MEASUREMENT

OF DISTANCE
THROUGH
STADIA METHOD
DR ABDUL NASIR

DR. ASMA SATTAR

DR CH. ARSLAN
THEORY

Stadia systems
In this systems staff intercepts, at a pair of stadia hairs present at diaphragm, are considered.
The stadia system consists of two methods:
a) Fixed-hair method (will be used in this practical)
b) Movable-hair method
Fixed-hair method
In this method, stadia hairs are kept at fixed interval and the staff interval or intercept
(corresponding to the stadia hairs) on the leveling staff varies. Staff intercept depends upon
the distance between the instrument station and the staff.
 WORKING PRINCIPAL

• The Stadia hairs can be observed at eye piece of auto level as

shown in the figure.
• The upper and lower stadia hairs will focus on staff rod
reading which will change as the distance changes as shown
in second figure which means that the difference in the
reading (subtracting the reading at lower stadia hair from
reading at upper stadia on staff rod at a point) will increase as
the horizontal distance increase.
• Normally for auto level the proportional constant is 100
means
• The horizontal distance = 100 x Difference in reading
APPARATUS

• Ranging rods, Auto/Engineer’s level, tripod stand, Staff Rod, tape, 10 arrows
PROCEDURE

It has three steps

Step-1 To draw a straight line by indirect method
Step 2- To calibrate the Auto/Engineer’s level for horizontal distance
Step-3 To measure distance between these points
STEP-1 TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE BY INDIRECT
METHOD
I. Take four rode men. Let they are A,B,C and D.
II. The rod man A and B are at end point of line
III. C and D are in between A and B in such a way that A and B can see them
IV. A arrange D and C in straight line ADC ( means all here forms a straight line)
V. Then B arrange C and D in straight line BDC ( means all here forms a straight line)
VI. The procedure is repeated till C and D forms a straight line with A and B.
STEP 2- TO CALIBRATE THE AUTO/ENGINEER’S LEVEL FOR HORIZONTAL
DISTANCE

I. Select two points on a plane area.

II. Measure the distance between these two points.
III. Place the Auto/Engineer’s level at one point and level it by means of leveling screw.
IV. Place staff rod at second point and noted the reading at lower and upper stadia hairs.
V. Repeat the procedure three times with different distances
VI. Calculate the relationship between lower and upper stadia hair readings
VII. Establish an average relationship between stadia difference and horizontal distance.
STEP-3 TO MEASURE DISTANCE BETWEEN THESE
POINTS
I. Place arrows at suitable distances along the line
II. Place the Auto/Engineer’s level at starting point and level it.
III. Place staff rod at that distance from level in the line where reading can be taken at lower and upper
stadia hairs
IV. Place the level at that point where staff rod was previously held and repeat the above procedure up
to the end of the point.
V. Convert the difference of the reading into horizontal distance by the factor calculated in step two
VI. Add up all horizontal readings to find out the horizontal distance
 OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

For Calibration of Auto/Engineer’s level for horizontal distance

Step # Upper stadia hair Lower stadia hair Difference Horizontal Distance K= B/A
reading reading (A) (B)
(m) (m) (m)

1     1 10  
2       20  
3       30  
Mean K  
 OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

The horizontal distance between points can be calculated as

Step # Upper stadia hair Lower stadia hair reading Difference Horizontal Distance
reading (m) (A) H = A*K (m)
(m)

1        
2        
3        
.        
.        
.n        
Total Distance  
PRECAUTIONS:

i. The apparatus should be leveled.

ii. The area selected should be plan.
iii. Staff rod should be kept level.
PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION