Theodolite

Contents
• Introduction
• Components Of Vernier Theodolite
• Uses of theodolite
• Terms Used In theodolite Operation
• Temporary Adjustment of Theodolite
• Permanent Adjustment of Theodolite
• Traverse Surveying
• Purpose of traverse
• Types of traverse
• Conversion of Angles to Bearings
• Sources of Error in Theodolite
• Mistakes during Theodolite Traverse
Introduction
• A Theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the
horizontal and vertical planes.
• However the instrument can be used for other purposes like
• (i) Prolonging a line,
• (ii) Measuring distances indirectly. and
• (iii) Levelling..
• Theodolites these days are all transit theodolites.
• Here the line of sight can be rotated in a vertical plane through 180
degrees about its horizontal axis.
• This is known as transiting and hence the name "transit"
Cont’d
• Theodolites can be broadly classified as
• (i) Vernier theodolites.
• (ii) Precise optical theodolites.
• As the name suggests in vernier theodolites verniers are used to
measure accurately the horizontal and vertical angles.
• Generally 20" vernier theodolites are used. '
• The precise optical theodolites uses an optical system to read both
horizontal and vertical circles.
• The precision of angles can' be as high as 1".
Cont’d
How Does a Theodolite Work?
• A theodolite works by combining optical plummets (or plumb bobs), a
spirit (bubble level), and graduated circles to find vertical and
horizontal angles in surveying.
• An optical plummet ensures the theodolite is placed as close to
exactly vertical above the survey point.
• The internal spirit level makes sure the device is level to the horizon.
• The graduated circles, one vertical and one horizontal, allow the user
to actually survey for angles.
Components Of Vernier Theodolite
Cont’d
• The trivet stage forming the base of the instrument connects it to the
tripod head.
• The tribrach supports the rest of the instrument and with reference
to the plate bubble can be levelled using the foot screws which act
against the fixed trivet stage.
• The lower plate carries the horizontal circle which is made of glass,
with graduations from 0°to 360 photographically etched around the
perimeter.
Cont’d
• This process enables lines of only 0.004 mm thickness to be sharply
defined on a small-diameter circle (100 mm), thereby resulting in very
compact instruments
• The upper plate carries the horizontal circle index and fits concentric
with the lower plate.
• The plate bubble is attached to the upper plate and when centered,
using the foot screws, establishes the instrument axis vertical.
• Some modern digital or electronic theodolites have replaced the spirit
bubble with an electronic bubble.
Cont’d
• The upper plate also carries the standards which support the
telescope by means of its transit axis.
• The vertical circle similar in construction to the horizontal circle is
fixed to the telescope axis and rotates with rotation of the telescope.
• The vertical circle index, against which the vertical angles are
measured, is set normal to gravity by means of
• (a) an altitude bubble attached to it, or
• (b) an automatic compensator.
• The latter method is now universally employed in modern theodolites
Cont’d
• The lower plate clamp enables the horizontal circle to be clamped
into a fixed position.
• Similarly;, the upper plate clamp and slow motion screw have the
same effect on the horizontal circle index.
• The telescope clamp and slow motion screw fix and allow fine
movement of the telescope in the vertical plane.
• The altitude bubble screw centers the altitude bubble, which, as it is
attached to the vertical circle index, establishes it horizontal prior to
reading the vertical circle.
Cont’d
• The optical plummet, built into either the base of the instrument or
the tribrach enables the instrument to be centered precisely over the
survey point.
Uses of theodolite
• Measuring horizontal and vertical angles.
• Locating points on a line.
• Prolonging survey lines.
• Finding difference of level.
• Setting out grades
• Ranging curves
• Tacheometric Survey
• Measurement of Bearings
Terms Used in Theodolite Operation
Centering :
• Centering means setting the theodolite exactly over an instrument.
• It can be done by means of plumb bob suspended from a small hook
attached to the vertical axis of the theodolite.
Transiting :
• Transiting is also known as plunging or reversing.
• It is the process of turning the telescope about its horizontal axis
through 180 in the vertical plane.
Cont’d
Face Left:
• If the vertical circle of the instrument is on the left side of the
observer while taking a reading ,the position is called the face left.
Face Right:
• If the vertical circle of the instrument is on the right side of the
observer while taking a reading ,the position is called the face right
Changing Face:
• It is the operation of bringing the vertical circle to the right of the
observer ,if originally it is to the left , and vice – versa.
Cont’d
Leveling:
• Leveling of an instrument is done to make the vertical axis of the
instrument truly vertical.
• Generally, there are three leveling screws and two plate levels are
present in a theodolite instrument.
Line of Collimation:
• It is also known as the line of sight .
• It is an imaginary line joining the intersection of the cross- hairs of the
diaphragm to the optical centre of the object- glass and its
continuation.
Cont’d
Axis of the telescope:
• It is also known an imaginary line joining the optical centre of the
object- glass to the centre of eye piece.
Temporary Adjustment of Theodolite
• At each station point, before taking any observation, it is required to
carry out some operations in sequence.
