Koya University

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department – 2nd Stage

Surveying (SUR5109)

Part 12:
Tacheometry

Assist. Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji

 1. Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM)
Tachometry represents distance-measuring methods that are faster than taping. They include stadia, sub
tense bar and EDM methods.

1. Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM):

Characteristics of EDM:
1. Distance range: between (800m-1000m) (Single prism with average atmospheric conditions is using),
short range (EDM) instruments that distances can be extended to (1300m) (using three prisms), and Long
range (EDM) instruments that distances can be extended to (15km) (using 11 prisms).
2. Accuracy range: (±15mm +5 ppm) for short range (EDM) instrument, and (±3mm +1 ppm) for long
range (EDM) instrument.
3. Measuring time: (1.5 sec.) for short range (EDM) instrument, to (3.5 sec.) for long range (EDM)
instrument.
4. Battery capacity: (1400-4200) measurements, depends on the size of battery and the temperature.
5.Temperature range: (-20ºC to +50ºC).
-Non-prism instrument (EDM):Available on some models, distances between (100m-350m).

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 EDM
Geometry of EDM:
1. When the optical target and the reflecting prism are at the same height. The slope
distance (S) is measured by (EDM) instrument, and the slope angle can be measured by
(Theodolite). The height of (EDM) instrument and Theodolite (hi) are measured with steel
tape or by graduated tripod cantering rod, and the height of reflector is measured also
(HR).

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 EDM

𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐻. 𝐷 = 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑆. 𝐷 ∗ cos 𝛼

𝑦 = 𝑆 ∗ sin 𝛼
∆𝐻 = 𝐻𝑅 + 𝑦 − ℎ𝑖 = 𝐻𝑅 + 𝑆 ∗ sin 𝛼 − ℎ𝑖
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐵 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴 − ∆𝐻

2. When (EDM) instrument is mounted on the Theodolite and the target is located below the
prism, the geometric relationship can be the same as shown in the figure below.

𝑋 = ∆𝐻𝑅 − ∆ℎ𝑖

𝑋 ∗ cos 𝛼
sin ∆𝛼 =
𝑆
𝐻. 𝐷 = 𝑆 ∗ [cos (𝛼 + ∆𝛼)]

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 EDM

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example
Example (1): An (EDM) slope distance (AB) is determined to be (561.276m). The (EDM)
instrument is (1.82m) above station (A), and the prism is (1.986m) above station (B). The
(EDM) instrument is mounted on a Theodolite whose optical centre is (1.72m) above the
station. The Theodolite was used to measure the vertical angle (+06º 21ˉ 38˭ ) to a target on
the prism pole. The target is (1.81m) above station (B). Compute both the horizontal distance
(AB) and the elevation of station (B), if the elevation of station (A) equal to (186.275m)?

Solution:
1.

2.

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 2. Stadia Method
The instruments used for determining distances by the stadia method are level/ theodolite and
staff. The method employs the staff readings, vertical angle and optical parameters of the
telescope to compute the horizontal distance and elevation difference between the theodolite
and staff stations. The accuracies of the method are 1 part in 300 to 400 for horizontal
distance and ±0.03 m for elevation difference. The method is applicable to various survey
operations that include: mapping small or medium sized areas of uneven terrain. It provides a
means of measuring direction, distance and elevation, all essentials in one operation. It can be
used only at scales less than 1:200 or for soft details of topographic mapping.
Two formulas for computing horizontal distance and elevation difference can be derived for
two cases: line of sight horizontal and line of sight inclined.

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Stadia Method
Horizontal Line of sight
The formulas for horizontal distance and elevation difference between the instrument and staff
stations can be derived by referring to the figure below:
𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝐾 ∗ 𝑆
= 100 ∗ 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 − 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
∆𝐻 = ℎ𝑖 − 𝑚
Where (m) is the middle stadia reading on the rod.

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Stadia Method
Inclined line of sight

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Stadia Method
𝐴`𝐶 = 𝐴𝐶 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑉 𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵`𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑉 𝑜
𝐴`𝐵` = 𝐴`𝐶 + 𝐵`𝐶 = 𝐴𝐶 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑣 + 𝐵𝐶 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑉 𝑜
∴ 𝐴`𝐵` = 𝐴𝐶 + 𝐵𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑉 𝑜 → 𝐴`𝐵` = 𝑆 ∗ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑉 𝑜
𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒
(𝑉 𝑜 ) 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 90 degree.
𝐷 = 𝐾 𝐴`𝐵` = 𝐾 𝑆 cos 𝑉 𝑜
𝐷` = 𝐷 cos 𝑉 𝑜 = 𝐾 𝑆 cos 𝑉 𝑜 cos 𝑉 𝑜 = 𝐾 𝑆 (cos 𝑉 𝑜 )2
𝐾` = 𝑘 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑉 𝑜
𝐿` = 𝐾` + 𝐷` = 𝑘 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑉 𝑜 + 𝐾 𝑆 (cos 𝑉 𝑜 )2

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:
𝐿` = 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑤𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡
𝐾 = 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑘 = 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑆 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 − 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑉 𝑜 = 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Stadia Method
𝐻 = 𝐷 ∗ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑉 𝑜 = 𝐾. 𝑆. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑉 𝑜 . 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑉 𝑜
𝐻` = 𝑦`𝑦`` + 𝐻
𝐻` = 𝑘. 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑉 𝑜 + 𝐾. 𝑆 (sin 𝑉 𝑜 . cos 𝑉 𝑜 )
∆𝐻 = ℎ𝑖 + 𝐻` − 𝑚
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:

∆𝐻: 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑓𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝐻`: 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚
ℎ𝑖: ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑚: 𝑀𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑓𝑓

𝑬𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝟏:
The table below shows the field data for the tachometric surveying, which takes by a
theodolite with constant K=100, and k=0.

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example

Calculate horizontal distance OP, OB and PQ, also fine the elevations of Q, P and O if the
elevation of B=500m.

Solution:

From OB

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example
From OP:

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example
From PQ:

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Example

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 3. Subtense Bar Method

Another device used in tacheometry is the subtense bar.This is a rigid rod, usually
of a material insensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, that is of fixed
length (typically two metres). This bar is mounted on a tripod over the station to
which the distance is desired. It is brought to level and a small telescope on the bar
allows the bar to be oriented perpendicular to the line of sight to the angle
measuring station.
At the angle measuring station, a theodolite is used to measure the angle between
indicators on the two ends of the subtense bar. The distance is determined with
simple geometry to be the altitude of a triangle with the theodolite at the upper
vertex and the subtense bar length at its base.

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Subtense Bar Method

𝟏 𝜽
𝑫= 𝒔 ∗ 𝒄𝒐𝒕 ….. (1)
𝟐 𝟐

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:

𝐷 = ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

𝑠 = 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

𝜃 = ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛

𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ
tℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒.

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji
 Figure

Faculty of Engineering – Civil Department Surveying Assistant Lecturer: Hawkar Ali Haji