topic Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS in AutoCAD Forum

PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

j_gonzaga_528498 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:36:26 GMT

Hello!

Can anyone help me with plotting the lot bearings? I don't have an actual lot bearing from a surveyor since the lot I'm using was only traced from google earth. I just converted the azimuth to lot bearings based on the tutorials on the internet. However, when I plot the bearings I made, they do not match the shape of the lot I traced. What should I do?

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

j_gonzaga_528498 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:33:27 GMT

Here's the file, btw.

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:54:05 GMT

I think you have the syntax of Surveyor's Units with the compass-direction parts reversed, whether that reversal is part of converting azimuth to bearings, or in applying in the drawing.

For example, in the 1-to-2 line, the bearing direction S18D18'W should mean Southward initially and then swung 18°18' to Westward, that is, in a direction like this:

But you have it going Westward initially and then swung 18°18' to Southward, that is, like this:

What is the source of the azimuth directions you are converting, and how are you doing the converting? Is azimuth direction zero [as I think is typical in navigation and compass-oriented usage] North? And do angles progress upward from zero in [as I also think is typical] clockwise direction? If so, you may be able to solve it just by changing your ANGBASE and ANGDIR System Variable settings [read about them in Help]. In AutoCAD, by default, as in mathematics [e.g. geometry], zero° is to the right, and angles progress upward counterclockwise, so you need to change those settings if you want compass azimuth usage.

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

autoid374ceb4990 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:22:01 GMT

What are azimuths on the lines in your drawing?

Attached is a drawing with the bearings and distances as calculated by my software.

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

j_gonzaga_528498 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:12:18 GMT

I'll try this. Thank you!

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

j_gonzaga_528498 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:13:57 GMT

Thank you so much for this!

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

autoid374ceb4990 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:19:22 GMT

These settings have never made much sense to me, but to display surveyors bearings correctly in AutoCAD, use these settings:

I am using an old version of AutoCAD, not sure where you set these in the newer versions.

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

AllenJessup — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:19:31 GMT

You can plot Azimuths directly by setting your 0 direction to North and your angle to clockwise. Azimuths are measured from North in a Clockwise direction. So East would be 90°, South would be a 180° Azimuth, West would be 270° and North 0°.

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

autoid374ceb4990 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:41:16 GMT

In my area surveyors use bearings (like N 35°-18'-48" E) rather that azimuths. I understand that azimuths can also be used with a south zero reference, but I have surveyed in 5 different states and have never run into a south reference azimuth. The "surveyor angles" entry that AutoCAD invented was so clunky that I wrote my own software that allows directions (like N 35°-18'-48" E ) to be entered as "N35.1848E" and azimuths, both north and south reference, can be entered by adding a code letter to the angle.

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

AllenJessup — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:55:15 GMT

Yes. In my area too. However the OP said he had Azimuths so that actually makes it easier to plot.

The South 0° reference for Azimuths was an old USGS convention. I believe it was easier when doing sun shots.

A one place I worked in the way-back. They used Azimuths for stakeout. We would reference a backsight with a known Azimuth then turn to the Azimuth for the stake point. I believe this was because it was easier to output Azimuths in the software they were using at the time..

Re: PLOTTING LOT BEARINGS

autoid374ceb4990 — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:46:28 GMT

j_gonzaga_528498:

Just out of curiosity, in what units ( meters, feet, ??) are your distance measurements?