CE 16412 SURVEY PRACTICAL MANUAL

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FOURTH SEMESTER
SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SRIPERUMBUDUR

PREPARED BY
Mr. KUMAR .G (AP)
Mr. ARUN .K (AP)

1
SURVEY LABORATORY

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The following instructions should be strictly followed by the students in the

Survey Laboratory

1. All the students are expected to come with shoe, uniform, observation note book, record note
book, pencil, eraser, sharpener, scale, divider, graph sheets etc. whenever they come for the
laboratory class.
2. Before doing any exercise, students should have a clear idea about the principles of that
exercise. They should come with observation note with unfilled tabular column. Viva
questions will be asked by the Staff regarding the particular experiment.
3. All students are advised to come with completed record and corrected field book of previous
experiments; defaulters will not be allowed to do their experiment.
4. Students shall not use any instrument without getting concerned staff members' prior
permission.
5. Utmost care must be taken to avert any possible injury while on laboratory work. In case,
anything occurs immediately report it to the staff members.
6. One student representing each batch should receive the instrument on behalf of his their
batch.
7. The tools and accessories required for conducting the experiments can be obtained from the
technician and the same should be returned after the completion of the experiments.
8. All instruments are costly. So the permanent adjustment screws of theodolites, levelling and
other instruments shall not be tampered. They must be handled carefully, to avoid fine for any
breakage.
9. Breakage amount will be collected from the student(s) for causing damage to the
instruments/equipments due to wrong operation or carelessness.

2
 CE 16412 SURVEY PRACTICAL

1. Determination of Area of Polygon by Base Line Method using Chain

2. Chain Traversing

3. Fly Levelling

4. Check Levelling

5. Study of Theodolite and its Accessories

6. Measurement of Horizontal and Vertical Angles using Theodolite

7. Determination of Tacheometric Constants

8. Determination of Elevation of an Object using Single Plane Method when

base is Accessible / Inaccessible

9. Determination of Distance and Difference in Elevation between Two

Inaccessible Points using Double Plane Method

10. Heights and Distances by Stadia Tacheometry

11. Heights and Distances by Tangential Tacheometry

12. Study of Total Station and GPS ( Demonstration Only )

TOTAL : 60 PERIODS

3
 SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SURVEY PRACTICAL
LIST OF EXPERIMENTS
EX.NO NAME OF THE EXPERIMENTS PAGE SIGNATURE
NO.

1. Determination of the area of a closed Traverse 6

2. Plotting the outline of the given building 8

3. Fly Levelling 10

4. Check Levelling 12

5. Study of Theodolite and its Accessories 16

6. Measurement of Horizontal and Vertical Angles 21

using Theodolite
7. Determination of Tacheometric Constants 27

8. Determination of Elevation of an Object using

Single Plane Method when base is Accessible / 29

Inaccessible
9. Determination of Distance and Difference in
Elevation between Two Inaccessible Points using 34

Double Plane Method

10. Heights and Distances by Stadia Tacheometry 38

11. Heights and Distances by Tangential Tacheometry 41

12. Study of Total Station and GPS ( Demonstration 43

Only )

4
Ex.No. 1

TABULATION

Sl.No. Figure Chaining Base Perpendicular Mean Area in

in (m) line offset from Offset m2
(m) Baseline (m) (m)
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Total Area of the Closed Traverse = _______________m2

SKETCH:

5
 Ex.No.1 Date:

DETERMINATION OF THE AREA OF A CLOSED TRAVERSE

AIM:
To find the area of the closed traverse using Cross staff method.

ACCESSORIES REQUIRED:

1. Chain or tape
2. Arrows
3. Ranging Rod
4. Cross Staff
PROCEDURE:

1. Let A B C D E F be the given field whose area is to be measured.

2. Divide the area into right-angled triangles and Trapezoids and measure their
bases and Perpendiculars
3. Two instruments are required

a. A cross staff to divide the area into triangles and trapezoids

b. A chain to measure lengths of base and perpendiculars.

