Froilan, Jeffrey B.

CENG60 (Lab)
201516091 Engr. Pauline Dennise M. Rivera
BSCE 3-1

LAB EXERCISE NO. 23

PROBLEM: INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS

OBJECTIVES: (a) To determine inclined stadia distance and its horizontal and vertical
components.

(b) To determine the elevation of a distant point.

LAB EXERCISE OUTLINE

A. INSTRUMENTS & ACCESSORIES: Any surveying instrument with a telescope and

stadia hairs, Leveling or Stadia Rod, Stakes or Pegs.
B. PROCEDURE:
1. On one end of the designated line set up and level the instrument such as at point
A (Refer to the accompanying sketch of a sample set up).
2. Direct the rodman to hold vertically a levelling or stadia rod at the other end of
the line (point B) and take a foresight on the rod.
3. Observe through the telescope the apparent location of the stadia hairs on the rod
and record the upper stadia hair reading (a) and the lower stadia hair reading (b).
4. Also note the apparent location of the horizontal cross hair on the rod and record
this as the rod reading (c or RR).
5. Read the vertical angle (alpha) and record this quantity. Indicate its corresponding
sign. An angle of elevation is a plus (+) angle and an angle of depression is a
minus (-) angle.

6. With the use of the graduated level (or stadia) rod, measure the actual height of
the instrument above the occupied point and record this as the HI.
7. Tabulate all measured and computed values accordingly. Refer to the
accompanying sample format for the tabulation of field data.

HI: Elevation of Point A: K:

STA STA Hair Reading S Vert. Stadia Distance
OCC OBS Angle
Upper Hor Lower HD VD ID
A B
C. COMPUTATIONS:
1. The stadia interval (s) is the apparent distance between the points on the rod
where the upper and lower stadia hairs intersect the rod. It us determined by
subtracting the lower stadia hair reading (b) from the upper stadia hair reading (a)
or, 𝑠 = 𝑎 − 𝑏.
2. The horizontal, vertical, and inclined distances are determined by the following
formulas:
𝐻𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠 cos2 𝛼 + 𝐶 cos 𝛼
𝑉𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠 cos 𝛼 sin 𝛼 + 𝐶 sin 𝛼
𝐼𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠 cos 𝛼 + 𝐶
Where:
HD = horizontal distance from the center of the instrument at A to the rod
held at b
VD = vertical distance from the instrument’s horizontal line of sight to
the apparent position of the horizontal cross hair on the rod held at
ID = inclined distance from the center of the instrument to the apparent
position of the horizontal cross hair on the rod held at B. As a
computational check the inclined distance may also be computed by
adding the square of HD to the square of VD and extracting the
square root.
K = Given or predetermined stadia interval factor of the instrument used
and is usually equal to 100.
C = distance from the center of the instrument to the principal focus.

For external focusing telescopes, C may be considered as 30 cm (1.0 ft), and for
interval focusing telescopes, C is negligible and assumed to be zero.

𝛼 = the observed vertical angle (alpha) when the rod reading (c or RR) is
taken.
3. The difference in elevation (DE) between points A and B will be obvious if a
sketch is correctly drawn.
(a) For positive (+) sights: DE = HI + VD – RR
(b) For negative (-) sights: DE = VD + RR – HI
4. From the prepared sketch, the elevation of the distant point B will be also be
obvious.
(a) For positive (+) sights: Elev. of B = Elev. of A + DE
(b) For negative (-) sights: Elev. of B = Elev. of A – DE
D. REMARKS, HINTS, & PRECAUTIONS:
1. The determination of horizontal distances and differences in elevation by the
stadia method is common in traverse and leveling for topographic surveys, field
completion surveys employing photogrammetric procedures, and in route and
hydrographic surveys.
2. The two end points (A & B) should be so selected such that a considerable
difference in elevation is apparent between these points.
3. Using the stadia method, horizontal distances may be determined with a relative
accuracy to about 1/500. Similarly, differences in elevation can be obtained to
within plus or minus 3 cm.
4. The elevation of the instrument point (A) may be assumed if it is not-known or
predetermined.
5. The stadia interval (s) is usually determined by setting the lower stadia hair on a
whole meter (or foot) mark and then reading the location of the upper stadia hair.
By this process, the stadia interval is mentally computed more easily and with less
chance of mistakes than if the lower stadia hair were allowed to take a random
position on the rod.
6. Whenever possible, it is convenient to read the vertical angle when the rod
reading equals the height of instrument. Since the rod reading and HI are opposite
in sign if equal in magnitude the two quantities cancel each other and may be
omitted from the computation of difference in elevation.
7. The setting of the horizontal cross hair on a full meter (or foot) mark on the rod
also simplifies the arithmetic involved.
8. Whenever the stadia interval is in excess of the length of the rod used, the
separate half intervals are observed and their sum is taken.