Are these 2 lots the same "acreage"?

[beppington]

Living here in FL, where it's pretty flat, I don't know the answer to this: Are the two lots pictured the same "acreage"?

The one on the left is clearly 1 acre (208.71' x 208.71' = 43,560 square feet = 1 acre).

However, the one on the right is 1 acre when measured in the horizontal plane, but 2 acres when measured along the actual slope of the lot.

So, what's the "acreage" of the lot on the right?

 

[clemsonfor]

I know this will be bad of me, but from what i remember in school (im a forester) im thinking you use flat ground distance? Meaning that land in the moutains actually has more of it due to slope. I may be wrong though. But i was thinking this came up at one point in forest measurements. You are supposed to still measure your same ground distance regardless of slope. Meaning if you need to go 2 chains (1 chain = 66ft) between sample points you still go 2 chains on flat vs slope. But we count trees and you want to be accurate, we also will measure on the slope for acerage as it will matter, the courthouse, i dunno. Id like to hear someone who knows as now im curious. I do know that the correct way to cruise timber in the hills is that you have to figure our the straight line distance to a tree using geometry if it is close to a border line tree vs using the ground distance. Luckily i do most of my stuff in the piedmont and the hills are not generally that steep and therefore i dont obsere this rule so technically it should even out?

 

[seymojo536]

By convention, land area is measured on a two-dimensional common surface plane projected onto the ground. IOW, keep your measuring tape level.

 

[Duffster]

So, what's the "acreage" of the lot on the right?

One acre.

My dad always joked that you got a better buy when you bought steep ground because it has more "acres".

Real question is do you need the ROPS up to travel across that grade. :laughing:

 

[dodge man]

As a land surveyor, ground is always measured horizontal, assuming it is flat.

 

[Chuck52]

As a land surveyor, ground is always measured horizontal, assuming it is flat.

Dang! I'm going back home to east Tennessee and buy land!

Chuck

 

[mmurphy]

I was always wondering if there was a difference, now I know!

 

[beppington]

Thanks for the responses.

... My dad always joked that you got a better buy when you bought steep ground because it has more "acres". ...

Dang! I'm going back home to east Tennessee and buy land!...

Well, I guess the steeper the slope of the land, the more surface area you get (even though the "acreage" isn't more), but the harder it is to make it use of it.

 

[bcp]

One-tenth acre with 20 acres of surface. Would loaded rear tires help?



Bruce

 

[kenmac]

One-tenth acre with 20 acres of surface. Would loaded rear tires help?



Bruce

Would also need 4 WD

 

[Dmace]

I am also a former Land Surveyor. Acreage is always measured in Horizontal Distance and not Slope Distance so the acreage of the two lots is the same. When calculating surface area for drainage, watershed, etc... the area is always shown is square feet and never acreage.

Just wait until the tax assessors figure that out and try to charge you taxes on the surface area acreage vs 2D acreage.

 

[beppington]

Just wait until the tax assessors figure that out and try to charge you taxes on the surface area acreage vs 2D acreage.

I could see that being a concern!, until the slope of the land is steep enough that the land actually becomes less & less useful (the steeper it gets), thus has a lower value.

Like ... what's the value of that cliff face in the pic bcp posted? I would pay zero for that

 

[Dmace]

Like ... what's the value of that cliff face in the pic bcp posted? I would pay zero for that

You could carve your face in it and call it Mt. Beppington...

 

[clemsonfor]

OK so surveyors use flat level managements and us foresters use actual ground measured as were concerned with the amount of timber contained within that acerage. That makes sense why we covered it in school then.

 

[beppington]

You could carve your face in it and call it Mt. Beppington...

Again, very little value :laughing:

 

[beppington]

Another question then: If you're surveying a lot, for example, with two corners 500' apart linearly & with a 50' elevation difference, how do you determine the linear distances to locate the corners? You can use math, of course, if you know the exact ground elevation at both of those corners, but do you normally know those?

 

[Chilly807]

If you have landmarks to go by, you can use this to find acreage..

Google Planimeter

 

[aczlan]

Another question then: If you're surveying a lot, for example, with two corners 500' apart linearly & with a 50' elevation difference, how do you determine the linear distances to locate the corners? You can use math, of course, if you know the exact ground elevation at both of those corners, but do you normally know those?

You shoot the lines and elevations with a "Total Station". That will give angles, slope distance and directions. From that, the horizontal distance can be calculated.

Aaron Z

 

[Dmace]

Another question then: If you're surveying a lot, for example, with two corners 500' apart linearly & with a 50' elevation difference, how do you determine the linear distances to locate the corners? You can use math, of course, if you know the exact ground elevation at both of those corners, but do you normally know those?

Surveyors equipment (Transits, Total Stations, etc...) use what's called the Zenith Angle which is the angle of sight from a plum line (eg: 0 degrees is straight up and down and 90 degrees is perfectly level). Using that angle and the Horizontal Distance, we can determine the Slope Distance and elevation change. The equipment measures the Slope Distance but calculates the Horizontal Distance.

 

[rtimgray]

There was a lady where I work a number of years ago that was selling some property (around 15 acres) and said that she would "throw in the hills for free". The funny part is that she was really being serious about it.

On a related note, I've also heard the following:

"Idaho would be the biggest state in the Union if it were to be ironed flat."

Take care.