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How to Convert Survey Bearing to GPS

When you do not have a GPS handy, you can use survey bearings to determine the direction you need to travel to reach a specific destination. To do this, you will need to convert each of the survey bearings to an azimuth. This is done by using the degree indicator on a standard compass. The direction of travel can then be plotted on a map of the area.

Things You'll Need

Compass
Map
Ruler

Instructions

- 1
  Write out the survey bearings that have been calculated for the area. You need bearings directions NW, NE, SW and SE.
- 2
  Add 180 to the survey bearing for SW. This will give you the azimuth for this survey bearing.
- 3
  Subtract the survey bearing for NW from 360. This will give you the azimuth for this survey bearing.
- 4
  Subtract the survey bearing for SE from 180. This will give you the azimuth for this survey bearing.
- 5
  Compare the survey bearing for NE with your compass; you will see that is already matches an azimuth.
- 6
  Position the compass on your map at your present location. Adjust your compass until the needle points to North.
- 7
  Find the azimuth for one of your survey bearings. Draw a line on the map from the azimuth of a survey bearing to your destination using a ruler. This is the direction that you will need to travel.
- 8
  Orient the compass so that the needle points to the survey bearing you want to reach. The front edge of the compass will be pointing in the direction you need to travel.

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