A GROUP REPORT ABOUT

//FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING 2

THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT

AND THEODOLITE
GROUP 4
DEL ROSARIO • DELIZO • DIAZ • LIMPIN

BSCE 2-4
THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

01 THE MAIN PARTS

OF THE TRANSIT 02 SETTING UP
THE TRANSIT

03 LEVELING OF
THE TRANSIT 04 CARE OF THE
TRANSIT
ENGINEER’S TRANSIT
• Credited to Roemer, a
Danish Astronomer, who in
1690 used the instrument
to observe the passage
(transit) of stars across the
celestial meridian
• Essentially a telescope and
two large protractors
• 1 protractor mounted in
the horizontal plane and
the other in a vertical
plane
• An instrument of
precision
MAIN PARTS

1 2 3
UPPER PLATE LOWER PLATE LEVELING HEAD
(ALIDADE) ASSEMBLY
// THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

MAIN PARTS OF
THE THEODOLITE TRANSIT
UPPER PLATE

• Consists of the entire top of the transit

• Entire assembly rotates about a vertical axis
• Contains the ff:
o vertical circle and vernier
o standards: supports the telescope and level tube
o compass box
o circular cover plate and plate level vials
o upper clamp
o tangent screw
o needle lifter
UPPER PLATE

1. TELESCOPE
Used for:
1. Fixing the direction of LOS
2. Viewing the objects
3. Magnification in the FOV
UPPER PLATE

2. STANDARDS
Integral parts of the upper plate
Used to:
1. Hold into position the horizontal
axle level
2. Elevate or depress the telescope by
rotating on an axis perpendicular to the LOS
UPPER PLATE

3. COMPASS BOX
• Used to:
1. Establish magnetic meridian
2. Allow rough checks on
measured angles
• Magnetic needle can be lifted
from its pivot by the needle
lifter
UPPER PLATE

4. PLATE LEVEL VIALS

• Positioned at right angles to
each other
• Used to establish the upper
and lower plates in a
horizontal plane
plate level
vials
UPPER PLATE

5. VERTICAL CIRCLE
• Attached to the telescope
and rotates with it
• Used to measure vertical
angles
vertical
circle
UPPER PLATE

6. PLATE VERNIERS plate

• Two opposite verniers (A & B) verniers

• A vernier is adjacent to the

eyepiece where it is easily
used
• B vernier is 180° from A
vernier
UPPER PLATE

7. TELESCOPE LAMP
• Tightened to hold the
telescope horizontal or at
any desired inclination
• Located near the horizontal
axle of the transit
UPPER PLATE

8. TELESCOPE
TANGENT SCREW
• a.k.a. vertical circle tangent screw
• Enables the telescope to be rotated in
small movements about the horizontal axis
when the telescope clamp is tightened
• Useful when setting the cross hairs
precisely on a distant point sighted
LOWER PLATE

• Or horizontal circle
• Where horizontal angles are measured
• Graduated on its upper face and divided around its
circumference into 360° and further subdivisions
• Can be held stationary while the upper plate is rotated or
can be rotated independently
• As one unit, can be rotated also with the upper plate
• The underside is attached to a vertical and tapering spindle
called the outer spindle
LOWER PLATE

1. LOWER CLAMP
• Attached to the horizontal circle
• Does not rotate with the
horizontal circle
• Used to control the rotation of
the horizontal circle
• Stops any motion between the
leveling head and the lower
plate
LOWER PLATE

2. LOWER TANGENT
SCREW
• Used to make precise settings
after the lower clamp is
tightened
• It moves the lower plate to a
desired exact position using a
small range of movement
// THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

• Lower part of the transit

Allows the transit to be leveled
LEVELING HEAD •
and centered over a point
• Consists of:
ASSEMBLY 1.
2.
3.
bottom horizontal foot plate
4 leveling screws
plumb bob chain
4. a device that permits small
lateral movements of transit
LEVELING HEAD ASSEMBLY

1. LEVELING SCREWS
• Used for leveling the instrument
by the plate levels
• Operate in pairs and always
turned in opposite directions
• Screws are loosened when
desired to shift transit laterally
with respect to the foot plate
// THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