4. Calculate the area of triangles and Trapezoids.

5. The sum of the areas of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 gives the area of the given field.

RESULT:

➢ The area of the given closed traverse by using cross staff is__________ m2

6
7
Ex.No. 2 Date:

PLOTTING THE OUTLINE OF THE GIVEN BUILDING

AIM:

To plot outline of the given building.

ACCESSORIES REQUIRED:

1. Chain (30m)
2. Ranging Rod
3. Cross Staff
4. Arrows
PROCEDURE:

1. Two Ranging Rods are fixed in front of the building of the main survey station
A and B.
2. Three Ranging rods are fixed such that the distance between the ranging rods
are less than the length of the chain.
3. The ranging rods are aligned by sight (or) eye judgment such that they lie
along the survey line AB.
4. An open cross staff is used to set perpendicular offset from the baseline of the
building by simultaneously viewing the ranging rods between A and B and the
columns of the building.
5. The distance between the columns and the cross staff position along the chain
line AB are measured using tape (or) Chain.
6. These data are used to plot the outline of the Building.

RESULT:

➢ Thus the outline of the given building is plotted.

8
Ex.NO. 3

TABULATION

SI.No. Back Intermediate Fore sight Rise Fall Reduced Remarks

Sight sight Level

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

CHECK:
∑ BS ~ ∑FS = ∑ Rise ~ ∑ Fall = Last R.L. ~ First R.L.

9
Ex.No. 3 Date:

FLY LEVELLING

AIM :

To determine the elevation of given points with reference to the bench mark.

INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED:

1. Dumpy Level

2 .Telescope Staff

3. Tripod

PROCEDURE:

1. Set up the level on the tripod at a convenient height and bring the foot screws
approximately to the middle of its rim.
2. By temporary adjustments bring the bubble at centre openout typical leveling
field book columns.
3. Sight the given points and take the staff reading and note down the readings
at the appropriate columns.
4. If there are any points for away and is not clearly visible take. A change
point and the leveling is continued.
5. After finishing the leveling, calculate the elevations by the rise and fall
method and apply necessary checks.

RESULT:

➢ Thus the fly leveling is carried out and the relative elevations of the
demarked points have been found out.

10
Ex.NO. 4

TABULATION

SI.No. Back Intermediate Fore Height of Reduced Remarks

Sight sight sight Instrument Level

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

CHECK:
∑ BS ~ ∑FS = Last R.L. ~ First R.L.

11
Ex.No.4 Date:

CHECK LEVELLING

AIM :

To run check leveling the given points, reduce and check their levels.

INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED:

1. Dumpy Level
2. Telescope Staff
3. Tripod
PROCEDURE:

1. The field procedure and reduction of Levels of points are same as for Fly
leveling.
2. The instrument position marked (1) is selected such that it can be observe staff
reading on the maximum number of points 1,2,3,…… The points are shown on
plan in figure. And in elevation as marked 1,2,3 respectively in figure along
with the bench mark marked BM.
3. The instrument is setup and leveled & up over the station point.
4. Observe the reading on the staff held at B.M. Let us express the reading in
accordance with the convention a when “a” is the staff reading on the point for
the position of the instrument.
5. If the R.L. of B.M. is”h” and a is the staff reading on the BM. The first staff
reading which is termed as backsight or B.S. Then the height of instrument
position(1) may be designated as
H.1 (1) = h + a1 BM (or) H.1 = R.L + B.S.

12
Ex.NO. 4

TABULATION

SI.No. Back Intermediate Fore Height of Reduced Remarks

Sight sight sight Instrument Level

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

CHECK:
∑ BS ~ ∑FS = Last R.L. ~ First R.L.

