CIVILGURU

THEODOLITE
 THEODOLITE
• Theodolite surveying is that branch of surveying in
which Theodolite is used to measure the horizontal
and vertical angles.
• A Theodolite is mainly used for determining the
horizontal and vertical distances between two points.
• It can also be used for prolonging a line, measuring
distances indirectly, as a level, like a tachometer. Due
to its wide range of applications, it is also termed as
“Universal Instrument”.
 FUNCTION OF THEODOLITE
– Laying off horizontal angles
– Locating points on line
– Prolonging survey lines
– Establishing grades determining difference in
elevation
– Setting out curves
– Ranging of survey line
– Measuring of magnetic bearing
 TRANSIT THEODOLITE
• transit Theodolite is the one in which the telescope
mounted in the instrument can be revolved through a
complete revolution about its horizontal axis, in a
vertical plane.
• A transit Theodolite (or simply 'transit') is one in which the
line of sight can be reversed by revolving the telescope
o
through 180 in the vertical plane.
• If the telescope of Theodolite rotate at 180 in vertical plane
o
about horizontal axis.
• A Theodolite whose (telescope) line of sight turn at 180o
NON-TRANSIT THEODOLITE
• It is the opposite of Transit Theodolite. In this type of
Theodolite, the telescope can not be revolved through a
complete revolution about its horizontal axis, in a vertical
plane. It can be rotated to a certain extent to take vertical
angles.
• The non-transit Theodolite is either plain Theodolite or Y-
Theodolite in which the telescope can’t be transited.
• If the telescope of Theodolite not rotate at 180 in vertical
o

plane about horizontal axis.

• A Theodolite whose (telescope) line of sight not turn at
180 o
 VERNIER THEODOLITE:
• It is fitted with a Vernier Scale.
• Vernier Theodolite are most commonly used in normal
Surveying operations

Micrometre Theodolite:-
Fitted with a micro micrometre scale
 TELESCOPE
• The telescope of theodolite is mounted on the
horizontal spindle.
• It can be rotated about the horizontal axis to sight the
objects.
• The telescope is INTERNAL FOCUSING type i.e. the
objective lens is fixed in the position and an additional
double concave (focusing lens) is moved between the
diaphragm and the objective.
 VERTICAL CIRCLE
• The vertical circle is rigidly fixed with the telescope,
and moves along with it.
• It is subdivided into four quadrants, each quadrants
having a reading of 0° to 90° in proper directions.
• The vertical circle also consists of a scale which is
generally used for taking vertical angular
measurements.
 CLAMP SCREWS
• Vertical clamp screw is used to clamp the telescope and
vertical circle at any desired angle.
• It prevents the rotation of the telescope about the
horizontal axis.
• These are situated in the lower plate of the instrument
mostly and are used in rotating the instrument about its
horizontal axis.
 CLAMP SCREWS
• These are two clamp screws, Lower clamp screw,
generally used for rotating the whole instrument,
and Upper clamp screw, which is used to fix the
Vernier A and Vernier B to a certain degree (mostly
0° and 180°) by rotating the upper part of the
instrument.
 PLATE BUBBLE
• Two plate bubbles are mounted at the upper surface of
the Vernier plate at right angles.
• One plate bubble is kept parallel to the horizontal axis of
the Theodolite and is used for horizontal levelling of the
instrument.
• Another plate bubble is mounted about the vertical axis
of the Theodolite and is used for vertical levelling of the
instrument.
 FOOT SCREWS
• These are also termed as levelling screws, and are
used to properly level the instrument in the ground.
• There is three number of foot Screws, which are
rotated in a certain direction, to level the
instrument.
 TANGENT SCREWS
• The instrument consists of two tangent screws, one of
which is placed in the lower plate, and another one is
placed in the upper plate.
• The lower tangent screw is used for very slight
movement of the crosshairs to accurately bisect the
ranging rod placed at the point, and the Upper tangent
screw is used for very slight movement of the scale
reading. Both screws are for accurate measurement
purposes.
 VERNIER SCALES
• Two Vernier scales are naming, horizontal scale &
vertical scale.
• The horizontal scale is used for taking horizontal
angles and is mounted on the lower plate of the
instrument, and the vertical scale is used for taking
vertical angles, fixed on the vertical circle.
IMPORTANT DEFINITION
RELATED
TO
THEODOLITE SURVEYING
 TELESCOPE NORMAL
• The theodolite is called telescope normal when the
vertical circle is to the left-hand side of the surveyor
and the bubble tube on the telescope is upward.
 TELESCOPE INVERTED
• The theodolite is called telescope normal when the
vertical circle is to the right-hand side of the
surveyor and the bubble tube on the telescope is
downward.
 TRANSIT
• The process of rotation the telescope of theodolite
by 180-degree about the horizontal axis (i.e. in the
vertical plane) is called Transit of a theodolite.
• This makes the telescope point in the exact opposite
direction. It is also called reversing or plunging.
 SWINGING
• The process of revolving the telescope of theodolite
about the vertical axis (i.e. in the horizontal plane) is
called swing or swinging of the telescope.
• A right swing implies the clockwise rotation of
theodolite and a left swing implies anticlockwise
rotation.
 CHANGING FACE
• The process of bringing the telescope from the face
left position to the face right position or vice-versa is
called changing face.
• The face can be changed by reversing the theodolite
(transit) and rating it by 180-degree(swing)
operations.
 LINE OF SIGHT OR LINE OF COLLIMATION
• It is the line passing through the intersection of
the horizontal and vertical cross-hairs and the
optical centre of the object glass and its
continuation
• It is the imaginary line passing through the
intersection of the cross hair of the diaphragm and
the optical centre of the object.
 AXIS OF LEVEL TUBE
• The axis of the level tube or the bubble line is a
straight line tangential to the longitudinal curve of
the level tube at its centre.

