ENGINEERING SURVEYING

UNIT – 5

Tachometric Surveying
 Methods of Tacheometry
•The various systems of tacheometric survey may be
classified as follows:
1. The Stadia System

(a) Fixed Hair method or Stadia Method

(b) Movable hair method or Subtense bar

method

2. The tangential System

 Methods of Tacheometric Surveying
A. Fixed hair Method
• In fixed hair method, the two hairs are equidistant from the central
hairs and the distance between them is fixed.
• These hairs intercept a certain length of staff known as staff
intercept)
• The staff intercept varies directly with distance between the
instrument and the staff station.
• The horizontal distance, D between the staff station & the
instrument station is computed from the staff intercept.
 A. Fixed hair Method
• There are three cases:
– (i) Line of sight is horizontal and staff is held vertical
– (ii) Line of sight is Inclined and staff is held vertical
– (iii) Line of sight is inclined and staff is held normal

Line of sight is horizontal Line of sight is Inclined

A. Fixed hair Method
 A. Fixed Hair Method
Question 1:
•A tachometer is set up at A and readings corresponding to three hairs on
staff held vaerticall at B were 2.255, 2.605, and 2.955. The line of sight
was inclined at +80 24’.
•Another readings were taken with staff held vertically at BM with RL as
418.685 m. The readings were: 1.640, 1.920 and 2.200. The line of sight
was inclined at +10 6’.
•The constants of the instrument are 100 and 0.3
•Compute
a. The distance between A & B
b. RL of A and B.
c. Difference in level between
A&B
A. Fixed Hair Method
A. Fixed Hair Method
 A. Fixed Hair Method
Case 2: Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Vertical:
Case I: Angle of Elevation
•We consider a tacheometer (having constants k & C), temporarily
adjusted on a station, say T. The instrument is focused on the staff held
vertically, say at P.
•Thus, it is required to find the horizontal distance D = T 1P1  and the
difference in elevation between T & P, i.e. distance PP1.
Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Vertical
 Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Vertical
To determine V, we have

Or V = D tan (θ)

Thus, R L of the staff station, P = R L of the instrument axis + V - h

where,
h = Staff reading corresponding to the middle hair.
Note:
In this expression, signs of V and h may be noted

The signs of various terms in D, V and R.L. of staff station may be noted
 Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Vertical
Case II: Angle of Depression
3. Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Normal
Case I: Angle of Elevation

Q
V
A

P
Q

R L of the staff station, P = RL of instrument axis + V – h Cos θ

 Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Normal
Case II: Angle of Depression

R L of the staff station, P = RL of instrument axis - V – h Cos θ

 Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Normal
Question 1:
•A tachometer is set up at C and the following readings were taken at BM
and a staff held vertically at D.
•The constants of the instrument are 100 and 0.15

•Compute
a. The distance CD
b. RL of D
 Fixed Hair Method
Solution:
•When the staff is held vatical, the horizontal & vertical distances are

•K = f/I = 100, C = (f + d) = 0.15

 Inclined Line of Sight & Staff held Normal

• Horizontal distances obtained tacheometrically are usually corrected

for refraction and curvature corrections.
Thank
You
 Fixed Hair Method
MCQ Question
A tacheometer is setup at A and the readings on the staff at B
are 1.77m, 2.12m, 2.34m and the inclination of line of sight is
+ 10 9ꞌ. The vertical distance between A and B assuming
k = 100 and c = 0.3 is
a) 1.51 m
b) 2.51 m
c) 2.15 m
d) 1.15 m
 Fixed Hair Method
• This method is almost same as the stadia method except that
the stadia interval (distance between two stadia hairs) is
variable.

• A suitable arrangement is made to vary the distance between

the stadia hair.

• The horizontal distance from the instrument to the staff can

be determine from the value of stadia variable interval.

• Thus, in this case, the staff intercept, i.e., the distance

between the two targets is kept fixed while the stadia
interval, i.e., the distance between the stadia hair is variable.

• The method is not commonly used but now rarely used.

 Fixed Hair Method
MCQ Question
A tacheometer is setup at a station P and the readings on the staff at Q are
1.0 m, 2.0 m, 3m and the inclination of line of sight is - 5°. The horizontal
distance between P and Q, assuming k = 100 and c = 0 will be
(A) 198.480 m.
(B) 200.480 m
(C) 197.480 m
(D) 195.480 m
 Fixed Hair Method
MCQ Question
Subtense tacheometry is generally preferred to if ground is
(A) (Flat
(B) Undulating
(C) Mountainous
(D) Deserts
Fixed Hair Method