Survey Uisng Total Station

Documentation on
“Survey using Total Station”

By
www.civilsimplified.com
About Civil Simplified
Civil Simplified is the brainchild of IIT Kanpur alumni formed with the intention of
improving awareness about the latest trends in civil engineering and to bridge the
gap between industry requirements and what academia offers. We aim to come
up with tailor made courses/ workshops that would equip young Indian students
with the skills and knowledge related to various aspects of civil engineering. Our
workshops are carefully designed to expose participants to multi-disciplinary
demands of the industry.
We strongly believe that complicated engineering concepts can be taught in a

simple manner using innovative methodologies. Through our well-
structured lectures, workshops and other practical sessions, we help students
understand the complicated topics of civil engineering in an interesting way. Our
sessions are planned to help students open up their mind and begin to look at
engineering in a much broader perspective.
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Table of Content
S. No Topic Page No
1 Land Surveying using Total Station 4

2 Different Process in Surveying 5
3 Survey using Closed Traverse Method 9
4 Positioning and levelling with the Tripod 10
5 Setting up Station 14
6 20
7 Turning Points 22
8 Setting up next Control Point 25
9 Closing the Survey 28
10 Starting Topographical Survey 29
11 Remote Height Calculation 31
12 References 32
1. Land Surveying using Total Station
1.1Total Station
The main instrument for surveyors on site today is the “total station”.
A total station is a combination of an electronic theodolite, an electronic distance

measuring device (EDM) and a microprocessor with memory unit.
This combination makes possible to determine the coordinates of a reflector

aligning the instruments cross hairs on the reflector and simultaneously measuring
the vertical and horizontal angles and slope distances.
The microprocessor in the instrument takes care of recording, readings and the
necessary computation.
1.2 Triangulation
The process of determining the location of point by measuring angles from known
points .The surveying process where triangles, called Triangulation Network, are
used for accurate measurements.
Theodolite and Total station uses this principle.
2. Different Process in Surveying
Coming to topographic survey there are various stages in which the process is
carried out. The following are the steps involved in completion of any topographic
map
 Reconnaissance
 Control Establishment
 Traverse
 Error distribution
 Feature Collection
2.1 Reconnaissance
It’s a pre surveying and very important method one follows to get a rough idea of
the survey to be done. Its helps you in determining the location where total station
needs to be setup for successful surveying.
Inter visibility between stations is an important factor that needs to be taken into
account when determining the location of total station.
2.2. Control Point Establishment

Control point is one of various locations that has known coordinates or an
accurately surveyed coordinate location for a physical feature that can be identified
on the ground.
Use of Control Point
• Control points are used in least-squares adjustments as the basis for

improving the spatial accuracy of all other points to which they are
connected
So to start a survey using total station one requires control point, i.e., coordinates
of location where total station needs to be setup.
These coordinates can be obtained using precise GPS.
Note: If coordinates are not known?
One start a traverse survey assuming some coordinates of control point
Example 10000 N, 10000 E, 100 Z
2.3 Traverse
 Open Traverse Method
An open, or free traverse (link traverse), consists of a series of linked traverse
lines which do not return to the starting point to form a polygon
 Closed Traverse Method

A closed traverse (polygonal, or loop traverse) is a series of linked traverse
lines where the terminal point closes at the starting point.
A closed traverse enables a check by plotting or computation, with any gap called
the linear misclosure
In the field, the Surveyor will measure
(a) The Length of each Traverse Line
(b) The Bearing of each Line
Bearing:
The horizontal angle measured in clockwise or anticlockwise direction between the
meridian and the survey line is termed as bearing.
Meridian:
There are three types of meridians
 Magnetic – Direction taken by a magnetic needle at observer’s point.

 True –Direction determined by shape of earth and gravity (Geodetic North)
 Arbitrary – Subjective direction taken for convenience
The direction in which a survey work proceeds is known as forward direction and
the opposite direction is known as backward direction.
Thus, there are two types of bearing depending upon the direction of the line for
which it is being is determined.
a) Fore Bearing
b) Back Bearing
Fore bearing = Back bearing ± 180°
2.4 Errors and Adjustment:

Even with the most accurate of angular and distance measurements in any traverse
over a long distance errors will creep in.
Large errors are not acceptable but making small adjustments in the calculations
can compensate for small errors.
Bowditch Adjustment
Based on the assumption that angles (bearings) are observed to the same degree
of precision that distances can be measured.
Bowditch Rule
 Adjust the angular misclose

