ENGINEERING SURVEYING

(221 BE)

Theodolite & Total Station

Sr Tan Liat Choon
Email: tanliatchoon@gmail.com
Mobile: 016-4975551
Introduction
 Until recently, transits and theodolites were the most
commonly used surveying instruments for angle
measurements for angle measurement. These two devices
were fundamentally equivalent and could accomplish basically
the same task

 Today, total station accomplish all the task much more

efficiently than transits and theodolite

 In addition, it can observes distance accurately and quickly

 Furthermore, it can make computations with the angle and

distance measurements and display the result in real time

 It is used for all types of surveys including topographic,

hidrographic, cadastral, and construction surveys
Transit and Theodolite
 Primary function is the accurate
measurement of layout of horizontal and
vertical angles

 Other function
• Determining horizontal and vertical
distances by stadia
• Extending straight lines
• Differential levelling
Definition
 Transits and theodolites operate on the same basic
principles

 No universally accepted difference between the terms

“transit” and “theodolite”

 Distinguishing characteristics:
• Transits have an open design where the measurements are
made by reading verniers on metal circles
• Theodlites have a closed designed where the measurements are
made by reading verniers etched on glass circles
• Theodolites are capable of greater precision and accuracy
 Transit
Transit is the most universal of surveying
instruments – primary use is for
measurement or layout of horizontal and
vertical angles – also used to determine
vertical and horizontal distance by stadia,
prolonging straight lines, and low-order
leveling

6 Components of the Transit

1. Alidade – Upper part
2. Horizontal limb – Middle part
3. Levelling-head assembly – Lower part
4. Levelling Haed
5. Scales (range from 30” to 10”)
6. Transit vernier (range from 1” to 10”)
Theodolite
 The theodolite is used to measure horizontal
and vertical angles for exact survey work

 Compared to transit, theodolite are:

• Compact
• Lightweight
• More accuracy and precise

 Transits are more common in the U.S. but are

being replaced by theodolite
Type of Theodolite

 Repaeting theodolite

 Directional Theodolite

 Electrical Digital Theodolite

 Total Station
Repeating Theodolite
 This design enables horizontal angles to be
repeated any number of times and added
directly on the instrument circles

 Advantages of this design are:

• Better accuracy obtained through averaging

• Disclosure of errors and mistakes by computing
values of the single and multiple readings
Repeating Measurement
 Measure the angle (e.g. 23 19’)
 Tighten the lower motion clamp
 Re-sight on the initial point
 Sight the second point and re-measure the angle (e.g. 46 40”)
 Repeat process as many times as desired
 Solution equals the average of the measurement, or the final
measurement divided by the number of measurements

 For example:
• 1st measurement : 23 19’
• 2nd measurement : 46 40’
• 3rd measurement : 69 59’
• 4th measurement : 93 23’
• 5th measurement : 116 44’
• 6th measurement : 140 32’
• Average angle measurement : 23 20’
Directional Theodolite

 Non-repeating instrument that has

no lower motion

 Reads “directions” rather than

angles

 Angles are obtained by subtracting

the first direction reading from the
second direction reading
Directional Measurement
 Set up the theodolite

 Sight the initial point and read the direction

(e.g. 31 19’ 27”)

 Sight the second point and read the

direction (e.g. 85 24’ 49”)

 The angle is then calculated as the

difference between the two directions
(e.g. 54 05’ 22”)
Electronic Digital Theodolite

 Automatically reads and records

horizontal and vertical angles

 Eliminates the manual reading of

scales on graduated circles
Advantages of Electronic
Digital Theodolite
 Circles can be instantaneously zeroed, or initialized to
any value

 Angles can be measured with increasing values either

left or right

 Angles measured by repetition can be added to provide

a total larger than 360

 Mistakes in reading angles are greatly reduced

 Speed of operation is increased

 Cost of instrument is lower

Theodolite Reading
Theodolite Reading
Theodolite Reading
 Theodolite Sighting
Some Typical Theodolite Diaphragms
 Theodolite Sighting

This is roughly what the diaphragm in our theodolites looks like

 Theodolite Sighting

This is FACE LEFT

This is FACE RIGHT

 Theodolite Sighting

We need to superimpose the

theodolite diaphragm over the target
This is the sort of target
that we have fixed to the
wall outside.
 Theodolite Sighting

It is better to pick a well defined

point such as the top point

Going for the centre point is difficult

particularly if the central line of the
target is not vertical
 Theodolite Sighting

