A COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN APPROACH
TO MEDIAN LINE COMPUTATIONS

ABSTRACT

The problem of computing a riparian median line is one that most surveyors rarely encounter. If, however, you are fortunate enough to work on such a problem, you quickly find that it is one of the more labor intensive analytical computation processes in surveying. Evolving technology has now placed in the hands of the average practitioner tools which can allow us to more easily and accurately visualize the problem, verify solutions, and even provide an efficient means to obtain solutions. This paper discusses the basics of median line computations and describes some of the AutoCad tools we have developed to simplify accurate median line computations.

GENERAL

A median line is technically defined as a line midway between two shores or banks. It can be defined by key points, known as salient points, along the shores, but that method may be a simplification. The problem of computing a line between two others might seem like a simple geometric problem to solve, but the actual solution is frequently beyond the tools available in commercial survey software. In actual practice the result can be a very complex line that involves many straight and curved segments. This paper involves a technical exploration of median line computation.

Median lines can be determined for a variety of bodies of water. Some international and state boundaries in oceans, seas as well as rivers are determined by median lines. Lakes as well as rivers may have boundaries defined in them by median lines. Boundaries within relicted bodies of water are also frequently defined by median lines.

Median line computation has been discussed in a number of papers, primarily in the application to mapping international boundaries and frequently from a cartographic rather than survey viewpoint.

PHILOSOPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Arbitrariness: Water boundary issues frequently possess a seemingly arbitrary nature. Seemingly arbitrary, because the truth can only be deduced or guessed at, or the problem is too complex to deal with. Median line computations are no exception to this philosophical dilemma in that a very detailed, complex and precise computation proceeds from rough and crude base data. For example, we can define the margin of a body of water by salient points scaled from a 1:100,000 chart, or we can use the record of an old survey of a meander, or we can perform a new meander, or we can use large scale photography to deduce all the nooks and crannies along the shore to the `grain of sand' level. Add to this the fact that you may be dealing with an historical shore that cannot be measured and only guessed at, may be a matter of opinion and is frequently disputed.

Certainty: After the base data is agreed upon or stipulated, there is only one true possible median line solution for that system. The median `line' may be very complex combination of straight line segments and parabolic curves, some only a few feet in length. It may be extremely time consuming to determine and compute so that in the end you may not find that the complete solution is very convenient.

CONTROLLING ELEMENTS

A median line can be determined in several ways, one that is common in international law is defined by salient points.

Salient Points. A salient point is a prominent point along the shore of the water body that has a dominant affect on the median line. The selection of salient points and the determination of their positions may seem to be a bit arbitrary, but the solution of the median line for them is fixed.

Meander Lines. Another way that a median line can be determined, other than with salient points, is using the meanders. The Manual of Surveying Instructions, 1973, Section 7-55 states:

"The simplest method of determining the median line is by use of salient points. This method is of limited application in public land surveys, where the median line is nearly always determined from the meander lines."

The general solution for PLSS cases is a meander determined median line. In the course of investigating a meander determined median line, it became clear that the salient point solution is a subset of the meander solution.

As in the case of salient points, the data you use for the position of the meanders may seem arbitrary, but once settled the median line is set.

ELEMENTS OF A MEANDER DETERMINED MEDIAN LINE

Basic Elements of Meander Lines

Any given point on the median line is controlled by one element on each of the meanders. These controlling elements are either lines or points. The points may be salient points or the angle points of meander line. Therefore the possible controlling conditions are:

Figure 1 (below left)

Line opposite a line. This will be referred to as a Line-Line condition. The resultant solution for the median line is a straight line midway between the two banks. This line's position and direction is defined by determining the angular bisector of the two bank line segments.

The condition ends when it intersects another condition or when one of the controlling lines ends. That point is at the intersection the first perpendicular from the ends of the controlling lines.

Figure 2 (below right)

Line opposite a point. This is the Line-Point condition. The resultant solution for the median line is a parabolic curve whose directrix is the controlling line, and whose focus is the opposite controlling point. A parabola is defined as the locus of points midway between a point (the focus) and a line (the directrix). Although the Manual seems to say that these are simple curves, they are not. The condition ends when it intersects another or when the controlling line ends. That end point on the median line is at points perpendicular from the controlling line's endpoint.

Figure 3 below left

Point opposite a point. This will be referred to as a Point-Point condition and it is also identical to a salient point situation. The solution for the point-point condition is a straight line segment that is a portion of the perpendicular bisector to a line between the two points. In the case of a meander determined median line, the condition ends at the first perpendicular it runs into from one of the lines into the points.

Figure 4 below

A visual analogy that can be useful in thinking about a median line is to think of the median line as the line swept out by the center of a circle of varying radius travelling down the channel between the two banks. This leads to the following descriptions of the same conditions.

The line-line condition can be visualized as the situation where the circle is rolling between the two lines, increasing or decreasing in size. The condition terminates when the circle bumps into another line or else rolls off one of the lines onto an endpoint.

