Tacheometry
• Tacheometry or tachemetry or telemetry is a branch of angular surveying in which the
horizontal and Vertical distances of points are obtained by optical means as opposed to
the ordinary slower process of measurements by tape or chain.
• It is best adapted in obstacles such as steep and broken ground, deep revines, stretches of
water or swamp and so on, which make chaining difficult or impossible.
• The primary object of tacheometry is the preparation of contoured maps or plans
requiring both the horizontal as well as Vertical control. Also, on surveys of higher
accuracy, it provides a check on distances measured with the tape.
• Tacheometry (derived from the Greek takhus metron meaning ‘swift measurement’), is a
system of rapid surveying, by which the positions, both horizontal and vertical, of points
on the earth surface relatively to one another are determined without using a chain or
tape or a separate leveling instrument.
Tacheometry
Different systems of Tacheometric Measurement:
1. The stadia System
a. Fixed Hair method of Stadia method
b. Movable hair method, or Subtense method
2. Tangential Method
Tacheometry
1. The stadia System
- This method uses optical means in measuring distance using a
telescope with cross line and a staff rod
Telescope Staff
- Cross hair contains two additional horizontal lines know as stadia lines
Stadia line
Stadia interval
Stadia line
Tacheometry
Stadia rod and stadia reading image
Tacheometry
a. Fixed Hair method of Stadia method
• In this method, the angle at the instrument at A subtended by a
known short distance along a staff kept at B is made with the help
of a stadia diaphragm having stadia wires at fixed or constant
distance apart.
• The stadia interval corresponding to top and bottom stadia lines
will therefore depend on the distance of the staff from the
instrument.
• This is the most common method in tacheometry and the other
‘stadia method’ generally bears reference to this method.
Tacheometry
b. Movable hair method, or Subtense method
• This method is similar to the fixed hair method except that the
stadia interval is variable.
• Thus, in this case, the stadia ( the distance between the two
points) is kept fixed while the stadia interval (the distance between
the stadia lines) is variable.
• The interval distance can be measured using micrometer.
Tacheometry
b. Movable hair method, or Subtense method
• This method is similar to the fixed hair method except that the
stadia interval is variable.
• Thus, in this case, the stadia intercept ( the distance between the
two points) is kept fixed while the stadia interval (the distance
between the stadia lines) is variable.
• The interval distance can be measured using micrometer.
Tacheometry
2. Tangential Method
• In this method, the stadia hairs are not used, the readings being taken
against the horizontal cross-hair.
• To measure the staff intercept, two pointing of the instruments are,
therefore, necessary.
• This necessitates measurement of vertical angles twice for one single
observation.
Reference: [Link]
Tacheometry
Basic Structure of Optical Theodolite
Tacheometry
Formula Derivation:
From Similar Triangles
But d = D – (f +c)
substituting to the equation
( )
=
D – (f + c) = s
D = s + (f+c)
Tacheometry
Formula Derivation:
D = s + (f+c)
• The term is a constant in the stadia formula and denoted by the letter
K which is known as the stadia interval.
• The term ( f + c) is a constant for the instrument and is denoted by the
letter C which is known as additive constant.
The equation now becomes:
D = Ks + C