LAB REPORT 03 – EDM CALIBRATION

SHIVAM KUMAR SHUKLA – 180718

KEY WORDS: EDM, Total Station, Reflector, Cyclic error, Reflector Instrument constant, Scale error

ABSTRACT:

In Lab Exercise 3, I learned about an instrument called total station. It can be used for distance measurements and then it is called as
EDMI (Electronic Distance Meter Instrument). Before performing any calculations, the EDM must be calibrated to find out the
instrumental error corrections that should be done. The constants found during the calibration are cyclic error, Reflector instrument
constant and scale error.

1. EDMI CALIBRATION
2.2 Reflector Instrument Constant
1.1 EDMI
There can be some loss of phase due to the reflector prism. This
EDMI (Electronic Distance Meter Instrument) is used to measure can be due to deformation or damage in the prism which leads to
distance by the principle of laser reflection and speed of light. a constant instrumental error in the measurements. This error is
The two components of EDMI are instrument and reflector. A known as Reflector Instrumental Constant. This can be measured
calibrated EDMI is used for various purpose in surveying like by measuring short distances (this would minimise the cyclic
finding angles and distance. But what is the need and purpose of error) . The process is to take a small distance D and divide it into
EDMI calibration ? Let’s examine the following reasons – n segments then each segment is measured with tape accurately
i) To check on the accuracy and reliability of the instrument. and then with edm. With these measurements reflector constant
In calibration we measure a known distance to check how is calculated. It is also known as zero error.
accurate our instrument will be with unknown distances.
ii) To find Reflector Instrument constant that is responsible
for constant instrumental error in our instrument.
iii) To find cyclic error and scale error of the instrument that
will be used to adjust the readings of our measurement in
other labs.

A properly calibrated EDMI ensures proper reliability and

accuracy in future experiment. It also keeps a check on our
instrument performance and life. If error is more the instrument 3. MEASUREMENT OF ERRORS
must be replaced.
The following errors are now calculated using the observations
2. ERROR/ CONSTANTS IN EDM CALIBRATION taken in Lab 3 exercise.

There are majorly three errors/constant calculated and measure 3.1 Cyclic Error
in the exercise – Cyclic error, Reflector-Instrument Constant and
Scale Error. Assume the basic measuring unit as 10m. (effective wavelength
= λ/2 )
2.1 CYCLIC ERROR 1. Setup instrument at a point A.
2. Divide the 30 m line from A into two segments of 20
Cyclic error is caused by the non-linearity in amplitude m and 10 m.
modulation of the phase and carrier wave measurement. This 3. Divide the last 10 m into 10 parts of 1 m each. Measure
cyclic error changes across the modulated wavelength. This error each part with tape accurately (di in column (2)) and
is normally small for an EDM instrument in good adjustment. But with EDM (Di in column (3))
its presence must be checked as an indication of the adjustment 4. Carefully measure D0 with EDM
of the EDM instrument. Cyclic error is usually a periodic, 5. The error is calculated by the formula (in column 5):
sinusoidal, in nature with a wavelength equal to the unit length ei = Di – (D0 + Σ di)
of the EDM. Cyclic error can be regarded as systematic error. 6. The correction is given by the formula (in column 6):

7. Plot x-y plot of this corrections with distances on x axis

and corrections on y axis.
 Station Taped Dist. di, EDMI dist Di, D0 + Σdi (m) 𝑒 = 𝐷 − (𝐷 + Σ𝑑 ) (m) 𝑐 = −𝑒 + (m)
(1) (m) (2) (m) (3) (4) (5) (6)

0 - 20.008 20.000 = 20.008 – 20.000 = 0.008 = - 0.008 + 0.011 = 0.003

1 1.000 21.013 21.000 = 21.013 – 21.000 = 0.013 = - 0.013 + 0.011 = -0.002
2 1.000 22.010 22.000 = 22.010 – 22.000 = 0.010 = - 0.010 + 0.011 = 0.001
3 1.000 23.008 23.000 = 23.008 – 23.000 = 0.008 = - 0.008 + 0.011 = 0.003
4 1.000 24.011 24.000 = 24.011 – 24.000 = 0.011 = - 0.011 + 0.011 = 0
5 1.000 25.015 25.000 = 25.015 – 25.000 = 0.015 = - 0.015 + 0.011 = -0.004
6 1.000 26.013 26.000 = 26.013 – 26.000 = 0.013 = - 0.013 + 0.011 = -0.002
7 1.000 27.009 27.000 = 27.009 – 27.000 = 0.009 = - 0.009 + 0.011 = 0.002
8 1.000 28.015 28.000 = 28.015 – 28.000 = 0.015 = - 0.015 + 0.011 = -0.004
9 1.000 29.008 29.000 = 29.008 – 29.000 = 0.008 = - 0.008 + 0.011 = 0.003
10 1.000 30.011 30.000 = 30.011 – 30.000 = 0.011 = - 0.011 + 0.011 = 0
.
Average Error : eavg = = = 0.011

Correction Vs Distance
0.004
0.003 0.003 0.003
0.002 0.002
0.001 0.001
0 0 0
-0.001 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
-0.002 -0.002 -0.002
-0.003
-0.004 -0.004 -0.004
-0.005

3.2 Reflector – Instrument Constant

1) Divide suitable distance D into n number of segments.

2) Use the same set of EDMI & reflector set for the entire set of measurements.
3) Measure the length of line (D) using EDMI and length of each n segments.(d 1, d2, d3, …)
4) Reflector constant can be calculated by the formula: K =

.
K= = - 5.6 × 10

3.3 Scale Error

If we know the length of a ‘calibrated line’, scale error can be found out. If the known distance is Dk, If the measured distance is Dm
The scale error can be calculated as –

Scale error (in ppm) = × 10 = n ppm; Corrected Distance = 𝐷 + 𝑛 × 𝐷

( . . )
= × 10 = 0.005 × 10 = 5000 ppm

References
CE 331P IITK course.