in anybody.Today, dad and I accepted our 10,000th member to the community and although he is no longer in physical form to celebrate this monumental occasion with me, I know he is all around me today. I have dreaded the sadness I assumed I would feel on the day that we crossed this threshold. Now that it is here, the sense of accomplishment far outweighs that sadness. I know he is proud.Building a community for people who are not like you is a anthropological challenge like no other. Even though I am no longer a land surveyor, a community for surveyors was a culmination of my dad's life's work, so even after he passed I continue to keep it alive and continue to make it the best it can be for the members. It is the largest body of professional land surveyors in the world and if you have even the slightest clue what a surveyor is, you can imagine how this sort of thing could have a dynamic impact upon all construction worldwide. This has no doubt been the most difficult and time/ labor intensive project I have ever taken on. Today it is worth it. I am grateful for such a terrific group of #surveyors who care about the legacy that they are building for the future of their profession and will ultimately leave behind, just as my dad has.I remember when we first accepted our 100th member and how excited my dad was. He said "Wow man...this is really happening! I can't wait until we reach 10,000 members. You and I will take a trip to Costa Rica to celebrate sitting on the beach." Maybe that is where he is today as I know he can choose to be anywhere he wants to be these days. Most of the time, I can feel him with me. At the top of the site, every one who visits reads "Dedicated to the Memory of Skip Farrow (1953-2015)" with every page load. The way i see it, that is about 7000 time per day that my Dad's name is said or read all around the world. Skip Farrow Here' to you dad!!! We did it! Land Surveyors UnitedSee More

### AxeMen Site Prep's blog post was featured

AxeMen Site Prep's blog post was featured

### Easily Find Other Surveyors Who Use Your Equipment

I've been a member of Land Surveyors United since 2008 and I must say it has changed the way I survey, how I find information and how I learn.  There are a lot of features on the platform which took me a while to find and understand and one of those is the Advanced Search page.  Using this tool you can easily find other members on the network who use the same type of equipment you do.  I've made this easy for you by running all of the searches and made them into simple links to click.  Find Members Who Use: Topcon    2,000 Sokkia    1,719 Trimble   2,092 Leica     2,619 Pentax    305 Nikon     1,034 Magellan  350 Ashtech   323 SECO       154 Carlson   448 AutoCad   1,731 NAVCOM    85 Spectra   231 Microsurvey  243 Hemisphere GPS  70 Altus-Positioning 78 South  198 Other     449    /*note:  these numbers were valid as of last night and with new members daily these numbers go up daily./*In order to get help from your fellow land surveyors, the best way is to join the groups for the equipment you use and start a discussion to ask a question.  All members will join a unique set of groups based on their location, type of equipment they use and type of surveying they work in, so asking a question to a group's forum will insure you get targeted help from other surveyors who use the same equipment.  Here are some quick links to those groups so you can join them and get involved.Choose Your Group HereSee More

### Survenator's blog post was featured

Survenator's blog post was featured

### Surveying Video Tutorials Collection

You can learn something new every single day about surveying or how-to survey inside this community.  In fact, your journey starts here with our Surveying Tutorials Collection, which grows everyday.  You can check out videos tagged 'tutorial' or you can just bookmark this story and jump straight from the collection.  Share your tutorials to help this collection grow for surveyors everywhere!Check out our other Surveying Support Collections here on Land Surveyors United Community!See More

### James Douglas, John Davis, Rony Kahwach and 4 more joined Land Surveyors United

James Douglas, John Davis, Rony Kahwach and 4 more joined Land Surveyors United

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## Dedicated to the Memory of Skip Farrow (1953-2015)

Drag Button to bookmark bar and view submitted links here.Will soon be moved to a directory

## Location Based Surveying Practices

Land Surveyors United is the world's FIRST Global Social Network for geospatial professionals. We have dedicated, geolocated support groups for practically every country, continent and state on earth, for you to utilize for building your personal network. We are all essentially concerned with the same issues, no matter where we are located on earth. However, surveying practices and methods vary depending on the geographic location where we work. If you have noticed similarities and differences between the conditions, laws and practices between two or more areas of the world,discuss it in this forum. Build your reputation online by posting relevant discussions in your local group below.

### Join and Introduce Yourself in Your Local Geosocial Forum:

Not based in the US? Here are other groups for surveyors around the world to join and contribute knowledge and experiences as a land surveyor:

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