Automation in Surveying

What is Automation?
▪ Automation is the technology by which a process or procedure
is performed with minimal human assistance.

▪ Automation or automatic control is the use of various control

systems for operating an equipment.
Brief History of Surveying
1. Surveying had it’s beginning in Egypt about 1400 BC.
2. Greeks: Expanded Egyptian work and developed Geometry.
3. Romans: Developed surveying into a science to create the Roman roads,
aqueducts and land division systems.
4. Middle Ages: Land division of Romans continued in Europe.
5. 18th & 19th Century in the New World: The need for mapping and marking
land claims caused extensive surveying, especially by the English.
6. 20th Century and Beyond: As technology advanced, population increased, and
land value caused development of licensure for surveyors in all countries.
Conventional Survey Instruments
• Chain
• Ranging
• Cross Staff
• Steel band
• Tape
• Plane tables
• Compass
• Levelling
• Theodolites (Vernier & Micrometer)
• Tachometer
 Modern Surveying
• By the 1970’s, relatively small, lightweight and easy-to-use electronic
distance measuring devices, called EDM’s were in use.
• The advance of technology and miniaturization of electronic components
enabled the building of theodolites that measure angles electronically,
called Electronic Theodolite
• Combination of an electronic theodolite and electronic distance meter,
and software running on an external laptop computer known as a data
collector, called Total Station
• The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed for military
applications. Its primary purpose was to allow soldiers to keep track of
their position and to assist in guiding weapons to their targets
• A computerized data base management system for capture, storage,
retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data, called GIS
Modern Survey Instruments
• Electronic Theodolite
• EDM – Electronic Distance
Measurement equipment
• Auto Level
• Digital Level
• Laser Level
• Laser Distance meter
• Total station
• GPS – Global Positioning System
 Electronic Theodolite
• For precise surveys the vernier
theodolites are replaced by
modern theodolites such as
optical and electronic theodolites.
• The electronic theodolites have
optical system to scan both
horizontal and vertical circles and
display them digitally on a screen
EDM (Electronic Distance Meter)

1. EDM is Electronic Distance meter

2. Measurement of distance is done by a
modulated microwave or infrared
carrier signal
3. The distance is determined by
emitting and receiving multiple
frequencies, and determining the
integer number of wavelengths to the
target for each frequency
 Auto Level
• Now most commonly used levelling
instruments are - Auto level.
• Auto level, as the name sounds it has a auto
level compensator and corrects automatically
if instrument goes out of level within it’s
range.
• With auto level:-
1. Survey work can be done fast
2. Less chances of error
3. Magnification available is more
4. Range is more
5. Image is erect so less chances of error
 Digital Level
• They are not popular instead auto levels are
more extensively used
• The Trimble DiNi Digital Level: Determine
accurate height information 60% faster than with
automatic leveling
• Eliminate errors and reduce rework with digital
readings
• Transfer data to the office easily
• Measure to a field of just 30 cm
 Laser Level
• The word laser is an acronym for Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation and is the
name applied to an intense beam of highly
monochromatic, coherent light.
• Laser rangefinders use these relationships to
calculate Distance
• Distance = speed of light * (time/2)
• The time refers to time of pulse to go from the
instrument to the tree and back again
Laser Distance Meter

• By using this Laser distance meter

we can calculate the distance,
area and volume accurately
• We can use this in night also
GPS – Global Positioning System
• GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is
the only system today able to show you your exact
position on the Earth anytime, in any weather,
anywhere.
• Global Positioning System – A network of satellites
(24 total – 21 in use, 3 spares) that continuously
transmit coded information, which makes it possible
to precisely identify locations on earth by measuring
distance from the satellites.
 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.
VSVN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE., VIRUDHUNAGAR

GPS – Global Positioning System.

 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.
VSVN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE., VIRUDHUNAGAR
 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.
VSVN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE., VIRUDHUNAGAR
 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.
VSVN POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE., VIRUDHUNAGAR
 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education infinity-project.org

 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education infinity-project.org

 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education infinity-project.org

 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education infinity-project.org

EDM + Theodolite

• EDM is used to measure the horizontal distances.

• Some EDM are attached with electronics
theodolite which has the adapter system.
• Some are advanced models which itself reads the
distance without theodolite
 Total Station
• A Total station integrates the functions of a
Electronic theodolite for measuring angles, an EDM
for measuring distances, digital data and a data
recorder
• Angles and distances, coordinates and height
differences and many other items can be computed,
displayed and stored into internal memory.
 Features of Total Station
• Total solution for surveying work
• Most accurate and user friendly
• Gives position of a point (x, y and z) w. r. t. known
point (base point)
• Compatibility with computers
• Measures distance and angles and displays
coordinates
• Auto level compensator is available
• Can work in lesser visibility also
• Can measure distances even without prismatic target for
lesser distances
• Waterproof
• On board software are available
• Can be used for curve layout after feeding data
 Features of Total Station
• New total stations have atmospheric
correction, and auto-focus.
• In addition, these series incorporates a quick
distance measuring mode and a high data
storage capacity for increased productivity.
• The new Total station gives the unique
opportunity for long range distance monitoring
of up to 9000m to a single prism.
• Using the scan functionality of software allows
fully automated monitoring of the prism in
direction of the line of sight.
Parts of Total Station
Parts of Total Station
 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.
Parts of Total Station

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education infinity-project.org

 Engineering Education
for today’s classroom.

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education infinity-project.org

Accessories of Total Station
Accessories of Total Station
LIDAR
• LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection
and Ranging, is a remote sensing
method that uses light in the form of a
pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable
distances) to the Earth.
• These light pulses—combined with
other data recorded by the airborne
system—generate precise, three-
dimensional information about the
shape of the Earth and its surface
characteristics.
LIDAR
• A LIDAR instrument principally consists of a
laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver.
• Airplanes and helicopters are the most
commonly used platforms for acquiring LIDAR
data over broad areas.
• Two types of LIDAR are topographic and
bathymetric.
• Topographic LIDAR typically uses a near-infrared
laser to map the land, while bathymetric lidar
uses water-penetrating green light to also
measure seafloor and riverbed elevations.
Components of LIDAR
Applications of LIDAR
• LIDAR (also written as "LiDAR", "Lidar", or "LADAR") is used in a wide range of
land management and planning efforts, including hazard assessment
(including lava flows, landslides, tsunamis, and floods), forestry, agriculture,
geologic mapping, and watershed and river surveys.

• LIDAR can also be used in any situation where the structure and shape of
Earth's surface needs to be known, and can even measure some gases and
particles in the atmosphere.

• Its versatility and high resolution give it applications in archaeology, climate

monitoring, city planning, meteorology, mining, and much more.