Forward Intersection Calculator

Enter coordinates and angles

Method explanation

Forward intersection is a geodetic method for determining the coordinates of an unknown point (To) by measuring angles from two known points (Ta and Tb).

Note: For universal use we define N = North, E = East.

Formulas used:

ΔNₐ = [(Eb - Ea) - (Nb - Na) * tan φb] / (tan φa - tan φb)

ΔNᵦ = [(Eb - Ea) - (Nb - Na) * tan φa] / (tan φa - tan φb)

ΔEₐ = ΔNₐ * tan φa ; ΔEᵦ = ΔNᵦ * tan φb

N₀ = Na + ΔNₐ = Nb + ΔNᵦ

E₀ = Ea + ΔEₐ = Eb + ΔEᵦ