The mathematical process of computing the direction and distance between two points using their known coordinates. While field surveying usually involves measuring angles and distances to calculate new coordinates, inversing works backward. Surveyors inverse between two points in their data collector to figure out exactly how far and in what direction they need to walk to find a buried monument.
Heard on the job
Inverse between point 402 and 405 to see if that matches the distance on the old plat.
Insider tip
Inversing is the most common coordinate geometry function used in the field, essential for staking out property lines and construction points.