CE 121

FUNDAMENTALS
OF
SURVEYING
Lecture #12: Measurement by Stadia for
Inclined Distance; Sources of Error in Stadia
Work

Prepared by:

ENGR. CHARITY R. LAQUINTA

ENGR. OMAR G. MUSALLAM

(FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY)

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CE 121 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING (Final Term Coverage)
(Lecture #12)

Lecture 12 – MEASUREMENT BY STADIA FOR INCLINED

DISTANCE; SOURCES OF ERROR IN STADIA WORK
12.1 Inclined Stadia Sights
12.2 Illustrative Problems
12.3 Errors in Stadia Measurements
12.4 Stadia Leveling
12.5 Illustrative Problem

12.1 INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS

In actual field practice, most stadia measurements are inclined because of varying topography, but the interval is
still read on a vertically held rod.

The Inclined measurement, which is also dependent on the observed vertical angle, is reduced to horizontal and
vertical components of the inclined line of sight.

Figure 3-1 illustrates an inclined line of sight for an instrument set up at point M with the rod held vertically at
N. The horizontal distance between the instrument and the rod is shown as HD or OD, and the vertical
distance between the telescope axis at O and the horizontal hair reading at P is VD or PD. The stadia interval
on the rod is ab, and a’b’ represents the corresponding projection normal to the line of sight.

The length of the inclined line of sight from O to P is

ID = K(a’b’) + C....……………………………………………………………….eq. (1)

• If the line a’b’ is drawn perpendicular to the line of sight, the angle aPa’ (or bPb’) will be equal to the
vertical angle of inclination of the telescope (𝜶). Since the angle between the line passing through the
principal focus and intercepting the points a’b’ is quite small, the angles at a’ and b’ may be considered
to be equal to 90 degrees.
• Also, since ab is equal to the stadia interval s; then a’b’ is equal to sCos(𝜶).
• Substituting the value of a’b’ to eq. (1), the inclined distance is

ID = KsCos(𝜶) + C………………………………………………………………..eq. (2)

The horizontal component of the inclined distance may be determined as follows

HD = (ID)Cos (𝜶)
HD = [KsCos (𝜶) + C] Cos (𝜶)
HD = Ks Cos2 (𝜶) + C Cos (𝜶)………………….........…………………………………eq. (3)

Similarly, the vertical component of the inclined distance is determined

VD = (ID) sin (𝜶)

VD = [Ks Cos (𝜶) + C] Sin (𝜶)
VD = Ks Cos (𝜶) Sin (𝜶) + C Sin (𝜶)……….…….........………………………………………eq. (4)

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FIGURE 3-1. INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS

From Figure 3-1;

HI + VD = DE + RR

• HI = DE + RR – VD

• VD = DE + RR – HR

• DE = HI + VD – RR

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 12.2 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS (INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS)

Case 1: When rod is located above the horizontal line of sight

The following data were obtained by stadia measurement: vertical angle = +18o 23’, and observed stadia
intercept = 2.20 m. The stadia interval factor of the instrument used is 95.5 and C = 0.30 m. If the height of
instrument is 1.62 m and the rod reading is taken at 1.95 m, determine the following:
a. horizontal stadia distance (HD) from the instrument set up at A to the rod held at point B.
b. vertical stadia distance (VD) from the center of the instrument to the point on the rod bisected by the
horizontal cross hair.
c. inclined or slope distance (ID) from the instrument center to the point on the rod bisected by the horizontal
cross hair.
d. difference in elevation (DE) between the point over which the instrument is set up and the point on which
the rod was held.

FIGURE 3-2.

