LAB REPORT 3 - EDM CALIBRATION

Prakarsh Agrawal: prakarsh@iitk.ac.in

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.

INTRODUCTION

Tape and chains are the traditional instruments for distance measurements. Even a layman today knows about these (without
going towards other technicalities). Taping distance, with all its associated problems, has been rendered obsolete for all base-
line measurement. Distance can now be measured easily, quickly and with great accuracy, regardless of terrain conditions.
Thanks to Total Station for making this possible. There are basically only two methods of measurement employed in EDM,
namely the pulse method and the more popular phase difference method, Phase difference being the more precise one.

Centring and levelling

Centring and levelling are two primary operations which are to be executed before taking any reading using EDM. Centring
ensures that EDM is kept exactly at the point from where distance is to be measured. It is achieved using optimal plumet.
Levelling ensures thwat vertical axis of the instrument is along the plumb line. It sets up a horizontal frame of reference. A
bubble on the instrument tells us the inclination of the total station. Accordingly, we can perform levelling more accurately.

CALCULATION PROCEDURE FOR DIFFERENT ERRORS

1) Reflector Instrument Constant or Zero Error

 Consider a line segment of length AB or length D.

 Divide this line segment into n parts.
 Measure the total length D and length of each segment separately using EDMI.
 Let the length of the ith segment be di.

Now, let the zero error be given by K. Then the following equation can be stated –

D + K = ∑ di + nk

On further simplifying, can get –

D−∑ di
K=
n−1
2) Cyclic Error

 Set up instrument at point A.

 Divide a 30 m line segment into 2 parts, one being the 20 m.
 Divide the last 10 m into 10 segments of 1 m each, calculating distance carefully using tape (di).
 Also, measure the distance up to each segment from point A using EDMI (Di).
 Also, measure the first part of segment (20 m) attentively using tape (Do).

Now, the error can be given by the following formula –

e i = D i – ( Do + ∑ d i )

Correction in any data entry can be given by –

 ∑e
c=−e+
10

OBSERVATIONS

Statio Taped dist. di (m) EDMI dist. Di (m) Do + ∑ di (m) ei = Di – ( Do + ∑ di ) (m) ∑e

n (2) (3) (4) (5) c=−e+ (m)
(1) 10
(6)
0 - 20.008 20 0.008 -0.0072
1 1.000 21.013 21 0.013 -0.0109
2 1.000 22.010 22 0.010 -0.0069
3 1.000 23.008 23 0.008 -0.0041
4 1.000 24.011 24 0.011 -0.0060
5 1.000 25.015 25 0.015 -0.0085
6 1.000 26.013 26 0.013 -0.0052
7 1.000 27.009 27 0.009 -0.0003
8 1.000 28.015 28 0.015 -0.0048
9 1.000 29.008 29 0.008 0.0030
10 1.000 30.011 30 0.011 0.0011
eavg = 0.0121