Because of the “hole” in the lines of

the diaphragm this is still not good
practice. I am not sure that I am
lined up on the top point
 Theodolite Sighting

This is much better. I can

repeat this alignment with a
fair degree of certainty

This is how we should sight a

horizontal
target for

angle measurements
 Theodolite Sighting

This is how we should sight a

vertical
target for

angle measurements
 Theodolite Sighting

Sometimes we use the single lines and sometimes it is better to use

the double lines
EDM, Total Station, Prism and Pole
Electromagnetic Distance Measurement
(EDM)

A major advance in surveying instrument

occurred approximately 60 years ago with the
development of electronic distance
measurement (EDM) instruments. These
devices measure lengths by indirectly
determining the number of full and partial
waves of transmitted, electromagnetic energy
required in traveling between the two ends of
a line. In practice, the energy is transmitted
from one end of the line to the other and
returned to the starting points
Electromagnetic Distance Measurement
(EDM)

Definition
The electronic distance measurement instrument (EDM) is a
relatively new development in the field of surveying. The
instrument sends out a beam of light or high frequency
microwaves from one end of line to be measured, and
directs it towards the far end of the line. A reflector or
transmitter receiver at the far end reflects the light or
microwaves back to the instrument where they are analyzed
electronically to give the distance between the two points

(Francis, 1982)
Electromagnetic Distance Measurement
(EDM)

EDM instruments are available to

measure distance using light and
radio waves. The distance is
calculated either from the time
difference between a transmitted
pulse and a return pulse or the phase
difference between a transmitted and
a reflected beam of radiation
Electromagnetic Distance Measurement
(EDM)

Components of EDM

 Light source
• For transferring the electromagnetic waves

 Light Modulation
• Change the light to Electromagnetic waves

 Phase Difference system

 Mini PC or Calculator
Electromagnetic Distance Measurement
(EDM)
Electromagnetic distance measuring equipment use three different
wavelength bands:
 Microwave systems
• Range up to 150 km
• Wavelength 3 cm
• Unaffected by visibility

 Light wave systems

• Range up to 5 km
• Visible light, lasers
• 3-distance reduced by visibility

 Infra red systems

• 1-Range up to 3 km
• 2-limited to line of sight EDM and electronic theodolite
• 3-limited by rain, fog, and other airborne particles

 The accuracy of the measurement varies from type to type but is usually in the range
from ±(1.0 mm + 1.0 ppm) to ±(10.0 mm + 5 ppm). EDM and electronic theodolite
Electromagnetic Distance Measurement
(EDM)
Total Station

A Total Station integrates the functions of a theodolite for

measuring angles, an EDM for measuring distances, digital data
and information recording. Examples of Total Stations are the
Nikon DTM 801, Topcon and Geodimeter 400 series

 Examples of usage
• General purpose angle and distance measurements.
• Provision of control surveys, Contour and detail mapping
,setting out and construction work

 Factors which influence the use of Total Stations

• A clear line of sight between the instrument and the
measured points is essential
• A well defined measurement point or target/prism is
required to obtain the maximum accuracy
Total Station
Total Station Instrument
 An electronic digital theodolite and an electronic
distance measurement in one integral unit

 They can automatically record horizontal and

vertical angles and slope distances from a single
setup

 Slope distance can be reduced to horizontal and

vertical components instantaneously

 Given initial data they will display positions and

elevations of sighted points
Three Basic Components
 Total station instruments combine three
basic components into one integral unit

• An electronic distance measurement (EDM)

instrument
• An electronic angle measurement
component
• A computer or microprocessor
 Vertical axis

Handle

Collimator

Vertical circle
Objective lens
Horizontal axis

Vertical circle lock Optical plummet lens

focus
Vertical tangent screw
Optical plummet
Circular level vial eyepiece

Horizontal circle lock Eyepiece focus

Horizontal circle tangent Display & Keyboard

screw
Base Tribrach lock

Tribrach

Tribrach levelling
screws
Features
 Automatically observe
• Horizontal and vertical angles
• Slope distances from a single set up

 Instantaneously compute
• Horizontal and vertical distance components
• Elevations
• Coordinates of the point sighted

 Display the result on liquid crystal display (LCD)

• Store the data, either on board or in external data
collectors connected to their communication ports
Features
 The EDM instruments that are integrated into the total station
instruments, lengths up to about 4km which is adequate for
most job

 Total station instruments are manufactured with two graduated

circles, mounted in mutually perpendicular planes
• Its horizontal circle is oriented in a horizontal plane, which
automatically puts the vertical circle in a vertical plane
• Horizontal and vertical angles can then be measured
directly in their respective planes

