Theodolite

Surveying
Theodolite

 Used primarily to measure angles, both horizontal and vertical.

 Locating points
 Prolonging survey lines.
 Finding difference of level.
 Setting out grades
 Ranging curves
 Tacheometric Survey
Theodolite

Transit Theodolite Digital Theodolite

Vernier or Transit Theodolite
Temporary Adjustments

 The set of operations those are required to be done on an

instrument in order to make it ready for taking observation is
known as temporary adjustment

 Setting,
 Centring,
 Leveling and
 Focussing.
 Temporary Adjustments
Setting

 The setting operation consists of fixing the theodolite with the tripod stand
along with approximate leveling and centring over the station.
 For setting up the instrument, the tripod is placed over the station with its
legs widely spread so that the centre of the tripod head lies above the station
point and its head approximately level (by eye estimation).
 The instrument is then fixed with the tripod by screwing through trivet.
 The height of the instrument should be such that observer can see through
telescope conveniently.
 After this, a plumb bob is suspended from the bottom of the instrument and
it should be such that plumb bob should point near to the station mark.
Temporary Adjustments

Centring
 Placing the vertical axis of the instrument exactly over the station mark
 First, the approximate centring of the instrument is done by moving the
tripod legs radially or circumferentially.
 Exact centring is done by using foot screws.
Temporary Adjustments

Levelling

Focusing
 Temporary Adjustments
Focusing
 Focusing of Eye-piece
 appearence of cross hairs distinct and clear
 First, point the telescope towards the sky or hold a sheet of white paper in
front of the objective;
 Next, move the eye-piece in or out by rotating it gradually until the cross
hairs appear quite sharp and clear.
 Focusing of Objective
 It is done for each independent observation to bring the image of the object
in the plane of cross hairs.
 First, direct the telescope towards the object for observation.
 Next, turn the focusing screw until the image of the object appears clear and
sharp as the observer looks through properly focused eye-piece.
Operations
Transiting
 Transiting is also known as plunging or reversing.
 It is the process of turning the telescope about its horizontal axis
through 1800 in the vertical plane thus bringing it upside down and
making it point, exactly in opposite direction.
Swinging the telescope
 It means turning the telescope about its vertical axis in the horizontal
plane.
 A swing is called right or left according as the telescope is rotated
clockwise or counter clockwise.
Face left
If the vertical circle of the instrument is on the left side of the observer while taking a reading, the
position is called the faceleft
http://gn.dronacharya.info/CivilDept/Downloads/question_papers/IIIsem/UNIT-4B.pdf
http://gn.dronacharya.info/CivilDept/Downloads/question_papers/IIIsem/UNIT-4B.pdf
Errors in measurements of angles and
Directions
 Instrumental Error
 Personal Errors
 Error due to Natural Causes
 Instrumental Error

Error in Horizontal angles (due to Imperfect adjustment of the

plate level)
 When the bubbles of plate levels are not in adjustment, the
vertical axis is inclined, and hence measured angles are not truly
horizontal angles.
 The larger the vertical angle, greater is the error in direction.
Thus, errors in horizontal angles due to non adjustment of plate
levels or of horizontal axis become large as the inclination of the
sights increases.
 Instrumental Error

Error in Vertical angles (due to Imperfect adjustment of the plate

level)

 These errors vary with the direction in which the instrument is

pointed.
 With the fixed vertical vernier they are eliminated by observing
(for each sighting) the index error of the corresponding observed
vertical angle.
Instrumental Error

 Error due to eccentricity of the inner and outer axis

 Errors due to lack of coincidence between line of sight and optical axis
 Error due to eccentricity of vernier
 Error due to imperfect graduations on the horizontal scale;
 Vertical index error
 Vertical hair not being perpendicular to the horizontal axis
 Error due to defective tripod
 Personal Errors
 Error in setting up of the Instrument
 Error in centring of the Instrument
 Errors in setting and reading the Vernier
 Error in ranging pole location or Staff Station
 Error in Focusing (parallax)

The personal errors are random and hence cannot be eliminated.

Error due to Natural Causes

 Error due to settlement of the tripod stand / leg

 Error due to atmospheric condition

 Natural errors are generally random, but under certain

conditions systematic errors may arise from natural causes.
 On surveys of very high precision, special attempt is made to
establish a procedure which will as nearly as possible eliminate
natural systematic errors.