Lesson 13

GEOMATICS-I
DISTANCE MEASUREMENT USING EDM
DR. JAYANTA KUMAR GHOSH
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

1
 CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• Electronic Distance measurement
– PHASE SHIFT METHOD
– PULSED LASER SYSTEM
• SUMMARY
• REVIEW QUESTIONS
• FURTHER READING

2
 INTRODUCTION
• Electronic Distance Measuring instrument (EDMI) makes use of
a return or reflected signal for measurement.
• Signals for measurement are obtained either from a reflector or
directly from uncooperative target.
• EDMI With or without Reflector;

3
 EDMI
• Require clear line of sight;
• Energy transmitted from one end of the line to
the other and returned back to the starting
point; thus it travels the measurement distance
twice.
• Measurement Techniques
– PHASE SHIFT
– Pulsed Laser System.
4
 Phase Shift method
• Uses continuous e. m. waves;
• Measures lengths by indirectly determining the number of full and partial
cycles of transmitted e. m. e between the two ends of a line.
• EDMI (Electronic distance - measuring instrument) consisting of an
electro-wave generator, an oscillator, a modulator, a transmitter, and a
receiver etc.
• Modulated e. m. wave is transmitted to the target, placed at the other end
of the line. The target, acting as a reflector, reflects the light beam back to
the receiver, where the incoming light is converted to an electrical signal.
A phase comparison is made between the projected and reflected signals.
Then the amount by which the transmitted and received signals are out of
phase get measured electronically and registered in a meter by getting
converted to an equivalent distance.

5
Phase Shift method…

6
 Phase Shift method…
• In order to measure the distance between stations A and B , let
an EDM be placed at A and a reflector be at B. The modulated
beam transmitted from A travels to B and returns back.
• Let the received signal is out of phase (i.e., phase shift) from
the transmitted signal by Δφ, as measured by a phase meter.
The equivalent linear distance, d is d= (Δφ/360°)Xλ
• Thus, the distance (D) between the stations is D = (1/2)[n+
Δφ/360°]Xλ , where n is the integral number of wavelength, λ in
the double path.
• Ambiguity n is resolved commonly in EDM instruments by
employing multiple-frequency technique based on decade
modulation.
• Decade modulator is usually built into the EDM device,
permitting automatic determination of n and thus a direct
readout of the distance.

7
 Pulsed Laser System
• Makes use of pulses derived from an infra-red or
visible laser diode.
• Distance is obtained by measuring transit time and
velocity of pulsed electro-magnetic signal in
travelling between TS & target and back;
• Velocity (v) of pulses gets determined.
• Transit time (t) is measured using electronic signal
processing technique.
• Distance, D = 0.5 X v.t
• Large number of pulses (~20,000/sec) get analysed
during measurements.

8
 Distance Measurement using Reflector
• Reflector Measurements: Precise, Rapid & Tracking modes.
• Use Single or Triple prism set as reflector
• Prism may be set on tripod stand for exact centering and leveling or may be mounted on a pole.
• Prism constant (distance between effective centre of the prism and its plumbing point) should be
applied to distance measurement; otherwise, systematic error will arise.
• It is typically of the order -30 to -40 mm.
• Incident wave or pulse may be within a range of incidence of about 20⁰ to the normal of the
front face of the prism.
• Thus, alignment of prism is not critical.
• Range 2-5km.
• PHASE SHIFT
• Precise measurements – time 1-2 sec, accuracy 2mm±2 ppm.
• Rapid measurements – time 0.5 -1, accuracy degrades.
• Tracking measurements – automatically >0.5 sec.

9
 Distance Measurement without Reflector
• Telescope cross hairs aimed at the point whose distance is to be measured
• Advantageous, if TS equipped with visible red laser beam to locate the target.
• Reflectorless Measurements
– PHASE SHIFT
• range 100m; time 3 sec +1s for every 10m over 30m; accuracy 2mm±2 ppm.
– Pulsed System
• range 200-300m; time 5 sec; accuracy 2mm±2ppm
• Applications:
– Inaccessible targets
– Targets in dangerous areas
– Construction surveys
– Etc.

10
 COMPARISON
• Phase shift measurement using Reflector is most precise.
• Laser carrier measurement with reflector have range 3 to 5 Km & in
reflectorless mode 100m.
• Range for measurement varies with atmospheric conditions.
• Pulse laser based measurement has longer range than Phase shift
measurement.
• Accuracy in Phase shift measurement is better than Pulse based
measurement.
• Range in reflectorless measurement depends on reflectivity of the target.
• Pulse laser measurement is faster in the reflectorless mode.
• For applications where reflector less measurements are taken and where a
short measuring time is critical, pulsed laser system must be used.
11
 Summary of Lesson 13
1. Phase shift method makes use of continuous e.m. waves.
2. In Phase shift method, lengths get measured indirectly by multiplying wavelength to number of cycles of
transmitted e.m waves between the instrument and the target.
3. Phase shift method is most widely used technique for measurement of distance using EDMI.
4. Pulsed Laser System makes use of pulses signal.
5. In Pulsed Laser System, Distance is obtained by multiplying transit time and velocity of propagation of pulsed
signal.
6. Distance measured with reflectors provides the best accuracy and range.
7. Reflectorless measurements are advantageous than reflector based measurements.
8. Reflectorless distance measurements have become a standard feature of total stations.
9. Reflectorless measurements are done using both phase shift and pulsed method.
10. Range of Reflector based measurements varies from 3 to 5 km.
11. Range of Reflectorless measurements depends on reflectivity of target.
12. Laser based measurements are associated with hazards.
13. Surveyors must be aware implication associated of hazards and should take due precaution during surveying.

12
 Summary of Lecture 21
• Phase shift method makes use of continuous e.m. waves.
• In Phase shift method, lengths get measured indirectly by
multiplying wavelength to number of cycles of transmitted e.m
waves between the instrument and the target.
• Phase shift method is most widely used technique for
measurement of distance using EDMI.
• Pulsed Laser System makes use of pulses signal.
• In Pulsed Laser System, Distance is obtained by multiplying
transit time and velocity of propagation of pulsed signal.

13
 Review Questions
1. Explain the basic principle of measurement of
distance by EDMI.
2. Write short notes on (i) Phase shift method; (ii)
Pulsed laser system.
3. Write a note on measurement of distances (i) With
Reflector (ii) Without Reflector.
4. Write a comparative evaluation measurement of
distances (i) With or without Reflector; (ii) Using
Phase shift or Pulse system.

14
 Further reading
1. Surveying for Engineers (2006) by J. Uren &
W.F.Price
2. Elementary Surveying – An introduction to
Geomatics(2012) By C.D.Ghilani & P.R.Wolf.

15
Thanking You