 Averaging of multiple angles and distance measurements

 Correcting electronically measured distances for prism

constants, atmospheric pressure and temperature
Features
 Making curvature and refraction corrections to elevations
determined by trigonometric levelling

 Reducing slope distances to their horizontal and vertical

components

 Calculating point elevations from the vertical distance

components (supplemented with keyboard input of instrument
and refractor heights)

 Computing coordinates of surveyed points from horizontal

angle and horizontal distance components (supplemented with
keyboard input of coordinates for the occupied station and a
reference azimuth)
 Total Station Set Up

When total station is moved or transported, it must be in the case

 For most surveys, prior to observing distances and angles, the instrument
must first be carefully set up over a specific point

 Establish tripod over the point

 Open the case and remove total station, placing it on the head of the tripod
and attach securely with centre screw

 Close the case

 Grasp two tripod legs and look through the optical plumb, adjust the legs so
that bulls eye is over the point (keep the tripod head as level as possible)

 Firmly place the legs of the tripod in the ground

 Mount the tribrach approximately in the middle of the tripod head to permit
maximum translations in any direction
 Total Station Set Up

 Utilizing the tripod leg adjustments, level the total station using the fish-eye
bubble

 Loosen the centre screw to adjust the total station exactly over the point if needed

 Properly focus the optical plummet on the point

 Manipulate the levelling screws to aim the intersection of cross hairs of the optical
plummet telescope at the point below

 Level the instrument using the plate bubble and levelling screws

 Loosen the centre screw to adjust the total station exactly over the point if needed

 Complete levelling the total station using level vial

 Check to make sure you are still on the point

Remember to charge the TOTAL STATION BATTERY for 6 hour before you
start your work or check whether the total station is using AA BATTERY ?
 Level the Total Station

 To level a total station instrument, the telescope is rotated to place the axis
of the level vial parallel to the line through any two levelling screws, as the
line through screw (A) and screw (B) in Figure (a) below

 The bubble is centred by turning these two screws, then rotated 90 , as

shown in Figure (b), and centred again using the third screw (C) only

 The process is repeated and carefully checked to ensure that the bubble
remains centred

A B A B

Bubble direction
Direction Direction
of screw of screw
rotation rotation
Bubble direction

C C
Figure (a) Figure (b)
Setting Up A Theodolite /
Total Station
 Turning Angles With Total Station

 Sight on the backsight utilizing the horizontal adjustment screw

 Zero set the instrument (this provides an initial reading of 0 seconds)

 Loosen tangent screw and rotate instrument to foresight

 Tighten tangent screw and bring cross hair exact on target with adjustment
screw

 Read and record angle as displayed

 To close the horizon:

• Sight on foresight point from above and zero set instrument
• Rotate to former backsight and adjust instrument to exact
• Read and record angle as displayed

 Angle from direct and indirect should equal 360 degrees

 Total Station Distance Measurement

 Point the instrument at a prism (which is vertical over the

point)

 Push the measure button and record the distance

 You can measure the horizontal distance or the slope

distance, it is important that you note which is being collected

• If you are measuring the slope distance, the zenith angle must
be recorded to allow the horizontal distance to be computed
• If you are collecting topographic data with elevations, it is
important that the height of the instrument and the height of the
prism be collected and recorded
• This can also be solved by setting the prism height the same as
the instrument height
 Total Station Rules

 When moving between setups in the field, proper care should be

taken

 Before the total station is removed from the tripod, the food screw
should be returned to the midpoints of the posts

 The instrument should never be transported on the tripod

 With adjustable leg tripods, stress on the legs can be avoided by

retracting them to their shortest positions and lightly clamping them
in position

 When returning the total station to its case, all locking mechanisms
should be released

 If the instrument is wet, it should be wiped down and left in an open

case it is dry
 Total Station Rules

 Never point the instrument at the sun, this can damage the
components of the instrument as well as cause immediate blindness

 Never move or transport the total station unless it is in the case

provided

 Do not attempt to rotate the instrument unless the tangent screw is

loose

 Avoid getting the instrument wet, if it does get wet, wipe it down and
allow to dry in a safe area before storage

 Batteries of the total station must be charged regularly. At least

once per month, the battery should be cycled

 Care should be taken at all times, these units are expensive ($8,000
- $45,000)
Total Station Sighting
Total Station Sighting
 Theodolite - Instrument Checks
There are 6 possible instrument errors:
1) Plate Bubble Error . This is checked every time the theodolite is set up. i.e.
check the bubble drift in positions c) and d) and then eliminate the error by
“ Freezing the Bubble”

