TOTAL STATION

Prof. Dr. Kazi Md. Fazlul Haq

Department of Geography & Environment ,
University of Dhaka
 Surveying Techniques

The purpose of a field survey is to accurately locate

points in the field so that their positions relative to
each other can be plotted on a map. Plotting
positions of points in the field is determined by
three basic positioning principles:
a) location by three measured sides (Triangulation)
b) location by offset
c) location by intersection

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In each case, the baseline A-B is in a known location (can be mapped); X is the additional point
you are trying to map.

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Triangulation is based on having three measured distances
(AB the base line), AX and BX. Once the location of X is
fixed it can be used to build additional triangles. Points A and
B are “known” points (can be plotted on a map).

A B
Location by offset is based on having a bearing (angle) and distance
from a known point to an unknown point (the known point could be a
measured distance along a known base line AB or it could be a bench
mark, for example).
Intersection is based on having two bearings from two known points to
an unknown point (the two known points are usually at each end of a
base line AB). Because distances are not required, this methods works
wherever there is a line of sightHarry(e.g. across lakes, rivers, canyons etc.). 4
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Planimetric Position.
All of these survey techniques are designed to locate objects in
their correct planimetric position (horizontal distances
between all objects on map are correct). This is not the same
as ground distance, which is affected by slope. Maps are
planimetric.
A Map distance B

A
Ground distance

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The Surveyor’s Level (or Transit). This is basically a
telescope mounted on a tripod. The telescope can be leveled,
so that the central cross hair is aligned to a level plane and can
be used to calculate height. Additional upper and lower cross
hairs are used to calculate distance. The telescope is mounted
on a swivel allowing rotation in a horizontal plane.
View

level upper crosshair

Horizontal plane central crosshair

lower crosshair

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 View through the level:

Graduated staff

8
7.8 feet – used for distance calculation
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6.8 feet – used for height calculation
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5.8 feet – used for distance calculation
5

Distance = upper crosshair – lower crosshair x 100 =

7.8 – 5.8 feet = 2 feet x 100 = 200 feet.
(Note: distance calculation varies from level to level).

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Calculating height:
The level gives relative heights – these can be tied to a nearby
bench mark or spot height to give absolute heights.

For
example, if
point C was
a bench
mark at 200
m, then
point B
would be at
202.74 m.

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Azimuth has been more generally defined as a
horizontal angle measured clockwise from any
fixed reference plane or easily established base
direction line.

Today, the reference plane for an azimuth is

typically true north, measured as a 0° azimuth,
though other angular units (grad, mil) can be used.
Moving clockwise on a 360 degree circle,
 east has azimuth 90°,
 south 180°, and
 west 270°.
True north-based azimuths

North 0°
North-Northeast 22.5°
North-Northeast 37.5°
Northeast 45°
East-Northeast 67.5°
East 90°
East-Southeast 112.5°
Southeast 135°
South-Southeast 157.5°
South180°
South-Southwest 202.5°
Southwest 225°
West-Southwest 247.5°
West 270°
West-Northwest 292.5°
Northwest 315°
Types of survey

Traverse survey
Triangulation survey
Plane table survey

Which includes:
1. Linear Measurements
2. Angular Measurements
3. Height Measurements
Linear measurements we usually do with:
chain
Tape
Substance bar
EDM (Electronic distance measurement instrument)
GPS (Global Positioning System)
Angular measurements we usually do with:
Compass
Theodolite
Height we usually do with:
Dumpy level
Auto level
Theodolite & Digital leveler
 Total station is a combination of :

EDM
Theodolite
Auto Leveler
Microprocessor with specific memory
Battery/spare
which works about 5 working hours

About 100 models were released till now by

different firms.
 Total Station
A total station is an electronic and
optical instrument used in modern
surveying.
It can measure horizontal and
vertical Angles, Slope, and
horizontal and vertical Distances.
Measurements recorded by the total
station will produce an x, y, and z
value. The x-value represents the
easting, the y-value represents the
northing, and the z-value represents
the elevation.
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The total station works
reflector
by firing an infrared
laser beam at a reflector
mounted on a stadia
rod.
The distance between
the total station and the
reflector is calculated
based on the time taken
for the beam to reflect
back to the total station.
Total stations were originally developed for the
construction industry – e.g. surveying new roads, laying out
building foundations, utility lines etc..
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Most total stations have the ability to record survey data as a digital
file, which can be imported to a PC-based GIS program.

