Weights (W) of observations

Weight is a positive number assigned to an observation that indicates

the relative accuracy to other observations
The smaller an observation error (variance) is, the more precise an
observation and consequently the bigger weight the observation should
have

Weights are inversely proportional to variances W =

Weights are used to control the sizes of corrections applied to

measurements in an adjustment
The bigger an observation weight is, the smaller the size of correction
(residual) applied in the adjustment of observations

Weights of observations

Instrument

Measured
length AB

Weight

Linen tape

625.79

Steel tape

625.71

EDM

625.69

Adjust the measurement of length AB by computing the MPV of the

distance (weighted mean) and its standard deviation

Weighted mean

Most Probable
Value

wd

Z
w

1(625.79) 2(625.71) 4(625.69) 4379.97

625.71
1 2 4
7

Standard deviation of weighted mean

SZ

2
wv

wn 1

v Z di
v1 625.71 625.79 0.08
v2 625.71 625.71 0.00
v3 625.71 625.69 0.02

wv

0.0080

n3
w1v12 1(0.08) 2 0.0064
w2 v 22 2(0.00) 2 0.0000
w3 v32 4(0.02) 2 0.0016
SZ

0.0080
0.024
7(2)

Route

elevation
difference
between point
P and Q

weight

25.35

18

25.41

25.38

25.30

Compute:

1. Weighted mean (MPV) of elevation difference

2. Std dev of weighted mean
3. Std dev of weighted observations
4. Std dev of unit weight

Weighted mean (MPV) of elevation difference

wd

Z
w

18(25.35) 9(25.41) 6(25.38) 3(25.30)

25.366
18 9 6 3

Std dev of weighted mean

wv 0.018
wn 1
2

SZ

Std dev of weighted observations

Sn

2
wv

wn (n 1)
0.0363
0.037
9(3)

S1

0.0363
0.026
18(3)

S2

S3

0.0363
0.045
6(3)

0.0363
S4
0.063
3(3)

Std dev of unit weight

2
wv

n 1

0.0363
0.110
(3)

A length AB was measured five times by using a steel tape and

Total Station instrument. The readings are tabulated as follows;

1
2
3
4
5

Steel Tape
(m)
85.984
85.031
85.442
85.883
85.344

Total Station
(m)
85.316
85.002
85.652
85.121
85.422

N
Mean
Std

5
85.537
0.394

5
85.303
0.255

No.

Calculate the most probable value of the length AB and its

standard deviation.

m1

85.537

m2

85.303

std1

0.394

std2

0.255

w1

6.4

w2

15.4

Wt Mean 85.372

Inst

Horizontal angle
(deg-min-sec)
Std dev (")

49-27-20

15

49-27-24

49-27-27

Calculate the weighted mean of the angle and its standard

deviation

Weights are used to control the amount of error to be

distributed or adjusted in the observed values so that
the adjusted values would conform with the related
geometric condition of the problem

COMPARISON BETWEEN
WEIGHTED AND UNWEIGHTED OBSERVATIONS

Example: Horizon Angles 1

The following angles were observed at the horizon;

X
Y

X=
12 22 +/- 10
Y = 590 56 24 +/- 10
Z = 2570 51 44 +/- 10
420

Assuming equal weight observations, compute the most probable

values of X,Y and Z and the residuals of the observations

Adjusted

Observed

Correction
()

Std (")

42

12

12.0

42

12

22

-10

10

59

56

14.0

59

56

24

-10

10

257

51

34.0

257

51

44

-10

10

360

360

30

-30

Example: Horizon Angles 2

The following angles were observed at the horizon;

X
Y

X=
12 22 +/- 10
Y = 590 56 24 +/- 20
Z = 2570 51 44 +/- 30
420

Given the standard deviation of the observations, compute the

most probable values of X,Y and Z and the residual of the
observations

Adjusted

Observed

Correction
()

Std (")

42

12

19.5

42

12

22

-2.5

10

59

56

15.8

59

56

24

-8.2

20

257

51

24.7

257

51

44

-19.3

30

360

360

30

-30

Adjustment of elevation differences for the

determination of elevation or height above MSL

Line
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Measured
Elevation
Differences Distances
5.10
5
2.34
5
-1.25
5
-6.13
5
-0.68
5
-3.00
5
1.70
5

Find elevations of A, B and C using least squares method

Note: Weight for elevation differences = 1/(distance)