3 Principles and Applications of EDM

There are many ways to measure distances by electronic means. Four basic prin-
ciples will be presented although only one will be discussed in greater depth.

3.1 Pulse Method

3.1.1 Principle of the Pulse Method

A short, intensive signal is transmitted by an instrument. It travels to a target

point and back and thus covers twice the distance d. Measuring the so-called
flight time between transmission and reception of the same pulse, the distance
may be calculated as
2d = edt'
= C(tR -tE) , (3.1)
where d = distance between instrument and target
c = velocity of light in the medium
dt' = flight time of pulse
tE = time of departure of pulse, timed by gate OE
tR = time of arrival of returning pulse, timed by gate OR'
Figure 3.1 depicts such a instrument. OE and OR are gates where the passage
of a pulse is monitored and its time recorded.

EMITTER

RECEIVER

INSTRUMENT REFLECTING
TARGET
Fig. 3.1. Principle of a pulse distance meter. Timing starts and stops when the light pulse passes
the emitter gate GE and the receiver gate GR, respectively

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J. M. Rüeger, Electronic Distance Measurement

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1990
 Depending on the nature (light or radio wave) and power of the pulse and on
the distance to be measured, suitable natural or artificial features of landscape
(or air space) or special retroreflectors may be used as reflecting agents in ter-
restrial applications. High powered laser systems are used in military laser rang-
ing, thus allowing for the use of the first type of reflecting surfaces. Civil users
prefer well-defined, special targets to increase range and precision.
It can be seen from Eq. (3.1) that the accuracy of the distance is dependent
on the accuracy of the flight time measurement. An accuracy in the recording of
time of 0.1 ns is equivalent to an accuracy of 15 mm.

3.1.2 Applications oj the Pulse Method

The pulse method has been used for some time in geodesy, navigation and in
military applications, both with light waves and with radiowaves. Powerful pulsed
laser systems are employed in geodesy for extremely long distance measurements.
These systems require retroreflectors as (cooperative) targets. Military laser
rangers measure medium distances by "shooting" at natural or man-made
features (non-cooperative targets) visible in the landscape.
1)rpical light wave applications of the pulse method are:
Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR)
Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR)
Military Laser Rangefinders
Pulsed Distance Meters for Surveying
Airborne Laser Terrain Pro filer
Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS)
Satellite laser ranging is carried out for a number of purposes, such as satellite
orbit determination (tracking), solid-earth physics studies, polar motion and
length of day determination, precise geodetic positioning over long ranges and
monitoring of crustal motion. Two satellites have been launched specifically for
geodetic and geophysical purposes. Starlette (launched in 1975 by France) carries
60 retroreflectors and orbits 800 km above the earth. LAGEOS (LAser
GEOdynamics Satellite) was launched in 1976 by NASA into an orbit 6000 km
above the earth. It has a diameter of 0.60 m and carries 422 cube corner reflectors.
The apertures of satellite laser ranging telescopes vary from 0.3 to 1.0 m diameter.
Pulse energies vary from 0.25 to 3 joules. 1)rpically, green emitting Nd-YAG
(neodymium-yttrum-aluminium-garnet) lasers are employed. Ranging accuracies
are stated as 1,0.10 and 0.03 m for first, second and third generation instruments
(Wilkins 1980). A global network of fixed stations provides continuous observa-
tions. A number of mobile stations, such as NASA's MOBLAS (MOBile LASers)
and TLRS (1fansportable Laser Ranging Station) provide support for shorter
campaigns. The TLRS-2 laser operates at a wavelength of 532 nm (Yd: YAG), at
a pulse width of 400 ps, with a power output of 4 MJ and a repetition rate of 10
pulses per second (NASA 1983). Satellite laser rangers have been used (like EDM
instruments) for measurements to terrestrial reflectors on rare occasions.

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