Figure 5 (below left)

The point line condition is visualized as a circle pivoting on the controlling point as it squeezes by the point tangent to the opposite bank. The condition terminates when the circle bumps into another portion of one of the banks, or when it rolls off of the point onto one of the lines. That point will be at the first perpendicular from a line into the point.

Figure 6 (below right)

The point-point condition is visualized as a circle squeezing down between the two points. The condition terminates when the circle rolls off of the point and onto one of the lines into the point at the first perpendicular from those lines.

Complete Solution. The solution to a median line is simply the application of the above basics and comes down to determining the proper controlling condition at any given point along the median line. This seems fairly easy in the examples shown above, but in actual practice it can be very difficult.

Determining what the controlling elements are can be deceptive to say the least. This difficulty becomes more acute the more detailed the meanders are, or the further apart the banks are in relation to the average meander length. In addition, the solution is complicated by all the combinations of intersecting conditions. The combinations are:

1. L-L Line intersects L-L Line
2. L-L Line intersects L-P Parabola
3. L-L Line intersects P-P Line
4. L-P Parabola intersects L-P Parabola
   The above condition can be the parabolic equivalents to a compound curve or a reverse curve.
5. L-P Parabola intersects P-P Line
6. P-P Line intersects P-P Line

The traditional process for developing a median line usually starts with a sketch drawn to scale. This is done at as large a size as possible to allow a graphic determination of what appear to be the controlling conditions. Then by throwing arcs with a compass candidates for possible controlling conditions are developed. Once that is done, a mathematical solution can be computed for those candidates. It becomes a process of trial and error. Sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly what is happening and it is best to simplify the problem by selecting major points along the meanders rather than attempting to solve the median in minute detail.

Before now there has only been one primary software tool to do the computation in the Bureau of Land Management. That is the program developed by William Ball called WB19. This program computes possible points along the median line for various combinations of meander conditions. To use it, or any method, properly it is essential to have identified what condition is being solved by a method such as discussed in the last paragraph. WB19 then prompts for entry of the coordinates of all the relevant meander points. Once points are computed with WB19 they can be plotted back on the sketch and tested to see if they appear to fall on the median line. More often than not the test shows that the assumed condition is not correct and additional options have to be tried until a reasonable looking result is obtained. It is a trial and error process which can be very time consuming, and a lot of skill and experience becomes an asset.

Figure 7 (below left)

In the summer of 1988, the BLM California Office Cadastral Survey Branch needed to compute a mile section of river in California. It occurred to several surveyors there that the use of computer graphics might provide an aid in the process. At a minimum, it would provide an accurate sketch and eliminate many of the problems associated with drafting, scaling, the imprecision in graphic estimating and the problem of multiple erasures coming from the many trials needed to determine the final set of conditions. Based on that hope the survey and meander data was keyed in.

CAD as an evaluation tool:

Figure 8 (below right)

It was quickly apparent that AutoCad was going to be a big help. Having a very accurate diagram provided an easy means of testing median point candidates by throwing circles from them. This simple methodology provided an absolute check if a point was a valid point on the median line. Examples are shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8.

If the circle intersected the controlling meanders segments exactly, and no others, then it was proved to be a valid point on the median line. Because of the zoom capabilities of CAD packages it is easy to determine if the intersections are close to a degree not possible with a hand drawn diagram.

CAD AS A COMPUTATION TOOL

Custom AutoCad Median Line Functions. AutoCad provided the capability to program new functions. We have made extensive use of this capability in our plat drafting system. It seemed a logical approach to develop a few functions to solve at least the more obvious median line situations. It should also be noted that AutoCad provides very accurate computation capabilities. And that within the current BLM Cadastral plat drafting system are functions for bearing-distance line entry, line labelling, grant and compass adjustments, area computations and many others.

PULL function. The first function developed was for the Line-Line condition, and the function is called PULL. This allowed quick construction of many of the straight line segments. Intersections with other line conditions were obvious and could be derived directly with AutoCad.

PARA function. The next function developed was an aid to construction of the curved segments. Since these are parabolic curves, which AutoCad has no direct means to draw, a function called PARA was created that computes points on a parabola at intervals along the median line and connects them with short straight segments, in essence small chords. The user can select the interval to use: long to speedup the process, or short provide more detail as desired.

This function made it much easier to visualize what was happening with the curve conditions. For example curve intersecting curve conditions could be visualized, see Figure 3. It was also apparent that an exact solution for the curve intersecting anything condition was not always possible even with this enhanced graphic approach, since the intersection was most likely to be somewhere along the small chord, rather than on exact parabolic. This error could become unacceptable when the intersection was with something at very nearly the same bearing.

MPP Function. Is the Median Point-Point condition function. It draws a portion of the median line that can be trimmed or extended to it's proper terminus.

MCHK Function. Median Check. This is a simple routine that just automates the creating of a check circle by incorporating a few native AutoCad commands.