GIVEN: REQUIRED:
𝜶 = + 18o 23’ a) HD = ?
s = 2.20 m b) VD = ?
K = 95.5 c) ID = ?
C = 0.30 m d) DE = ?
HI = 1.62 m
RR = 1.95 m

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Case 2: When rod is located below the horizontal line of sight
The upper and lower stadia hair readings on a stadia rod held at station B were observed as 3.50 and 1.00 m,
respectively, with the use of a transit with an internal focusing telescope &, having a stadia interval factor of
99.5. the height of the instrument above station A is 1.45 m and the rod reading is taken at 2.25 m. If the
vertical angle observed is –23o 34’, determine the following:
a. horizontal, vertical, and inclined stadia distances.
b. difference in elevation between the two stations.
c. the elevation of station B, if the elevation of station A is 155.54 m above mean sea level.

FIGURE 3-3.

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GIVEN: REQUIRED:
a = 3.50 m a) HD = ?, VD = ?, ID = ?
b = 1.00 m b) DE (between Stations A and B) = ?
C = 0.0 c) Elev. of B = ? if Elev. of A = 155.54 m
K = 99.5
HI = 1.45 m
RR = 2.25 m
𝜶 = – 23o 34’

Case 3: Two rods located below and above the horizontal line of sight on opposite sides of the
instrument
A transit with a stadia interval factor of 100.8 was set at C on the line between points A and B, and the following
stadia readings were observed.

HAIR READINGS
POSITION VERTICAL
OF ROD ANGLE
UPPER (a) MIDDLE (c) LOWER (b)

Rod held at A +15o 35’ 1.330 m 1.175 m 1.020 m

Rod held at B - 8o 08’ 1.972 1.854 1.736

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If the stadia constant is 0.381 m, determine the following:
a. length of line AB
b. difference in elevation between points A and B

FIGURE 3-4.

GIVEN DATA: REQUIRED:

Rod held at A; a) Lab = ?
a1 = 1.330 m b) DEab = ?
b1 = 1.020 m
𝜶1 = +15o 35’

Rod held at B;
a2 = 1.972 m
b2 = 1.736 m
𝜶2 = - 8o 08’

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 = 3.33 + 0.05
= 3.38 m (vertical distance between the reading on the rod at B and the horizontal line of sight)

From the figure it can be seen that

DEab = VD1 – RR1 + VD2 + RR2
= 8.19 – 1.175 + 3.38 + 1.854
= 12.25 m (difference in elevation between A and B)

12.3 ERRORS IN STADIA MEASUREMENTS

In stadia measurements the accuracy is largely dependent on the instruments and the rod used, and on atmospheric
conditions. Errors that are common in transit and theodolite operations are also inherent in surveys where the
stadia method is employed.

When extra long sights are involved the error depends on the magnifying power of the telescope, the coarseness
of the stadia hairs, the existing weather condition, and the type of the rod used.

If accurate results are desired in measurement of stadia distances, the sights must be as short as possible. It is still
easy to read to the nearest thousandth of a meter on sights up to 60 m on a Philadelphia leveling rod.

The rod should always be held plumb. A relatively small inclination of the rod from the vertical may introduce an
error of few thousandths of a meter in reading the stadia interval.

When a rod is not held plumb, the resulting error in horizontal distance will be small when the vertical angle is
small, but may be considerable when large vertical angles are involved.

The best way to eliminate this type of error is to use a rod level.

Natural errors such as wind, moisture, temperature changes also affect stadia measurements. The wind frequently
affects both the rodman and the instrumentman, and accurate observations cannot be expected when a high wind
is blowing.

Stadia measurements are affected by variations in the refractive index of the atmosphere. They bend the lines of
sight by unknown amounts and introduce errors in the vertical angles, and into the values of observed stadia
intervals. Whenever atmospheric conditions are unfavorable, the sights should not be taken near the bottom of
the rod.

Equal refraction is most favorable during cloudy days and early morning and late afternoon during bright and
sunny days.
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 12.4 STADIA LEVELING
Stadia leveling operations are similar to those of differential leveling EXCEPT that in stadia leveling the line
of sight may be inclined from the horizontal. This rapid method of indirect leveling is well suited in rolling or
hilly country where a relatively low order of accuracy is acceptable. It is also adaptable to trigonometric
leveling.

