Experiment - 8

An Introduction to TOTAL STATION

As late as the 1990's the basic tools used in planar surveying were a measuring
tape for determining shorter distances, a level to determine height or elevation
differences, and a theodolite, set on a tripod, with which one can measure
angles (horizontal and vertical), combined with triangulation. Starting from a
benchmark, a position with known location and elevation, the distance and
angles to the unknown point are measured. A more modern instrument is a
total station, which is basically a theodolite with an electronic distance
measurement device (EDM) and can also be used for levelling when set to the
horizontal plane. Since their introduction, total stations have made the
technological shift from being optical-mechanical devices to being fully
electronic with an onboard computer and software. Modern top-of-the-line
total stations no longer require a reflector or prism (used to return the laser
used for distancing) to return distance measurements, are fully robotic, and
can even e-mail point data to the office computer and connect to satellite
positioning systems, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS).
Thus,
A total station is an optical instrument used in modern surveying. It is a
combination of an electronic theodolite (transit), an electronic distance
measuring device (EDM) and software running on an external computer.
Therefore,
TOTAL STATION = ELECTONIC THEODOLITE + EDM + SOFTWARE (running on
external computer as well as on the inbuilt microprocessor)

Principle:
With a total station one may determine angles and distances from the
instrument to points to be surveyed. With the aid of trigonometry, the angles
and distances may be used to calculate the coordinates of actual positions (X,
Y, and Z or northing, easting and elevation) of surveyed points, or the position
of the instrument from known points, in absolute terms. The data may be
downloaded from the Total Station to a computer and application software will
generate a map of the surveyed area. Some total stations also have a GPS
interface which combines these two technologies to make use of the
advantages of both (GPS - line of sight not required between measured points;
Traditional Total Station - high precision measurement especially in the
vertical axis compared with GPS) and reduce the consequences of each
technology's disadvantages (GPS - poor accuracy in the vertical axis and lower
accuracy without long occupation periods; Total Station - requires line of sight
observations and must be setup over a known point or within line of sight of 2
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or more known points). Most modern Total Station instruments measure angles
by means of electro-optical scanning of extremely precise digital bar-codes
etched on rotating glass cylinders or discs within the instrument. The best
quality total stations are capable of measuring angles down to 0.5.
Inexpensive "construction grade" total stations can generally measure angles to
5 or 10. Measurement of distance is accomplished with a modulated
microwave or infrared carrier signal, generated by a small solid-state emitter
within the instrument's optical path, and bounced off of the object to be
measured. The modulation pattern in the returning signal is read and
interpreted by the onboard computer in the total station, and the speed-oflight lag between the outbound and return signal is translated into distance.
Most total stations use a purpose-built glass prism as the reflector for the EDM
signal, and can measure distances out to a few kilometers, but some
instruments are "reflectorless", and can measure distances to any object that is
reasonably light in color, out to a few hundred meters.

Classification of Total Station

(A) Based on their least count: total stations are classified on the basis of
their least count e.g. 1, 2 or 5 etc.
(B) Based on their refection capabilities: Total stations are classified on
the basis of their refection capabilities into 2 major categories:
(a) Reflector type: Prism is essentially required.
(b) Reflectorless type: Prism is not necessary.
Some modern machines are 'robotic' allowing the operator to control the
machine from a distance via remote control. This eliminates the need for an
assistant staff member to hold the reflector prism over the point to be
measured. The operator holds the reflector him/herself and controls the
machine from the observed point using the remote control.

Necessary Accessories to be used with Total Stations:

Prism: Single prism and triple prism
The other part of a total station, the electronic distance measuring device or
EDM, measures the distance from the instrument to its target. The EDM sends
out an infrared beam which is reflected back to the unit, and the unit uses

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timing measurements to calculate the distance traveled by the beam. With few
exceptions, the EDM requires that the target be highly reflective, and a
reflecting prism is normally used as the target. The reflecting prism is a
cylindrical device about the diameter of a soft-drink can and about 10 cm. in
height; at one end is a glass covering plate and at the other is a truncated cone
with a threaded extension. It is normally screwed into a target/bracket on the
top of a pole; the pointed tip of the pole is placed on the points to be
surveyed.
Tripod and Pole
The total station is mounted on a tripod and leveled before use. Meanwhile,
the prism is mounted on a pole of known height; the mounting bracket includes
aids for aiming the instrument. The prism is mounted so that its reflection
point is aligned with the center of the pole on which it has been mounted.
Although the tip of the pole is placed on the point to be surveyed, the
instrument must be aimed at the prism. So it will calculate the position of the
prism, not the point to be surveyed. Since the prism is directly above the tip,
the height of the pole may be subtracted to determine the location of the
point. That may be done automatically. (The pole must be held upright, and a
bubble level is attached to give the worker holding the pole a check)

Onboard Software (or Measurement Modes) in the Total Station /

Capabilities of a Total Station:
We can perform following measurements with the help of the various onboard
software (or Measurement Modes) loaded in the microprocessor of the total
station:
1) Angle Measurement: with the help of this, we can directly measure the
horizontal as well as the vertical angles of the points to be surveyed.
2) Distance Measurement: In this mode, we can find the horizontal distance
and the slope distance (between the instrument and the object) as well as
the vertical distance between the optical axis and the object.
3) Coordinate Measurement: By performing coordinate measurements, it is
possible to find the 3-dimensional coordinates of the target based on
station point coordinates, instrument height, target height, which are
entered in advance.
4) Remote Elevation Measurement (REM): an REM measurement is a
function used to measure the height of appoint where a target cannot be
installed such as power lines, overhead cables and bridges etc.

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5) Resection: resection is used to determine the coordinates of the

instrument station by performing multiple measurements of the points
whose coordinate values are known.
6) Surface Area Calculation: we can calculate the area of land enclosed by
three or more points on a line by inputting the coordinates of the points.
7) Setting out: Setting out mode is used to set out the required point, line or
area etc.

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