DROP Function. Drops a perpendicular from a point to the selected meander line. This is a simple function that just incorporates a few AutoCad native commands and is very useful in determining the beginning point for a new condition after an intersection has been found.

Intersecting Conditions. The exact solution for most of the intersecting conditions does not actually require a new function. The AutoCad circle function can accomplish the task by constructing the circle using the `3 point' option, and using what is called `object snap tangent' for those elements that require it. However, to minimize the number of operations required to select a such a circle, we have created another shortcut routine:

MINT Function. Median Intersect. Computes intersecting conditions exactly, after the controlling elements have been determined.

The circle in Figure 10 is an example.

TOTAL SOLUTION WITH AUTOCAD

The AutoCad process involves keying in the section lines with meander corners. This can be done with coordinates or bearings and distances. Next the meander lines are entered. They can be adjusted to the meander corners, if desired. Some thought should be given to what happens to the misclosure in the section, as different procedures will result in different final meander lines.

Next, various obvious conditions can be solved, if there are any. Typically this involves spotting a few line-line conditions. Or just getting started at one end. By experimenting with moving circles it is possible to make a good guess at the next condition, then it can be computed and checked. The process can be thought of as:

1. Compute known condition (L-L, P-L, or P-P) to its end.
2. Check trial median line section terminus to see if it is a valid point on the median line. That is, that the median line has not been affected by intersection with another condition. This can be done quickly by drawing a check circle.
3. If the end point is a valid point on the median line then the case is one of a consecutive condition, (no intersection). The next condition is usually obvious, and the process can begin again (with item 1.), or
4. If the end point is not a valid median line point, then the case is one of an intersecting condition. At this point you can usually figure what condition was intersected by seeing what the circle hit first. This may involve drawing circles off of prior points generated in the current condition. Once the next intersection condition is determined, the intersection can be computed, and the process proceeds accordingly, back to 1.
5. Partition lines can be dropped in perpendicular to the median line from appropriate points. It is a little difficult to precisely drop a perpendicular to the parabolic curve sections, but it can be done by using the short chord segments generated by PARA. In the future, perhaps a special exact function can be programmed for this application.

Sometimes the median line can be so complex that it is necessary to develop a script of the controlling conditions to keep track of it.

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

The use of Autocad following the process described above makes the work of computing a median line much more efficient. It still requires skill and knowledge of the conditions in order to properly analyze what the next condition will be, and what functions to use. On rivers, lakes or other wide bodies of water it is often very difficult to see what the conditions will be and the process can be very mentally intense. The CAD approach provides tools that greatly facilitate this analysis, but human judgement is still a prime requisite, and the process is still time consuming.

Because the process outlined above is fairly simple with the exception of the analysis needed to determine what the next condition is in items 3. and 4. If it is possible to formulate the rules properly, it might be possible to automate the generation of the median line totally. The process could even be useful even if it were very crude, but if the process is totally in software, it would still greatly aid in median line computations. Several potential concepts are on the burner and hopefully we may be able to implement a fully automated approach this year.

ISSUES

Geodetic Base: If the situation may involve a State Boundary, probable litigation, etc. it may be advisable to use a well known common Geodetic base, such as State Plane Coordinates. The exact solution for the median line will depend on the shape of the projection being used, as well as the defined controlling lines. This should be considered, and agreed to by the parties before too much work is done, much as is done in Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Leasing work.

How Much Detail: With AutoCad it is easier to compute the median line in complete detail, and it is also possible to easily prove wrong assumptions. The result is that the final true median line may have a great deal of detail, in some cases it seems like too much detail. Line and curve segments only a few tenths of a foot long are not uncommon. Prior to this, in order to make the job do-able most surveyors simplified the meanders to avoid such complexity. Again this is not a technical issue, but one of practicality and judgement.

In my opinion, if the project is likely for litigation, it would seem advisable to solve the median line completely as this seems to be to be less arbitrary, can be proven, and thus more defendable in court.

SUMMARY

The geometric problem of computing a median line is an interesting one. Once base data is defined there is in fact one and only one complete and correct solution for the median line. With modern tools such as the computer and CAD software it is more possible and practical than ever to determine that solution. You may not like it much when you get it though. CAD has proven to be a valuable tool for use in median line computations. For determining the conditions, for evaluation of the correctness of answers, and for actual computation of median lines. Functions have been developed to compute the fundamental elements and provide checks. In the future it may be possible to automate the process more completely, and relieve ourselves at last of the drudgery of this intense computation process.

REFERENCES

The Technical Delimitation of a Modern Equidistance Boundary, Robert D. Hodgson and E. John Cooper, Ocean Development and International Law Journal, Volume 3, Number 4.

The Manual of Surveying Instructions, 1973, U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Technical Bulletin 6.

Shore and Sea Boundaries, Volumes 1 and 2, Aaron L. Shalowitz, U. S. Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey Publication 10-1, GPO 1964.