Surveying with Theodolites
Surveying with Theodolites
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
•• For using any tangent screw, its corresponding clamp •• Levelling: Done using leveling screws or foot screws to
screw must be tightened. make the vertical axis truly vertical.
8. Plate levels: These are carried by the upper plates •• Elimination of parallax: Parallax is a condition aris-
which are perpendicular to each other with one of ing when the image formed by the objective is not in the
them parallel to turnion axis. These help the telescope plane of the cross hairs.
to settle in exact vertical position. It is done in two steps:
9. Tripod: It is a stand on which theodolite is mounted 1. Focusing the eye-piece: For distinct vision of the
10. Plumb bob: It is tool a having a cone shaped weight cross hairs.
attached to a long thread. The weight is hanged using 2. Focusing the objective: Focusing screw is turned till
thread from centre of tripod stand and centering of the image appears clear and sharp and is in the plane
the odilite is done. of cross hairs.
11. Compass: Simpler theodolites may contain circular
compass box in the centre of upper plate. It is useful Permanent Adjustments of Theodolite
when we select north as the reference meridian.
1. Adjustment of plate level: To make the axis of plate
Definitions and Terms bubble perpendicular to the vertical axis when the
bubble is central.
1. Vertical axis: This is the axis about which the
instrument can be rotated in a horizontal plane. 2. Adjustment of line of sight: Line of sight should
Lower and upper plates rotate about this axis. It is coincide with optical axis of the telescope.
also known as azimuth axis. 3. Adjustment of horizontal axis: Horizontal axis
2. Horizontal axis or trunnion axis: is the axis about should be perpendicular to the vertical axis. Spire test
which the telescope and the vertical circle rotate in is done.
the vertical plane. 4. Adjustment of altitude level and vertical index
3. Line of sight or line of collimation: is the line frame: Clip and tangent screws are used for adjusting
passing through the intersection of the horizontal vertical frame and levelling of altitude.
and vertical cross-hairs and the optical centre of the
object glass and its continuation. Operations done with Theodolite
4. Axis of level tube or bubble line: It is a straight line Measurement of Horizontal Angle
tangential to the longitudinal curve of the level tube at
its centre. It is horizontal when the bubble is central. Repetition Method Used to measure horizontal angle to a
5. Transiting: also known as plunging or reversing. It is finer degree of accuracy than that obtained with the least
the process of turning the telescope in vertical plane count of vernier.
through 180° about the trunnion axis. Errors eliminated:
6. Swinging the telescope: The process of turning the 1. Errors due to eccentricity of verniers and centres are
telescope in horizontal plane. If rotated clockwise, eliminated by taking both vernier readings.
it is called right swing. If rotated in anticlockwise
2. Errors due to in adjustment of line of collimation and
direction, it is called left swing.
the trunnion axis are eliminated by taking both face
7. Face left observation: If the face of vertical circle
readings.
is to the left of the observer, the observation angle is
called as face left observation. 3. Error due to inaccurate graduations are eliminated by
8. Face right observation: If the face of vertical circle taking the readings at different parts of the circle.
is to the right of the observer. 4. Errors due to inaccurate bisection of the object,
9. Telescope normal or direct: Telescope is said to be eccentric centering, etc., may be to some extent
normal when the face of the vertical circle is to the counter-balanced in different observations.
left side and the bubble is up. 5. Errors due to slip, displacement of station signals and
10. Telescope inverted or reversed: When face of want of verticality of the vertical axis, etc., are not
vertical circle is to the right and the bubble down. eliminated since they are all cumulative.
11. Changing face: It is an operation of bringing the face
Direction Method or Reiteration Method This is also
of the telescope from left to right and vice versa.
known as method of series and is suitable for the measure-
Adjustments in Theodolite ment of the angles of a group having a common vertex point
and finally the horizon is closed such that sum of angles
Temporary Adjustments of Theodolite equal to 360°.
•• Setting: The instrument to be set over the station, center-
1. Measurement of vertical angles.
ing by a plumb bob and approximate levelling with the
help of tripod legs. 2. Measuring magnetic bearing of a line.
3. Measuring direct angles and deflection angles. •• Error due to non-parallelism of the axis of telescope level
4. To prolong a straight line. and the line of collimation can be eliminated by taking
both face observations.
5. To locate point of intersection of two straight lines.
•• Error due to eccentricity of inner and outer axes can
6. To lay off a horizontal angle. be eliminated by taking the mean of the two vernier
7. To lay off an angle by repetition. readings.
•• Error due to imperfect graduations can be eliminated by
Fundamental Lines and Their taking mean of several readings distributed over different
Desired Relations portions of the graduated circle.
•• Error due to eccentricity of verniers can be eliminated
1. Vertical axis
by reading both the verniers and taking the mean of the
2. Horizontal axis (trunnion or transit axis) two.
3. Line of collimation (line of sight)
4. Axis of plate level
Personal Errors
1. Errors in manipulation:
5. Axis of altitude level
(a) Inaccurate centering
When the theodolite is in proper adjustment: (b) Inaccurate levelling
•• The axis of the plate level must lie in a plane perpendicu-
(c) Slip
lar to the vertical axis.
