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Resection Techniques in Surveying

Triangulation resection is a method to determine the position of an unknown point based on angular measurements to three known control points. A minimum of three control points are needed, with a fourth point observed as a check. The strength of the resection depends on the size of the angles between control points and their positions relative to each other and the unknown point. The Collins method is described for calculating the coordinates of the unknown point, which involves plotting lines between the control points to intersect at the resected point. A check of the solution involves observing a fourth control point.

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Leo Novan
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200 views4 pages

Resection Techniques in Surveying

Triangulation resection is a method to determine the position of an unknown point based on angular measurements to three known control points. A minimum of three control points are needed, with a fourth point observed as a check. The strength of the resection depends on the size of the angles between control points and their positions relative to each other and the unknown point. The Collins method is described for calculating the coordinates of the unknown point, which involves plotting lines between the control points to intersect at the resected point. A check of the solution involves observing a fourth control point.

Uploaded by

Leo Novan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Triangulation Resection

Week 8: 30th April 2012

Resection may be considered as the opposite of Intersection, with the work all being done outwards from
a single new station to be fixed.

It can be used for cadastral surveying, especially in rural situations where locating old marks may be
difficult or fixing photo-control points.

Resection has traditionally used angular measurements only (triangulation methods), however, with the
introduction of EDM distance measurement to one or more points may also be included and this solution
is termed “free stationing”.

A minimum of three known control stations must be observed, a fourth point is also observed as an
independent check for:
• Correct identification of the control stations
• Correct coordinates used
• Errors in angular observations
• Errors in calculations
• Reliability of the fix

Depending on their locations the point to be fixed, P, may lie either outside or inside the triangle formed
by the three control stations, A, B and C.

The strength or reliability of a resection depends on:


• The size of the angles observed between control stations
• The positions of the control stations relative to each other

Attention to the following will assist in giving a strong resection:


• Any single observed angle should not be less than about 30°
• The centre control station should be the closest, if not it should be at a much
• greater distance than the other two
• If inside the control triangle the fix will be good provided no angle is less than about 60°.

Week 8 Survey Computations Surveying Notes 2012 Robert Taylor


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Danger Circle

A resection problem is insoluble when the unknown point lies on the circle passing through the three
control stations, and a poor fix is given if it lies near to that circle. A danger circle condition does not arise
if:
• The point to be fixed is inside the triangle ABC
• The three control stations are in a straight line
• The middle station is closer than the other two
• The sun of the angles (ά+β+B) does not equal or come close to 180°

Week 8 Survey Computations Surveying Notes 2012 Robert Taylor


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Calculation

There are various methods to undertake the calculations of a resection - we will use the Colllns Point
method as the layout is easy to remember and no formulae need to be memorised.

Known: Coordinates of A, B and C

Observed: Angles ά and β at unknown point P

Construction: Plot A, B and C, join AC.


Protract β at A and ά at C to intersect at I
Circumscribe a circle through points A, I and C
Join I to B and extend to circle at P which is the resected point.

Proof: ά is subtended by chord AI at C and P


Β is subtended by chord BI at A and P

Calculations: Calculate the coordinates of I by Intersection.


Join BI is taken out producing bearing BP.
Using the observed angles ά and β the bearings AP and CP can be deduced.
Calculate the coordinates of P by Intersection.

A great advantage of this method is that we have a simple check on the danger circle condition by
comparing the distances AC and BI, if BI is very short in relation to AC then B must be nearly on the circle
through A, C and P. We must have a good fixing angle at P - ideally ά + β should be near 90° and AP be
similar in length to BP.

Check
A fourth control point should be also be observed - once the coordinates of I have been calculated a join
can be taken out between P and D. The bearing of this line should be the same or very close to that
observed.

Week 8 Survey Computations Surveying Notes 2012 Robert Taylor


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Week 8 Survey Computations Surveying Notes 2012 Robert Taylor
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