MAP

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 Why do we use a total station?
Accuracy: total stations are very accurate (can
be around 1 cm horizontal and vertical accuracy
over distances of around 2 miles.
GPS can be fairly accurate for horizontal
positioning (e.g. around 1 m), but are less
accurate for vertical position (e.g. 5x less
accurate than for horizontal position)
(Note: very expensive GPS systems (RTK) can
obtain 1 cm horizontal accuracy and, presumably,
5 cm vertical accuracy).
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Traditional Survey Equipment & Total Station

Distance & Level

Bearing / Angle

?
Co-Ordinate (GPS)
Traditional Survey Equipment & Total Station

Distance & Level

Bearing / Angle

Co-Ordinate (GPS)
 When do we use a total station?
For mapping small areas (the range of a total
station is around 2 miles or so – assuming you
have good lines of sight). A good example would
be mapping an archaeological dig site.
There are many other applications in earth
science that require great accuracy e.g.
monitoring cliff erosion, glacier movement,
changes in beach profiles, sand dune movement..
and so on.

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 BASIC COMPONENTS OF TOTAL STATION
 Prism reflector:
It is a combination of ranging rod, staff and
optical cuboidal mirror.
having 2/3 lifts with 5cms interval graduations.

adjustable height from 1.5m to 3.75m.

More number of prisms, will give more accuracy.
 GUN: data screen LCD
eye piece
telescope 24x to 43x
environmental box
microprocessor with memory card of 1 or 2 GB
capacity
1MB can store 800 points.
 BASIC COMPONENTS OF TOTAL STATION

•Tripod: with different material

Aluminum tripod weighs 13 to 14lbs
Wooden tripod will be about 18 lbs.
•Optical and Laser plumb bobs.
•Battery –as an external attachment with indicators
1.5 hours charged battery can work for 3 to 5 hours
ACCURACY OF TOTAL STATION
More accuracy can be achieve by :
1. Careful Centering
2. Accurate pointing target
3. Average of multiple points
4. Better optical lense
5. Strong Tripod
6. Verticality of prism pole

1.Angular accuracy is from 1 to 20 Sec.

2.Linear accuracy is from 2mm to 10mm/per KM
3.Different instruments have different accuracy
Linear
Angular
With 1 Prism With 3 prisms
NIKON 1 Sec + 2 mm + 1 mm
LIEKA 1 Sec + 2 mm + 1 mm
SOKKIA 1 Sec 2 mm + 1 mm
Accuracy varies with Price
Distance measure with:
1. Single Prism – up to 2.5 Km
2. Two prisms - 5 to 7 Km
3. Three prisms - 10 to 12 Km
Functions of T.S:
1. It simultaneously measures angles & distances and Record
2. Correcting the measured distance with:
1. Prism constant
2. Atmospheric Pr.
3. Temperature
4. Curvature of earth
5. Refraction correction
3. Computing the point elevation
4. Computing the coordinates of every point
5. Remote elevation measurement
6. Remote distance measurement
7. Area calculations
8. Data Transferring facility
9. Format of conversion of units
REM
Remote Elevation Measurement
RDM
Remote Distance Measurement
Application of Total station:
1. Updating mapping
2. Topographic survey
3. Hydrographic survey
4. Cadastral survey
5. Project construction survey
6. Road, Rail Survey
7. Mining survey
Operations involved while using Total Stations :
1. Establishing the site Datum:
a) Selecting the site Datum
b) Establishing North

2. Setting up the Total station:

a) Placing and leveling Tripod on Datum
b) Placing and leveling the Gun on Tripod
c) Linking the data connector to Gun

3. Data collector options and setting

a) Main menu
b) Basic settings
4. Creating and Operating Job files:
a) Creating a new Job file
b) Opening an existing file

5. Shooting points
a) Identifying the important points to shoot
b) shooting points
c) Shooting additional points
d) Noting the special features

6.Post Processing – Data down loading,conversion

7.Plotting/Map generation.
Computer software packages
The following post processing computer software
packages are in use for various engineering
applications.
1.Arc Pad, arc view, arc info
-conversion from raster to vector form

2.Micro Station - Map generation

3.Erdas – Image processing s/w

4.Surfer, Auto plotter, Civil cad, Pythagarus

– preparation of contours
5. Survey aid – to draw c/s and l/s

The information received is to be analyzed depending on

the users requirement.
 Limitations:
1. It is not a Rugged instrument (Sensitive).
2. Prism verticality is questionable.
3. Visibility is must.
4. More Expensive.
5. Requires calibration at every six months.
6. Amount of error is greater at short
distances.
7. Height of instrument and prism is to fed.
8. Awareness on battery maintenance.