•• The line of collimation must be perpendicular to the hori- (d) Manipulating wrong tangent screw.
zontal axis at its intersection with the vertical axis. 2. Errors in sighting and reading:
•• Horizontal axis must be perpendicular to vertical axis. (a) Inaccurate bisection of points observed.
•• Axis of altitude level (telescope level) must be parallel to (b) Mistakes in setting the vernier.
line of collimation.
•• Vertical circle vernier must read zero when the line of (c) Parallax: Due to parallax, accurate bisection is
collimation is horizontal. not possible. Error can be eliminated by focusing
eye-piece and objective.
Sources of Error in Theodolite Work
Natural Errors
1. Instrumental
1. Unequal atmospheric refraction due to high
2. Personal temperature.
3. Natural 2. Unequal expansion of parts of telescope and circles
Instrumental Errors due to temperature change.
These are due to: 3. Unequal settlement of tripod.
1. Imperfect adjustment of the instrument. 4. Wind producing vibrations.
2. Structural defects in instrument
Double Sighting
3. Imperfections due to wear.
•• Error due to imperfect adjustment of plate levels: Measurement of horizontal angle or vertical angle twice;
The error can be eliminated only by careful leveling once with the telescope in normal condition and once
with respect to the altitude bubble if it is in adjust- with the telescope in inverted condition is called double
ment and can be eliminated by double sighting. sighting.
•• Error due to line of collimation not being perpen-
dicular to the horizontal axis:
Error, e = bsec a
Traverse Surveying and
b = Error in collimation Omitted Measurements
a = Inclination 1. Introduction: Traversing is that type of survey in
This error can be eliminated by taking both face which a number of connected survey lines form the
observations. framework and the directions and the lengths of the
•• Error due to horizontal axis not being perpendicular to survey lines are measured with the help of an angle
the vertical axis: measuring instrument (compass or theodolite) and a
Error, e = b tan a tape (or chain) respectively.
This error can be eliminated by taking both face •• When the lines form a circuit which ends at the
observations. starting point, it is known as closed traverse.
This is suitable for locating the boundaries of •• If the direction of progress is counter-
lakes, woods etc., and for the survey of large areas. clockwise and the angles measured clockwise
•• If the lines of survey ends at a point other than the are directly the interior angles.
starting point it is said be an open traverse. This is •• If the direction of progress is clockwise and
suitable for surveying a long narrow strip of land hence the angles measured clockwise are exte-
as required for a road or canal or the coastline. rior angles.
Solution
Given closed traverse ⇒ SL = SD = 0
2. Independent co-ordinates: Total latitude and
Latitude of AB = AB cos q
departure of any point with respect to a common
origin are known as independent co-ordinates or total = +201cos 85°20′
co-ordinates of the point. Departure of AB = AB sin q = +201 sin 85°20′
∑D
Direction of closing error, tan δ = Latitude of DA = –SL′ = –89.21 m
∑L
Departure of DA = –SD′ = –168.12 m
Relative error of closure
Since both latitude and departure are negative. DA lies in
Error of closure e 1 SW Quadrant. (IIIQ)
= = =
Perimeter of traverse p p
e Departure 168.12
tan q = = = 1.88
Latitude 89.21
q = 62°2′
Bearing of DA = S62°2′W = 242°2′
Latitude
Length of DA =
cosθ
89.21
Closing δ ΣL = =190.23 m.
error ΣD cos(62°2 ′ )
Lenght of axis
Where
l = Length of the line •• Adjustment is done using axis of adjustment which is the
Sl = Perimeter of the traverse line joining the end points extended to intersect any side.
Exercises
1. In the figure shown, the lengths PQ (WCB 30°) and QR 5. The length of a line measured with a 30 m chain was
(WCB 45°) respectively upto three places of decimal found to be 734.6 m. It was afterwards found that the
are chain was 0.05 m too long. The true length of the line
was
N (A) 630.82 m (B) 680.82 m
(C) 735.82 m (D) 780.92 m
R(1000N, 1000E)
Q 6. In a transit theodolite, any incidental error due to
eccentricity of verniers is primarily counteracted by
(A) reading both the verniers.
(B) reading different parts of main scale.
(C) reading right and left faces.
P(100N, 200E)
(D) taking both right swing readings.
E
7. For minor adjustment of horizontal angles measured
(A) 273.505, 938.186 (B) 273.205, 551.815 using a theodolite, the tangential screw is adjusted after
(C) 551.815, 551.815 (D) 551.815, 938.186 (A) both the plates are unclamped.
(B) the lower plate in clamped and the upper plate is
2. Two points P and Q located on a map have the follow- unclamped.
ing co-ordinates: (C) the upper plate is clamped and the lower plate is
P Q unclamped.
