UNIT- 3: Tacheometry
3.1 INTRODUCTION:
Tacheometry (or Tachemetry or Telemetry) is a branch of angular survey in
which the horizontal and vertical distances of points are obtained by intercepts
on a graduated scale and angles observed with a theodolite.
The method is very rapid and convenient. Although the accuracy of
tacheometry in general compares unfavorably with that of chaining, it is best
adapted in obstacles such as steep and broken ground, deep ravines, stretches of
water or swamp and so on, which make chaining difficult or impossible. The
accuracy attained is such that under favorable conditions the error will not
exceed 1/1000.
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.
3.2 USES OF TACHEOMETRY:
1. It is a rapid method of surveying though not highly accurate. So where low
accuracy is acceptable, this is recommended.
2. It is useful for topographic survey where distance and elevations of points are
both required.
3. It is used in plane table survey in the form of telescopic allidade.
4. Tacheometry is used to complete field survey required for photographic
mapping.
5. It is also be profitably used in differential levelling, profile levelling and
indirect trigonometrical levelling.
6. Reconnaissance survey for highways and railways etc.
7. It is used in rugged terrain and inaccessible areas where conventional
methods are difficult and time consuming.
3.3 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TACHEOMETRY:
Advantages:
1. In terrain where direct methods are not convenient, tacheometric methods
can be used.
2. Tacheometric methods are convenient for reconnaissance surveys of
routes, for hydrographic surveying and for filling in details in a traverse.
3. There is considerable saving in time and money with the use of
tacheometric methods.
4. It avoids tedious chaining process for the measurement of distances.
5. It is useful for reconnaissance surveying for quick acquiring data.
Disadvantages:
1. It is less accurate as compared to the chain surveying for longer
distances.
2. This method does not give accurate results for surveying for extensive
areas.
3.4 INSTRUMENTS:
Following are the instruments used in tacheometric surveying:
1. Tacheometer
2. Stadia rod
1. Tacheometer
An ordinary transit theodolite fitted with a stadia diaphragm is generally used for
tacheometric survey. The stadia diaphragm essentially consists of one stadia hair
above and the other at an equal distance below the horizontal cross-hair, the
stadia hairs being mounted in the same ring and in the same vertical plane as the
horizontal and vertical cross-hairs.
Fig: 3.1 show the different forms of stadia diaphragm commonly used.
Fig: 3.1 Various Patterns of StadiaDiaphragm
The telescope used in stadia surveying are of three kinds.
a) The simple external focusing telescope
b) The external focusing annallactic telescope (Porro‟s telescope)
c) The internal focusing telescope.
The first type is known as stadia theodolite, while the second type is
known as tacheometer. The „tacheometer‟ has the advantage over the
first and third type due to the fact that the additive constant of the
instrument is zero. However, the internal focusing telescope is
becoming more popular, through it has a very small additive constant.
Some of the latest patterns of internal focusing telescope may be
regarded as strictly anallactic.
2. Stadia rod
A stadia rod is usually of one piece, having 3 to 5 meters length. The pattern of
graduations should be bold and simple.
Fig: 3.2 show two typical patterns of graduations. For smaller distance, a stadia
rod graduated in 5mm (i.e. 0.005m) may be used. While for longer distance, the
rod may be graduated in 1cm (i.e. 0.01m)
Fig: 3.2 Stadia Rods
3.5 METHODS OF TACHEOMETRY
There are two methods in tacheometry:
1. The stadia system
(a) Fixed hair method or stadia
method (b) Movable hair method
or subtense method.
2. The tangential system.
1. The stadia system
(a) Fixed Hair Method:
In fixed hair method, the hairs are fixed in position i.e. the distance
between the hairs remains constant. The staff intercept varies as the
distance of the staff from the instrument station varies.
In this method, the readings on the staff corresponding to all the three
wires are taken. The staff intercepts, i.e. the difference of the reading
corresponding to top and bottom stadia wires will therefore, depend on
the distance of the staff from the instrument. When the staff intercept is
more than the length of the staff, only half intercept is read. For inclined
sights, readings may be taken by keeping the staff either vertical or
normal to the line of sight. This is the most common method in
tacheometry and the name „stadia method‟ generally bears reference to
this method.
(b) Movable Hair Method:
This method is similar to the fixed hair method except that the stadia
interval is variable. Suitable arrangement is made to vary the distance
between the stadia hair so as to set them against the two targets on the
staff kept at the point under observation. Thus, in this case, the staff
intercept, i.e., the distance between the two targets is kept fixed while the
stadia interval, i.e., the distance between the stadia hairs is variable. As in
the case of fixed hair method, inclined sights may also be taken.
2. The 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 pointings of the
instruments are therefore, necessary. This necessitates measurement of vertical
angles twice for one single observation.