• The set of operations those are required to be done on an instrument
in order to make it ready for taking observation is known as
temporary adjustment.
• It consists of following operations:
• Setting
• Centering
• Leveling
• Focusing.
Permanent Adjustment of Theodolite
• An instrument is said to in permanent adjustment if it satisfies all the
relations among its fundamental lines.
• The permanent adjustments are made to establish the relationship
between the fundamental lines of the theodolite.
• The permanent adjustment of an instrument usually gets disturbed
after long or prolonged use.
• So, the state of relationship among different fundamental lines should
be checked occasionally and corrections are required to be done, if
necessary.
Cont’d
• The operations are based on the geometry of the fundamental line
and thus, may get upset one relation while rectifying other.
• In order to avoid such possibility, the permanent adjustment should
be made in the order.
1. Adjustment of Vertical cross hair;
2. Adjustment of plate level axes;
3. Adjustment of line of sight;
4. Adjustment of horizontal axis;
5. Adjustment of the axis of the telescope;
6. Adjustment of vertical circle index.
Traverse Surveying
• A traverse consists of a series of straight lines connected successively
at established points, along the route of a survey.
• The points defining the ends of the traverse line are called traverse
stations or traverse points.
• Distances between traverse stations are known as traverse side
Purpose of traverse
• It is a convenient, rapid method for establishing horizontal control
particularly when the lines of sights are short due to heavily built up
areas where triangulation and trilateration are not applicable.
• The purpose includes:
• Property surveys to locate or establish boundaries;
• Supplementary horizontal control for topographic mapping surveys;
• Location and construction layout surveys for high ways, railway, and other
private and public works;
• Ground control surveys for photogrammetric mapping.
Types of traverse
Open traverse:
• It starts at a point of known position and terminates at a point of
unknown position.
Cont’d
Closed traverse:-
• It originates at a point of known position and close on another point
of known horizontal position.
• If the origin and terminating points are the same then it is called
closed-loop traverse
• This type of traverse permits an internal check on the accuracy of
angular measurements.
Cont’d
Cont’d
• Surveying for establishment of control points of a traverse consists of
different steps of operation.
• These are
1. Reconnaissance
2. Selection of stations sites
3. Marking of stations
4. Field measurements
5. Computations
Cont’d
Interior angle traverse:
• Interior angle traverse is the one that is employed for closed loop traverse.
• Successive stations occupied and back sight is taken to the preceding
station with horizontal circle set zero.
• The instrument is then turned on its upper motion until the next station is
bisected/sighted and the interior angle is observed.
• The horizontal circle reading gives the interior angle in the clockwise
direction.
• Horizontal distances are determined by stadia and angles should be
observed twice by double sighting
Cont’d
Cont’d
• This method of running traverses is widely employed than the other
especially on open traverses.
• It is mostly common in location of routes, canals, roads, highways, pipe
lines, etc.
• Successive traverse stations are occupied with a theodolite with horizontal
circle set at zero and back sight taken to the preceding station with a
telescope reverse.
• The telescope is then plunged and the line of sight is directed to the next
station, by turning the instrument about the vertical axis on its upper
motion and the deflection angle is observed.
• Angles have to be observed by double sighting.
Cont’d

• Example
A clockwise interior angle in a closed traverse is as follows
A= 84‫ ﹾ‬58’, B=157‫ ﹾ‬38’, C=24‫ ﹾ‬37’
D= 153‫ ﹾ‬14’, E=103‫ ﹾ‬54’, F= 139‫ ﹾ‬06’ G= 236‫ ﹾ‬47’
Compute the error of closure and adjust the interior angle.
Conversion of Angles to Bearings
Bearing:
• A bearing is a direction or path along which something moves or lies.
• In surveying, it’s an angle measured clockwise from the north
direction.
• Expressed in degrees from 0° to 360° or in quadrant notation (e.g., N
30° E).
Angle:
• An angle is formed by two lines originating from a common point
(vertex).
• Measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds (° ' ").A full circle is 360°.
Cont’d
Understanding Quadrants
• Quadrant I (NE): 0° to 90°
• Quadrant II (SE): 90° to 180°
• Quadrant III (SW): 180° to 270°
• Quadrant IV (NW): 270° to 360°
Cont’d
Convert to Bearing Notation:
• Quadrant I (0° to 90°): Bearing = N θ° E
• Quadrant II (90° to 180°): Bearing = S (180° - θ)°E
• Quadrant III (180° to 270°): Bearing = S (θ - 180°)°W
• Quadrant IV (270° to 360°): Bearing = N (360° - θ)°W
Sources of Error in Theodolite
• 1. Instrument Errors
a) Non-adjustment of plate bubble
b) Line of collimation not being perpendicular to horizontal axis .
c) Horizontal axis not being perpendicular to vertical axis.
d) Graduation not being Uniform.
• 2.Personal Errors
• 3. Natural Errors
Mistakes during Theodolite Traverse
• Reading the wrong vernier scale
• Misreading the vernier
Plotting traverse
 The End
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