Classification of Bearings | Surveying

Types of Bearings | Guide to Surveying

It is an angle made by the survey line with reference to some fixed meridian.

Bearings are classified into three types:

1. True bearing
2. Magnetic bearing
3. Arbitrary Bearing

True bearing

The angle made by a survey line with reference to the meridian is known as true bearing. It always remains constant.

Magnetic bearing

The angle made by a survey line with respect to magnetic meridian is known as magnetic bearing. It changes from place to place.

Arbitrary Bearing

The angle made by the survey line with reference to arbitrary meridian is known as Arbitrary Bearing.

Designation of Bearings

1. Whole circle bearing
2. Reduced Bearing (RB) or quadrantal bearing (QB)
3. Fore Bearing (FB) or forward bearing (FB)
4. Back bearing or Backward bearing (BB)
5. Calculated bearing

We will discuss “Designation of Bearings” in detail in our successive articles.