LAB REPORT – 3 – CALIBRATION FOR EDMI

Name: Aman Jain, Roll No.: 190105

ABSTRACT

Distance measurement is one of the basic requirements of a surveying project. Electromagnetic Distance Measurement (EDM) or Total Station is one
such instrument used today for the measurement of distances. The purpose of this Lab report is to explore the EDM Calibration and associated errors in
distance measurements.

1. INTRODUCTION
Electronic distance measurement (EDM) is a method of determining
the length between two points using phase changes occurring due to the
travelling of electromagnetic energy waves from one end of the line to
the other end. EDM equipment provides dependably accurate distance
measurements displayed on an easy-to-read digital screen.

2. OBJECTIVE 3.2 Reflector-instrument constant

To determine the cyclic error curve, reflector-instrument error and scale
error for given EDMI.
3. THEORY
Calibration of EDM instrument is necessary to avoid different errors
caused by manufacturer, weather or different causes. We need to
calibrate three type of errors. This will require accurate measurement of
distances using tape on a flat ground and comparison of the same with
EDMI measured distances. Using these, one can estimate various
calibration errors/correction. The corrections can be made by following
steps for -
● Divide suitable distance D into n number of segments(as
shown in figure 2).
● Use the same set of EDMI & reflector set for entire set of
measurements
● Measure length of line (D) using EDMI and length of each of
n segments ( d1, d2, d3, d4 ....)
● Reflector constant can be calculated by the formula:
𝐾 = ( 𝐷 − ∑𝑑𝑖 ) / (𝑛 − 1)

3.1 Nonlinearity/Cyclic Error

Assume the basic measuring unit as 10m (effective wavelength= ƛ/2).
● Set up instrument at A.
● Divide the 30 m line from A into 2 segments of 20 m (say, it
could be any other distance as well i.e. 100 m, 150 m, etc.)
and 10 m.
● Divide the last 10 m into 10 parts each of 1 m(as shown in
figure 1). Measure each part carefully using the tape ( di ) as
well as the EDMI ( Di ). Note that Di is to be measured from
EDMI position A (corrections for atmosphere conditions are
entered in the instruments and these distances are reduced to
horizontal).
● Carefully measure Do with EDM (say 20.000 m).
● The error is calculated by formula
ei = Di − (Do + ∑di )
○ The correction is given as
ci = − ei + ( ∑ei ) / 10
where ( ∑ei ) / 10 indicates the average error (and
is added simply to translate the origin at the
average of errors).
● Prepare x-y plot of these corrections, on x axis distances 1, 2,
3, ------ 10 and on y axis corresponding corrections (ci) and
use these to get corresponding correction for a measured
distance.
3.3 Scale error
If we know the length of a "calibrated line", scale error can be found
out. If the known distance, Dk , is measured as Dm then the scale error
can be calculated by the formula:
Scale error (in ppm) = ((Dk - Dm) / Dk) × 106 = n ppm
Corrected distance = Dm + n × Dk
4. EQUIPMENTS NEEDED
EDMI, Tape, Reflector, Tripod, Staff
5. PRECAUTIONS
Follow the steps as suggested to you. Any other operation or
mishandling of the instrument may lead to malfunction of very
expensive instrument.
6. PROCEDURE
6.1 Setting up the instrument
● Mount the instrument over the tripod and approximately level
the setup.
● Carryout the leveling process as described below:
○ Centre the circular bubble by using two leveling
screws at a time. Both screws should be rotated
either inwards or outwards at a time.
○ Then keep the instrument approximately
perpendicular to the previous position and use the
other leveling screw to centre the bubble. Now the
leveling operation is complete.
○ Repeat operation (a) and (b), if required.
 ● Connect batteries to the instrument as instructed and press the
8 1.000 28.015 28 0.015 -0.0048
POWER (PWR) switch on the instrument tostart functioning.
● Carry out finer leveling of the instrument with the help of 9 1.000 29.008 29 0.008 0.003
electronic level appearing in computer display by using the
principle of "three leveling screws". 10 1.000 30.011 30 0.011 0.0011
● Press ENTER to initialize the instrument. It will settle itself
to P0 MODE. Average
● Some entries related to pressure, temperature, etc. will be error (eavg) =
required. Enter appropriate values. 0.011
● Sight the instrument approximately in North direction and
enter the HA reference 0° 0' 0". Press ENTER. Data for other stations can be similarly calculated.
● Measure Instrument height with the help of measuring tape Average error = ∑ei / N, where N = number of measurement.
provided by Trimble and press F3. It will prompt to enter the
instrument height (Ih). Type the height, for example Ih = 7.2 Reflector-instrument :
1.434 and press ENTER.
● Note the reflector height (SH) from graduations on it. Press
F6; it will prompt for signal height (SH). Enter the signal
height, for example SH= 1.50 and press ENTER.
STATION EDMI READING SEGMENT
● Sight the target/reflector and by pressing AIM button,
(m) LENGTH di (m)
measure Horizontal distance (HD), Vertical distance (VD),
Sloping distance (SD), Northing, Easting, etc. Ignore 0 3.003 -
Northing, Easting for this experiment.
1 4.003 1
6.2 Principle of Error Determination
This will require accurate measurement of distances using tape on a flat 2 5.005 1.002
ground and comparison of the same with EDMI measured distances.
Using these, one can estimate various calibration errors/ correction. The 3 6.008 1.003
order of corrections is as follows: cyclic, reflectorinstrument constant,
4 7.006 0.998
scale.
5 8.003 0.997
7. OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
6 9.007 1.004
7.1 Nonlinearity/Cyclic Error
For station 1, 7 10.004 0.997
D1 = 21.013
D0 + ∑di = 20 + 1 = 21 8 11.007 1.003

9 12.003 0.996
e1 = D1 − (D0 + ∑di ) = 21.013 – 21 = 0.013
c1 = −e1 + (∑ei) / 10 = -0.013 + (0.013 + 0.008)/10 = -0.0109 10 13.008 1.005

∑di = 10.005

Statio Taped EDMI D0 + ∑di ei = Di - (D0 ci = -ei +

n dist. di dist. Di (m) - ∑di) (m) (∑ei) / 10 Reflector Constant (K) = (D - ∑di) / (n - 1) = (10 - 10.005) / (10 - 1)
(m) (m)
K = -0.0005 m
0 - 20.008 20 0.008 -0.0072

1 1.000 21.013 21 0.013 -0.0109 7.3 Scale error

2 1.000 22.010 22 0.010 -0.0069 Scale error (in ppm) = (Dk - Dm) / Dk × 106

3 1.000 23.008 23 0.008 -0.0041 n = (10 - 10.005) / 10 × 106 = -0.0005 ppm

4 1.000 24.011 24 0.011 -0.006 8. CONCLUSION

5 1.000 25.015 25 0.015 -0.0085 ● Learned about centring and calibrating EDMI.
● Learned about measuring distances using EDMI and reflector
6 1.000 26.013 26 0.015 -0.0052 prism which could be further used for mapping purposes.
● Calculated various types of systematic errors.
7 1.000 27.009 27 0.009 -0.0003