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 Distance-Distance
    Intersection
 Angle-Angle Intersection
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 Angle-Angle Simulation
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Distance-Distance Intersection

This page launches a Java applet simulation of the Distance - Distance Intersection process and requires your browser to be 'Java Enabled'. If your browser is not already Java enabled, please edit your browser preferences now.

At the bottom of this page is a button which will launch the simulation. Be patient, it may take a while to load. If this button isn't showing your browser may not be Java Enabled.

Method:

Two distances from either end of a base line are measured to the feature to be mapped. The distances can be plotted directly to scale, or can by reduced to coordinates using the fundamental triangle formulae.

Simulation Instructions

The positions of point A and point B are known. Point A and point B define a baseline from the ends of which two distances are measured to a third point whose position is unknown. From the coordinates of the baseline end points and the distances measured, the coordinates of the unknown station point can be calculated.

The toolbar of the Distance-Distance Simulation contains two icons as listed below:

Select

This tool can be used to move point A or point B to a new position. Click on the point you wish to move, when selected a black circle is drawn around it, and then click on the screen in the new position you wish to move the point to.

Measure

Select this tool and then click anywhere on the screen to locate an unknown station whose coordinates you wish to calculate. Once you have selected a position for your station the simulation measures the two distances from either end point to the station. The distances will be shown in the text fields below.

Once the measurements have been taken push the 'Calculate' button to find the coordinates of the station and to show the associated error ellipse. The closer this red ellipse appears to a true circle, the more precise you can assume the results of your calculations to be.

Note: The error ellipse will only be drawn if the server side application is running. If it is not shown after you press the Calculation button, please email the site maintainer.