Introduction

• Revolutionary changes have taken place in last

few years in surveying instruments that are used
for measuring level differences, distances and
angles.
• This has become possible because of
introduction of electronics in these
measurements. With rapid advancements in the
technology and availability of cheaper and
innovative electronic components, these
instruments have become affordable and easy to
use.
• This module outlines developments in the
technology for various survey measurements
such as digital levels, electronic distance
measuring instruments, electronic theodolites,
and total stations.
Modern equipments
• EDM–electronic distance meter
• GPS
• Electronic theodolite.
• Total station.
EDM
Measurement of distance is accomplished with a
modulated microwave or infrared carrier signal,
generated by a small solid-state emitter within the
instrument's optical path, and bounced off of the
object to be measured. The modulation pattern in the
returning signal is read and interpreted by the
onboard computer in the EDM. The distance is
determined by emitting and receiving multiple
frequencies and determining the integer number of
wavelengths to the target for each frequency.

Principle
In EDM the beam of light is the carrier and which is
reflected back from mirror located at the other end.
Such instrument are less expensive because one
active instrument and battery are only needed at one
end and instrument at other end is simply a reflecting
mirror centered over ground centre mark
Hand held EDM
• Very handy
• Cheap
• Can be used with accuracy of 10mm or so
• Rapid measurement
• Long range
• High accuracy
• Measurement of moving target
 Operations with EDM
• Measurement with EDM involves four basic
steps:
(a) Set up
(b) Aim
(c) Measure
(d) Record
• Setting up: The instrument is centered over a
station by means of tribrach or by mounting over
a compatible theodolite. Reflector prisms are set
over the remote station either on tribrach or on a
prism pole. Observations related to height or
instrument and prism are recorded. These are
usually kept the same to avoid any additional
corrections.
• Aiming: The instrument is aimed at prisms by
using sighting devices or theodolite telescope.
Slow motion screws are used to intersect the
prism centre. Some kind of electronic sound or
beeping signal helps the user to indicate the
status of centering.
• Measurement: The operator presses the
measure button to record the slope distance
which is displayed on LCD panel.
• Recording: The information on LCD panel can be
recored manually or automatically. All
meteorological parameters are also recorded.
Global Positioning System(GPS)
Global Positioning System (GPS) is developed by U.S.
Defence department and is called Navigational System
with Time and Ranging Global Positioning System
(NAVSTAR GPS) or simply GPS.
For this purpose, U.S. Air Force has stationed 24
satellites at an altitude of 20200 km above the earth’s
surface. The satellites ha ve been positioned in such a
way, at least four satellites will be visible from any
point on earth.
The user needs a GPS receiver to locate the position of
any point on ground. The receive processes the signals
received from the satellite and compute the position
(latitude and longitude) and elevation of a point with
reference to datum.
 Electronic Theodolite
• optical readouts with direct digital readouts or
micrometer equipped reTheodolites or transits
are used to measure horizontal angles. These
have evolved as follows:
o Vernier theodolite (open face and Vernier
equipped instruments)
o Optical theodolite (enclosed with adouts)
o Electronic theodolites (enclosed with
electronic readouts)
• Electronic theodolites operate like any optical
theodolite with one major difference that these
instruments have only one motion (upper) and
hence have only one horizontal clamp and slow
motion screws.
 Characteristics of electronic
theodolites
• Angle least count can be 1" with precision ranging
from 0.5" to 20"
• Digital readouts eliminate the personal error
associated with reading and interpolation of scale
and micrometer settings.
• Display window/unit for horizontal and vertical
angles available at either one or both ends.
• Some digital theodolites have modular
arrangement where they can be upgraded to be
a total station or have an EDMI attached for
distance measurements.
• Vertical circles can be set to zero for horizon or
zenith along with the status of battery shown in
the display window.
• Typical specifications for digital theodolites are
generally given as follows:
o Magnification: 26X to 30X
o Field of view (FOV) 1.50.
o Shortest viewing distance 1.0 m
o Angle readouts, direct 5" to 20"
 TOTAL STATION
• These instruments can record horizontal and
vertical angles together with slope distance and
can be considered as combined EDM plus
electronic theodolite. The microprocessor in TS
can perform various mathematical operations
such as averaging, multiple angle and distance
measurements, horizontal and vertical distances,
X, Y, Z coordinates, distance between observed
points and corrections for atmospheric and
instrumental corrections.
• Due to the versatility and the lower cost of
electronic components, future field instruments
will be more like total stations that measure angle
and distance simultaneously having:
o all capabilities of theodolites
o electronic recording of horizontal and vertical
angles
o storage capabilities of all relevant
measurements for manipulation with
computer.
• Nowadays surveying systems are available
which can be use in an integrated manner with
Global Positioning System (GPS).
• Generally following types of total stations are
available in the market:
o Mechanical/manual
o Motorized
o Autolock
o Robotic/automatic
Basic Principle
A total station integrates the functions of a theodolite
for measuring angles, an EDM for measuring
distances, digital data and a data recorder. All total
stations have similar constructional features
regardless of their age or level of technology, and all
perform basically the same functions.
Features:-
• Total solution for surveying work,
• Most accurate and user friendly,
• Gives position of a point (x, y and z) w. r. t. known
point (base point),
• Measures distance and angles and displays
coordinates,
• EDM is fitted inside the telescope,
• Digital display
• On board memory to store data,
• Compatibility with computers,
• Measures distance and angles and displays
coordinates,
• Auto level compensator is available,
• Can work in lesser visibility also,
Total Stations can be used for:
• General purpose angle measurement
• General purpose distance measurement
• Slope measurement
• Provision of control surveys
• Contour and detail mapping
• Setting out and construction work
• Angular accuracy up to 1”
• Distance measured with laser up to 2 KM
• Distance measured with infrared rays up to 4
KM.( with single prism)
• Capable of storing up to 20,000 points.

The total station is an electronic theodolite (transit)

integrated with an electronic distance meter (EDM)
to read slope distances from the instrument to a
particular point. This is usually used in building
surveying and Road surveying.
 Components of total station
• EDM
• Electronic theodolite
• On-Board Micro-processor
• Data Collector
• Data Storage
• Prism
Micro processor
• Averages multiple angle measurements
• Averages multiple distance measurements
• Computes horizontal and vertical distances
• Corrections for temp, pressure and humidity
• Computes all the X, Y and Z coordinate
Data Storage
Most TS have on-board storage of records using
PCMCIA memory cards of different capacity. The
card memory unit can be connected to any external
computer or to a special card reader for data transfer.
The observations can also be downloaded directly
into intelligent electronic data loggers. Both systems
can be used in reverse to load information into the
instruments.
Advantages of Total Station over Conventional
instruments:
• Traditional survey methods are laborious and
time consuming
• Fully automatic electronic measurement
• Digital display of staff reading and distance
• Data storage in instrument possible
• Direct transfer to personal computer of data
stored in instruments
• Online operation through integrated interface to
computer

Disadvantages
• Total stations are dependent on batteries and
electronics. The LCD screen does not work well
when it is cold.
• Battery life is also short, batteries and electronics
both do not work well when wet.
• Loss of data is an important consideration.