13
6. In a similar way a1, and a2 are althought obtained the reading of the staff at the
point 3 may not be obtainable. Hence a2, is the last staff reading from the
instrument point (1). It is termed as foresight or F.S. in between B.S. and F.S.
Sight like a1, are called intermediate sight or I.S. This forms the first stage in
the series of setup.
7. Now the R.L. of point (1) = H.I. (1)-a11
(Or) R.L. of point (2) = H.I (1) – a21 (Or) R.L. = H.I.- I.S or F.S.

8. The instrument position has to be shifted to instrument position (2) to take

observations on other as many point as possible.
9. To calculate H.I.(2) first of all. The staff reading a22 should be obtained,
because the R.L.of the point is already calculated. At point 2 a21, is the F.S. for
previous instrument position and a22 is the b.s. for subsequent instrument
position such as staff point is termed as change point or C.P.
10. The R.L. of line of collimation now is
H.1(2) = R.L. of the point (2) +a2

This forms the second stage of instrument setups.

11. After obtaining a23, a24 etc. The R.L. of points can be computed as
The R.L. of point (3) = H.I.(2) – a23

The R.L. of point (4) = H.I. (2) – a24 etc……

12. This procedure may be continued to the completion of the leveling work.
13. For the entire data, the arithmetic check will be
∑ BS ~ ∑FS = Last R.L. ~ First R.L.

RESULT:

➢ The various points were by using check Levelling.

14
15
Ex.No. 5 Date:

STUDY OF THEODOLITE

Theodolite is an important instrument used for measuring horizontal and

vertical angle in surveying.

TYPES OF THEODOLITE:

They are classified as following Transit (or) simple theodolite is one in

which the line of sight can be reversed by revolving the telescope through
180◦ interval plane on the horizontal axis.

Non – Transmit theodolite is one in which the telescope cannot be

transmitted.

Component Parts of Transit Theodolite :

LEVELLING HEAD:

It consists of two parallel plates separated by 3 (or) 4 levelling screws

upper parallel plate is called tribrach and lower one is called trivet.

SHIFTING HEAD:

It is of two plates movable relative to each other when this device is

loosened the whole instrument can be shifted horizontally with in a circle of
about 10mm.

SPINDLE:

There are two spindles one inside the other. The inner spindle is conical
solid and fits in the outer spindle.

LOWER PLATE (Or) SCALE PLATE:

It carried a graduated horizontal circular plate attached to the outer hollow

spindle which is known as the scale point (or) main plate.

16
UPPER PLATE:

Upper plate is attached to the inner solid spindle. It is carried two vernier
designated as vernier A and B as it two extremities diametrically opposite to
each other at 180◦ apart with magnification to magnify the reading.

PLATE LEVEL:

A level tube mounted on the upper plate is called plate level. The bubble is
centered with the help of leveling screws.

A-Frame (Standards) :

Trunion screw is supported on this frame. T-Frame (index frame) and the
arm of this vertical circle clamp are also attached to A-Frame.

COMPASS:

It is attached with the A – Frame. It is used to find the horizontal angles

and North Point.

TELESCOPE:

It is mounted on the horizontal spindle called horizontal axis (or) trunion

axis.

VERTICAL CIRCLE:

It is also called ‘C’ and ‘D’ scale. It has four quadrant of 0◦ to 90◦ (or)
graduated from 360◦

VERNIER FRAME:

It is also called as T-Frame (or) index Frame. It consists of vertical leg

called Clipping arm.

ALLITUDE BUBBLE:

It is a sensitive level tube attached to the top of the T – Frame.

17
TRIPOD:

It is a stand to support the theodolite. It may be in wood (or) aluminum.

PLUM BOB:

It is suspended from the hook fitted to the bottom of inner axis for centering.

The instruments exactly over a section. In modex theodolite the plumb box is

replaced by a plummet arrangement is built with theodolite.

OPTICAL PLUMMET:

It is a small telescope used to find the centering of instruments.

TECHNICAL TERMS:

CENTERING:

It is the process of making (or) setting up the theodolite exactly over the

station mark.

LEVELLING:

It is the process of making vertical axis of an instrument truly vertical.