3.6 THE STADIA METHOD:
PRINCIPLE OF STADIA METHOD:
The stadia method is based on the principle that the ratio of the perpendicular to
the base is constant in similar isosceles triangles.
Fig: 3.3 Principle of Stadia Method.
In fig. 3.3(a), let two rays OA and OB be equally inclined to the central ray
OC. Let A2B2, A1B1 and AB be the staff intercepts. Evidently,
= constant K =
This constant K entirely depends upon the magnitude of the angle β. If β is made
equal to 34' 22''.64, the constant K = cot 17' 11''.32 =100. In this case, the
distance between the staff and the point O will be 100 times the staff intercept. In
actual practice, observations may be made with either horizontal line of sight or
with inclined line of sight. In the latter case, the staff may be kept either
vertically or normal to the line of sight.
Consider fig. 3.3 (b) in which O is the optical center of the objective of an
external focusing telescope.
Let A, C and B= the points cut by the three lines of sight corresponding to
the three wires. b, c and a = Top, axial and bottom hairs of the diaphragm.
ab = i = interval between the stadia hairs (stadia interval)
AB = s = staff intercept
F= focal length of the objective
f1= horizontal distance of the staff from the optical centre of
the objective
f2= horizontal distance of the cross-wires from O.
d= distance of the vertical axis of the instrument from O.
D= horizontal distance of the staff from the vertical axis of the instrument.
M= centre of the instrument, corresponding to the vertical axis.
Since the rays BOb and AOa pass through the optical center, they are straight so
that angle Δs AOB and aOb are similar. Hence
Again, since and are conjugate focal distances, we have from lens formula,
Multiplying throughout by ff1, we get f f+f
Substituting thee values of in the above, we get
f f+f
The horizontal distance between the axis and the staff is
D= f1+d
D= + (f + d) =K S + C ----------------1
Equation -1 is known as the distance equation. In order to get horizontal
distance, therefore, the staff intercept ‘s’ is to be found by subtracting the staff
reading corresponding to the top and bottom stadia hairs.
The constant K= f/i is known as the multiplying constant or stadia interval factor
and the constant (f + d) = C is known as the additive constant of the instrument.
3.7 Fixed hair method of Tachometry:
To determine the horizontal distance and elevation of various points, the
tachometer is setup at a point and an ordinary levelling staff or stadia is held at
points whose distances and elevations are required.
While taking observations, the telescope of tachometer may be horizontal or
inclined according to the position of the staff station the different cases are
explained below
Case 1: Line Of Sight Horizontal and Staff held Vertical
The tacheometre is setup at A and the vertical circle is set to zero. The
three hair readings are taken on the staff held at B. the staff reading on B.M. is
also taken if required.
Fig: 3.4 Line of Sight Horizontal
Let, S= stadia intercept
D= distance between A and B.
h1 = staff reading on B.M.
Then horizontal distance, D = + (f + d) Or D = KS + C
Where, K = is called multiplying constant and C = (f + d) is additive constant.
Elevation or reduced level of staff station B
RL of line of sight – central hair reading (h) Where,
R.L. of line of sight = R.L. of B.M + staff reading on B.M (h1)
R.L. of line of sight = R.L. of P + Height of instrument.
Case 2: Line of Sight Inclined and Staff Held Vertical:
If the surface of ground is undulating, staff readings are not possible with line of
sight horizontal. Hence staff readings are to be taken with the line of sight
inclined upwards or downwards.
1. Line of Sight Inclined Upwards:
Fig: 3.5 Line of sight inclined upwards
A is the tachometer station B is the staff station.
The tacheometer is setup at A. the vertical circle is set to zero and the staff
reading on the B.M. taken. Then the telescope is raised till the three hairs cut the
portion of staff and the telescope is clamped. Then the vertical angle and three
hairs readings are noted.
Let, S = staff intercept,
= angle of inclinations of the line of sight (central hair) from horizontal
D = horizontal distance between the instrument and staff station.
V = vertical distance from the instrument axis to the central hair.
h1 = staff reading on BM.
h = central hair reading on
the staff at B.
Horizontal distance, D= KScos2 +C cos
Vertical distance, V= + C sin
Now, R.L. of staff station B = R.L. of instrument axis + V - h
Where, R.L. of instrument axis = R.L. of B.M. +h1
(Or) R.L. of instrument axis = R.L. of A + Height of instrument (if R.L. of A is
unknown)
2. Line of sight inclined downwards:
The instrument is set up at A. The vertical circle vernier is set to zero to
observe the staff reading on B.M. Then the telescope is lowered till the three
hairs cut the portion of the staff at B. The angle of depression three hair
readings are noted.
Fig: 3.6 Line of Sight Inclined Downwards
Horizontal distance, D= KScos2 +C cos
Vertical distance, V= + C sin
Now, R.L. of staff station B = R.L. of instrument axis - V – h