Latitude +40 m +20 m (D) both the plates are clamped.
Departure −20 m +30 m 8. Theodilite is a measuring device which is included
under category of
The length of PQ is ________. (A) first order measurements.
(A) 53.85 m (B) 34.89 m (B) second order measurements.
(C) 34.98 m (D) 12.89 m (C) third order measurements.
(D) fourth order measurements.
3. Consider the following assumptions of Bowditch
method: 9. The long and short sides of a rectangle measure 9.32 m
I. Angular measurements are more precise than linear and 4.82 m, with errors ±5 mm. Express the area of
measurements. correct number of significant figures
II. Linear measurements are more precise than angular (A) 44.98 m2 (B) 44.96 m2
(C) 44.92 m 2 (D) 44.85 m2
measurements.
III. Errors in linear measurements are proportional to 10. Two distances of 30 and 100 metres were accurately
L. measured out and the intercepts on the staff between the
IV. Correction to latitude or departure of any side outer stadia webs were 0.176 m at the former distance
Length of that side and 0.892 m at the latter. The tacheometric constant K is
= Total error in L (or D) ×
Perimeter of traverse (A) 100 (B) 97.7
(C) 95 (D) 96.2
Which of these statements are correct?
(A) I and IV (B) I, II and III 11. A flag staff of 2 m height was erected on topic of hill
(Q) and the observations were made from two stations
(C) II, III and IV (D) III and IV
P and R, 50 metres apart. The horizontal angle meas-
4. Consider the following steps: ured at P between R and top of flag staff was 50°30′
I. Calculation of ΣL and ΣD. and that measured at R between the top of the flag-staff
II. Correction of latitudes and departures. P was 50°18′. Angle of elevation to top of staff was
III. Calculation of bearings. measured to be 10°12′ at P. The angle of elevation to
IV. Calculation of interior angles. top of flag staff and was measured to be 10°48′ at R.
V. Calculation of independent angles. Staff readings on BM when the instrument was at P
The correct sequence of these steps in Gale’s traverse = 1.826 m and that with the instrument at R = 2.285
table calculations is m. The elevation of the top of hill Q if the BM was
485.065 m is
(A) III, IV, V, II, I (B) IV, III, I, II, V (A) 485.36 m (B) 488.32 m
(C) II, I, III, IV, V (D) IV, III, V, II, I (C) 494.22 m (D) 498.32 m
12. The distance between two points A and B by tachometer 16. In a closed loop traverse of 1 km total length, the clos-
fitted with anallactic lens which made a vertical angle ing errors in departure and latitude are 0.3 m and 0.4 m.
of +10°46′ and staff intercept of 1.763 m. Later on the The relative precision of this traverse will be
constants of instrument were changed to 100 and 0.5. (A) 1 : 5000
The percentage error is computed horizontal distance is (B) 1 : 4000
(A) 0.287% (B) 0.321% (C) 1 : 3000
(C) 0.262% (D) 0.213% (D) 1 : 2000
13. In a quadrilateral ABCD, the coordinates of points are 17. Assertion (A): Triangulation networks are to be formed
as follows: by well conditioned triangle.
Point East North Reason (R): Triangulation signals should be conspicu-
A 0 0 ous and centered accurately over the station.
(A) Both A and R are individually true and R is the
B 0 −842.8
correct explanation of A.
C 600.1 742.8
(B) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the
D 1023.4 659.3 correct explanation of A.
The area of the figure is (C) A is true but R is false.
(A) 4.68 hectares (B) 7.06 hectares (D) A is false but R is true.
(C) 9.12 hectares (D) 12.51 hectares 18. The bearings and length of sides of a traverse are given
14. To continue a survey line AB past an obstacle, a 400 below:
m long line BC was set out perpendicular to AB and Side Length Bearing
from C angles BCD and BCE were set out 60° and AB 200 m 0
45° respectively. Determine the lengths which must be BC 100 m 60
chained off along CD and CE in order that ED may be CD 250 m 180
in line with AB produced.
DE ? ?
(A) 747 m, 620.4 m
(B) 827 m, 580.3 m The length and whole circle bearing of DE is ______.
(C) 800 m, 565.6 m (A) 50 m and 270 (B) 86.6 m and 270
(D) 852 m, 648.3 m (C) 50 m and 90 (D) 50 m and 90
15. In a closed traverse with five sides, the error found 19. The latitude and departure of a line AB are +79 m and
from the force bearing and back bearing of the last line – 43.1 m respectively. The whole circle bearing of line
is +2°, the correction to the third line will be AB is ______.
(A) 0°24′ (B) 0°48′ (A) 29° (B) 151°
(C) 1°12′ (D) 1°36′ (C) 209° (D) 331°
Answer Keys
Exercises
1. A 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. C 6. A 7. D 8. B 9. C 10. B
11. C 12. A 13. B 14. C 15. C 16. D 17. D 18. B 19. D