Difference Between Whole Circle Bearing and Quadrantal Bearing

Whole Circle Bearing and Quadrantal Bearing (Reduced Bearing) are two different types of bearing measurement used in surveying. To choose between these two types of bearing measurement a surveyor must know the differences between them. The main differences between Whole Circle Bearing and Quadrantal Bearing (Reduced Bearing) are given below.

Whole-Circle-Bearing-vs-Quadrantal-Bearing-or-Reduced-Bearing

	Whole Circle Bearing	Quadrantal Bearing/Reduced Bearing
1	The horizontal angle made by a line with the magnetic north in the clockwise direction is the whole circle bearing of the line.	The horizontal angle made by a line with the magnetic north or south (whichever is closer from the line) in the eastward or westward direction is the Quadrantal Bearing or Reduced Bearing of the line
2	Only the magnetic north line is considered as reference line in whole circle bearing system.	Both magnetic north and south lines are considered as reference line in quadrantal bearing system.
3	The cloclwise angle from the reference line is Only taken	Both cloclwise and anticloclwise angle from the reference line is Only taken
4	The value of the whole circle bearing varies from 0° to 360°	The value of the reduced bearing varies from 0° to 90°
5	Example: 26°, 121°, 245°, 350° etc.	Example: N26°E, S59°E, S65°W, N10°W etc.

Bearing in Surveying Article List

keywords: quadrant bearing, whole circle bearing, what is a quadrant, magnetic meridian, whole circle bearing and reduced bearing, different types of bearings, difference between whole circle bearing and quadrantal bearing

Bearing in Surveying Article List

keywords: quadrant bearing, whole circle bearing, what is a quadrant, magnetic meridian, whole circle bearing and reduced bearing, different types of bearings, difference between whole circle bearing and quadrantal bearing

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