• The axis of the level-tube is horizontal when the

bubble is central.
 CENTRING
• The process of setting the
Theodolite exactly over the
station mark is known as
centring
 TEMPORARY
ADJUSTMENTS
OF
A THEODOLITE
 SETTING UP
• Procedure for setting up the theodolite:
– Place the tripod over the required station.
– Spread the legs of tripod such that they make an
angle of about 60-degree with horizontal.
– Push the shoe of each tripod leg into the ground
by applying some force.
– Take the theodolite out from its box. Lift it from
the base and screw it tightly on the tripod.
 CENTRING
• Centring is done to place the theodolite exactly above the
station.
• The Centering is done using a plumb Bob and a nail. The nail
is fixed at the exact point the instrument is to be placed.
• The Plumb Bob is suspended from a hook, fixed below the
instrument. Then the legs of the tripod should be adjusted
to place the suspended plumb bob, just over the exact point.
 LEVELLING
• The levelling of theodolite is done to make the
vertical axis of the theodolite truly vertical or to
make horizontal plane truly horizontal.
• This can be done by placing the horizontal bubble
tube parallel to any two of the foot screws and then
rotating the foot screws in opposite direction to
bring the bubble at the centre.
 FOCUSSING THE EYE-PIECE
• The eyepiece of theodolite is focused to make the
crosshairs in diaphragm clear and distinct. It depends
upon the eyesight of the surveyor.
1. Point the telescope of theodolite towards the sky or put
a white paper in front of the objective lens.
2. Move the eyepiece in or out by rotating it gradually until
the crosshairs appear clear.
 FOCUSSING THE OBJECTIVE
• The objective of theodolite s focused to bring the
image of the object in the plane of crosshairs
(diaphragm).
• It is done with help of focusing screw. It depends
upon the distance of the object.
 MEASUREMENT
OF A
HORIZONTAL ANGLE
BY THEODOLITE
• Horizontal angles can be done by two
methods:
1. Repetition Method
2. Reiteration method.
• Repetition method is used mostly in
measuring the horizontal angles.