TACHEOMETRY

(Stadia Surveying)

Esci 121n
Fundamentals of Surveying
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the topic, the student should be
able to:
1. Discuss stadia surveying as an indirect
method of measuring distances; and
2. Compute distances using the stadia method.
 TACHEOMETRY
Defined as a
procedure of obtaining
horizontal distances
and differences in
elevation based on
the optical geometry
of the instrument
employed.
 TACHEOMETRY

Compared to taping and differential leveling,

the distances and elevations obtained by
tacheometric methods are usually of a lower
degree of accuracy.
 TACHEOMETRY
Uses transit and theodolite and a graduated
rod or scale.
 STADIA METHOD

Essentially well adapted to mapping

requirements and is widely used for locating
details and control points in topographic
surveys.
 STADIA METHOD

More rapid than taping and under certain

conditions could be made precise.
 STADIA METHOD

Derived from a Greek word meaning a unit of length;

Denoted 600 Greek units or 184 m 93 cm (606 ft 9 in)

by present-day international standards.
STADIA METHOD
 STADIA METHOD

Stadia Constant
External-focusing Telescope = 0.30 m
Internal-focusing Telescope = 0.00 m

Stadia Interval Factor

(f/i)
designated by letter K
DETERMINATION OF STADIA
INTERVAL FACTOR
 DETERMINATION OF STADIA
INTERVAL FACTOR
STADIA HAIR READINGS
STADIA
STADIA INT
TRIAL DIST. INTERCEPT
UPPER LOWER FACTOR (K)
(S)

1 30.00 a=0.5 b=0.4 0.1 300

2 45.00

3 60.00

4 75.00

5 90.00

6 105.00

7 120.00

AVE K =
 DETERMINATION OF STADIA
INTERVAL FACTOR

Computation:
1. s = a – b
Where: s = stadia interval or intercept
a = upper stadia hair reading
b = lower stadia hair reading
 DETERMINATION OF STADIA
INTERVAL FACTOR
D=Ks ; K=D/s ……

Computation:
2. K = D/s or D/(a – b)
Where: K = stadia interval factor
D = distance from the center of
the instrument to the stake
s = stadia interval (or a – b)
 DETERMINATION OF STADIA
INTERVAL FACTOR
Computation:
3. K = (K1 +K2 + K3 . . . . . . . . . .+ Kn) /n
Where: K = stadia interval factor of the
instrument
n = number of points sighted
K1= stadia interval factor for the
sight on the rod held at the first
point (A).
INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS
 INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS
Formulas:
𝐼𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 + 𝐶
𝐻𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛼 + 𝐶𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝑉𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 + 𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼

Where :
ID-inclined distance
HD-Horizontal Distance
VD-Vertical Distance
 STADIA LEVELING

Is a type of leveling similar to differential

leveling however in stadia leveling, the line
of sight may be inclined from the horizontal.

This rapid method of indirect leveling is well

suited in a rolling or hilly area/terrain where a
relatively low order accuracy is acceptable.
 STADIA TRAVERSE

It is a traverse undertaken by a transit and

stadia where the length of the traverse lines
are measured by the stadia method instead of
by tape.
 STADIA TRAVERSE

Three quantities which will be obtained in

stadia traverse;
1. Horizontal length;
2. Direction of each line; and
3. Elevations of the stations.
 Sample Problem
1. A dumpy level is set up at one end of a line
120 meter long for the purpose of determining
the instrument’s stadia interval factor. The line
is marked by hubs at every 30 meter and a
stadia rod is held at each hub. The stadia
intercepts at each location of the rod were as
follows: 0.308, 0.613, 0.918, and 1.222
meters, respectively. The average value of the
instrument’s stadia interval factor is?
Solution:
Total Distance= 120 meters
From the instrument: D1=30, D2=60, D3=90, D4=120
S1=(a-b)= 0.308, s2=0.613, s3=0.918, s4=1.222 meters,

Required: K?
Solution: D=Ks; K=D/s
K1=D1/S1=30/0.308=97.4026
K2=D2/S2=60/0.613=97.8793
K3=D3/S3=90/0.918=98.0392
K4=D4/S4=120/1.222=98.1997
K=(K1+K2+K3+K4)/4=(97.4026+97.8793+98.0392+98.199
7)/4=97.8802
 Sample Problem
2. The following data were obtained by stadia
observation: vertical angle 12 degrees 30
minutes: upper stadia hair reading and lower
stadia hair readings, 4.50 and 3.20 m.,
respectively. The rod reading was taken at 3.875
m. above the stadia point at A and the height of
the instrument above the instrument station, B, is
1.62 m. If the stadia interval factor is 99.50 and
the instrument constant is 0.381 m,
 Sample Problem
a. Determine the horizontal distance between
the instrument station and the stadia point.
b. Determine the vertical distance from the
horizontal axis of the instrument to the rod
reading.
c. Determine the inclined distance from the
center of the instrument to the rod reading.
d. Determine the difference in elevation
between the two ground points.
Given:
α=12o30’
a=4.50 meters
b=3.20 meters
@ Stadia Point A, c=3.875 meters=RR=Rod Reading
@Instrument Point B, HI=1.62 meters
K=99.50
C=0.381

Required: ID, VD, HD, DE(a-b)

Solution:

Inclined Distance:
𝐼𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 + 𝐶
𝐼𝐷 = (99.5)(4.5 − 3.2)(𝑐𝑜𝑠12𝑜 30’)+0.381
ID=126.665 meters
Vertical Distance:
𝑉𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 + 𝐶𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑉𝐷 = (99.5)(4.5 −
3.2)(𝑐𝑜𝑠12𝑜 30′ )(sin12𝑜 30′ )+0.381(sin12𝑜 30′ )
VD=27.415 meters
Solution:

𝐻𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛼 + 𝐶𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝐻𝐷
= 99.5 4.5 − 3.2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 12𝑜 30′ + (0.381)(𝑐𝑜𝑠12𝑜 30′ )

HD=123.662 meters
𝐷𝐸 = 𝐻𝐼 + 𝑉𝐷 − 𝑅𝑅
𝐷𝐸 = 1.62 + 27.415 −3.875 = 25.16 meters
 Sample Problem
3. A dumpy level with an internal focusing
telescope was set up on the left bank of a river
and the rod readings tabulated were taken on a
stadia rod held successively at the left and right
water edges. If the stadia interval factor of the
instrument is 100, dertermine the width of the
river.
Rod Position Hair Readings
Upper Middle Lower
Rod held at LWE a=2.189 c=2.172=RR b=2.155
Rod held at RWE a=2.277 c=2.173=RR b=2.069
Given: K=100, C=0.00,
LWE: a=2.189, c=2.172, b=2.155
RWE: a=2.277, c=2.173, b=2.069

Required: Width of the river

Solution:
HD=Ks+C
HD=Ks….. Since C=0
Solution:

𝐻𝐷 = 𝐻𝐷2 − 𝐻𝐷1
𝐻𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠2 − 𝐾𝑠1
𝐻𝐷 = (100)(2.277-2.069)-(100)(2.189-2.155)
HD= 17.40 meters