CIE 112: Fundamentals of Surveying 

Module #3 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Lesson title: Stadia Surveying Materials:

Lesson Objectives: Calculator, Pen, Paper
At the end of this module, you will be able to: References:
1. Apply the principle of stadia surveying. Rayner, W.H. (1937). Elementary
2. Establish the inclined observations into horizontal Surveying. New York, USA: D. Van
distance and difference in elevation. Nostrand Company, INC

Know when and where you study the best. It is important

to find a place that relaxes your mind to concentrate more
and a specific time where your brain is most active. It will
help you to think well and be more productive.

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Conducting a survey in broken boundaries, hilly and mountain terrain and on areas covered with
stretches of water such as river, the method of taping and chaining are no longer convenient to use. It
is time consuming and tiresome. To obtain a rapid result, tacheometry is the best to adapt.
Tacheometry is the procedure by which horizontal distances and difference in elevations are
determined indirectly using subtended intervals and angles observed with the use of a transit or
theodolite on a graduated rod or scale.
Tacheometric survey is also applied in railways, roadways and reservoir, though not very accurate
but then it saves a lot time. Also, a reasonable contour map can be prepared for investigation works
within a short period of time on the basis of such survey.
The method of measurement to be used depends on the type of terrain to be measured. Similarly,
before making decisions in life we need to consider a lot of factors. We must be wise and knowledgeable
to save time and effort.

Activity 1: What I Know Chart, Part 1 (3 mins)

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 CIE 112: Fundamentals of Surveying 
Module #3 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

What I Know Questions: What I Learned (Activity 4)

1. What are stadia hairs used
for?
2. What do you call the
difference between the
upper and lower readings?

B.MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 2: Content Notes (13 mins)
Stadia survey is a tacheometric form of distance measurement that relies on a fixed-angle
intercept.
The equipment for stadia measurement consists of
b. A telescope with two horizontal cross hairs, caked upper and lower cross hairs
c. A graduated rod called a stadia rod or stadia board.
Horizontal Sights
The principle of stadia method is based in the Figure 2.1, wherein the line of sight of the
telescope is horizontal and the rod is vertical.
Stadia Rod

Telescope
𝑖 𝑆

𝑐 𝑓 𝑑

Figure 2.1 Horizontal Sight

𝐷 𝐾𝑆 𝐶
𝑖 spacing between hairs
𝑐 distance from the instrument center to objective lens center

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 CIE 112: Fundamentals of Surveying 
Module #3 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

𝑓 focal length (objective lens to focal point)

𝑑 distance from the focal point to the face of the rod
𝐶 𝑓 𝑐 stadia constant
 For internal focusing telescope, 𝐶 0
 For external focusing telescope, 𝐶 0.3 m
𝐷 𝐶 𝑑 distance from the instrument center to the face of the rod
𝑆 stadia intercept or interval
𝐾 is the stadia interval factor (usually equal to 100 for most instruments)

Vertical Sight

Stadia Rod

𝑆
𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Figure 2.2 Vertical Sight

𝐷 𝐾𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝐶
𝐻 𝐷𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑉 𝐷𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
2) Activity 3: Skill-building Activities (with answer key) (18 mins + 2 mins checking)

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 CIE 112: Fundamentals of Surveying 
Module #3 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Solve the following problems then box your final answer. If the space provided is not sufficient, you
may provide a clean sheet of bond paper. Check your answers against the Key to Corrections found
at the end of this SAS. Write your score on your paper.
Problem 1.
A transit with a stadia constant equal to 0.30 m is used to determine the horizontal distance
between points B and C with stadia intercept reading of 1.85 m. The distance BC is equal to 182.87
m. Compute the stadia interval factor of the instrument.

Problem 2.
Using the same instrument in problem 1, it was used to determine the difference in elevation
between B and D having stadia intercept reading of 2.42 m at D at a vertical angle of +6°30’.
a) Compute the difference in elevation of B and D
b) Compute the horizontal distance between B and D

𝑆 2.42

D
𝑆 𝑉

6°30′ ∆

ℎ 𝐻

3) Activity 4: What I Know Chart, part 2 (2 mins)

Now answer the “What I Learned” part in Activity 1.

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 CIE 112: Fundamentals of Surveying 
Module #3 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

4) Activity 5: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

Solve the following problems then box your final answer. If the space provided is not sufficient, you
may provide a clean sheet of bond paper. Check your answers against the Key to Corrections found
at the end of this SAS. Write your score on your paper.
Short Quiz!
Problem 1.
A transit with an external focusing telescope has a stadia interval factor of 100.8 was set at C
on the line between points A and B, with the height of the instrument position to be 1.2 m above
point C. The following stadia reading were observed.

Position of Vertical Upper Middle Lower

Rod Angle Reading Reading Reading
Rod @ A +15°35’ 1.330 1.175 1.020
Rod @ B -8°30’ 1.972 1.854 1.736
Determine the following;
a) Find the horizontal distance from the transit to the rod held at B.
b) Find the horizontal distance from the transit to the rod held at A.
c) Difference in elevation between points A and B.

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
1) Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)

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 CIE 112: Fundamentals of Surveying 
Module #3 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Three things you learned:

1.

2.

3.

Two things that you would like to learn more about:

1.

2.

One question you still have:

1.

FAQs:
1. What equation can be used to solve for the stadia interval factor K if it is unknown?
Ans. We will use the equation “f/i” to compute for K (stadia interval factor).

2. How will you increase the intercept while conducting stadia surveying?
Ans. Tilt the staff away from the telescope pointing up-hill.

KEY TO CORRECTIONS
Activity 3: Activity 5:
1. 98.686 1. a) 23.566 m
2. a) 26.895 m b) 29.282 m
b) 236.058 m c) 12.367 m

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