TACHEOMETRY

This method of survey consists of using a level, theodolite or specially constructed

tacheometer to make cross hair intercept readings on a levelling staff. As the angle
subtended by the crosshairs is known, the distance can be calculated.

The word tacheometry is derived from the Greek word Tacns, meaning 'swift', and
metrot, meaning 'a measure'. It is an optical solution to the measurement of distance. It is
also called stadia method. The theodolite is directed at the leveling staff and the distance
is measured by reading the top and bottom stadia hairs or lines which are engraved upon
the diaphragm of the telescope. This is also achieved by sighting a subtense bar of
known length and measuring small horizontal angle subtended.

Stadia System
There are two types of instruments used for stadia surveying. In the first type the distance
between the two stadia hairs in the theodolite telescope is fixed. In the second type of
equipment the distance between the stadia hairs is variable, being measured by means of
a micrometer. The most common method used involves the fixed hair tacheometer, or
theodolite.

The notes below show the calculation of the distance (D) from the centre of the fixed hair
tacheometer to a target.

From the diagram, triangles AOB & aOb are similar

OX U AB
= =
Ox V Ab

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 Also if OF = f = focal length of object lens

1 1 1
then + = (lens equation)
U V f

By multiplying both sides by (Uf)

U
U= .f + f
V
AB
U= .f + f
ab

AB is obtained by subtracting the reading given on the staff by the lower stadia hair from
the top one and is usually denoted by s (staff intercept), and ab the distance apart of the
stadia lines is denoted by i. The value of i is constant and known for a particular
instrument.

f
U= .s +f
i
The horizontal distance D from the vertical axis of the tacheometer to the staff is obtained
by adding the small distance c between the object glass and the vertical axis to u.
Therefore
f
D = U+c = .s + (f + c)
i

The reduction of this formula can be simplified considerably if the term f/i, the
multiplying constant, is made some convenient figure, and the term (f + c), the additive
constant, can be made to vanish.

Values of f and i are selected such that f/i is made equal to 100. The value of (f+c) is
made equal to zero by incorporating an additional convex lens called anallactic lens
between the objective lens and the diaphragm.

The above formula can be written as D = Ks+C

Where K is the multiplying constant (100), s is the staff intercept and C is (f+c), the
additive constant (0).

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Measurements of Tacheometric Constants
The values are usually given by the makers but this is not always the case. It is sometimes
necessary to measure them in an old or unfamiliar instrument. The simplest way, both for
external and internal focusing instruments, is to regard the basic formula as being a linear
one of the form:

D = Cs + k

a. On a fairly level site chain out a line 100 to 120m long, setting pegs at 25 to 30
meters intervals.
b. Set at up at one end and determine two distances using tacheometer or theodolite,
one short and one long. hence C and K may be determined.

i.e. D1 (known) = Cs1 (known) + k

D2 (known) = Cs2 (known) + k

Distance Readings Intervals

Upper Centre Lower Upper Lower Total
Stadia Stadia
30.000 1.433 1.283 1.133 0.150 0.150 0.300
55.000 1.710 1.435 1.160 0.275 0.275 0.220
90.000 2.352 1.902 1.452 0.450 0.450 0.900

D =Cs + k

30.00 = 0.300 * C + k

90.00 = 0.900 * C + k

Therefore C = 100 & K = 0

Any combination of equations gives the same result, showing that the telescope is
anallactic over this range, to all intents and purposes.

Theodolite Tacheometry
The theory discussed so far, in The Stadia System, Measurement of Tacheometric
Constants and Refraction and Curvature, all applies to the situation where the staff is held
vertical and the line of sight of the telescope is horizontal. It is very seldom, however,

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that this situation occurs in practice. Generally a theodolite is sighted to a level staff held
vertically (by use of a staff bubble), which gives rise to the situation below.

S
m

Since the staff is not at right angles to the line of sight of the instrument, the intercept cut
on the staff by the stadia hairs will be too large. Let the actual distance between upper
and lower stadia be s and the required projection of it at right angles to IQ be s1

S = Cs1 + K, but s1 = s cos

In practice, the slope distance S is not often required. What we really want is D, the
horizontal distance and V the vertical distance between the trunnion axis of the telescope
and the point of the staff cut by the centre hair.

Now D= S cos
= Cs cos2 + k cos
Also V= S sin
= Cs cos sin + k sin
Cs sin 2
= + k sin
2

So now the horizontal distance D = Cs cos2 + K cos, and the vertical component is
given by V = Cs cos sin + K sin. In practice these can be reduced to:

D = 100 s cos2 and

V = 100 s cos sin

The difference in height between the two points is given by:

DH =HI + V - m,

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and the Relative Level (R.L.) of the point is given by

RL = RLA + HI + 100 s cos sin - m

The use of these formulae gives the three dimensional location of the point. It is quite
easy to determine the coordinates of the point if the bearing is measured as well as the
staff intercepts and vertical angle, which of course is the standard field procedure.

Field Tacheometry
Tacheometric surveys are usually performed to measure the three dimensional location of
points on the landscape so as to produce contour and detail plans for further work, or to
produce coordinates for area and volume calculations. Observations are usually
performed from known survey stations, often established by traversing. A sample of the
field booking sheet is shown below:

Station: At A Date: 30/2/90 Party: CO,MS,KR Reference: Job 12/90

Instrument: T2/19 H.I.:1.49 R.l 23.45 Temp:35C Press:1012mbar

Top Centre Lower Horizontal Vertical Description
2.457 2.895 3.333 24 27' 30" 272 45' 00" Tree 2: 4,8,0.3
1.873 2.145 2.416 48 34' 20" 270 23' 00" Fence Corner
. . . and so on

In this example, the vertical angles have been observed by theodolite and therefore have
to be converted to an elevation for use in the formulae as they stand, or the formulae can
be modified to accept zenith angles. The first set of readings will be reduced as an
example.

s = 2.457 - 3.333 = 0.876 = +2 45' 00"

S = 100 s cos2 = 100 (0.875) cos2 (2 45')
= 87.40 meters (8.74)
RL = RLA + HI + 100 s cos sin m
= 23.45 + 1.49 + 100(0.876) cos(2 45') sin (2 45') - 2.985
= 26.153 (26.15) meters

One of the most common outputs from a tacheometric survey is a plan of survey showing
the features and contours. The procedure for the preparation of these will be discussed in
future lectures.

The only other variable necessary to compute the coordinates of the point on which the
staff was placed is of course a bearing. This is computed from the horizontal circle

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reading and a known or adopted reference bearing, similar to the procedure adopted when
traversing.

Electronic Tacheometry
The stadia procedure is used less and less often these days, more commonly geomatic
engineers use a combination theodolite-EDM known in jargon as a total station. Often
these instruments are connected to a field computer which stores readings and facilitates
the processing of the data electronically.

This instrumentation has facilitated the development of this method of detail and contour
surveying into a very slick operation. It is now possible to produce plans of large areas
that previously would have taken weeks, in a matter of days.

The maths behind the operation is very simple; it is in fact the same as the stadia
formulae with the term for the distance replaced by the measured slope distance.

D = S cos

RL = RLA + HI + S sin - HT