RECCE Report

Geographical and Earth Sciences

GUID: 0208837 & 2150651
University of Glasgow

Introduction
In this report, we assess the location for the relevant control situated around
the west end of Glasgow within a 1 mile radius from the Glasgow University
tower. The main objectives of this report is to determine the coordinates,
elevation height and slope distance from each selected control point to the
University tower, respectively. The methods used to attain these objectives
are listed below in specific sections. It should be noted that the benchmarks
considered were due to there characteristics being ideal situated for the intersection and resection methods, i.e. line of sight, no tree cover, intervisible
etc.
Let us assign the following variables to these Benchmarks & Control
Points and a graphical representation of the benchmarks is given in figure 2.
A Kelvingrove Greens Court Pavilion
B Kelvingrove Tennis Court Pavilion
C University of Glasgow tower
D Glasgow Art Gallery right corner
E Glasgow Art Gallery middle right spire
F Glasgow Art Gallery left corner
X Ground Control Point One
Y Ground Control Point Two

Resection
As the control points mentioned on the map are at times in attainable locations, we need to derive the location of control points on the ground to
carry out the intersection method for calculating the Glasgow University
tower. In order to derive these ground control points, say X and Y, we need
to use the resection method from known benchmarks. A full representation
of where these control points are relatively to the benchmarks selected is
given in figure 1.

Figure 1: Map representing the graphical location of Points

Initially, a total station was set up on Kelvin Way, next to the Kelvingrove
entrance at the roller skating rink. Let us call this control point X for ease of
referral. From this control point we were able to see the following benchmarks A, B and D. By determining the relativistic angles and distances to
these known benchmarks, one can easily derive the coordinates and height
attributes of point X. It should be noted that the all benchmark locations
do not need to be intervisible but points A,B and D should be visible from
Point X. Finally, a second point, Y, was set up at the back right hand side
of the car park at the art gallery. From this location, the control points D, E
and F are visible and the same methodology was used as X to derive the
attributes of this point Y.
Once these points X and Y have been derived, we can use these intervisible points to determine the Glasgow University tower attributes using
Intersection.

Intersection
We can find the National Grid coordinates of the tower by using the Intersection method from the two derived control points, X and Y. The two locations
must each have a clear line of sight to the peak of the tower, and also be
intervisible.
Once we know that value, we can find the length of control point X to
the tower, and control point Y to the tower using the sine rule:
sin( x )
sin(y)
sin(c)
=
=
X
Y
C
After knowing these lengths we could use Pythagoras from either of the two
control points to the Tower to find the delta easting and delta northing of
the tower coordinates. Then repeat the process from the other benchmark
as a check.

Elevation of Tower
The height of the tower can be acquired from either of the control points being used for the intersection calculation; as those points have known heights.
One way to do so is to set up the Total Station right on the benchmark, level
it, and then point the cross-hairs on the peak of the tower. The Total Station
will give readings for the vertical angle, and for the slope distance, from
which you can calculate the change in height from the benchmark to the
tower.
The vertical angle will be a value between zero and 90 degrees. The
height of the tower can be calculated as the Sine of ninety less the vertical
angle, multiplied by the slope distance.
A check can be performed on this value by following the same procedure
from our second control point, and comparing the final height calculation.
A further check could be done by calculating the height difference between
the two control points, either through spirit levelling or through the same
process with the Total Station, and confirming that the height differential
between the two control points is the same as the difference between the
two tower height values.

Figure 2: Collage depicting the location of the selected Benchmarks to the University
tower