VERTICAL AXIS:

The imaginary line passing through the common central axis of the inner
end and outer spindle. It is also called as azimuth axis.

HORIZONTAL AXIS:

It is an axis about which the telescope and the vertical circle can be
rotated in a vertical plane. It is also called as traverse axis.

AXIS OF TELESCOPE:

It is an imaginary line joining the optical centre of object glass and the
centre of the eye – piece.

18
AXIS OF PLATE LEVEL:

It is the straight line tangential to the longitudinal curve of the plate level tube
at its centre.

TRANSITING:

It is the process of rotating the telescope axis over the horizontal axis
through 180◦ in the vertical plane. It is also known as plunging (or) reversing.

FACE LEFT OBSERVATION:

It is the observation of horizontal (or) vertical angle when the vertical circle
is to the left of the observer.

TELESCOPE NORMAL:

A telescope is said to be normal or direct when the vertical circle is the left
and the bubble up in it is provided on the telescope.

TELESCOPE INVERTED:

A telescope is said to be inverted (or) reversed when the vertical circle is to

the right and bubble down.

CHAINING FACE:

It is an operation of bringing the face of vertical circle from face left to face
right or vice versa. This achieved by transiting the telescope and then
swinging it.

VERNIER SCALE:

Least count of veriner = s/n = value of the smallest main scale division / no.
of division on veriner

RESULT:

➢ Thus the study of theodolite is satisfactory.

19
 Ex.No.6 (a)

TABULATION

Face left Face right Average

swing right swing left horizontal
Sighted to

angle
Inst. at

A B Mean Hor. A B Mean Hor.

angles angles

o , ,, , ,, o , ,, o , ,, o , ,, , ,, o , ,, o , ,, o , ,,

20
Ex.No. 6(a) Date:

MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES BY

REPETITION METHOD

AIM:

To measure the horizontal angle between the ‘OA’ and ‘OB’

O – Instrument Station

A – Ranging Rods No.1

B – Ranging Rod No.2

INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED:

(i) Theodolite
(ii) Tripod
(iii) Ranging Rods
(iv) Arrows

PROCEDURE:

The method of repetition is used to measure the horizontal angle to a

finer degree of accuracy than that obtainable with the least count of the vernier. By
this method an angle is measured two (or) more time by allowed the vernier to
remain clamped each time at the end of each measurement of the previous station.
Thus an angle reading is mechanically repitions. The average horizontal angle is
then obtained by dividing the final reading by number of repitions.

To measure the angle of horizontal AoB, the following Procedure:

• Set the instrument at station ‘O’ and level it with the help of alidade bubble and
foot screw. Set zero reading (or) vernier A note the reading at vernier B.

21
• Loose the lower clamp and direct the telescope towards the point ‘A’ accurately
by lower tangential screw.
• Then unclamp the upper clamp and turn the instrument clockwise about inner
axis towards ‘B’ accurately with the upper tangential axis.
• Unclamped the lower clamp and turn the telescope N sight A. Again bisect ‘A’
accurately by using the lower tangential screw. It should be noted that the
vernier reading will not be changed in this operation. Since the upper plate is
clamped to the lower.
• Unclamp the upper clamp; turn the telescope clockwise and Sight ‘B’ accurately
by upper tangent screw.
• Repeat the process until the angle i.e. for repeated no. of times say three times.
The average angle with face left will be equal to the final reading divided by
number of repetition (3)
SKETCH:

RESULT:

➢ The horizontal angle between the two points is found out by the method
of repetitions using theodolite and found as ____________________.
22
 Ex.No. 6(b)

TABULATION

Face left Face right Average

swing right swing left vertical
Sighted to

angle
Inst. at

C D Mean vertical C D Mean vertical

angles angles

o , ,, , ,, o , ,, o , ,, o , ,, , ,, o , ,, o , ,, o , ,,

23
Ex.No. 6(b) Date:

MEASUREMENT OF VERTICAL ANGLE

AIM:

To determine the vertical angle between the top and the bottom of the building
and also find the height of the building.