SETTING UP
THE TRANSIT
SETTING UP THE TRANSIT

1. POSITIONING THE TRIPOD

1. On fairly level ground:
tripod is set up near and over the selected point with the legs well spread
apart to ensure stability see to it that the tripod head is nearly stable.
2. On hillsides or along a slope:
1 of its legs should extend uphill and the 2 downhill each tripod leg is then
moved as required to make the tripod head nearly level.
3. Set the tripod in a convenient height (no need to stretch or stoop).
SETTING UP THE TRANSIT

2. MOUNTING THE TRIPOD

1. Remove the transit from its carrying case by grasping it with both
hands at the leveling head assembly or at the upright standards.
2. With one hand, screw the leveling head of the transit and firmly onto
the tripod head while holding the standards at the other hand
3. The transit should fit snugly and bear firmly.
4. Remove the objective cap and replace with the sunshade.
SETTING UP THE TRANSIT

3. ATTACHING THE PLUMB BOB

1. Plumb bob and a string is attached to the transit by suspending it from
the hook and chain that hangs at the bottom of the leveling head.
2. Raise or lower the plumb bob using the sliding loopknot.
3. Lower down the plumb bob within about 0.5 cm above the ground point.
4. Bring the plumb bob close to the center of the point by moving or
pressing 1 or 2 tripod legs more firmly into the ground.
SETTING UP THE TRANSIT

4. FINAL CENTERING
1. See to it that the wing nuts of the tripod is tightened.
2. Shift the leveling head of the transit along the foot plate to exactly
center the plumb bob.
3. Use the optical plummet if available for accurate centering:
• look at the optical plummet
• shift the instrument until the reticle is precisely centered on the
ground point
// THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

LEVELING OF
THE TRANSIT
 LEVELING THE
PLATE LEVEL BUBBLE
 LEVELING THE PLATE LEVEL BUBBLE

1. The bubble is centered by rotating

screws 1 and 2 in opposite directions
• the rotations (see figure) will cause
the bubble to move from left to right
2. Next, rotate the instrument so that
the one end of the bubble tube is
aligned with the remaining screw
3. Center the bubble in this position by
rotating this remaining screw
4. The rotation indicated in the figure
will cause the bubble to move away
from level screw 3
LEVELING THE PLATE LEVEL BUBBLE

5. Return to the original position and

check centering of the bubble.
6. Rotate through 180° so that end A
of the bubble tube is on line with
level screw.
7. Repeat the previous steps so that
all bubble tubes are leveled in
every direction.
// THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

CARE OF
THE TRANSIT
CARE OF THE TRANSIT

1. Store the transit in its carrying case when not in use

2. Remove the transit from the tripod and carry it in its box when
transporting in a vehicle or over a long walking distance
3. If it becomes went or damp, dry it off with absorbent cloth or
preferably in sunlight
4. The objective lens should not be wiped as it is easily scratched
• clean it by rubbing gently with a piece of soft cloth
moistened in alcohol or with a piece of lens paper
• finish off with a camel’s hair brush
CARE OF THE TRANSIT

5. Protect the instrument at all times from any shock or sudden

jolt never allow the instrument to fall or drop
6. Hold the transit in the arms with the tripod sticking out to the
side or behind NOT on the shoulder do this when:
• Carrying it inside a building
• There is danger of striking the instrument against any
obstructions
CARE OF THE TRANSIT

7. The transit should be lifted from the carrying case by grasping the
standards and NOT by the telescope.
8. Tripod legs should be spread apart to make it stable.
9. Tripod shoes should be sunk firmly to the ground.
10. It should never be left unattended because it may be upset by passing
vehicles, stray animals, playing children, wind or maybe stolen.
11. Avoid setting the transit on concrete slabs, boulders, and steel plates.
CARE OF THE TRANSIT

12. Graduated circles and verniers should not be touched with the
fingers. This will tarnish their surfaces.
13. Tarnished surfaces should are cleaned by applying a thin film of
oil which is left for a few hours and then wiped off with a soft
clean rag.
14. Tighten clamps in a definite and firm manner, not too severe.
15. A waterproof cover for the transit should always be brought
along in case of rains, showers, and thunderstorms.
GROUP 4

MEMBERS

Del Rosario, Jan Brylle E.

Delizo, Joyce C.

Diaz, John Nenuel R.

Limpin, Jairus A.
 // THE ENGINEER’S TRANSIT AND THEODOLITE

END OF THE
PRESENTATION.
FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING 2
If you have any questions regarding this
topic, feel free to message anyone of us!

GROUP 4
DEL ROSARIO • DELIZO • DIAZ • LIMPIN