9. To establish north- compass is required.

 HOW TO SUPERVISE THE TOTAL STATION WORK

 Have keen observation on the prism boy’s attitude. When high precision is
required, use the prism tripod, to avoid human error.

 The position of prism shall always be on hard surface instead of soft soil.

 Focusing shall be exactly at the centre of prism, with the help of cross
hairs and prism plate.

 While measuring the instrument height and prism height, enough attention
shall be diverted. Also, have keen observation while entering the above
data.

 Note the location and coordinates of station point and back sight so that
specified intermediate points can be checked at later date.

 Obtain a soft copy of field work raw data from the survey agency so that
the results can be checked at any time.

 Obtain more number of points to get an average.

SEQUENTIAL STAGE OF TOTAL STATION
Tubular compass slot Handle
Handle securing screw
Peep sight

Instrument Telescope focussing ring

Height Mark Telescope eyepiece

Vertical clamp
Battery cover Vertical fine motion screw
Horizontal F. M. screw
Plate level Horizontal clamp
Operation panel
Circular level Display

Base plate
Levelling foot screw
Tribrach clamp
 Objective lens

Optical plummet
Optical plummet reticle cover
focussing ring
Data input / output
connector

Optical plummet eyepiece

 Instrument Set up on The Station

Set the Tripod on the Known Point

 Put the Instrument on Tripod &
Confirm Centering using by
Optical plummet
Confirm leveling by Horizontal &
Base Circular level
Set the prism on the Known Point
Power on the TS
 Leveling the Total Station
 Leveling the Total Station must be
accomplished to sufficient accuracy
otherwise the instrument will not report
results
 Leveling the instrument takes 30 to 45
minutes
– – make sure you can see all targets
from the instrument station before going
through the process
Step 1: Tripod Setup
 Tripod legs should be
equally spaced
 Tripod head should
be approximately
level
 Head should be
directly over survey
point
Step 2: Mount Instrument on Tripod
 Place Instrument on
Tripod
 Secure with centering
screw while bracing the
instrument with the
other hand
 Insert battery in
instrument before
leveling
Step 3: Focus on Survey Point
 Focus the
optical
plummet on
the survey
point
Step 4: Leveling the Instrument
 Adjust the leveling
foot screws to center
the survey point in the
optical plummet
reticle
 Center the bubble in
the circular level by
adjusting the tripod
legs
Step 4: Leveling …
 Loosen the horizontal clamp
and turn instrument until
plate level is parallel to 2 of
the leveling foot screws
 Center the bubble using the
leveling screws- the bubble
moves toward the screw
that is turned clockwise
 Rotate the instrument 90
degrees and level using the
3rd leveling screw
Step 4: Leveling …
 Observe the survey point in the optical
plummet and center the point by
loosening the centering screw and
sliding the entire instrument
 After re-tightening the centering screw
check to make sure the plate level
bubble is level in several directions
Step 5: Electronically Verify Leveling
 Turn on the instrument by pressing
and holding the “on” button (you
should hear an audible beep)
 The opening screen will be the
“MEAS” screen. Select the [Tilt]
function
 Adjust the foot level screws to
exactly center the electronic
“bubble”
 Rotate the instrument 90 degrees
and repeat
Hard Key Operation
Soft Key Operating System

Soft Key
Soft Key Operation

Select
<S-O data>

[ S-O] key

[ESC] key
[OK] key

[OK] key
Target/ Prism Setting
Angle Measurement (Horizontal)

 Sight the first Target

Double Press [0SET] from p1
Sight the 2nd Target
HAR is the Angle
HAR
between two points

Vertical Angle Value all

time Viewed on Screen
Distance Measurement

 Sight the first Target

Press [DIST] from p1
SHV (Slope, Horizontal, Vertical
Distance) 7m

1.3m – 150m
7m
7m 100m
7m
Data Collection Process
Instrument Configuration
Open /Edit Job (file)
MLM (Missing Line Measurement)
Area Calculation
Set The Target (Prism)

Set the prism height in Prism

pole
7m

1.3m – 150m
7m
7m 100m
7m

Pattern 1

128m
Sec

128m 512m
Sec Sec
Operate the Total Station

For
Offset / Distance
Automatic Azimuth Angle Setting
Missing Line Measurement (MLM)
 Remote Elevation measurement (REM)

3-D Coordinates Measurement

Area Calculation
Automatic Azimuth Angle Setting
Missing Line Measurement (MLM)
Remote Elevation Measurement (REM)
3-D Coordinates Measurement
Area Calculation
THANK YOU