INSTRUMENT REQUIRED:

(i) Theodolite
(ii) Tripod Stand
(iii) Chain (or) tape
(iv) Arrow

PROCEDURE:

1. The theodolite is mounted on the tripod stand.

2. The theodolite is centered over an arbitrarily selected station P from
where the given stations can be sighted without any obstruction and
the instrument is levelled using the foot screws and both the plate
bubble and the altitude bubble are brought to the centre of their run.
3. The theodolite is set on the face right mode and the vernier A on the
horizontal circle is initially set at 0°00’00”.
4. The line of sight is made horizontal by setting both the vernier C and
D on the vertical circle at 0°00’00”.
5. The vertical clamp screw is unclamped and the telescope is raised or
lowered in a vertical plane and the given station is sighted and the
central horizontal cross hair is made tangential to a specific mark on
the given station and the vertical angles on both the vernier C and D
are observed.
6. The vernier A is then initially set at 90°00’00” and the same vertical
angle is observed by repeating the above procedure.
7. The theodolite is then set on the face left mode and the vernier A on
the horizontal circle is initially set at 180°00’00”.

24
 8. The line of sight is made horizontal by setting both the vernier C and D on
the circle at 0°00’00” and the vertical angle to the given station is
observed by repeating the above procedure.

9. The vernier A is then initially set at 270°00’00” and the same vertical
angle is observed by repeating the above procedure.

10. The observations are recorded in the field book.

11. The actual vertical angle which is mean of vertical angles on the verniers
C and D is computed for each initial setting of vernier A.

12. The average of the four mean values of the vertical angles observed one
each for the four initial setting of vernier A is determined as the result.

RESULT:

➢ The vertical angle and height of the building is found to be_____________.

25
Ex.No. 7

TABULATION

TACHEOMETRIC CONSTANTS

Inst. at Staff Horizontal Stadia hair readings Stadia

station distance intercept
Top Middle Bottom

A P 10m

Q 10m

R 10m

10 20 30

26
Ex.No. 7 Date:

DETERMINATION OF TACHEOMETRIC CONSTANTS

Aim:

To determine the Tacheometric constants.

Instruments required:

• Tacheometer with stand

• Levelling Staff
• Ranging rods
• Tape

General:

An ordinary transit theodolite fitted with stadia hair is known as Tacheometer.

This method completely eliminated the use of tape or chain and is very rapid and
convenient.

Procedure:

1. Set up the instrument at A.

2. Measure a line AB, 30 metres long on a fairly level ground and fix arrows
at 10m intervals.
3. Note down the stadia hair readings (top, middle, bottom), by placing the
staff over the arrow stations (PQR)
4. Keep the vertical circle to read zero during observations.
5. Calculate the other staff intercepts in the same manner.

27
Calculation:

Stadia intercept : S = Difference of top and bottom hair readings

Let S1, is the staff intercept corresponding to distance D1 and S2 corresponding to D2.
By using tachometric equation.

f
D= S + (f+d), since vertical angle is zero.
i
Where,
f
= Multiplying constant denoted by k.
i
and (f+d) = Additive constant denoted by C.

Then D = kS + C

Now we have,
D1 = CS1 + k
D2 = CS2 + k
Solving the above two equations to get the values for C and k.
Similarly find out the values for C and k by other set of readings.
The average values of the C and k, will be the Tacheometric Constants.

Result:

➢ Tacheometric additive constant [C] = ______________.

➢ Tacheometric Multiplying Constant [k] = ___________.

28
Ex.No. 8 (a) Date:

TRIGONOMETRY - SINGLE PLANE METHOD [ BASE ACCESSIBLE ]

29
Result:

➢ R.L of [Q] = R.L of BM + S + h = ______________________m.