 Calculate the misclose in position
 Adjust according to the formula
2.5 Feature Collection

This method involves collection of features required for mapping.
Only after the adjustments in the readings have been made features collection
starts, i.e., the corrected coordinates are to be inserted in Total Station for feature
collection.
3. Survey using Closed Traverse Method
The first step is to determine the locations where control points or Base Station
needs to be setup which is obtained from reconnaissance.
Assuming that the position of control points are determined the next step is setup
the total station on first base station.
Setting up a total station involves the following basic steps.
 Tripod setup
 Station setup
o Tell the Total Station where it is; set the occupied point, instrument
height
 Orientation setup
o Tell the Total Station which way it is pointing ; set the horizontal
angle
 Turning Points
o moving the total station
 Closing your survey
o Estimate the cumulative error related to turning points
 Start Survey
As discussed above first we find only perform control point establishment .i.e.,
determine the E, N, H, Distance of traverse and bearing of the traverse line and no
feature collection is performed.
This is done to reduce the error
4. Positioning and levelling with the Tripod
Step 1: Tripod Setup
Step 2: Mount Instrument on Tripod
Step 3: Centering the Instrument

Step 4: Leveling the Instrument
Step 5: Electronically Verify Leveling
5. Setting up Station
 Select the Programs option. The following screen will be displayed
The following screen will be displayed.
 Select SET JOB option.
 The following screen will be displayed.
Note: We will assume the station will be named A,B,C …to describe 1st
control point , 2nd Control Poin,3rd Cpntrol point….respectively
 Select SET ORIENTATION option.The following screen will be
displayed.
7. Turning Points
 Some of the symbols that you will notice during surveying mode.
8. Setting up next Control Point
8.1 Center and Leveling
8.2 Set Station
8.3 Set Orientation
Fore bearing = Back bearing ± 180°
8.4 Turning Points
9. Closing the Survey
10. Starting Topographical Survey
10.1 Center and Leveling
10.2 Set Station
10.3 Set orientation
10.4 Start Survey
11. Remote Height Calculation
 There are other functions provided in Total Station apart from surveying.
 Few of them include
o Remote Height Calculation
o Free Station
o Stake Out
o Area Calculation
 These options are available in MENUPROGRAMS
 Use PAGE option to scroll down to other options.
Remote Height Calculation
 Remote Height option gives you the option to find out the height of objects
where without a prism at the target point.
 Procedure:
o Input PtID and reflector height
o [ALL] Starts measurement to base point and continues to starts the
program that determines an unknown height.
o Aim at inaccessible height point; you can see the height on the screen.
o [OK] Saves the measured data.
o [BASE] Input and measurement of a new base point.
o Area Calculation
12. References
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us in case of any queries.
Email: info@civilsimplified.com
Phone: Toll Free: 1800-3000-1260 (24 Hrs.),
To know about other workshop visit our website www.civilsimplifid.com
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Documentation on

“Survey using Total Station”

We strongly believe that complicated engineering concepts can be taught in a

1 Land Surveying using Total Station 4

A total station is a combination of an electronic theodolite, an electronic distance

This combination makes possible to determine the coordinates of a reflector

Theodolite and Total station uses this principle.

2.2. Control Point Establishment

Use of Control Point

• Control points are used in least-squares adjustments as the basis for

Note: If coordinates are not known?

One start a traverse survey assuming some coordinates of control point

Example 10000 N, 10000 E, 100 Z

 Closed Traverse Method

In the field, the Surveyor will measure

(a) The Length of each Traverse Line

(b) The Bearing of each Line

 Magnetic – Direction taken by a magnetic needle at observer’s point.

Fore bearing = Back bearing ± 180°

2.4 Errors and Adjustment:

 Adjust the angular misclose

2.5 Feature Collection

Setting up a total station involves the following basic steps.

This is done to reduce the error

Step 1: Tripod Setup

Step 3: Centering the Instrument

Step 4: Leveling the Instrument

The following screen will be displayed.

 Select SET JOB option.

8.2 Set Station

Fore bearing = Back bearing ± 180°

9. Closing the Survey

10.2 Set Station

10.4 Start Survey

Remote Height Calculation

To know about other workshop visit our website www.civilsimplifid.com

Follow And Like us on www.facebook.com/civilsimplified

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