Trigonometric Functions and Their Applications in Surveying and Land Measurement in Benue State

This study examines the application of trigonometric functions in land surveying and measurement practice in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, where land tenure disputes and the need for systematic agricultural land demarcation have heightened demand for accurate and accessible surveying methods. Trigonometry underpins fundamental surveying calculations including the determination of distances, angles of elevation and depression, and areas of irregular polygons, and its practical deployment in Nigerian rural settings has significant implications for land rights documentation, boundary dispute resolution, and precision agriculture. The study engages with licensed surveyors and community land officers in three local government areas of Benue State through structured interviews and field accompaniment, documenting current trigonometric applications and identifying knowledge gaps. A series of applied problems derived from actual surveying scenarios in the state is developed and solved using the sine rule, cosine rule, and trigonometric identities, with solutions cross-validated against electronic total station measurements. The study also develops a simplified trigonometric surveying guide adapted for use by community land officers with secondary-school-level mathematics, filling an identified gap in accessible technical guidance for subnational land administration. Results from field comparisons confirm that manual trigonometric calculations achieve accuracy within acceptable margins for community-level land demarcation when applied correctly. Keywords: trigonometry, land surveying, boundary demarcation, applied mathematics, Benue State