30
Ex.No. 8(b)

TABULATION

TRIGONOMETRY - SINGLE PLANE METHOD [ BASE INACCESSIBLE ]

Face : Left Swing : Left

Vertical angle Staff
C D Mean reading on
Inst Sight
at to  ' " ' "  ' " BM Remarks
(Central
Hair)
A Tower
B Tower

Face : Right Swing : Right

A Tower
B Tower

31
Ex.No. 8 (b) Date:

TRIGONOMETRY - SINGLE PLANE METHOD [ BASE INACCESSIBLE ]

Aim:

To determine the elevation of an inaccessible object (Tower)

Instruments required:

Theodolite, Levelling Staff, Ranging rod, Tape

Procedure:

1. Set up the theodolite at P, level it carefully and observe the angle of

elevation 1.
2. Set the vertical vernier to zero, and note the central hair reading on a staff
held vertically on a B.M. Let it be S1.
3. Transit the telescope, so that the line of sight is reversed.
4. Mark a point R in the line of sight at a convenient distance “d ”. Measure it
accurately.
5. Shift the theodolite to the point R, centre it and level it. Observe the angle
of elevation 2.
6. Set the vernier C to zero and take again a B.M. reading (central hair) as S2.

Instrument axis at P is higher than R: (S1 > S2)

h1 = D tan 1

32
 h2 = (d + D ) tan 2
S = Average of S2 – Average of S1
h1 – h2 =S

d tan  2  S
D=
tan 1  tan  2

R.L. of tip of the tower Q = R.L. of B.M. + S1 + h1

Instrument axis at R is higher than P : (S2>S1)

d tan  2  S
D= ; h1 = D tan 1; h2 = (d + D ) tan 2
tan 1  tan  2

RL of the tip of the tower (Q) = RL of BM + S2 + h2

Result:

➢ Elevation of the inaccessible object = ________________m.

➢ Difference in elevation between top of the tower and RL of inst. axis at P
(h1) = ________________m.
➢ Difference in elevation between top of the tower and RL of inst. axis at R
(h2) = ________________m.

33
Ex.No. 9 Date:

TRIGONOMETRY - DOUBLE PLANE METHOD [ BASE INACCESSIBLE ]

34
35
Result:

➢ R.L of given station [Q] = _____________________m.

36
 Ex.No. 10

TABULATION

STADIA TACHEOMETRY – DETERMINATION OF THE GRADIENT OF

THE LINE

Face : Right Swing : Right

Inst Stadia hair Vertical angle Horizontal angle
at Sight reading C D Mean A B Mean
to  ' " ' "  ' "  ' " ' "  ' "
Top Mid Bot
O P
Q
Face : Right Swing : Right
O P
Q

37
Ex.No. 10 Date:

STADIA TACHEOMETRY – DETERMINATION OF THE GRADIENT OF

THE LINE
Aim:

To determine the gradient of the line joining two staff stations ( P and Q).
Instruments Required:

Tacheometer, Levelling Staff.

Given : R.L. of Bench Mark = 100.000m
Procedure:

1. Set up the instrument approximately between the given objects and do

the initial adjustments.
2. Take horizontal angles, vertical angles, stadia readings in both the faces
and swings.
Calculation:

Case : I - When the observed vertical angle  is at an angle of elevation

V= The vertical distance from the instrument axis to the point C.

h = Axial hair reading ; h’ = H.I of instrument axis
V = D tan 

D = kS cos 2   C cos 
where k is the multiplication and C is the additive constant.
R.L. of Q = R.L. of H.I. + V - h
where,
R.L. of H.I. = Elevation of B.M + Back sight (h’)
38
Case II - When the observed vertical angle  is at an angle of depression.

R.L. of Q = R.L. of H.I. - V – h

Case : III - When the observed vertical angle is zero.

R.L. of Q = R.L. of H.I. - h

X2 = D12 + D22 – 2D1D2 cos

Result:

➢ The Gradient of the Line Joining A and B = _____________________.

