TACHEOMETRY
CE 2121 FUNDAMEN TALS OF SURVEYING
TACHEOMETRY
Tacheometry is defined as a procedure of obtaining horizontal
distances and differences in elevation based on the optical
geometry of the instrument employed.
The primary object of tacheometry is the preparation of
contoured maps or plans requiring both the horizontal as well as
the vertical control. Also, on surveys of higher accuracy, it
provides a check on distances measured with tape.
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THE STADIA METHOD
❑The equipment for stadia measurements
consists of a telescope with two horizontal hairs
called stadia hair and a graduated rod called a
stadia rod.
❑The stadia method is especially well adapted to
mapping requirements and is widely used for
locating details and contour points in
topographic surveys.
❑It is far more rapid than taping, and under
certain conditions could be made as precise.
This method also requires the employment of
fewer survey personnel.
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✓ f = focal length of the lens
✓ f1 = image distance or length from the center of
the objective lens to the plane of the cross wires
when the telescope is focused on some definite
points.
✓ f2 = object distance or length from the center of
the objective lens to a definite point when the
telescope is focused on that point.
✓ i = distance or spacing between stadia hairs
✓ c = distance from the center of the instrument to
the center of the objective lens.
✓ C = stadia constant or the distance from the
center of the instrument to the principal focus.
✓ C=c+f
✓ d = distance from the focal point in front of the
telescope to the face of the rod.
✓ D = distance from the instrument center to the 𝒇 𝒅 Also; The equation D = Ks + C is
face of the rod. = D= d + (f + c) employed in computing
𝒊 𝒔
✓ K = stadia interval factor or K = f / I D= (f/i)s + C horizontal distances from
✓ s = stadia or rod intercept. The difference d = (f/i)s D= Ks + C stadia intervals when
between the upper stadia hair reading and the sights are horizontal.
lower stadia hair reading.
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INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS
✓ ID or S = KsCos (∝) + C
(The inclined or slope distance from the center of
instrument at O to the horizontal cross hair reading at P)
✓ H = KsCos2 (∝) + CCos(∝)
(The horizontal distance between the instrument and the
rod)
✓ V = KsCos (∝) Sin (∝) + CSin (∝)
(The vertical distance between the telescope axis at O
and the horizontal cross hair reading at P)
✓ DE = HI + V – RR
(Difference in elevation between the instrument station
at M and the distant stadia point at N. HI or OM is the
height of instrument)
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➢ K = stadia interval factor or f/i
➢ a = upper stadia hair reading
➢ b = lower hair stadia reading
➢ P = horizontal cross hair reading or rod
reading, RP
➢ s = stadia interval or the difference between the
upper stadia hair reading and the lower stadia
hair reading on the rod or a – b.
➢ ∝ = observed vertical angle of elevation or
depression. A positive or negative sign must be
indicated to identify the type of angle.
➢ C = Stadia constant of the instrument or c + f.
For internal focusing telescopes, assume this
value to be zero.
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SAMPLE PROBLEMS
HORIZONTAL SIGHTS.
In the figure, the width of a river being observed is 75-m. Assuming the transit being
used has an external focusing telescope and K= 100, determine the unknowns in the
table below. Assume C= 0.
HORIZONTAL
STADIA
ROD POSITION DISTANCE FROM
INTERCEPT
TRANSIT
Rod at left water edge (L) ? ?
Rod at Right water edge (R) ? 0.895 m
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HORIZONTAL SIGHTS.
In the figure, the width of a river being
observed is 75-m. Assuming the transit
being used has an external focusing
telescope and K= 100, determine the
unknowns in the table below. Assume C=
0.
HORIZONTAL
STADIA
ROD POSITION DISTANCE FROM
INTERCEPT
TRANSIT
Rod at left water edge (L) ? ?
Rod at Right water edge (R) ? 0.895 m
D= KS+ C
D(R)= KS+ C D(L)= D(R)- 75m D(L)= KS+ C
D(R)= 100(0.895m) +0 D(L)= 89.5- 75 14.5= 100(S)+ 0
D(R)= 89.5- m D(L)= 14.5- m S= 0.145-m
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INCLINED SIGHTS. In the figure, the
difference in elevation between the
observed points A and B is 15-m and the
horizontal distance between them is 35-m.
With transit at station O, additional
information was obtained as shown in the
table. Determine the stadia intervals at A
and B. assume K= 100 and C= 0.
VD= KScosƟsinƟ+ CsinƟ
STATION VD= ½ KSsin2Ɵ
RR (m) S VCR
Occupied Observed
A 1.863 ? +12°
B 1.500 ? +10°
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0
A transit with a stadia interval factor of 100.8 HAIR READINGS
was set at point C on the line between points A POSITION VERTICAL
OF ROD ANGLE UPPER MIDDLE LOWER (b)
and B, and the following stadia readings were (a) (c)
observed. If the stadia constant is 0.381 m,
determine the following: Rod held +15°35’ 1.330 m 1.175 m 1.020 m
a) Length of line AB at A
b) Difference in elevation between points A and Rod held -08°08’ 1.972 m 1.854 m 1.736 m
B at B
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HAIR READINGS
a) L= HD1 + HD POSITION VERTICAL
OF ROD ANGLE UPPER MIDDLE LOWER (b)
HD= KsCos2 (∝) + CCos(∝)
(a) (c)
For Rod held +15°35’ 1.330 m 1.175 m 1.020 m
S1= (a1- b1) at A
S1= 1.330- 1.020 Rod held -08°08’ 1.972 m 1.854 m 1.736 m
S1= 0.310 m at B
HD1= 100.8(0.310)Cos2 (𝟏𝟓°𝟑𝟓′) + 𝟎. 𝟑𝟖𝟏𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝟏𝟓°𝟑𝟓′)
HD1= 29.36 m
For
S2= (a2- b2)
S2= 1.972- 1.736
S2= 0.236 m
HD2= 100.8(0.236)Cos2 (08°08′) + 0.381𝑐𝑜𝑠(08°08′)
HD2= 23.69 m
Therefore Line AB
L= 29.36+ 23.69
L= 53.05- m
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b) Difference in elevation between
points A and B
DE(AB)= VD1- RR1+ VD2+ RR2
For
VD1= KsCos (∝) Sin (∝) + CSin (∝)
VD1= 100.8(0.310)Cos (15°35’)sin (15°35’)+0.381sin(15°35’)
VD1= 8.19 m
FOR
VD2= 100.8(0.236)Cos (08°08’)sin (08°08’)+0.381sin(08°08’)
VD2= 3.38 m
DE (AB)= 8.19- 1.175+ 3.38+ 1.854
DE (AB)= 12.25-m
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