SITE LOCATION, MAP READING AND PLOTTING

MAP

Map is a flat representation of the earth’s surface.

Vicinity map

It is a map that shows the location of the property, indicating known landmarks such as church,
bridge, school, commercial establishment and name of roadways leading to the property (shown on
either the lot plan or a separate sheet).

Lot plan

It is a map that shows the shape/ configuration of a parcel of land drawn on a paper medium, usually
tracing paper, and contains the basic information of a survey plan.

Contour map

It is a map showing the terrain configuration of a parcel of land represented by contour lines.

Contour line

It is an imaginary line of constant elevation

Subdivision Scheme

It is a plan showing how a property will be subdivided indicating the layout and sizes of the
subdivision lot, roads, playground, open spaces and other amenities.

Legal Description - an exact or specific description of the location of real estate t h a t will be
accepted in court. It is being used in many documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens and sales
contracts.

Common Methods Used to Describe Real Estate

1. Metes and Bounds - Metes refer to distance measure in meters. Bounds refer to directions.
Metes and bounds start at a definite point called point of beginning or tie point. The
circumference of the property is described starting from POB and ends also at POB. Monuments
are f i x e d o b j e c t s used i n metes and bounds to establish boundaries. It can be a stone,
concrete, steel rod driven into the ground or a tree. Boundary lines define the boundaries of the
property and are drawn from monuments.

Directions - Compass b e a r i n g s are used to describe t h e direction of the property’s

boundary lines and include degree, minutes and seconds.

2. Rectangular Survey System - called also as government survey or geodetic survey system.
To better understand this concept, think of a checkerboard. It has an intersecting line that form a
grid of squares. The first set of intersecting lines are called principal meridian which run north and
south and base lines which run east and west.

3. Plat Survey Method - sometimes called the lot-block-tract method. This is used in areas where
land i s s u bdivided into phase, block and lot and usually recorded in an approved subdivided plan.

Example: Lot 2, Blk 4, Phase 2, Filinvest East, Antipolo Rizal

Basic Pointers in Map Reading

a. Cardinal direction - North, South, East, West

b. Bearings and azimuth (technical description)- expressed in degrees and minutes wherein 1
degree= 60 minutes, 1 minute= 60 seconds
c. Scale usually specified on a map to determine actual distance using a scale bar (say 1:100)
d. Reference points (BLLM, BLBM, Tie point or point of beginning)

Points of reference

Land surveys shall be definitely fixed in position by monuments of said survey and by bearings/
azimuths and distance to “points of reference” of a known position. These points of reference shall be
as follows:

1. Bureau of Land Location Monument (BLLM)

2. Political Boundary Monuments:

3. Provincial and City Boundary Monuments (PBM or CBM)

4. Municipal Boundary Monument (MBM)

5. Barangay Boundary Monument (BBM)

6. Bureau of Lands Barrio Monument (BLBM)

All these points of reference are often called and designated as “tie points.” These tie points are
connected by an imaginary line to corner “1” usually of the property which is known as the “tie line.” It
is described by means of bearings/ azimuth and distance

Tie point

It is a reference point with known geographic position established by the Bureau of Lands.

Tie line

It is an imaginary line connecting from the known geographic position (tie point) to the corner of the
titled property.

Terminologies

a. Surveying-science of making measurements to determine the relative position of point and

lines on the surface of the earth.
b. Lot Plotting - drawing the exact (square, rectangle, trapezoid) and measurement of a
particular lot from the technical descriptions shown in the title. T h e boundaries and
l o t orientation on the north, east, west and south are also attained.
c. Map - It is a flat representation of earth's surface in paper.
 d. Tie Point - means reference point like BLLM or BLBM.
e. Tie Line- imaginary line connecting the known geographic position (say BLLM) to the
corner (point 1) of the t i t l e d property.
f. Relocation Survey- survey intended to verify boundaries of the property. The purpose of
this is to ascertain whether or not there are encroachments.
g. Subdivision Survey -a survey to determine the boundaries of each lot in a subdivision
project.
h. Topographic Survey- plan showing various elevations of the property
i. Contour lines - lines in a topographic plan which indicate the elevation of the land at
various sections.
j. Subdivision – a tract of land, in general, subdivided into two or more lots.
k. Simple subdivision -a subdivision where no street or open space is delineated.
l. Complex subdivision - a subdivision with street and/or open spaces.
m. Square planning- a subdivision scheme for flat terrain
n. Gridiron - a subdivision scheme where the resulting blocks are more or less rectangular
in shape
o. Chaplan- indention along corner lot to allow better visibility to perpendicular traffic
p. Cul-de-sac-a passageway with only one outlet. A blind alley
q. Key lot
r. – a lot adjoining a corner lot and fronting an intersection street