39
 Ex.No. 11

TABULATION

TANGENTIAL TACHEOMETRY

Face : Left Swing : Left

Vertical angle Horizontal angle
Inst Sight C D Mean A B Mean
Position of vane
at to  ' " ' "  ' "  ' " ' "  ' "

P A Top vane
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bottom vane
B Top vane
Bottom vane
Face : Right Swing : Right
P A Top vane
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bottom vane
B Top vane
Bottom vane

40
Ex.No. 11 Date:

TANGENTIAL TACHEOMETRY
Aim:

To determine the gradient of the line joining the given staff stations A and B
and to find the RL of station B.

Instruments Required:

Theodolite, Tape, Peg, Levelling staff

Procedure:

1. Set up the instrument approximately between the given objects and

do the initial adjustments.
2. Direct the telescope towards the staff at A and note the central hair
reading ho. Find the vertical angles by bisecting the staff at two
points having a distance of l m (given). The vertical angles may be
both at elevation or both at depression or one elevation and one
depression.
3. Now turn the horizontal plate clock-wise and sight towards B. Note
the horizontal angle  .
4. Take the vertical angles at B keeping target distance S = 1 m.

Take

RL of BM at A = 100.000m

41
 S = 1 m (Target distance)
1 & 2 = Vertical angle to upper and lower targets respectively.
h1 = Height of lower target above foot of ranging rod
h0 = Height of instrument above datum line
V = Level difference between A and B = D tan 2
R.L of H.I = R.L. of B.M. + h0
R.L. of B = R.L. of H.I + V- h1

Let X = Horizontal distance between A and B

Then, from the above figure,

X2 = D12 + D22 – 2D1D2 cos

S1 S2
where D1 = and D2 = ,  = horizontal angle bet’ A and B
tan  1  tan  2 tan  1  tan  2
V
Gradient between A and B =
X

TANGENTIAL TACHEOMETRY

Staff reading (central hair) at A = ho = __________________ m

Result:

➢ The horizontal distance between A and B ( X ) = ________________.

➢ The horizontal angle between A and B (  ) = ___________________.
➢ The RL of B = __________________________________________.
➢ The gradient of the line joining A and B = _____________________.

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Ex.No. 12 Date:

STUDY OF ELECTRONIC TOTAL STATION

General
A total station is an electronic/optical instrument used in modern surveying.
The total station is an electronic theodolite (transit) integrated with an
electronic distance meter (EDM) to read distances from the instrument to a particular
point. Some models include internal electronic data storage to record distance,
horizontal angle, and vertical angle measured, while other models are equipped to
write these measurements to an external data collector, which is a hand-held
computer.

Angles and distances are measured from the total station to points under
survey, and the coordinates (X, Y, and Z or northing, easting and elevation) of
surveyed points relative to the total station position are calculated
using trigonometry and triangulation.

Data can be downloaded from the total station to a computer and application
software used to compute results and generate a map of the surveyed area.

Most modern total station instruments measure angles by means of electro-

optical scanning of extremely precise digital bar-codes etched on rotating glass
cylinders or discs within the instrument. The best quality total stations are capable of
measuring angles to 0.5 arc-second. Inexpensive "construction grade" total stations
can generally measure angles to 5 or 10 arc-seconds.

Measurement of distance is accomplished with a

modulated microwave or infrared carrier signal, generated by a small solid-state
emitter within the instrument's optical path, and refected by a prism reflector or the
object under survey. The modulation pattern in the returning signal is read and

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interpreted by the computer in the total station. The distance is determined by
emitting and receiving multiple frequencies, and determining the integer number
of wavelengths to the target for each frequency. Total Station
(Courtesy:Leica)

Most total stations use purpose-built glass Porro prism reflectors for the EDM
signal. A typical total station can measure distances with an accuracy of about
1.5 millimetres + 2 parts per million over a distance of up to 1,500 metres.

Reflectorless total stations can measure distances to any object that is

reasonably light in color, to a few hundred meters.

Result:

➢ Thus the study of Total Station is satisfactory.

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