Salahaddin University-Erbil

College of Engineering
Department of Geomatics (Surveying)

Basic Surveying Instruments

Practical lecture #12

INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT

Perpendicularity of Aiming Axis and Horizontal Axis (2C) (by Electronic

Theodolite):
Most surveying devices including theodolites must be inspected for the perpendicularity of their
aiming axis (line of sight) and the horizontal (transverse) axis of them.

Equipment/Tools required:
 Theodolite (Kolida in our case)

Procedure:
Inspection;
1. Set a target A at a far distance, the same height as the instrument, then level and power on
the instrument.
2. Sight at target A and read the value of horizontal angle (assume: L=10°13ʹ10ʺ).
3. Reverse the telescope (rotate alidade 180°), sight at target A in reversed position and read
the value of horizontal angle again (assume: R=190°13ʹ40ʺ).
4. If value of I exceeds 20ʺ (I ≥ 20ʺ refer to calculations), then adjustment is required for
the instrument in question (let’s suppose I=30ʺ).

Adjustment;
1. To prevent large errors, use horizontal tangent screw to adjust the horizontal angle
reading to the correct one (suppose that R=190°13ʹ40ʺ from above, I=2C=30ʺ then
R+C=190°13ʹ40ʺ -15ʺ =190°13ʹ25ʺ note that correction is subtracted from R to the get
corrected reading).
2. Remove the cover of the reticle between the eyepiece and focusing screw, adjust the two
adjusting screws by loosening one and tightening the other. Move the reticle to sight at
target A exactly.
3. Repeat the inspection and adjustment until |2𝐶| < 20ʺ.
4. Remount the reticle cover.

Calculations:
Use the following equation to calculate I;
𝐼 = 2𝐶 = |𝐿 − (𝑅 ± 180°)|, where 𝐼 < 20ʺ & C stands for correction.
𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿 & 𝑅;
2𝐶 = ⎸10°13ʹ10ʺ − (190°13ʹ40ʺ − 180°)⎹ ⇒ 𝐼 = 30ʺ
⇒ 30ʺ20ʺ 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑.

Result:
It is required to inspect instruments regularly to determine whether they are viable (OK) or not. In
this test, I=2C must not exceed 20ʺ otherwise proper adjustment will have to be done to correct the
perpendicularity between aiming axis and horizontal axis of the instrument.