Basic Information Found in an Approved Plan

a. location of property
b. name of owner/declarant /claimant
c. location of land
d. legal authority
e. legal reference point - description of tie point and tie line
f. bearing and distance from tie point to reference point
g. bearings and distances from point 1 to the end of the lot
h. technical description- bearing and distance of corners/ points along the boundary line in
consecutive order
i. lot drawing or subdivision plan
j. area of lot in square meter
k. boundaries
l. names of adjoining owners or lot numbers
m. date of survey
n. date of approval
o. name of geodetic engineer/ surveyor

Kinds of Surveys
1. Original- is the first survey executed on a parcel of land to determine the technical description
that will define the extent of ownership and value of the land.

2. Subdivision- a kind of survey wherein a particular subject lot is subdivided into smaller
parcels, the number of which may be determined by the owner, geodetic engineer or the
designer.

3. Relocation/verification- is undertaken to re-establish boundaries and verify if existing location

of the property overlaps to adjoining lots. Through a relocation survey, it could be established
whether there was an increase or decrease in area as appearing in the title.
 4. Topographic- is a survey made for the purpose of securing field data from which a map can
be made representing the three-dimensional relations of the earth’s surface. The features
shown include such natural features such as streams, lakes, forests, configuration of the
terrain; and man-made features such as roads, buildings, structures, etc. It is a plan indicating
the elevation of points of the property.

5. Cadastral- is an urban and rural survey of wide extent for the purpose of locating property
lines and improvement in detail primarily for use in connection with ownership, value and
transfer of land.

6. Construction- are surveys which are undertaken to provide data regarding locations and
elevations and structures which are of concern to engineers, architects, and builders.
Examples of such survey are transmission lines, railways, highways, dams, reservoirs,
buildings, bridges, etc.

7. Hydrographic- refers to surveying lakes, streams, reservoirs, and other bodies of water. They
are of general importance in connection with navigation and the development of water
resources for flood control, power, irrigation, and recreation. These are made to gather data to
chart bottom areas of water and to measure the flow of stream and river.

8. Photogrammetry- is surveying in which photographs are used to determine configuration of

land and determine man-made and natural features.

9. Mining- is a survey which is necessary to fix surface boundaries of mining claims, to establish
the position of all underground excavations and surface structures of mines.

Steps on Location or Lot Verification

a. Compare lot plan, title and tax declaration whether they are agreeable with each other like name or
owner, bearings, boundaries, etc.
b. If the lot is not within the subdivision, hire a licensed geodetic engineer especially if property is raw
land.
c. Further verification is done by asking the help of the assessor through its tax mapping
d. If it is a subdivision lot, refer to the subdivision developer, homeowners association, owners of
adjacent lots as to the correctness of the plan as shown in the TCT.
e. Verify actual area vs. area s t a t e d in the title. Check possible encroachments.
f. Coordinates maybe used also to more or less identify the exact location of the property at Google
earth or map through the use of computer
g. Globe positioning system (GPS) instrument maybe used also.

Elements of surveying

1. Distance- the property created by the space between two objects or points.

2. Direction- measured by a device such as compass or transit.

3. Elevation- refers to the height of a point above mean sea level.

What are the methods for measuring distance?

1. Pacing- this used for approximate measurements of distance

2. Taping- it is a direct measurement using a graduated tape

3. Electronic Distance Measurement- most commonly-used by surveyors. It is a device which
automatically measures distance by an electronic computer.

