How to calculate horizontal projection area
Horizontal projected area is a commonly used concept in architecture, engineering and geographic information systems, and is especially important in building design and land surveying. This article will introduce in detail the definition, calculation method and practical application scenarios of horizontal projection area, and combine it with the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to help readers better understand this concept.
1. Definition of horizontal projected area

The horizontal projected area refers to the projected area of an object or area on the horizontal plane, and is usually used to describe the horizontal coverage of buildings, plots, or other three-dimensional objects. Unlike surface area, horizontal projected area ignores the height or tilt angle of the object and only calculates its projection on the horizontal plane.
2. Calculation method of horizontal projection area
The method of calculating the horizontal projected area varies depending on the application scenario. Here are the calculations for several common scenarios:
| scene | Calculation method | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Regular shapes (such as rectangle, circle) | Calculate directly using geometric formulas (such as length × width, π × radius²) | Rectangular plot: 10m long × 5m wide = 50m² |
| irregular shape | Divide into multiple regular shapes and sum, or use the integral method | Polygon plot: divided into multiple triangles calculation |
| inclined surface | Projected area = actual area × cosθ (θ is the tilt angle) | Slope roof: actual area 100m², tilt angle 30°, projected area = 100×cos30°≈86.6m² |
3. Practical application of horizontal projection area
1.architectural design: Used to calculate the floor area of a building and evaluate land use efficiency.
2.land survey: Determine the actual usable area of the lot, especially in hilly or sloping areas.
3.urban planning: Assess urban density and green coverage.
4.Solar panel installation: Calculate the projected area of the solar panel to evaluate shadow effects.
4. The correlation between the hot topics on the entire network in the past 10 days and the horizontal projection area
Recently, the following hot topics are closely related to the calculation of horizontal projected area:
| hot topics | Related points |
|---|---|
| Controversy over urban green coverage | The horizontal projected area is used to calculate the actual coverage of green space to avoid misleading data due to vegetation height. |
| Mountain construction development boom | Calculation of the horizontal projected area of sloping lots is key and affects land pricing and design planning. |
| Optimizing solar power generation efficiency | The projected area determines the actual light-receiving area of the solar panel and affects the power generation estimate. |
5. Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is the difference between horizontal projected area and building area?
Floor area includes the total area of all floors, while horizontal projected area only counts the projection of the building on the horizontal plane.
2.How to measure the horizontal projected area of a sloped floor?
The tilt angle can be obtained through surveying and mapping instruments, and then calculated using the formula "projected area = actual area × cosθ".
3.Will the horizontal projection area affect the real estate certificate area?
It usually does not affect the real estate certificate area. The area of the real estate certificate shall be based on the building area, but in some areas, the projected area may be used as an auxiliary reference.
6. Summary
Calculation of horizontal projected area is a fundamental skill in the fields of architecture, engineering and geographic information. Through the introduction of this article, readers can master its definition, calculation methods and practical applications. Combined with recent hot topics, we can better understand its importance in reality. Whether it is urban planning, land surveying or new energy development, the calculation of horizontal projected area is an indispensable part.
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