In running a line of levels using the stadia method, the instrument is set up in a convenient location and backsight
readings are taken on a nearby bench mark. These consist of a stadia interval, a rod reading and a corresponding
vertical angle. A turning point is then established forward along the level route, and similar observations are
taken. The instrument is then moved to a new location in advance of the turning point, and the process is repeated.

The tabulation of data for stadia leveling is almost similar to that used in conventional differential leveling.
The format and procedure for tabulation, formulas and computations are given in the illustrative problem.

12.5 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM

(For Indirect Leveling by Stadia)
Given the following set of stadia level notes. The instrument used has a stadia interval factor of 100 and equipped
with an internal focusing telescope. Complete the tabulation and perform the customary arithmetic check.

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT CHANGE

INTER- VERT ROD VERT INTER- VERT ROD VERT IN
STA ELEV
CEPT ANGLE RDG DIST CEPT ANGLE RDG DIST ELEV
(s) (𝜶) (RR) (VD) (s) (𝜶) (RR) (VD) (CE)
550.50
BMa 1.55 -5˚25’ 1.50 ?
m

TP1 1.74 +8˚15’ 1.68 ? 1.76 +10˚30’ 1.48 ? ? ?

TP2 0.95 -4˚48’ 1.77 ? 1.98 +12˚08’ 1.66 ? ? ?

BMb 2.49 -12˚50’ 2.53 ? 1.06 +7˚22’ 2.05 ? ? ?

TP3 2.14 +14˚05’ 1.79 ? 2.67 -15˚32’ 1.92 ? ? ?

TP4 1.92 -9˚41’ 1.33 ? 2.16 -7˚59’ 1.25 ? ? ?

BMc 2.65 +7˚32’ 1.88 ? ? ?

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Figure 5-1. Level Route From BMa to BMb

Figure 5-2. Level Route From BMb to BMc

SOLUTION

a) Determining vertical distances on backsights and foresights:

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b) Determining change in elevation between backsights and foresights:

Formula Used: CE = RRbs ± VDbs ± VDfs – RRfs

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c) Determining elevation of turning points and bench marks:

d) Arithmetic Check (Note: the customary arithmetic check is performed by determining the difference in
elevation between the first and last benchmarks using two different equations)

DEa = Elev BMc – Elev BMa

DEa = 605.44 – 550.50
DEa = 54.94 m

DEb = CE1 ± CE2 ± CE3 ± CE4 ± CE5 ± CE6

DEb = 46.13 + 16.00 + 21.12 – 14.35 – 79.68 + 65.72
DEb = 54.94 m (checks)

Since DEa is equal to DEb , it can be safely assumed that the above solution is correct.

e) Tabulated Solution

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
CHANGE
INTE IN
STA INTER- VERT ROD VERT VERT ROD VERT ELEV
R- ELEV
CEPT ANGLE RDG DIST ANGLE RDG DIST (CE)
CEPT
(s) (𝜶) (RR) (VD) (𝜶) (RR) (VD)
(s)
550.50
BMa 1.55 -5˚25’ 1.50 + 14.57 m

TP1 1.74 +8˚15’ 1.68 - 24.71 1.76 +10˚30’ 1.48 + 31.54 + 46.13 596.63

TP2 0.95 -4˚48’ 1.77 + 7.92 1.98 +12˚08’ 1.66 + 40.69 + 16.00 612.63

BMb 2.49 -12˚50’ 2.53 + 53.93 1.06 +7˚22’ 2.05 + 13.48 + 21.12 633.75

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 TP3 2.14 +14˚05’ 1.79 - 50.51 2.67 -15˚32’ 1.92 - 68.89 - 14.35 619.40

TP4 1.92 -9˚41’ 1.33 + 31.83 2.16 -7˚59’ 1.25 - 29.71 - 79.68 539.72

BMc 2.65 +7˚32’ 1.88 + 34.44 + 65.72 605.44

Reference/ Textbook
• La Putt, J.P., Higher Surveying (2nd Edition) 2011 Reprint

End of lecture #12 !!!

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