Kinds of direction

1. Bearing- an angle between a reference meridian and the line of direction.

2. Azimuth- another term used to indicate direction of lines. It is a clockwise angle measured from
south meridian.

Needed in plotting the technical description of the lot

1. Protractor
2. Small right triangle (optional)
3. Ruler
4. Scale ruler (optional)
5. Pencil,
6. Eraser (optional)
7. Bond paper

In plotting or in making a map, the actual distance on the ground is represented by smaller
measurement to be drawn on the paper. (i.e. the actual distance of 11.00m on the ground if
represented by say 1cm =1m we need to lay down on paper only 11cm to represent 11m on ground.
1cm=1m is therefore the scale of the map which is written in a technical manner as 1:100.)

Plotting data

1. Bearing- the angle made by a property line and the North South line. “N,E” means “North to East,”
“S, W” means “South to West”

Degree (deg.)- also written as 30o the unit of measurement of an angle

Minute- the notation similar to an apostrophe such as in “N 20 deg 06’E” could be read as “from North
20 degrees 6 minutes to the East”

Steps in plotting

1. Determine the scale to be use. If 1:100, this means: 1m=100m, which is the same as
100cm=100m, or 1cm=1m. Since the measurement is 11m, you’ll need about 11cm of paper, quite
OK but suggest that for initial plotting, use a bigger scale. Say 1:200m which means 1m=200m, or
100cm=200m and 1cm=2m.

2. Select on the paper the location of point “1”. (i.e., just select any point near the middle of the paper.
The paper must be oriented, meaning the edges should be facing the N-E-W-S directions.

3. Draw a vertical line passing through the selected point “1” place your ruler at the lower edge of
your paper. See to it that the line represents the North-South direction.

4. Place the center of the protractor on point “1” with its vertical line or the 90 deg. mark coinciding
with the vertical line earlier drawn. From the vertical line of the protractor, locate the bearing angle for
example N 20 deg. 06’. N 20 deg. 06’E means the bearing angle of 20 deg. 06’ will start from the top
vertical line above the point and incline toward the right. Such that if the line to be drawn is line 3-4
whose bearing is S20 deg. 06’W the bearing angle will start from the bottom vertical line going to the
left. This is divided into four (4) major quadrants are called NE quadrant, NW quadrant, SE quadrant,
SW quadrant.

5. After marking the given bearing angle of 20 deg 06’NE, draw a line from point “1” passing through
the mark of the bearing angle.

6. From point “1” the distance on ground is 11.00meters since our scale is 1.200m or 1cm=2m we
need to layout 5.5cm paper to represent the 11.00 meter on the ground. Measure 5.5 cm from point
“1”. This is now point “2”.

7. On point 2 draw a vertical line passing point 2, again, parallel to the left and right edges of your
paper similar to the procedure done in letter c.

8. Repeat letter d, only this time, bear in mind that you are now plotting line 2-3, whose bearing is S69
deg 54’E. Therefore the bearing angle should be measured from the vertical line at the lower of point
“2” and going to the right. Note that the line is in the SE quadrant. If you are using a half circle
protractor you have to invert your protractor.

9. Repeat procedure letter e.

10. We are now plotting line 3-4, do the same procedure as in letter c and so forth until point 4 is
located.

11. We now have to draw line 4-1 which is already located on paper and just needs to be connected
by a line. However, for verification or as a counter check, it is better to proceed again as in letter c.

12. From point “1” after the lot has finally been plotted on the paper, draw the tie line.

13. The tie line is the line that connects point “1” of the lot to a certain fixed surveying monument. For
example, BLBM #1.

Note that we are plotting BLBM 1 to line 1 in reverse, because we are beginning at point 12 going to
BLBM #1, instead of beginning from BLBM#1 to point 1 should be done in actual relocation survey,
since we are in reverse direction, the bearing of point “1” to BLBM#1 should also be reversed. That is
the bearing of point “1” to BLBM#1 is N43 deg. 03’W.

14. Place again the protractor on point “1” and layout the tie line. The distance being so large is not
expected to be with the paper boundaries. What is important is to indicate in the paper the direction of
the tie point (BLBM#1).

15. After plotting the lines, you now have to indicate the bearing and distance of each line on the
paper.

16. Indicate the description of the adjoining properties and other needed data.