Entering a parcel traverse using internal angles

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

In some cases, parcel dimensions on a plan or record of survey are shown as angles and distances instead of bearings and distances. In this case, the parcel is entered and created using its internal angles.

Internal angles

A parcel traverse using internal angles requires a Starting back-sight value. The starting backsight is the orientation angle, which is used as a reference for entering the first traverse leg. The starting backsight is based on a north azimuth angle type, and the default backsight is 180 degrees.

For example, if you traversed Lot 1 from the above graphic, you could use 90° as a starting backsight when entering the first traverse leg between points 1 and 2.

The remaining angles are oriented with respect to the previous line entered in the parcel traverse. When the parcel is joined to the parcel fabric, it is rotated and scaled accordingly.

To enter side shots or connection lines in an internal angle parcel traverse, the angle measured to the connection line needs to be referenced to an existing line in the parcel traverse. The to-point of the reference line is required as the ReferenceObject value in the parcel traverse grid. For example, when entering the connection line between points 5 and 6 for Lot 1 in the graphic above, the referencing backsight line can either be the line between 5 and 4 or the line between 5 and 1. The reference object would thus be either 4 or 1.

Note:

Parcels entered using an internal angle are always created in a new plan.

Steps:

To create a parcel using internal angles, follow these steps:
1. When creating a new plan for internal angle parcels, click the Record Format tab on the Plan Properties dialog box and set Direction or Angle Type to Internal Angle.
2. In an edit session in ArcMap, open the Plan Directory dialog box, right-click the plan created for internal angle parcels, then click Create new parcel.
To open the Plan Directory dialog box, click the Parcel Editor arrow on the Parcel Editor toolbar and click Plan Directory.
3. Type in a starting backsight direction in the Starting back-sight text box under the Lines tab on the Parcel Details window.
4. Enter your first traverse leg. Your first traverse angle is oriented from your starting backsight.
5. Enter your remaining traverse legs. Each traverse leg is oriented with respect to the previous traverse leg.
6. To enter a side shot or connection line, type in the angle and distance of the connection line and type in the reference object of the connection line in the ReferenceObject field. The reference object is the to-point of any line that has the same from-point as the connection line. Angles going counterclockwise are entered as negative values, and angles going clockwise are entered as positive values.