Contents

• Introduction to Surveying

• Setting and Leveling of Theodolite and Tilting Levels and

parts of these instruments

• Measurement of Vertical Angle using Theodolite

• Measurement of Elevation between two points using

Tilting Level

• Measurement of distance

• Measurement of area using Chain Surveying

 Introduction to Surveying

Building Surveying Planning and Development

Quantity Surveying Mineral Surveying

Land Surveying
Land Surveying

Geodetic Surveying
Topographical Surveying

Hydrographic Surveying
Engineering Surveying
 Engineering Surveying is used to

at the concept and design stage

Production of maps or plans

at the construction stage

Setting out and measurement

at the post construction stage

Measurement and monitoring

Surveying for all three aspects involves the

measurement of three parameters :

Horizontal Distances Vertical Distances Angles

A variety of methods and equipment can be used to measure
each of these parameters.
Horizontal Distances by:

Taping & Chaining Optical Methods Electronic Methods

Vertical Distances by

Taping Optical Methods Electronic Methods

Angles by:
Magnetic Compass Sextant Theodolite
Measurement of Angles
A

Vertical Angle
(Elevation +ve)

Horizontal
Angle P

Vertical Angle
(Depression -ve)
B
 A

Vertical Angle

P
Horizontal
Angle Vertical Angle

B
 A
Horizontal angles
Vertical Angle are the same
But
Vertical angles
vary with
elevation
(height)
I of instrument
P

Vertical Angle

B
THEODOLITE
(For Measuring Angles)
 Setting up a Theodolite
Ensure that :-
• the tripod head is approximately level
• the tripod feet are firmly fixed in the ground

This should be done BEFORE removing the theodolite from its box.

Tripod Head

Tripod Feet
 Tripod Head Horizontal

Tripod
Height -
middle to
upper
chest
Feet - Dug
height
into ground
(if possible)
 Setting up a Theodolite
Place the theodolite on top of the tripod, and tighten the
centring screw to clamp the theodolite centrally on the tripod
head.
Hold Theodolite
by handle

Attach to tripod
head

Do not let go
of handle
until theodolite
is attached to
tripod.
 Tribrach
Levelling
Screw
or
Foot Screw
 For
accurate
Plate Bubble
levelling

Pond
Bubble

For
approximate
levelling
 Standing
axis
Internal
Focus
(For sighting
object)

Eyepiece Trunnion
Focus
axis
(For cross
hairs)
Collimation
Axis
 Levelling up a Theodolite

Carry out an approximate levelling. Using the pond

bubble and by adjusting the length of TWO tripod
LEGS, bring the pond bubble into the centre of the
pond bubble tube.

The theodolite is ROUGHLY LEVELLED AND CENTERED over the station.

 Setting up a Theodolite
Fine level the theodolite using the PLATE level bubble tube and foot SCREWS

Position a) align the plate level bubble tube with two foot screws.

Centre the bubble by rotating the two foot screws in

opposite directions. The bubble follows the LEFT thumb.

Bubble follows LEFT THUMB

Position a
Position a
 Plate Level Bubble Tube
Required to move the
bubble to the right

Foot Screws

Bubble follows direction of left thumb

Both thumbs move in (or out)
Position a
 Levelling up a Theodolite
• Position b) align the plate level bubble tube with the third foot screw.
i.e. 900 from position a)

Centre the bubble by rotating the third foot screw (only)

The bubble follows the LEFT thumb.

Using the third

footscrew only
 Bubble still follows LEFT THUMB

Position b
900 to position a
 Bubble still follows LEFT THUMB

Position b
900 to position a
 Position b
900 to position a
Repeat position a and b

Position b
Position a 900 to position a
 Vertical Circle - (for vertical angles)

Face Left
F/L
Transit Telescope

Rotate Theodolite
Face Right
(F/R)
Some Typical Theodolite Diaphragms
This is FACE LEFT This is FACE RIGHT
Target

We need to superimpose
the theodolite diaphragm
over the target
This is how we should
sight a target for
horizontal angle
measurements.
This is how we should
sight a target for
vertical angle
measurements.
Example:
 Theodolite - Instrument Errors
Plate Bubble Error . This is checked every time the
theodolite is set up.

Non - Vertical Cross Hairs . Move the telescope up

and down while sighting a well defined distant point.

Horizontal Collimation Error . Sight a well defined

point and read the horizontal circle on F/L and F/R.
The difference should be <40”

Vertical Collimation Error . Sight a well defined

point and read the vertical circle on F/L and F/R.
The difference should be <40”
 Exp: 14 Measurement of Height of an
Object, of which base is not accessible
OBSERVATIONS:

Bench Mark:
Height of Instrument at First station (A) w.r.t. Bench Mark (x) =
Height of Instrument at Second station (B) w.r.t. Bench Mark (y) =
Horizontal distance between the two instrument stations (b) =
Difference in the height of instrument at first and second stations (s) =

Instrument Face Vertical Angle Reading Angle Remarks

Station
Vernier C Vernier D Mean
0 ‘ ‘’ 0 ‘ ‘’ 0 ‘ ‘’

A Left/Right

B Left/Right