2) Non - Vertical Cross Hairs . Move the telescope up and down while
sighting a well defined distant point. Any error will be very obvious

3) Horizontal Collimation Error . Sight a well defined point and read the
horizontal circle on F/L and F/R. The difference in the minutes and seconds
should be <40”

4) Trunnion Axis Dislevelment . Spire Test. Sight a well defined elevated point
(church spire) then lower the telescope onto a tape or staff about 40m
away. The difference between F/L and F/R should be < 5mm for most
engineering applications
 Theodolite - Instrument Checks

5) Vertical Collimation Error . Sight a well defined point

and read the vertical circle on F/L and F/R. The
difference in the minutes and seconds should be <40”

6) Laser Plumb Error . Check the laser plumb alignment in

two positions 180 different

Rotated by 1800

Initial position Readjusted to mid point

Tribrachs
Tribrachs
Tribrachs
Prism

 A corner-cube or reflective prism is essential for most

Total Stations and EDM. The prism is used to return the
transmitted beam to the instrument to allow a distance to
be determined by time of flight or phase comparison

 Total stations allow for the direct input of temperature

and pressure and automatic application of
meteorological corrections. Most of the current EDM
instruments use LASER beams and reflectors

 The latest models provide for reflector-less

measurements, thus improving efficiency for certain
applications drastically
Routine Care of Theodolite/Total Station
Routine Care of Theodolite/Total Station

 Before making the first set up of the day, visually inspect the instrument for
damage. Check the machined surfaces and the polished faces of the lenses and
mirrors. Try the clamps and motions for smooth operation

 Clean the exterior of the instrument frequently. Any accumulation of dirt and dust
can scratch the machined or polished surfaces and cause friction or sticking in
the motions. Remove dirt and dust with a clean, soft cloth or with a brush. Clean
non-optical parts with a soft cloth or clean chamois

 Clean the external surfaces of lenses with a fine lens brush and, if necessary,
use a dry lens tissue. Do not use silicone-treated tissues because they can
damage coated optics. The lens may be moistened before wiping it, but do not
use liquids for cleaning. Do not loosen or attempt to clean the internal surfaces of
any lens

 After an instrument has been used in damp or cold situation, use special
precautions to prevent condensation of moisture inside the instrument. If the
instrument is used in cold weather, leave it in the carrying case in the vehicle
during non-working periods rather take it into a heated room. If you store the
instrument in a heated room overnight, remove it from the carrying case. If the
instrument is wet, bring it into a warm, dry room, remove it from its case and
leave it at room temperature to dry it
Vehicular Transport

 Transport and store instrument in positions that are

consistent with the carrying case design. For example,
total station should be carried and stored in their correct
position. Many instrument cases indicate the position in
which they should be transported

 Treat tribrachs, prism and tripods with care. Carry them in

their shipping cases or cushion them with firm polyfoam
or excelsior-filled cases to protect the from jolting or
vibrating excessively
Casing and Uncasing

Before removing an instrument, study the

way it is placed and secured in the case.
Place it in the same position when you
return it to the case. In removing the
instrument from the case, carefully grip it
with both hands, but do not grip the vertical
circle standard or where pressure will be
exerted or tubular or circular level vials
Sources of Error in Total Station Work

 Instrument Errors

• Plate bubble out of adjustment

• Horizontal axis not perpendicular to vertical
axis
• Axis of sight not perpendicular to horizontal
axis
• Vertical circular index error
• Eccentricity of centres
• Circle graduation errors
• Errors caused by peripheral equipment
Sources of Error in Total Station Work

 Natural Errors

• Wind
• Temperature effects
• Refraction
• Tripod settlement
Sources of Error in total Station Work

 Personal Errors

• Instrument not set up exactly over point

• Bubbles not centred perfectly
• Improper use of clamps and tangent
screws
• Poor focusing
• Overly careful sights
• Careless plumbing and placement of rod
Mistakes
 Some common mistakes in angle
measurement work are:

• Sighting on, or setting up over the wrong

point
• Calling out or recording an incorrect value
• Improper focusing of the eyepiece and
objective lenses of the instrument
• Partiality on the tripod, or placing a hand on
the instrument when pointing or taking
readings
Question

List three (3) major features that

make the difference among Transit,
Electronic Distance Measurement
and Total Station
 Thank You &
Question and Answer